Round Lake dresses for success
A group of Round Lake football players wearing their Game Day uniforms watched the first toss of the season on their home field land softly at midfield.
It made sense to Panthers coach John Coursey.
It made cents, too.
In a break from the norm, due in part because they have ample players on their varsity roster this season, Coursey and his staff held an intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday. Usually, they hold just a practice on the Saturday before the start of the season. To simulate the routine of an actual game, there was a coin toss.
“We have kids who’ve never done that before,” said Coursey, who also had some players wearing padded football pants for the first time. “We started with the coin toss and explained what the officials do, so that they can get the experience of what it’s going to be like (Opening) Night. We have a lot of guys that haven’t played before that are going to play (tonight). It’ll be their first football game, ever.”
When the Panthers take the field at Grayslake Central tonight, they’ll be missing their two best players from last season, as both quarterback/defensive end Anthony Burton and running back/linebacker Daniel Vega graduated. Coursey said Burton is playing at North Park, while Vega is attending Denison but not playing football.
Junior John Ridley replaces Burton at quarterback. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Ridley, a three-sport athlete, was the sophomore team’s QB last fall and won a couple of games.
“He’s a nice leader,” Coursey said. “Being a junior, he’s going to make some mistakes, but he’s got a good head for sports. He plays football, basketball, baseball. He understands sports.”
Tyler Hernandez (5-9, 165) played wideout last season and will be a slot receiver. Fellow senior Steven Handy (5-9, 170) saw his production increase as last season went on and finished with 23 receptions.
Sophomore Chris Perry (5-11, 175) will line up behind Ridley at running back. Perry played mostly on the sophomore team last year but got some varsity time, as well. He’ll also play defensive back.
Early last season, the Panthers started running a spread offense, which Burton flourished in. The Panthers remain committed to the offense.
“We feel it just gives us a little bit of an advantage,” Coursey said. “It allows us to double-team more people up front. We’re excited about it. We’ve looked good.”
Tyler Norkus will snap the ball to Ridley, and the 6-2, 280-pound junior center is one of the Panthers who is new to football.
“I had him in class,” Coursey said. “From never playing football in his whole life, to what he’s done through summer and today, he won himself a job.”
Another newcomer in Panther pads is Freddy Araiza, a 6-2, 170-pound sophomore transfer from Texas who will play linebacker and running back.
“Nice athlete,” Coursey said.
Outside linebacker Zach Williamson (5-10, 175) did a nice job for the defense last year, Coursey said, and will be counted on again this season. Daniel Cleveland is as big as Cleveland. The 6-5, 270-pounder, who played on the defensive line last season, will line up on both sides of the line.
Coursey said junior Augustine Bahena (5-11, 200) was a “fantastic linebacker” on the sophomore level last season. Bahena will play offensive guard and middle linebacker.
“We’re making progress,” said Coursey, who counts 42 players on his roster. “And our progress, you don’t always see it on Friday night.”
The Panthers got their only win last season in Week 3 against Wauconda. They open again with both Grayslake schools (they host Grayslake North in Week 2) before visiting North Chicago in Week 3.
“We got to start well,” Coursey said. “We’ve never started well since I’ve been here.”
ROUND LAKE
HEAD COACH: John Coursey (fifth season, 2-34)
LAST SEASON: 1-8, 1-5 in North Suburban Prairie Division
HOMECOMING: Saturday, Oct. 6 vs. Wauconda, 1 p.m.