Scouting the Lisle Lions
Shortly before last season Lisle was thrown into a tizzy when returning starting quarterback Jon Surber announced he was instead concentrating on baseball.
It worked out for Surber, who will pitch for Clemson. It did not work out for Lisle, which shifted on the fly to junior Chris Wray behind center.
The fact that Wray underwent shoulder surgery this summer, ending his football career, came with advance warning.
"It's not like the prior year when we had to scramble," said Lions sixth-year defensive coordinator Ron Jaegle. (Head coach Dan Sanko was to return this week from Colorado, where his fiancee suffered a stroke during their vacation.)
Yet the scramble remains in vogue. Senior Anthony Ventrella, who led the Lions in rushing each of the last two seasons, is planned to share quarterback duties with pass-oriented sophomore Nick Saul.
"Both will be behind center in game one," said Jaegle, noting each will command a tailor-made play package.
Ventrella and Saul - whose senior brother Tim returns on both offensive and defensive lines - represent a strength at the skill positions. Joining them are returning starters Mitch McCarthy, the No. 1 receiver, and running back Nick Leonard, who averaged 4.8 yards a carry before a season-ending injury in Week 3.
Pat Heatherly, whom Jaegle said played guard "out of necessity" last year, will be a hard-hitting fullback and middle linebacker. Linemen like Tim Saul and Cam Castellanos will be bolstered by lanky transfer Terrance Allen, a starting defensive end at Romeoville as a sophomore.
Off-season conditioning was the best Jaegle had seen in years, useful since as usual several players will be going both ways. After the odd playoff miss the Lions also bring renewed attitude.
"I think they've all taken it upon themselves as a personal and team goal to get back to the playoffs," Jaegle said.
The breakdown
Coach: Dan Sanko (14th year, 64-64).
2009 record: 2-7, 1-4, fifth in the Interstate Eight Conference Small Division.
Top players: Terrance Allen (TE-DL, 6-3, 215, jr.), Kevin Brinkman (OL-DL, 6-0, 210, sr.), Cam Castellanos (OL-DL, 5-10, 180, sr.), Pat Heatherly (FB-LB, 5-9, 175, sr.), Ty Howell (TE-LB, 6-0, 175, jr.), Nick Leonard (RB-LB, 5-11, 175, jr.), Mitch McCarthy (WR-DB, 6-0, 180, sr.), Nick Saul (QB, 6-3, 175, so.), Tim Saul (OL-DL, 6-3, 185, sr.), Anthony Ventrella (QB/RB-DB, 6-2, 200, sr.).