Benet (6-4, 4-3 East Suburban Catholic in 2014) @ St. Laurence (5-6, 3-1 Chicago Catholic White in 2014), 7:30 p.m.
Storyline: Benet begins its quest for a fifth postseason berth in six years under coach Pat New on the road in Burbank against St. Laurence.
With older brother Brad gone to Butler after running for 1,583 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, junior QB Jack Sznajder knows eyes will be on him from the jump.
Jack Sznajder’s 10 starts as a sophomore in 2014 showed definite promise while going through an expected learning curve as 1,234 yards to go with six touchdowns and 14 interceptions attests.
Those numbers only figure to improve as he enters his second year in the system and junior running back Marty Dosen and several senior wide receivers, Karl Schmidt, Robert Bordignon, Will O’Grady and Matt Tromp, there to help.
Schmidt hauled in 23 passes for 260 yards and a TD in 2014 as New’s offense revolved heavily around Brad Sznajder’s exploits.
Senior middle linebacker Charlie Weidenbach and defensive lineman Trent Kramer will hope to stop a St. Laurence offense that averaged 20.5 points a game offensively in 2014.
Five times a year ago, opponents held the Vikings’ offense to 15 points or less—including in season-ending losses to Joliet Catholic and DePaul College Prep.
The Vikings’ Class 5A postseason trip last year was the program’s first since 2009 and first under coach Harold Blackman, who’s entering his fourth year at the school.
New on St. Laurence: “I think they’re a well-coached team. I think they’re very athletic. They’ve got some kids returning. I know their younger classes they’ve got excited about. So I think they’re expecting some big things this year because they’ve got a very talented junior class. Then they made the playoffs last year, so I think this program is kind of a rising program. It’s one of those programs that’s on the rise, so it’ll be a challenge for us.”
