When you are a sophomore football player on a varsity squad full of juniors and seniors, things might seem a little daunting.
Not for Nate Pedraza, though.
Pedraza, Rolling Meadows’ 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end, said he feels welcome on a team that is on the path back to the state playoffs.
“They treat me like I’m a junior or senior too, not any different than anyone else,” Pedraza said. “I think it’s fun to just play with my brothers.”
Pedraza and fellow defensive linemen Mick Szylak and Andrew Neville have been giving opponents fits all season. Pedraza is strong enough to shake off offensive linemen and fast enough to reach the quarterback.
As a freshman last year, Pedraza played on the JV team.
“He practiced with us all last year as a freshman, and I think he’s a kid that has always been able to dominate just because of his size, and he’s just a hyper-aggressive kid,” Rolling Meadows coach Matt Mishler said. “I think he had a lot of learning to do technique-wise and speed-of-the-game stuff, but he’s determined to be a great player.”
Although he’s just a sophomore, Pedraza lines up with the confidence of a senior.
“Varsity is more fast-paced, but I think I’m holding my own,” he said.
The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 Mid-Suburban East) are shooting for a sixth consecutive league title, though they have a couple of challengers in Buffalo Grove (6-0, 2-0) and Hersey (5-1, 2-0).
Rolling Meadows beat Prospect 42-24 on the road on Sept. 28 for its fifth straight win since dropping the season-opener against St. Viator.
The defense has certainly helped by shutting out Fremd and allowing just 15 points per game the last three weeks. In a victory against Wheeling on Sept. 22, the Mustangs’ defense recorded eight sacks.
“Our defensive coordinator, Scott Otahal, just keeps putting those guys in great positions to make plays,” Mishler said. “Our front three with Nate, Mick and Andrew, I’d stack them up against anybody. They’ve been getting it done all year.
“Our defense has been playing lights-out. They’ve been bailing our offense out of some bad situations. I’m proud of the way those guys have been playing.”
Pedraza has a couple of ambitious goals, some short-term and some years away.
“I want to play college football on a D-I team — and win the (MSL East) conference championship,” he said.
Bob Hurst is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
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