Kaneland's pass attack could present problems
This football season has been a great experience for Kaneland due to its experience.
Three-year starters Joe Camiliere, Blake Serpa, Tyler Callaghan, Jimmy Boyle and Taylor Andrews and two-year starters Ben Kovalick, Kyle Davidson and Quinn Buschbacher continued the Knights' first unbeaten campaign since 1998 by running and passing the King Jaguars off the field, 42-0 last Friday in Class 5A.
“I think it really comes down to all the experience all these seniors have had,” said Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly, who doesn't figure to score all his points by halftime Saturday hosting No. 8 seed Crystal Lake Central (8-2).
“They've learned a lot the last two years,” Fedderly said. “They knew they had the opportunity to be a really good team and they wanted to do things the right way. I can't say enough about their leadership.”
So, he said more about one of his catalysts, senior Blake Serpa.
“I think he's grown up a lot,” Fedderly said, not meaning his size of 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. Serpa has run for 460 yards, has 434 yards in receptions and has scored 16 touchdowns. In the Knights' 3-5 scheme he terrorizes offensive tackles at defensive end, where Central Michigan wants him to play.
“He's just had an unbelievable season,” Fedderly said. “He's done all the things that we've thought he could. He's been big on special teams, on defense and on offense. He tries to do all the little things right.”
No. 1 seed Kaneland (10-0) must do many things right to stifle the power running game of Crystal Lake Central, which beat No. 9 seed Antioch 24-21 in overtime.
Gage Harrah leads all players listed by McHenry County Sports.com in rushing, with 1,528 yards and 18 touchdowns. Dyllon McKinney sits eighth with 844 yards rushing, plus 8 touchdowns. Central also offers fullback Ryan Hines' 405 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Tigers quarterback Brett Schuld “can make plays,” Fedderly said, completing 63 percent of his passes for 696 yards and 5 touchdowns without an interception. One of those scores came with 1:33 left in regulation to tie Antioch before the Tigers won in overtime.
Camiliere nearly matched Schuld's season total against King alone. The senior slinger upped his total to 27 touchdown passes against 2 interceptions by targeting Serpa, Andrews, Callaghan and the wily Buschbacher, who has 1,219 all-purpose yards.
These veterans aim to show Crystal Lake Central something it hasn't experienced.
“I don't know how good or bad they are at defending the pass, but we haven't seen them have to defend it all that much,” Fedderly said. “We'll find out.”