Libertyville Cats aiming for better finish

Not much separated Libertyville last year from spectacular and disappointing.

"We had four games that went down to the final play," Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski said. "And we won only one of them."

By the end of the season, the oh-so-close Wildcats just missed the playoffs. With a 4-5 record, Libertyville sat home during the postseason for the first time since 1996.

"It was tough going through that," said Kuceyeski, who guided Libertyville to a state championship just four seasons ago. "But in the long run, I think that experience is going to benefit us. It forced us to refocus what we do, reevaluate.

"I think we may have gotten a little complacent because we had been doing so well. We can't do that. We'll have a new attitude this year."

And new uniforms and a new quarterback and a lot of other new guys, too.

The Wildcats return only seven starters, including just two on offense, from last year's team. But Kuceyeski believes that what his team might lack in experience, it will more than make up for in talent and enthusiasm. And he's seen that formula work before.

"In 2004 (the state championship year), we had lost all kinds of starters from the year before and everyone thought we had nothing," Kuceyeski said. "But we had great kids coming up who were talented and had great attitudes.

"With this new group, their drive and commitment to do well and their character really stand out _ just like in 2004."

The new juniors join the varsity with a boatload of confidence. They went 9-0 last season as sophomores _ and that was without classmate James Zotto, a standout running back who was a starter with the varsity and ran for about 400 yards.

Offensive lineman Dan King is the Wildcats' only other returning starter on offense. He'll block for starting quarterback Campbell Stemper who was the backup last season but didn't get many reps.

Not that Kuceyeski is all that concerned.

"He's probably the biggest and strongest quarterback we've ever had. He's got a really strong arm," Kuceyeski said of Stemper, who is 6-feet and 205 pounds. "He worked out extremely hard in the off-season and did a lot of camps and did really well in the 7-on-7s (passing leagues). He's a great student of the game and I think he'll be just as effective running the ball as he is throwing it."

Besides Zotto, Stemper's options in the backfield will include Nate Johnson and Kevin Verlee.

Johnson will also start at safety on defense, where Libertyville is a bit more experienced.

Andrew Jones returns at linebacker while Brooks McDowell and Jon Darling return in the secondary and Brian Taylor resumes his spot on the line.

Johnson and Zotto, who will also play safety, will be the Wildcats' only two-way players.

"We've got a lot of athleticism and speed on defense. Every one of our defensive starters is under a 5-flat in the 40 (dash)," Kuceyski said. "I think our defense will carry us early.

"We start off with a tough schedule, but we're expecting a lot this season. We want to do well. We want to reestablish ourselves in the playoffs and I think all of our guys have accepted that challenge."