Scouting Leyden: Eagles planning to start new playoff streak
Leyden just missed last year.
Despite a 5-4 record, the Eagles came up a win short of the state playoffs last year, missing the postseason due to a shortage of playoff points.
Had Leyden qualified, it would have been the first time in school history that the Eagles would have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
The Eagles are ready to begin a new streak this season and look ready to check off that first year.
"We were just 2 points short," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani, whose team last year did put together the school's first back-to-back winning seasons since 1998 and '99.
"We have a lot of returners from that team last year," Cerasani said. "And our new kids are stepping it up from sophomore level. Our expectations are to make the playoffs."
The Eagles return 12 starters, six on each side of the ball. Cerasani expects the defense to be the key to his team's success this season.
"We have a very solid defense," Cerasani said. "Especially our front 7, they are very tough."
The Eagles, who will be playing a 3-4 alignment, have returnees Fernando Corona (6-0, 255) and Brian Borrowski (6-3, 240) along with Ryan Jaffrey.
The linebacking corps, which Cerasani said was "the key to our defense," is made up of Nick Motyka, Charlie Quinones, Jason Kemp and Vince Fredrickson. Motyka and Fredickson are both juniors, but both started and contributed greatly as sophomores.
The secondary consists of corners Anthony Jones and Tyler Saldana, and at safety Jimmy Lonigro, who is also a junior but started as a sophomore along with Joel Monarrez and Alex Guzman.
Gerasani says if his team is to be successful, it will need consistency from the offense.
"It is going to depend on who become our playmakers," Cerasani said. "It really depends if we can put some points on the board."
The Eagles have a nice starting point there with the return of quarterback Kyler Britten and running back Gabe Guarderas. Both are seniors.
"We return those two and that is a bonus for us," Cerasani said. "Kyler is a quarterback with experience and Gabe runs the ball quite well."
The duo will get to operate behind an offense line that returns four starters. Gerardo Castillo (6-2, 240), Shane Allen (6-1, 215), Jaffery (5-11, 215) and Borrowski, who will play tight end, all return. They will be joined by Omar Dorado(6-2, 235) and Jimmy O'Donnell (6-2, 255). All but O'Donnell, who is a junior, are seniors.
Wide receiver is a spot that the Eagles need to fill with some consistency according to Cerasani. Joel Monarrez and Lonigro are slated to start, with others in the blend.
"We need to be able to throw the ball downfield for us to be successful," Cerasani said.
Cerasani says he feels his team can contend for the West Suburban Gold title.
"It is a wide open race," Cerasani said. "Willowbrook, Hinsdale South and Downers Grove South should be very good. But I feel we are in that mix too."