Grayslake Central junior center linebacker Matty Jens is aware of the extra bodily staff typically wins on Friday nights.
That was the case once more within the Rams’ 24-14 victory towards Geneseo final week. Mike Maloney referred to as it essentially the most bodily effort he’s seen from the Rams in his three-plus seasons as Grayslake Central‘s coach.
“All week long, the coaches are always on us to be more physical,” Jens stated. “There have been times where we haven’t done that, so we have to keep each other accountable.”
Jens had 1 ½ sacks and recovered a fumble for the Rams (2-0), and the kind of hard-nosed recreation it turned out to be is unquestionably Jens’ desire.
He stated he notably loved seeing Geneseo gamers turn out to be deflated as the sport progressed.
“I love playing linebacker, and the hitting is the best part,” Jens stated. “I love setting the tone and making it known that I’m coming to smash you.”
Maloney stated senior defensive again Jeremiah Almendarez-Poyser helped set that tone. Almendarez-Poyser additionally had a clutch interception late within the recreation.
“That was a really big play,” he stated. “I trusted in my backpedal, read the quarterback’s eyes right away and made a break on the ball.”
Almendarez-Poyser and Jens share the identical mentality.
“That’s the biggest reason I play football,” Almendarez-Poyser stated. “You can go out and hit people without getting into trouble.”
Super Snider: There are fast learners, after which there’s Ben Snider.
Over the course of some brief weeks, the Stevenson senior has gone from soccer newcomer to standout.
Even essentially the most optimistic observer, or Snider himself, wouldn’t have imagined that an eight-day span to start the season would come with 12 catches, three touchdowns and, in a 35-7 win towards New Trier, a school-record 236 receiving yards.
“It’s really been an amazing story,” Stevenson coach Brent Becker stated. “We told him that as long as he could run, jump and catch, that we would teach him the rest.”
That stock of information needed to embody every part as a result of the closest Snider had come to enjoying soccer was intramural competitors as a freshman.
Snider, who performs baseball for the Patriots, stated he’s not a “football guy.” He watches the Super Bowl. That’s about it.
“My friends and some of the PE teachers were nudging me to play, so I figured I’d give it a shot,” he stated. “When camp started, I really started to enjoy it. The atmosphere was great, and it became a new community to me.”
What struck Snider is how everybody concerned is pulling collectively for the widespread good. His unease about not understanding the playbook and lots of the nuances of the game have been allayed by asking for assist, receiving instruction and trusting his athleticism.
He nonetheless needed to achieve the buy-in of his mom, Connie.
“I was a little hesitant, too, because it’s the first time I’ve played a contact sport,” Snider stated. “Memorizing the routes was a big thing for me at first. But once I got to the point of being comfortable, I was calm and collected, and I knew the coaches trusted in me.”
They have been proper to take action. Snider made six catches for 120 yards within the Patriots’ opener and had six extra catches and three touchdowns towards New Trier. The earlier report for receiving yards was eclipsed by 23 yards.
“That was pretty surreal,” Snider stated. “A lot of balls have come my way, but I’m the last person who has to do his job perfectly. I still think that’s super cool.”
Tidbits: Despite their groups’ losses in Week 2, Lake Zurich senior Cal Grabowski and Antioch sophomore Martin Cohen got here up huge. Grabowski had 12 tackles towards St. Charles North, and Cohen returned a kickoff 89 yards for a landing towards Morris. Cohen additionally rushed for 106 yards in Antioch’s opener. … Wauconda junior working again Connor Vanselow had 157 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a win towards Riverside-Brookfield.
Steve Reaven is a contract reporter for the News-Sun.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com