Benet starting out strong again in 2014
While people may focus on Benet’s 0-4 finish to last season, a season that ended in the first round of the Class 7A postseason with a loss to eventual 7A state champion Mount Carmel, many might forget Benet opened up 2013 with six straight victories.
Off to a 4-0 start this season heading into tonight’s game at Marist, the Redwings have seemingly put their poor finish to last season behind them as they look to get playoff eligible with a win over the RedHawks tonight.
“I think we have learned from the past and this year, we’re really trying to isolate week to week and the statement around here is that after every game that we’re doing, ‘It’s a new season,’” Benet coach Pat New said earlier this week. “So we’re treating every week like a new season in an attempt to just focus on week to week.”
A big reason for Benet’s strong start in an attempt to put the end of the 2013 season behind it is the presence of senior running Brad Sznajder.
Thrust into the spotlight when Porter Ontko tore his ACL in a Week 2 win over South Elgin a year ago, Sznajder tallied 814 yards and nine touchdowns as the primary option in the backfield behind the since-transferred Jack Beneventi.
Sznajder hasn’t let his foot off the gas pedal through his first four games in posting 685 yards and sitting a touchdown shy of his 2013 total with eight.
“We knew Brad (Sznajder) was going to be pretty tough to stop because he ran for about 850 yards last year and scored (nine) touchdowns,” New said. “He was our big-play guy as a junior, so he put on about 20 pounds in the offseason. (He) really worked hard. So we figured he’d have a great year. So far, so good. I mean, he’s just such an excellent leader. Our guys respect the heck out of him. It’s kind of going as expected with Brad.”
Brad Sznajder’s younger brother, Jack, has been given the keys to the offense after Beneventi’s offseason transfer to Fenwick and has done a nice job of managing things for a team who admittedly relies on its defense.
Senior defensive back Mac Cooney has intercepted passes in three of the Redwings’ first four games, including crucial picks against both Downers Grove South in Week 1 and St. Patrick last week.
Over the course of the last two weeks, Tim Cederblad’s defensive charges have allowed just one touchdown while also posting a shutout of Notre Dame two weeks ago.
“I’m not (surprised by the fast start) in that these guys have really achieved a lot at the younger levels and defense has always been kind of our thing, so as long as you play good D, I think you have a great time winning.”
DuPage Valley Conference challenging as usual
The fact both Wheaton schools enter play tonight at 1-3 isn’t a surprise to one of the coaches in the conference.
“Well, they play great schedules and I mean, to be honest, nothing surprises me in our league. This year, every team is pretty similar,” Naperville North coach Sean Drendel said. “I think we all hang our hat a little bit defensively and play hard-nosed defense.”
Drendel’s team sits at 2-2 overall after suffering two straight losses coming into tonight’s game at Lake Park before dealing with crosstown rival Naperville Central at North Central College next week.
The coach of the defending 8A state champions and the 12th-ranked Redhawks, who enter play tonight at home against Glenbard North on a three-game winning streak, Mike Stine, concurred with his longtime counterpart.
“There are going to be some good teams that don’t make the playoffs this year from the conference,” Stine said.
Naperville Central and Lake Park lead the way for the six-team DVC with three wins apiece coming into Week 5, which would put both programs a win shy of playoff eligibility if they can post wins against Glenbard North and Naperville North, respectively.
Oliver continuing roll for Metea Valley
Perhaps better known for being Bob Vozza’s point guard on the basketball team, Bryson Oliver is showing flashes of his ability on the football field.
With the Mustangs off to a 2-2 start following last week’s blowout win over West Aurora and with South Elgin on the docket tomorrow, Oliver has 643 rushing yards and six touchdowns through the first four games.
“Not really (surprised). Not really. Bryson’s been … all summer, everywhere we went, I felt like he was one of the best players on the field in a 7-on-7 tournament or a camp or whatever,” Metea Valley coach Ben Kleinhans said. “He’s so dynamic and he’s so motivated this year. We were really, really excited about what he was going to do. I think the only question was—over the summer—was could he carry the load?
“You know, carry the ball 20, 25 times a game, even 30 times a game, and he did a couple weeks ago. He’s proven he can do that and he proved it all summer. So I don’t think we’re surprised at all. He’s very good and we’ve got a very good offensive line in front of him.”
Oliver’s 59-yard punt return for a TD and 109 yards rushing helped lead the way in a 42-13 victory over West Aurora for Metea Valley (2-2, 1-1 Upstate Eight Valley) last week.
Kleinhans liked the way his team responded last week after a 14-3 loss to Bartlett the week before and strongly believes the program’s first postseason appearance is in the crosshairs after being alive for playoff contention heading into Week 9 last year.
“Oh, of course. Of course. Absolutely,” he said of a postseason berth being in reach. “The focus is we’re looking for it to be more than just make the playoffs this year. So we feel we have everything we want right in front of us.”
