Palatine's quarterback taking charge

There is no possibility of confusing Matt Rossi for one of Palatine's imposing offensive linemen.

Rossi would love to have their anonymity. But satisfying that craving would require an additional 75 to 100 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame.

It would also require a position switch from quarterback. And he doesn't figure to be toiling in obscurity for a Palatine team hoping to go beyond last season's trip to the second round of the Class 8A state football playoffs.

If that happens, Rossi figures to get plenty of attention in an offense that has been opened up to maximize his abilities. It would raise Rossi to the level of quarterbacks such as Jeff and Randy Hecklinski, Matt Marzec, Ken Stopka and Sergio Lund from Palatine's days as a perennial playoff participant from 1986 to 1997.

But the humble Rossi insists he's fine if the spotlight shines elsewhere.

"He's one of those kids who likes to be a fly on the wall and is a pretty humble kid about all that stuff," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly.

"I just play football and don't worry about the headlines as much," Rossi said. "I'd rather other people get them.

"Mostly the linemen. I've got to protect them."

Rossi laughed about a comment that definitely goes both ways since he'll be hoping for time to pick apart defenses with his deep crew of receivers.

And the goal for Rossi and the Pirates is to play even deeper into November after ending a 10-year postseason drought and reaching the second round in Class 8A.

"Now that we know what it's like to get to the playoffs, I think we know how to excel through the playoffs," Rossi said. "I thnk we'll actually get more respect this year. In the past everyone thought of us pretty much as a blowoff game."

Rossi received some painful lessons in that regard as a sophomore. He thought he would be the starting safety but wound up as the starting quarterback for the undermanned Pirates.

Rossi helped Palatine win its opener but seven of its last eight games ended in defeat. But he showed hope for the future by completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,292 yards with 8 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

"It was different because I hadn't been on any losing teams," said Rossi, who has played quarterback since he was in middle school. "Being the youngest kid on the team and not knowing what varsity is like was different.

"It paid off the year after that."

Rossi still had a chance to develop as a varsity quarterback as Palatine primarily pounded away at defenses with a powerful line and deep group of running backs in its double-wing attack.

But Rossi was more than capable of keeping defenses honest as he hit 62 percent of his passes for 1,315 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

"It would have been dumb not to run," Rossi said. "It worked out really good from my point and I'm able to have this offense now."

One with the strong-armed Rossi as the focal point.

"We changed everything because of him," Donnelly said of the switch to a hurry-up, spread offense. "He worked his tail off in the spring."

Rossi, who has two years of varsity basketball experience, gave up baseball in order to improve his passing mechanics and his strength.

Rossi, who has a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and scored 24 on the ACT, hopes it pays off with a chance to play at the next level.

Rossi said Indiana has been interested. So is Division III power Augustana, which coincidentally has switched from a wing-T to a passing attack with former Elk Grove star Tim Podulka.

But Rossi expects that situation to take care of itself down the line.

"I've heard about too many kids who have a bad senior year," Rossi said, "because they're worried about college too much."

What Rossi is concerned with is keeping Palatine on track to becoming a perennial playoff team. And he is glad to be the guy with the ball in his hands.

"I like being the leader of the offense and having a say in what happens," Rossi said.

Even if he doesn't want much said about himself.