Scouting the Conant Cougars

Conant got a taste. Now the Cougars are looking for the whole meal.

Conant grabbed a share of the Mid-Suburban West title last season for the first time since 2003. Only a late-season loss kept the Cougars from winning the title outright. Conant finished with a 6-4 record and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in three years.

That season has paid dividends for Conant as the Cougars look to build off that success.

"I think that we have a solid group of kids that have bought in and are working hard," Conant coach Bryan Stortz said. "There is some talent but we're really trying to focus on the attitude and effort that we need to be successful."

Conant does have all-area running back Malik Frederick returning. As a sophomore last season Frederick, who played a wing, rushed for 553 yards and had 126 receiving yards.

To get Frederick more involved with the offense, Stortz has moved his prized back to the fullback position in the Cougar offense.

"We've moved Malik to our fullback position because we feel that he'll get more touches at that spot," Stortz said. "He made some great plays last season and we need to make sure he gets more involved this year."

Conant will also have Ronald Williams, Jeremy Carrell and Jack Hominac playing running back along with Dom Maiorello.

Conant will have a sophomore guiding their option offense with Joe Dugo stepping into that role this season.

"Joey Dugo is a sophomore who has grown into the offense over the summer and has shown steady improvement each day," Stortz said. "We need him to continue to work hard and learn from each practice."

The offensive line will all be seniors. Walter Pedro, Derek Lewandowski, Kyle Prodzinski, Ethan Richert, Rory Conroy and John Vasalos. They are a bit undersized but Stortz expects big things from this group.

Mason Rieger and Tony Datoli will be at tight end to complete the Cougars' 7-man front while Marktwain Green will be at wide receiver.

"We're not going to be as big as some of the fronts that we'll see. So we need to play low, hard, and fast," Stortz said. "We'll look to establish the run and control the clock as much as possible."

The defense will also be lacking great size as well.

"Again, we're a bit undersized, so we'll have to rely on technique and speed to accommodate for our lack of size," Stortz said. "We have some guys back with experience and quite a few new faces, so we'll need to learn and grow each day."

Maiorello, Lewandowski, Datoli and Christian Gripper will look to help control the line of scrimmage. That should give Rieger and Jake Sersen, who are seniors, and Aaron Drawer and Kobe Gilbert, who are juniors, an opportunity to roam free.

Williams and Matt Bortello will be at the corners while Jeremy Betancourt and Krystian Tonchev will be at safety.

Stortz says the lessons of the past few season will help his team.

"We look to compete, play hard, and look to build off of all the work put in the last two years," Stortz said. "Making the playoffs was a good accomplishment for our program last year. This offseason our kids have really worked hard to build upon last year and the long tradition of Conant football."

The Cougars will have a tough preconference schedule playing Addison Trail, Elk Grove, Glenbrook South and New Trier before taking on their MSL West rivals.

"The MSL is always tough and we'll be on the road more this season," Stortz said. "We'll have to be ready to play each night."