two of them have been to Morris.
As a matter of fact the only Kaneland football team to beat Morris in recent
years was the 1995 freshman team, which is this year's juniors.During the first week of August 22 shiny new footballs arrived at Kaneland, signifying that football is right around the corner. But why so many footballs? Well, with the season only two weeks away, it may be the coaching staff is stocking up on game balls for what may be a banner year for Kaneland football.
Over the last two seasons Kaneland football momentum has been building. Two years ago Kaneland was 8-1 and made the state playoffs for the first time in school history only lose a second round thriller in overtime. Last year the Knights finished 7-2 and winning the Blue Division Suburban Prairie Conference title and making the playoffs a second straight year. Again advancing into the second round.
With only three regular season losses over the last two years, area interest has exploded. This year all home and playoff games will be televised on channel 17 and half the games will be carried on WSPY radio. Scores and game summaries will be available within hours of the final gun on the Internet. Then on September 27, history will be made as the Knights will get more electronic media coverage that the Chicago Bears as the game at Yorkville will be covered by two TV stations and be carried live on radio.
Moreover, Kaneland has scored so many points over the past two seasons that new goalpost had to be constructed at Peterson field and a worn out scoreboard was also replaced with a new one. One, that is guaranteed not to flicker and go blank during a game.
Despite all the excitement head coach Joe Thorgesen remains calm. Looking into his crystal ball, Thorgesen, is refraining from making any predictions, but does admit, "This will be a good year and we will have a lot of fun". However, one cannot miss the gleam in his eye as he talks about this year's team, adding, "We got some quality players returning from last year".
Missing are last years' seniors - REC/DB Luc Putzler, REC/DB Matt Reuland, REC/DB Nick Gillis, RB/DT Steve Goldman, RB/LB Dan Kenny, REC/DB Aaron Augusten, OT/DT B.J. Staker, OG/DE Shane Bird, C/DT Matt Brown, OT/DE Jason Woolsey, OT/DT Andy Swanson, OG/DT Derrick Smith, OT/DT Donnie Thomas, REC/DB Paul Aspengren.
Last year's graduating class left some big holes in both lines and in the defensive backfield. Moreover, running back Dan Kenny will be sorely missed as he carried the ball for 934 yards averaging 7.9 yards each time he touched the ball.
However, most of the skill position players and linebacking core will be returning. The defensive backfield may be even quicker than last year's playoff team, and both lines might come together nicely as Kaneland's weight lifting program is beginning to pay dividends.
Observing the dreaded three-a-day drills, defensive coordinator Rich Kearney states, "This may be the fastest and quickest team I've ever seen at Kaneland". Even assistant coach Tom Fedderly can't help but comment, "We may not be big, but we are fast".
Over the summer Kaneland participated in a number of 7-on-7 scrimmages, against some very strong competition, and more than held their own, supporting the thought that the Knights are very strong this year at the skill positions.
This year's schedule has something special for almost every game. The season opens Friday night August 29, at Kaneland, against Grant. Then the following Friday night the Knights travel to Sycamore for the first time since Little 7 Conference days to renew an old rivalry, followed by a visit to Glenbard South, Saturday, September 13 for the season's opening conference game.
On September 19 the fireworks begin, when Morris comes to town for the first
time in recent memory. Of the three loses Kaneland has suffered over the last
two years, two of them have been to Morris.
As a matter of fact the only Kaneland football team to beat Morris in recent
years was the 1995 freshman team, which is this year's juniors.
Then Kaneland runs up against the perennial tough guys from Yorkville Saturday September 27, on the Foxes home field. Outside of Morris the Foxes accounted for the Knights only regular season lose since 1994. To make matters worse this will be Yorkville's homecoming.
After the first five games, the halfway point of the season, the Knights should have a good idea how good they are. Following Yorkville are four conference games all at home except one.
On October 3, Ridgewood comes to Kaneland, followed by Homecoming October 10 against Herscher. Then what may be the toughest conference game of the season, the Knights travel to Evergreen Park for the last of three Saturday afternoon games. On October 24 in the season's finale, Kaneland plays host to Westmont for Parents night.
All home games start at 5:30 with the sophomore game, followed by the varsity game beginning about 7:30. So, let the season begin!
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