Conant Cougars have a healthy chance at a special fall

The Cougars are loaded with experience on both sides of the ball. But according to Conant football coach Bill Modelski, who returns 15 starters and has 20 players returning that saw action, it can still come down to having good health.

"We feel pretty good about this team," said Modelski, who will start 22 seniors. "But like anybody else, injuries to the wrong kids really can make a difference."

Modelski saw that happen last year when quarterback Kyle Bradley went down with an injury early in the season. The Cougars were slow to recover from that and even when Bradley returned late in the season, it wasn't enough as Conant finished 4-5 and missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Bradley, who is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds and threw for 533 yards while rushing for yards in limited action last year, is healthy and ready to go this season for the Cougars.

"He looks very good," Modelski said. "He is a very talented kid. I feel he is a keeper and if he plays well, we will be right there."

Bradley will be joined in the backfield by Jake Jakubosky, who rushed for 713 yards last year, and fullback Adam Shymanik.

"There are lots of things we can do here," Modelski said. "We feel we can run or throw the ball."

That offense will have a strong offensive line in front of it, consisting of Nathan Kawalek (6-3, 230), Tom Goshe (6-0, 230), Steven Hanks (6-0, 204), Tyler Tuttle (6-1, 270) and Tyler Hickerson (5-11, 224). Kawalek, Tuttle and Hickerson moved from defense to offense this year to help things get into high gear.

"They did a great job for us on defense last year," Modelski said. "They should make us much stronger on the offensive line and faster on defense as well."

Palmer Graham, who has offers from a half-dozen Division I schools, mostly for his play on the defensive side of the ball, will line up at wide receiver along with Brandon Vinson, while Carl Hahn will play tight end.

Graham will lead a speedy defense that returns 8 starters from a squad that surrendered 180 points last year with 112 of those coming in 3 games. He will have help in the secondary from Jack Lumkes, who led the area last season with 6 interceptions, Nick Catalano and Alan Herrmann.

Odell Andrews, who has drawn some Division I interest, will be at inside linebacker along with Ross Cayley in the Cougars' 3-4 defense. Matt Mills and Dylan Drake will be the outside spots while the front will consist of Shymanik, Alex DeFrancesco and Joe Novak, who was lost most of last year with an injury.

Novak has caught Modelski's eye as his team has begun its work on defense.

"I think he will be a real impact player for us this season," Modelski said. "He is like a wrecking ball."

Conant opens the 2015 campaign by hosting Bartlett.