Cordero Lewis is a linebacker at heart and a defensive back based on his size for Guerin this season.
The senior is pleased to do it all and his coach is happy to oblige him.
“He gives his best effort all the time, everywhere we ask him to play,” Guerin coach Glen Kozlowski said on Saturday, Oct. 17, after watching the Crusaders fall to Ridgewood 28-7. “He just smiles and goes hard.”
The 5-foot-7, 175-pound Lewis grew up in the sport as a jack-of-all trades. So, as his varsity career as a junior unfolded, he was ready for whatever needed doing.
“I started out in the summer before junior year as a running back, and then we had some guys go down (to injury) on the offensive line,” Lewis said. “I said, ‘Coach, I’ve played there before. Why not put me back there?'”
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Through the Gators’ first seven games, Lewis had 33 total tackles from his spot on the defensive line, punctuated by a team-leading nine tackles for losses. He also caused a team-best three fumbles.
Offensively, he chipped in 179 rushing yards on 25 carries.
“He’s an eight-quarter player. He’s on every special team, sometimes he plays nose, sometimes he’s at guard, and sometimes he runs,” Kozlowski said.
Lewis believes he and his teammates got lucky when former Chicago Bear wide receiver Kozlowski agreed to take over the Guerin program last season, after turning the programs around at Wauconda and North Chicago.
Lewis’ mentality on the field was a perfect fit with Kozlowski’s coaching philosophy.
“I’ll say, ‘Hey, Cordero, I need you to do something,’ and every time, he’ll say, ‘I got you, coach.'” Kozlowski said. “Then he does his best and that’s the cool part. He’s been awesome for us.”
Lewis credits his coach with instilling a new attitude at Guerin.
“In previous years, if we’d get down two touchdowns, the whole team would give up,” Lewis said. “But ever since coach (Kozlowski) got here, we never give up. Ridgewood had us down 28-7 at halftime but we never stopped fighting.”
Lewis wants to play college football and he’s still assessing what program and which position might suit him best.
“I love to play linebacker, just because I get to use my speed a little bit more, but I might be a defensive back because of my size,” Lewis said. “I’m undersized at nose guard because most centers are bigger than me, but right now, mentally, I’m a defensive lineman or a linebacker.”
The Gators’ offense sputtered when quarterback Richie Zacharias left due to injury in the third quarter, but Guerin (3-5, 1-3 Metro Suburban East) held Ridgewood (6-2, 4-0) scoreless in the second half.
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.