Kaneland glad to get older

One of the best things about sophomores?

They become juniors and seniors.

The Kaneland Knights, who made the playoffs last season with six sophomore starters and were 4-5 the year before starting a similar number of sophs, hope to translate that experience into results.

"This is a year we've been waiting for," Knights coach Tom Fedderly said.

The ringleader of last year's sophomoritis was Joe Camiliere. The quarterback took full advantage of Fedderly's one-back spread offense, earning all-Western Sun Conference and Daily Herald All-Area honors by completing 195 of 336 passes (58 percent) for 2,551 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also led the Knights with 465 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns.

"When I look at Joe, he's a football player," Fedderly said. "He's just real competitive and he wants to win. He's got a very good arm and he's very smart. And he's turning into a leader."

Camiliere - who can also get tips from Fedderly's defensive coordinator, Hall of Famer Joe Thorgesen, father of Kaneland's one-time gunslinger Boone Thorgesen - will target returning starter Ryley Bailey, the county's seventh-leading reception yardage leader in 2008 with 642 yards on 53 catches.

Tyler Callaghan, Taylor Andrews and Blake Serpa, who caught 10 touchdown passes in 2008, also are returning receivers.

Much of the benefit of playing sophomores the past two seasons will be felt at the line of scrimmage. Aside from another probable sophomore starter, Ben Kovalick, the offensive line offers returning senior starters Brett Ketza and Eric Dratnol, and junior Jimmy Boyle, who was named to the Western Sun All-Conference Team at defensive tackle.

"(Experience) is going to make a big difference especially on the offensive line and defensive line because that's where the game is won, and that's where we've been really young the last couple of years," Fedderly said.

The defensive line returns three of five starters from last year, backed up by returning starting linebackers Ketza and Derek Bus. Seniors Bailey and Brock Dyer are back in the secondary.

Conditioning best be solid particularly at the skill positions, because six potential opening-night starters are playing both offense and defense. Helping that cause will be experienced returnees such as defensive backs Donovan Williams and Blake Kendrick and running back Eric Tattoni.

But with all this experience and solid chemistry so far, exhibited by Dratnol, Dyer, Bus, Ketza and Bailey voted in as team captains, it's got to pay off on both sides of the ball.

"I think we've paid our dues, we've taken our lumps with these younger kids, and now we can see what we can do," Fedderly said. "It's nice not having to start six sophomores."