Pioneer Press previews the 2016 Fenwick football season.
Coach: Gene Nudo, entering his fifth season
2015 record: 3-6 (1-3 Chicago Catholic Green), did not advance to playoffs
Offense: Nine starters return from last year’s offense, including receivers Sherman Martin, Mike O’Laughlin, and Jack Henige, plus quarterback Jacob Keller. With tailback Conner Lillig leading a two-back power running game, Nudo said the offense would provide a balanced attack.
Defense: Fenwick will use multiple fronts under first-year defensive coordinator Brandon New, and two key figures among seven returning starters will be middle linebacker Brett Moorman and defensive lineman Ellis Taylor. “When (Moorman) hits it, it knows it’s been hit,” Nudo said. “Both Taylor and Moorman had outstanding camps this summer.”
Strong side: Returning varsity experience on both sides of the ball is a solid starting point for the Friars, who play a daunting schedule. “You don’t know what you have until you see live fire, but we have experience in all three phases of the game,” Nudo said. “The CCL will test anyone, but I think we’ll be up to the challenge.”
Weak side: The Friars’ defensive development will be pivotal to team success. “I think our defensive line needs to show improvement over last year,” Nudo said. “That’s an area we need to be stronger in, and I think we will be.”
Team tradition: For the first time, Fenwick will play all of its home games on the new field at Triton College in River Grove. All six home games will be on Friday nights under the lights, and senior offensive lineman Joe Calcagno is looking forward to it. “It’s awesome,” he said. “Knowing we’re at Triton makes it easier for us, and there’s excitement from the fan base as well. It’s a brand new field, more stands, and I hear we’re going to have the field pretty ‘Friared-out’ this year.”
Quote: “A huge plus this year is our experience. We’re confident that we know what we’re doing, and we think we can do it well,” Calcagno said. “Last year we had players making the tough adjustment from sophomore to varsity game speed. Now they’ve all adjusted, and that will only make us better.”
2016 Schedule
Aug. 26, PHILLIPS, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2, BOWEN, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9, MONTINI*, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16, Leo, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23, LOYOLA, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30, Marmion*, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7, PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14, St. Francis*, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21, DE LA SALLE*, 7:30 p.m.
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HOME GAMES IN BOLD
* Chicago Catholic Green game
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press