Football: Forecast is sunny for skill-heavy Schaumburg

Don't sleep on Schaumburg.

The Saxons, who made huge strides last season after a disappointing 2014 campaign, look to make an even higher jump in 2016.

Coach Mark Stilling feels that his skill players are truly unique.

"Our skill kids on both sides of the ball as good as any group we have had," Stilling said. "We are undersized, but we are used to that."

Schaumburg, which was 5-5 last year, returns eight starters on a defense. That includes 6 of 7 starters in the defensive backfield.

"They are getting better and better back there," Stilling said. "As long as those kids are willing to work at it we can do a lot of things defensively."

The Saxons return all three linebackers - Matt Eaker, who will be in the middle, and outside backers John Macneal-Young and Austin Anzelmo.

While just three of the four secondary returns in Anthony Nix at corner and Dan Galovich and Logan Nox at safety, Stilling is very high on corner Dakari Ferguson.

The defensive line will be comprised of veterans Dhivan Patel, and Tyler Fredrickson along with newcomers Jack Lancaster and Siraj Al-Shdifat.

Offensively, the Saxons will be built on speed. Running back Jordan Salgado, who gained 84 yards in a reserve role last year in a week 9 victory against Fremd that moved the Saxons into the playoffs, is back. He will take over the main running back duties.

Schaumburg also welcomes back play caller Justin Perez, who threw for 1,163 yards while running for another 183 yards.

"He is an exceptional decision-maker," Stilling said. "He takes tremendous care with the ball and leads the team very well."

The Saxons will have a plethora of speed and athleticism at the slot position. Jacob Bishop, Hezekiah Trotter along with Golovich and Ferguson give Schaumburg depth at position as well. The wide recievers will be Terry Gray, Alex Burke and Kevin Kubinski.

The offensive line returns two starters in Andres Ortiz (5-foot-11, 230) and David Drs (6-4, 210) along with Jalen Young (5-10, 200), Robert Grasse (6-0, 200) and Paul Anderson (6-1, 250).

"We are a bit undersized up front," Stilling said. "We will need a toughness and a willingness to get better fundamentally."

Stilling knows that his team will have a tough road ahead of them, but thinks his Saxons are up for the test.

"We think we can compete with anybody," Stilling said. "It is going to come down to toughness up front and being physical, along with our skill kids doing what they are capable of."