Scouting Conant: Cougars hope little differences lead to big gains
Conant football coach Bryan Stortz know the margin between winning and losing can come down to just a couple of plays.
Stortz, who was in his first year as head coach of the Cougars last season after coming over from Rock Island, saw that first-hand. His team, which finished 1-8 a year ago, lost 5 games by a touchdown or less last season, with many of those losses coming in the final minutes.
"We had a lot of opportunities that we did not capitalize on last year," Stortz said "And that has been an emphasis this year."
Stortz said the lessons of last year have made his team work even harder in preparation of the 2018 season.
"The whole season I thought our kids fought and played extremely well," Stortz said "They did not make most of chances they got. Going through all that, we are looking to flip that this year."
The Cougars will have 11 seniors filling out key spots on the both sides of the ball, with a few of them becoming two-way players.
On defense Conant returns five players that saw significant time last season.
Free safety Joey Carrell, linebacker Fil Defrenza, safety/linebacker Anthony Wachal, defensive lineman Dante Trombetta and safety Ryan Schaar will key the Cougars' 3-5-3 scheme. All are seniors.
Also on the defensive line will be Derek Lewandowski and a rotation of Ross Pedro, Ethan Richert, Frankie Daidone and Dom Mairoilleo.
The linebacking corps looks very strong with Wachal, Defrenza, Kyle Prodzynski and Dayvon Holmes. The defensive backfield also looks stout with Carrell, Schara, Ronnie Williams, Marktwain Green, Mason Reiger, Jeremy Betancourt and Jake Sersen.
Offensively, Conant returns a just a couple of starters, but will switch in players that have played more on the defensive side of the ball.
Kevin Polaski, who as a junior, saw a lot of time last year before getting banged up, returns to play quarterback. Polaski, who did return to start the final game of last season, threw for 362 yards and 5 TDs.
"He is on top of things," Stortz said. "He is working hard commanding things in the huddle and has earned respect from his teammates."
The Cougars were a solid rushing team last season and gained over 1,000 yards on the ground but were hit hard in the offensive backfield by graduation. This season it will be more of a running back by committee with Defrenza, Holmes, Wachal and Malik Fredrick.
The receiving corps will be made up of wideouts Jesse Meyrick and Luke VanBooven and tight ends Reiger and Prodzynski.
The offensive line will be completely new, but loaded with pasta power. Niko Ljvar, Etahn Richert, Lewandowski, Ryan Giannini, Jermichael LaRue-Lastrela and Tony Datoli will make up that group.
Although there are many players at new positions, Stortz feels that the experienced gleaned from playng last year will aid his players.
"From a culture standpoint and a familiarity in what we do, we are way ahead," Stortz said. "We may have some new faces and new faces in new positions, but the kids have tremendous work ethic and commitment."