PREVIEW OF THE SYCAMORE SPARTANS
While Kaneland was Whipping Marengo Friday night 42-0 Sycamore was beating up on DeKalb 46-0, making game two of the 1998 football campaign a measuring stick for both teams and what could be the most important regular season game for both teams.
Ironically the story was almost the same last year as Kaneland won their first game against Grant 41-0 and Sycamore beat DeKalb 48-7.
When the two teams met for their second game of 1997, the halftime scoreboard read Sycamore 7 - Guest (Kaneland) 6. It was the only time all season the Knights where behind at halftime and one of two occasions they trailed any team all year. But when the scoreboard was finally unplugged for the night it displayed: Sycamore 14 Guest 42.
The Knights went on to a 14-0 record and a State Championship, while the Spartans sputtered to 3-6.
Both teams are returning a lot of starters from last year. On offense Kaneland has seven and Sycamore six. On Defense the Spartans have the edge with eight to Kaneland's three.
"These kids know what's on the line this year," says third year Spartan Coach Daryl Graves. "These guys have been successful as sophomores and gained a lot of experience last year. It's going to pay off this year."
The Graves era began with a 2-7 record in 1996. A 3-6 campaign characterized by devastating turnovers and several second-half collapses followed last season.
Sycamore operates a run first, pass second offense, keyed by talented senior backs Derek Egler (6-2, 190), with 426 yards last year and Jeff Schmerbach (5-9, 175), a 277- yard rusher last season.
Against DeKalb Schmerbach totaled 66 yards in 10 carries and Egler had 57 yards in 12 attempts. Newcomer Junior Nigel Short gained 119 in just 4 chances.
In the Dekalb game the Spartans pounded out a total of 406 yards on the ground and throw only four passes of which just one was complete. DeKalb meanwhile was only able to gain 30 yards all night, a sharp contrast from last year when the Spartans gave up 266 points in 9 games. Take away the DeKalb opener and Sycamore allowed 32 plus points a game!
With Kaneland's strong pass defense and still questionable rushing defense you can bet Sycamore will keep the ball on the ground Friday night at Peterson field. If Kaneland's defensive line can control the line of scrimmage like they did in the second half against Marengo, then the Spartans may be in for a long night. If not the Kaneland fans will be biting their nails.