Trip aids Elk Grove’s transition
Elk Grove’s football players and assistant coaches and new head coach Larry Calhoun did not have much time to get to know each other.
Calhoun, who was an assistant high school coach in Texas, didn’t get the job until mid-June after Brian Doll’s departure at the end of May to help promote football in Europe.
But the learning curve was accelerated when Elk Grove won the Wheaton Warrenville South 7-on-7 tournament and qualified for a national tourney trip to Alabama in late July.
“I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Calhoun said. “I got to know the coaches better and the trip and practices brought the boys together better.
“Any time you have a long trip like that you have an opportunity to develop relationships you didn’t have the opportunity to develop. I think it’s going to help us down the road.”
Especially since the Grenadiers want to stay on the path they were on with Doll of 7A playoff appearances in all three of his seasons in charge. It culminated with last year’s Mid-Suburban East title and quarterfinal trip.
It didn’t take long for Calhoun to be impressed with junior Adam O’Malley, who stepped in and threw for 903 yards and 8 touchdowns after all-area captain Dejan Basara was injured.
“We’re going to give him some decision-making responsibility he didn’t have before,” Calhoun said. “He doesn’t get rattled, he has a really good attitude and he enjoys the responsibility.”
Kishan Patel is back as one of O’Malley’s top targets and Calhoun thinks John Pass will emerge as one of the league’s top receivers.
Junior Travon Royal, who came up to start on defense the second half of last year, moves in at running back behind the line anchored by two-way standout and Division I prospect Dan Egan.
Egan and Johnny Assimakopoulos will continue to wreak havoc up front in coordinator Rob Pomazak’s scheme that allowed only 260 yards a game.
Linebackers Mikey Maize, Mike Bishoff, Luke Dybicz and Alfonso Lavin all have experience with Royal, Patel and Luc Dimaso in the secondary.
“I feel really good about it,” Calhoun said. “I haven’t seen anybody else but I like what we’re doing and the way the kids are executing.”
Probably starters
Grenadiers at a glance
Coach: Larry Calhoun (first year)
Last year: 10-2, 5-0 (East champs, 7A quarterfinalist)
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
QB Adam O’Malley 6-1/180 Jr.
RB Travon Royal 5-8/165 Jr.
T Jake Radtke 6-3/235 Sr.
G Brandon Soriano 5-11/260 Jr.
C Anthony DeBell 6-0/210 Sr.
G Josh Palframan 5-9/235 Sr.
T Dan Egan 6-3/250 Sr.
WR John Eul 5-11/160 Sr.
WR Kishan Patel 5-11/165 Sr.
WR Mike Bishoff 6-2/190 Jr.
WR John Pass 6-3/185 Jr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
DL Dan Egan 6-3/250 Sr.
NT Johnny Assimakopoulos 5-11/210 Jr.
DL Jake Radtke 6-3/235 Sr.
LB Mikey Maize 6-0/215 Sr.
LB Alfonso Lavin 5-10/200 Sr.
LB Mike Bishoff 6-2/190 Jr.
LB Luke Dybicz 6-0/160 Sr.
CB Kishan Patel 5-11/165 Sr.
CB Luc Dimaso 5-6/155 Sr.
S Matt McKenna 5-10/150 Sr.
S Travon Royal 5-8/165 Jr.