Scouting the Crystal Lake South Gators
A young Crystal Lake South football team got caught in the Fox Valley Conference meat grinder last season and finished 3-6 under a first-year coach.
With seven offensive starters returning - highlighted by top offensive line prospect Trevor Keegan - and a senior-heavy defense led by three key returnees, the Gators intend to do the grinding this year.
The offensive line is a strong point for the 47-member varsity, led by Keegan. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound senior is a returning all-state selection with offers from national champion Alabama, runner-up Georgia, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Southern California and most of the Big Ten.
Keegan isn't the only Division-I recruit on the CL South line. Dominic Collado is a 6-4, 300-pound junior. He has offers from Central Michigan and South Dakota State and is drawing Big Ten interest. Seniors Nick Morrissey (6-0, 220) and Ethan Greenspan (5-11, 270) also return to the seasoned line.
"They're a force to be reckoned with when," second-year coach Rob Fontana said. "It's been amazing to watch them grow, and it's going to be fun to watch Dom play alongside Trevor again this year."
Junior Ian Gorken returns after splitting time at quarterback last year. He completed 42 of 74 attempts for 479 yards and 6 touchdowns and threw 5 interceptions. Gorken rushed for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns on 59 carries. Fontana said there has been good competition at quarterback throughout camp.
Seniors Jacob Rana and Michael Helm return at receiver. Rana led the Gators a year ago in receptions (29), receiving yards (400) and scoring catches (6). Helm made 11 grabs for 176 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Zach Borgert (6-0, 190) rotated in last season at running back. He gained 209 yards and scored 2 touchdowns in 44 attempts (4.8-yard avg.).
The Gators can score 3 points if they drive within 40 yards of the end zone, thanks to strong-legged kicker Jake Kocemba. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior makes 60-yard field goals in practice with no line in front of him, according to his coach. Last season he made 22 of 23 extra points and 1 of 2 field goals from beyond 40 yards. The senior carries a 4.7 grade-point average and is getting Division-I interest, including the Ivy League.
Kocemba is also one of three returning defensive players. His 14.5 tackles last year included 3 tackles for loss. The Gators' leading returning tackler is senior Billy Epperson. The linebacker was third on the team in tackles (40) and made 5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Senior Ryan Lawson returns in the secondary. He notched 30.5 tackles and broke up two passes last season.
"Defensively, it's those three and then piecing a lot of things together with seniors," Fontana said. "Those three are very good leaders. Ben Hausch is another senior who has worked really hard. The seniors are stepping up and they're truly shaping the defense in the way they want it done."
Whether Crystal Lake South can make the playoffs after a two-year absence remains to be seen, but the Gators are headed in the right direction, according to Fontana.
"I really like this group. I like their work ethic," he said. "This is going to be the first true group that I've had for two varsity years, so seeing what we get from them will be exciting."