Despite finishing the 2013 season with four straight losses after a 6-0 start, Benet had reason to feel optimistic following its first-round loss to eventual Class 7A state champion Mount Carmel.
After all, the Redwings would enter the 2014 season with a third-year starting quarterback who led the program to an 11-win season in 2012 and committed to the University of Iowa in December 2013.
Understandably, Jack Beneventi’s decision in early June to transfer to Fenwick and spend his final high school season playing for the Friars before matriculating to Iowa City came as somewhat of a shock.
A second straight 6-4 season followed for the Redwings over the course of 10 weeks, a time frame that saw them go through quite a lot.
“I’d say the one word, I think, is adversity,” Benet coach Pat New said. “I mean, I think the year started with some adversity losing our quarterback, who was our two-year starting quarterback, and then of course we got rained out down at O’Fallon and had to stay overnight. That was kind of crazy.
“Then, of course, the awful injury to (senior defensive back) Andrew (Valadka), which was just a terrible moment that our team has faced. That gave us perspective on life, I think. But these guys, through all that adversity, were able to step up and make the playoffs for the third row in a year, which hasn’t been done since ‘84, ‘85, ‘86.”
Brad Sznajder, one of seven Redwings to earn All-East Suburban Catholic Conference honors, was as big a reason as any for the fact Benet was able to make a third straight postseason appearance for the first time since the mid-1980s.
Sznajder ran for 1,583 yards, breaking Tom Marth’s single-season mark of 1,086 yards in 1981, and 14 TDs in 2014 while finishing his two-year varsity career with 2,397 rushing yards, eclipsing E.J. Howe’s program record of 1,581 yards from 2009-10.
“I mean, just numbers alone are pretty impressive and then his leadership was just something that (was immeasurable),” New said.
While the new holder of two of Benet’s prominent rushing records leaves the program, the contributions of another sophomore quarterback named Jack, Jack Sznajder, throughout this season, which ended Saturday with a 28-11 Class 8A first-round loss at Hinsdale Central, is a big reason for Benet to feel good heading into 2015.
Jack Sznajder completed 56.1 percent of his passes for 1,234 yards and six touchdowns while filling in on short notice following Beneventi’s departure from the program in June.
“Jack Sznajder stepping up like he did was really commendable. He was expected to play sophomores this year and then (to be thrown) into that starting role, which isn’t easy as a sophomore,” New said. “He had a great learning year and he was very productive at times for us. We expect him to improve each and every year here with us. I think that was great having that one year experience because I think he should be a lot better next year.”
Charlie Weidenbach, who led the Redwings with 97 tackles out of his middle linebacker spot, will be back next year to help lead the defense, which also will include defensive lineman Trenton Kramer and linebacker Jeff Marek.
Karl Schmidt, who led the Redwing offense with 23 receptions for 260 yards and a touchdown, will provide Jack Sznajder with a nice receiving target.
But it’s the progress the lower levels of Benet’s program are making, evidenced by the sophomores going 7-0 this year on the heels of going 6-0 on the sophomore level in 2013, that will provide the pipeline towards getting New’s program back to its 2012 heights.
“We’re pretty excited,” New said.
