Bitter ending has Barrington looking for better finish
Barrington wants to pick up where it started last year.
Which was perfect through its first seven football games. But a three-game losing streak ended its Mid-Suburban West title hopes and its season in a first-round playoff loss to Glenbrook South.
"That's been the theme for this year's team and many of the guys back 'Finish the Fight,'" said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "Make sure we finish what we've started and every game we finish strong in the fourth quarter."
And staying strong to the finish will be crucial as Sanchez has the most starters going both ways (five) during his 10-year tenure.
"For 10 years we've believed in two-platoon football but our numbers aren't as good as they used to be," Sanchez said. "To put the most competitive team on the field we have to play more guys both ways."
Wisconsin-bound offensive tackle Dan Voltz (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) will also play defense. Also doing double duty are seniors Dylan Zyzda and Sam Handler at cornerback and receiver and Lee Conforti at tight end and defensive end.
But the biggest two-way piece could be senior Chase Murdock, who has a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons and is a Division I linebacker prospect. Murdock will be a key part of a scheme switch to a 3-4 from a 3-5-3 a year after he battled mononucleosis, turf toe and a broken bone in his back that sidelined him for the playoffs.
"He's as good as I've seen him look right now," Sanchez said. "People will be very shocked. Once he gets it going, he's playing at a different level on both sides of the ball."
Barrington does hope senior quarterback Mark Bennett picks up where he finished last year as he came in and threw 3 second-half touchdowns in the playoff loss.
Receiver-tailback Austin Schmidt has playmaking abilities. Junior left tackle Mason Darrow got significant time last year as Voltz will lead a group that lost all-area picks Pat Bolger (Air Force) and Jimmy Kristof (Western Michigan).
Sanchez sees returning starting inside linebacker Aaron Foley as one of the leaders on a defense with a lot of new faces.
"I'm excited about this group because they run pretty well and they're going to hit people and be physical," Sanchez said. "If those two areas show up like I think they they're capable of we'll be pretty good.
"But we have to prove to people we are a quality, championship-level type of defense. We have to grow up quickly under the lights."
Broncos at a glance
Coach: Joe Sanchez (64-33, 10th year)
Last year: 7-3, 3-2 (T3rd West, 8A first round)
Probable starters
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
QB Mark Bennett 6-4/180 Sr.
TB Chase Murdock 6-1/215 Sr.
FB Dan Davidson 5-9/215 Sr.
LT Mason Darrow 6-5/270 Jr.
LG Josh Watkins 5-11/210 Sr.
C Ben Calamari 6-3/235 Jr.
RG Akeel Abdelhaldi 6-1/270 Jr.
RT Dan Voltz 6-5/290 Sr.
TE Lee Conforti 6-4/200 Sr.
WR Sam Handler 6-0/200 Sr.
WR Dylan Zyzda 6-0/185 Sr.
WR Austin Schmidt 5-7/150 Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
DT Lee Conforti 6-4/200 Sr.
NT Chris Van Kampen 6-3/270 Jr.
DT Sean Caffe 5-10/180 Sr.
OLB Cody Adelizzi 6-2/180 Sr.
ILB Aaron Foley 6-0/205 Sr.
ILB Chase Murdock 6-1/215 Sr.
OLB Hank Mitchell 5-10/195 Sr.
CB Sam Handler 6-0/200 Sr.
CB Dylan Zyzda 6-0/185 Sr.
FS Eric Dowdy 6-0/145 Jr.
SS Joe Asher 5-11/185 Sr.