Prospect duo makes big return, leads big season

John Coen and Matt Huene felt as if they were on the outside looking in at Prospect's drive to a Mid-Suburban East football title last year.

Coen was one-third of the way into a big year as one of Miles Osei's top targets when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury which required surgery.

Huene's season never even got started as the 6-foot-6, 240-pound offensive lineman suffered a ripped tendon in his right knee.

"I was distanced from it and didn't know what was going on exactly," Huene said of frequently missing practice to rehabilitate his knee.

"There is some sort of emotional bond when you're on the field with everybody," said Coen, who suffered the same shoulder injury as a freshman. "It was a different emotional level and you basically don't feel that same connection."

Getting another chance to experience those emotions drove Coen and Huene to rebound from their setbacks.

Now they get their shot to play a part in the big-game atmosphere at 7:30 p.m. Friday when Prospect hosts rival Rolling Meadows, which has already clinched at least a share of the MSL East title.

"At a lot of different places I would have considered (not playing)," said Coen, who is also one of the Knights' top baseball players. "People would say, 'How could you still play,' but I would let it go in one ear and out the other.

"I wasn't thinking about not playing football at all."

Neither was Huene, who is in line to be big part for the basketball team this winter.

Huene has helped pave the way to a whopping 474 yards a game for the 8-1 Knights. Coen has caught 25 passes for 443 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"Sometimes a kid gets injured and can kind of live with it and roll through the rest of the season," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "Both of these guys' injuries had a deep personal effect.

"They both really missed being with the team and they're both playing pretty well right now. They value a little more what some kids don't."

They did have to overcome some fears of re-injury when they returned to the field.

"I did have to kind of adapt to it," Huene said. "The knee always felt a little weaker than last year but over the season it hasn't really been on my mind in the games. A lot of it is natural to me now."

Coen also said his shoulder problems crept into his mind at times but really hasn't been a problem. Returning to full-time duty on the field also allowed him to speak more with his actions than last year, when he had to take on a much different role.

"Johnny was probably as involved as anybody and that's the competitor in Johnny," Pearlman said. "He may have felt, 'If I can't physically do anything to help you out, maybe I'm not a part of it.'

"But I think sometimes last year he saved us emotionally. He had a way of talking to the team to make them appreciate, 'You are going out this week to play and I'm not.'"

Said Coen: "It was difficult when we were struggling for a couple of weeks (last year) even though we were winning. It was tough not to make an impact physically."

Now Coen, who is looking at his college baseball options and wants to study secondary education, is making an impression in all three phases since he starts in the secondary and is the place-kicker.

Pearlman believes Huene's his best football is in his future. But one of the best parts for Huene is finally getting his shot this year.

"This year I've built up bonds with people I wouldn't have and didn't last year because I was on the sidelines," Huene said.