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Scouting Prospect: Change is in the air with new-look Knights

When coach Dan DeBoeuf took over at Prospect, he knew that he was looking to make some changes.

Prospect had won a total of 17 games over the previous six season. And the Knights had not been to the playoffs in seven seasons.

Meanwhile, DeBoeuf, who had coached at Johnsburg the past three seasons, was coming off a string of successes there. Johnsburg went to the playoffs in each of those 3 seasons, compiling a 31-5 record and a second-place finish in the state in Class 4A in 2016.

"Honestly, the summer went real well," DeBoeuf said. "The kids on the team, people around school and staff, are super supportive of what we are doing. It is going to be exciting to build this thing up and get it where it needs to be."

DeBoeuf takes over a team that was very young last season and got hit with some key injuries along the way.

"It is an interesting mix of players," DeBoeuf said. "We are young, but experienced. We have seven or eight kids who were sophomores last year who saw significant minutes. They are juniors now and still underclassmen - but they are experienced."

But the key thing that DeBoeuf brings is a mixture of offense that hasn't been seen at Prospect in some time. The run-first Knights are going to be on the airborn as DeBoeuf is known for spreading things out with 4- and 5-wide sets.

"We like to adjust to our personnel," DeBoeuf said. "It just depends on the year."

DeBoeuf will like adjusting to running back Michael Shafis and quarterback Jimmy Martin.

They were the main cogs in the Prospect offense last year, with Shafis rushing for nearly 900 yards and Martin throwing for nearly 500.

"Martin has adapted well to the system," DeBoeuf said. "And it is a fun system to play quarterback in. He is good athlete, so were going to try to use his assets to adapt the game plans around him.

"Shafis is a really good football player. And we have some young backs who also have some bright futures. So we can be balanced and do different things."

At wide receiver, there is experience - with an asterisk. Matt Meyer played a lot last year. He will be joined by juniors who would have started, but injuries sidelined them. Brian Doherty is coming off of ACL surgery and Ryan Traviola, who broke his leg, should be factors along with Nick Mariani.

The offensive line will be centered around Mitch Kamp, a senior who returns at center. Juniors Sebastian Swistak and Caleb Smith also return, while Armen Surenian, Matt Pankauskas, Eric Malinoski and Drew Tertel will also be in the mix.

Defensively the Knights will look to attack with Liam Mikes, Fil Jarosinski, Jack Friedrichs and Matt Cassidy on the defensive front.

Shafis will be in the middle to anchor a talented group of linebackers with Adam Mekky, Michael Cima and Adam Ryerson. The secondary will include Zach Zei, Dan Gerdes, Gage Bayer, Gary Moeller, Matt Kuleszynski, Jack Kasmer and Joe Esczu.

"We are excited," DeBoeuf said. "We are going to be athletic and aggressive and move a lot pieces around."

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