Senior trio figures to set the pace for Buffalo Grove

John Angotti, Mike Cornely and Kevin Mulligan are athletes for all seasons at Buffalo Grove.

Second-year BG coach Jim Farrell hopes this is the football season where the senior trio is rewarded with the end of a five-year playoff drought.

"They compete year-round and they love to compete," Farrell said. "We're getting in the ring with a bunch of competitors this year.

"I want them to do well to hold up for the rest of the kids in this program to aspire to be like. For me, I want to see them do well because they're such great kids."

Mulligan, an excellent student receiving Ivy League interest, is a third-year varsity player who will be vital at running back, receiver, linebacker and on returns.

"He could be one of the toughest kids in our area," Farrell said. "If there's anyone you want to give the ball to in a clutch situation it's Kevin Mulligan."

But it doesn't hurt to have a big receiving threat in Cornely, who has offers from Illinois State and Southern Illinois and Ivy League interest. Angotti will also be a dual threat offensively and in the secondary with Cornely.

"I don't think anyone has improved as much from last fall to now as much athletically," Farrell said of Angotti. "Offensively he'll be a great contributor. He just put the right kind of time in and it's amazing how dynamic he is."

Junior Mike Garrity takes over at quarterback and Austin Simon and Andrew Busse return up front.

"Last year where we admittedly struggled was the offensive line," Farrell said.

The 3-5-3 defensive alignment will be the same but there will be a different look with the departure of Alan Baxter (Northern Illinois) and John Pischak up front and leading tackler Kyle Czarnecki at middle linebacker.

Senior Mark Zdanewicz is BG's most athletic lineman and Farrell likes what he's seen from inside linebackers Zev Katz, Jeremy Salzman and Tyler Juckett.

"This year we have a very solid group up front with no superstars," Farrell said. "They need to manage the offensive line and let the linebackers make most of the tackles."