Lockport football enters season with fresh attitude

LOCKPORT – The Lockport football team is hoping some change will do it good.

Not only will the Porters feature a new coach in Lockport resident Dan Starkey, but its field is going through renovations. Starkey is hoping the same can be done for the Porters’ attitude.

“The biggest thing I’m looking for is we want to develop a team the community can be proud of and develop a championship attitude,” said Starkey, 59-44 during stints at Glenbard South and New Trier. “We want to play with great desire and heart. We want to make the communities that feed into Lockport proud about the way we play the game.

“If we do that, great things will happen.”

Lockport went 3-6 overall and 3-4 in the Southwest Suburban Blue in coach Don McKillips’ third and final season a year ago. The Porters did not beat a team with a winning record last year and have one home victory the past two seasons.

The Starkey era will begin Friday at Downers Grove North.

“If you go out and play together and as hard as you possibly can and still end up on the short end of the stick, you can hold your head up high knowing that you played as hard as you possibly could,” Starkey said. “That’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking for guys to lay it on the line every week no matter who we are playing. I want to see consistency in our approach.”

From 1960 to 2011, Lockport had two coaches, Bill Zimmer and Bret Kooi. Starkey will be the third coach in the last five seasons at Lockport, which has four wins over the last two seasons. That hasn’t happened in almost two decades.

“Our kids have had a very good offseason and I’ve been really impressed with the work ethic they’ve shown in the weight room,” Starkey said. “The kids are getting more and more confident with the system. I’m really excited about the potential we have.”

A detriment will be playing the season without the services of a returning All-Southwest Suburban Conference Blue running back, senior Tyler Johnson.

Johnson, who took second in Class 3A at 195 pounds in wrestling, is out with a torn ACL. He led the team with 60 tackles and 405 rushing yards a year ago to go along with five touchdowns.

“Tyler Johnson is probably one of our biggest leaders on the team despite not being on the field,” Starkey said. “He’s not happy with it, but that’s his role. He hopes to be back in time for wrestling.”

Back from a year ago with high hopes for a turnaround season are several seniors: quarterback Jeremy Quade, fullback Cory Savage, receiver Jon Zapotoczny, receiver Sean Kelley, linebacker Taylor O’Donnell and linemen Chris Murino, Jake Divita, Jordan Pollard and Carl Strom.

Juniors entering their second varsity season include quarterback/defensive back Deiondre Taylor, offensive lineman Matt Chmielewski and linebacker Mo Atiq.

Quade, who also plays safety, and Taylor, who was a cornerback a year ago, are battling for the start at quarterback. “They are both going to be on the field somewhere,” Starkey said.

The Porters will look to their experienced returnees to anchor the lines of scrimmage.

“It all starts up front and we have the ability to be very good,” Starkey said. “Matt Chimelewski is only a junior but a two-year starter and a Division I prospect. Chris Marino is another guy coming back on our offensive line.

“Defensively, we feel we can be physical up front and Taylor O’Donnell will anchor us at linebacker.”

The main targets on offense will be Zapotoczny, Quade, Taylor and Kelley.

“With their experience on offense, they have to be weapons for us and have to make plays when given the opportunity,” Starkey said.

Lockport opens SWS Blue action in Week 3 at Sandburg.

“We’re trying to develop a championship attitude in everything we do,” Starkey said. “No matter what the score is or what the situation is off the field, that’s what we’ve talked about.

“We expect to be successful and we know how tough this conference is. We start with Sandburg, a playoff team year in and year out then Lincoln-Way East, Bolingbrook and H-F. It will be a battle week in and week out.”