Scouting Kaneland @ Yorkville
By Dave Oberhelman
Kaneland (5-3, 4-2)
at Yorkville (3-5, 2-4)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. today
Last year: Kaneland 34, Yorkville 0.
Last week: Geneva 27, Kaneland 24 (OT); Sycamore 28, Yorkville 3.
Outlook: Win or lose - and Kaneland should win - the Knights will add several more playoff points to their current number of 37 and reach the postseason for the 14th time in 15 seasons. Though Kaneland lost last week, the margin of Geneva's victory in weather unsuited to Kaneland's style, and the opponent itself, made it a productive effort that increased Kaneland's big-game savvy. The Knights must beat Yorkville and rely on both Geneva and Glenbard South losing to gain what would be a four-way tie (with Sycamore) for the final Western Sun Conference title. That's such a slim proposition it's best to focus on more realistic incentives. "Even though we lost, I feel like our team is peaking," said Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly. "We might have an outside chance, if we go 6-3, to get a home playoff game because there are a lot of 6-3's, 5-4's. So we want to finish strong, feel good about ourselves." The way Kaneland will do both is to ride the same names heard all season. Quarterback Joe Camiliere has completed 132 of 217 passes for 1,961 yards, 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions - none since Week 2 against Huntley. Ryley Bailey has 48 receptions for 774 yards, 7 touchdowns. Taylor Andrews has 23 catches (tied with Blake Serpa) for 448 yards and leads the Knights with 64 tackles. Eric Dratnol and Jimmy Boyle have made a respective 45 and 35 tackles - great numbers for defensive tackles, especially considering they play both ways. Kicker Chad Swieca booted a 23-yard field goal in overtime against Geneva. Can't get more clutch than that, especially for a freshman. Of longtime rival Yorkville, Fedderly said it's a group "that just plays hard. They're physical." That's just fine with Kaneland bruisers such as Brett Ketza, Brock Dyer and Tyler Callaghan. Yorkville hasn't beaten a team over .500, but coach Jim Still's losses are against teams a combined 30-10. Tony Lamantia and Will Parker are the Foxes' top ball carriers, and defensive end Pat Dabbs heads the team in tackles. "They run a 3-5-3 and they're real aggressive and they blitz a lot," Fedderly said. "So we've got to make sure we pick up their blitzes and try to move the chains."