Expect Grant to field a winner

Don't be fooled by the bulldozers, mounds of dirt and portable chain-link fences that greet you as you walk up to Paul G. Lewis Field.

They're not rebuilding at Grant.

While it's true that the Fox Lake high school is erecting a new field house adjacent to its stadium, the football team looks to build on last year's unforgettable season. Led by quarterback Pawel Zurkowski, play-making wide receiver Tommy Bychowski and defensive Bobby Madlener, the Bulldogs didn't lose a game during the regular season. The North Suburban Prairie Division champs then won their opening-round playoff game against Simeon for their school-record 10th win, before losing to eventual Class 6A state runner-up Lemont.

"I'm sure people are going to think last season was a fluke," coach Kurt Rous said. "Which is fine."

Few coaches are better than Rous when it comes to playing the no-respect card, and that strategy certainly seemed to help motivate his team last fall. But while perhaps no one expects a repeat of last season's unblemished regular season, Grant can always be counted on to have at least moderate success. The Bulldogs haven't won fewer than four games in a season since 1997. Last season marked their third straight postseason appearance and sixth in nine years.

"I'm hoping for 7-2 at the worst," Rous said. "(But) I'm not going to take any game for granted."

Rous' team opens its 2008 season tonight against host Johnsburg, which "scares" him, he said, but the Bulldogs surely won't be taken lightly by any opponent either. While Zurkowski (Drake) has graduated, the offense returns all-conference fullback Israel Rodriguez. Rodriguez, however, moves to quarterback after being Zurkowski's backup last year.

"He'll be able to run the ball," Rous said. "Hopefully we'll give him time to throw."

The Bulldogs suffered a devastating blow in camp when returning all-conference center Kevin Savage tore his ACL. He won't play this season.

"It's killing him. I feel bad for him," Rous said. "We're going to miss him a lot."

Savage is one of five Grant seniors who was promoted to varsity as a sophomore. The others are Bychowski, center/defensive end Bud Staton, guard/defensive tackle Mike Zielinski and wide receiver/defensive back Brandon Bushing, who's currently shelved with an injury. Bychowski enjoyed a breakout season last year, catching 56 passes and scoring 8 touchdowns. He also returned a pair of kickoffs for TDs.

With the strong-armed Zurkowski gone, the challenge will be to get Bychowski ample touches so he can show off his abilities.

"We got to get him the ball," Rous said. "We're going to move him around a little bit. He's a playmaker."

The offense also features veteran linemen Zielinski, John King and Mike Bessette. Staton did not play on the O-line last year.

The defensive line could be a strength, too, despite the graduation of Madlener, who was a three-year starter. Staton moves from linebacker to end. King will occupy the other end position with Zielinski and Jacob Brown inside. Cody Arff will rotate in.

Rous likes to his team's potential, but also realizes the Bulldogs need to get more consistent or they could struggle.

"We're up and down," he said. "We're like Jekyll and Hyde. One day we're good, one day we're bad."