Geneva returning to ground and pound

Geneva football coach Rob Wicinski doesn't recall being in a position like this for more than a decade.

Having this little returning experience.

"Usually we have some turnover, but a lot of guys that did not start got into some good rotations," Wicinski said. "Some of these guys never got into the rotation last year, so that makes it interesting."

The fact is, this is a program and these players have put in their dues. All but two probable starters are seniors. And the Vikings' returning starters are pretty much lights-out good.

Like nimble 300-pound tackle Loudon Vollbrecht, who has offers from Bowling Green and Illinois; defensive tackle Stephen Kemp, whose 104 tackles led Geneva a second straight year; and college-prospect tailback Justin Taormina.

In an all-conference junior year Taormina ran for 1,014 yards and 22 touchdowns, added 225 yards receiving and 345 yards on kickoff returns.

The coach is correct, though, it will be interesting. After two-plus seasons riding the strong arm of current Northern Illinois freshman Daniel Santacaterina, 2014 All-Area captain Pace Temple and a succession of receivers 6-3 and taller the offense might more closely resemble Wicinski's bread-and-butter.

"It's going to be more traditional, more like 60-40 run-pass," he said.

In at quarterback is mobile Sean Chambers, whose 96 tackles last season at safety earned not only all-Upstate Eight River honors but also a future at Princeton. Santacaterina's backup, Chambers completed 6 of 8 passes with a touchdown last season and obviously has no problem running people down, or over.

"I like to boot, sprintout and run the short game, the 2-, 3-step drop. He does all those things," Wicinski said.

In Taormina, Geneva has one of the fastest athletes in all of Kane County. Two others are teammates Ryan Skibinski, a receiver; and Donny Friedel, a defensive back Wicinski said also will see time on offense. Jack Wassel returns to add height at wideout.

Like most coaches, Wicinski's main offensive concern is up front, where the established Vollbrecht - whose mobility is proven by several college basketball offers - and center John Boenzi are joined by a fresh group of starters.

In practices, Wicinski said, all of them had difficulty handling Kemp. That's not unusual; few opposing linemen can one-on-one.

Kemp and Chambers are the main returners, but the defense does return more reps than the offense with players like Friedel, lineman Nick Schmook, linebacker Tim Green and particularly defensive end Colin Lee, who made 30 tackles a year ago.

"The defense has had a good demeanor, good juju," Wicinski said. "They've found some swag."

Players change, but under Wicinski rarely has it been lost.