Kevin Minik has been a versatile player for the Lyons defense this season, playing multiple positions for the Lions.
After making big plays the past two games, it appears that he has found a home at cornerback.
Despite a 51-21 loss to West Suburban Silver rival Hinsdale Central on Friday, Oct. 9, Minik came up with a big interception that allowed the Lions (5-2, 2-2,) at least temporarily, to stay close with the Red Devils (6-1, 4-1).
The Red Devils had scored on three straight possessions and were driving again when Minik made the athletic, leaping pick. Lyons scored on the ensuing series, cutting the lead to 20-14.
“He (Minik) has moved around; we have had him at safety, linebacker and at cornerback,” Lyons coach Kurt Weinberg said. “I think that (cornerback) is where he is most comfortable. He has good skills with the ball in the air; he is a good cover corner, as well. So that is something that is definitely a strength of his.
“On the one (interception) down their sideline … he kind of ripped the ball away from the kid. It was an impressive play, so I was pleased with that.”
Minik also had an interception against Downers Grove North on Oct. 2, when Lyons earned a 21-7 victory that made it playoff eligible.
“He is one of the guys that has been a leader from the very beginning; in the offseason in the weight room and all through the preseason, as well,” Weinberg said. “His teammates have a lot of faith in him and voted him captain. He has been a big part of our leadership, for sure.”
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Junior linebacker Jack Walton noticed that Minik is settling in at the cornerback position.
“He has moved around a lot; he has adjusted well and made two huge plays,” Walton said. “He made that big play against Downers and a really good play against Hinsdale, so he is getting used to it.
“Luckily, I had a pretty good view (against Hinsdale), I saw it pretty well. He just went up and grabbed it and made a really good play; it was awesome.”
Walton also had an interception against Hinsdale Central. Two picks against the Red Devils was quite an accomplishment, as their quarterbacks had only thrown two interceptions coming into the game.
“It is probably our biggest thing as a defense, turnovers,” Walton said. “We work on getting takeaways every day. We strive for game plus-three, which is three takeaways in a game. It is a goal; we work on takeaways a lot, for sure.”
Take a pass
Lyons’ secondary was able to limit the Hinsdale Central passing game for most of the contest.
“We did not execute exactly how we wanted,” Red Devils coach Dan Hartman said. “We threw a couple of interceptions; we made a couple of bad choices. We did not play our best, that is for sure.
“We were able to throw the ball a little bit, but we were not the sharpest in the passing game.”
Patrick Kelly is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.