Football: Grant hoping good things come in threes

At 62 years young, Vito Andriola has lost none of his passion for what he calls the "greatest team game in the history of the world."

His voice? The fiery coach has lost that at times.

Football games? He's lost too many the last two years at Grant.

This, however, is Year 3. And Year 3's under Andriola have historically ended with a postseason berth. It happened at Grayslake, as his Rams went 8-3 and won a playoff game in 2003, following 2-7 and 4-5 campaigns. It happened at Dundee-Crown, where Andriola's Chargers went from 0-9 to 3-6 to 6-4 in 2013.

Grant posted a 3-6 record in Andriola's first season and then stumbled to a 2-7 mark last year.

Hello, Year 3.

"We've talked about it," senior strong safety Nick Kouvelis said. "A lot of people are buying into his system now. Last year and the year before were a little shaky. People weren't listening to him. But this year everybody knows what we have to do, knows his system and knows the offense and defense really well. I think this year should be pretty good."

Andriola hasn't changed. He continues to stress behavior, grades and hard work.

"Ours is a program of commitment, not involvement," Andriola said. "We demand a lot of the kids. That's why our numbers are (down). We have only 40. Which is OK.

"We got good kids," he added. "It's just that sometimes we don't go like we should."

As Matt McGraw goes, so might the Bulldogs go offensively, although the Bulldogs will rely primarily on their defense. They don't figure to ask too much of McGraw, a 6-foot-3, 160-pound sophomore who will get the season-opening start at quarterback against host Crystal Lake Central.

It will be his varsity debut.

"Very poised, mature," Andriola said. "He came to every passing league."

"He's good right now and he's going to be a heck of a quarterback in the future for Grant," Kouvelis said of McGraw. "He's got a good arm, he's really efficient with his passing, and his football knowledge is really good back there. I think he's a good fit for us."

Kouvelis (6-1, 180) started Grant's final four games of last season at quarterback. But the captain is willing to do whatever is best for the team, hence his transition to defense.

"Nick Kouvelis is a great leader, a team player," Andriola. "He's just been a wonderful guy to coach. He gets it. If we all get it, we have a chance to be great."

McGraw will direct the Bulldogs' Wing-T that will feature veteran running backs in junior Kenyon Jones, senior Diego Ortiz and senior Drew Walker, who played safety last year.

Center Joey Godek started all last year. Ricky Allen made the all-conference team as a defensive lineman but will start on the offensive line his senior year. Junior Austin Sadoski started all last year, and Eddie Alto played a lot as well.

"It's a fun O-line," Andriola said. "I like them."

The wide receivers include sophomore Charlie Kramer and junior Evan Viscioni. Junior Keegan Bachara will play tight end.

The secondary features Kouvelis, Kalin Baker, Sam Tate and Joey Conway. Isaac Jamie, who played running back last year, moves to linebacker. Bryan Bajerski has started at linebacker the last two years. Spencer Lautner moves from the secondary to linebacker.

The defensive line boasts veterans Jared Maravilla and Julius Moran.

"(The defense) could be the strength of our team," Andriola said.

"We really go to the ball," Kouvelis said. "We're a much stronger unit this year. We're all seniors so we should know what we're doing and take care of business."

That, after all, is usually what happens in Year 3 under Andriola. Nothing is guaranteed, however.

"We're still physical," Andriola said. "We're still a Wing-T team. We're an attacking defense. Everything is the same as what we've done."