Football preview: Coach Oliver Gibson convinced Romeoville will be better

ROMEOVILLE – Romeoville football coach Oliver Gibson is eyeing a playoff berth, and, although the Spartans are coming off a 1-8 season, he has no doubts it’s realistic.

“We had a conference meeting a few weeks ago and my only question was whether 5-4 would get us into the playoffs with playoff points,” Gibson said. “I heard a little giggle, and I stood up to see who it was because it’s no joke – 5-4 is not our goal, we’re much better than that.”

Gibson’s reasons for optimism come from a variety of places. Veteran linemen on both sides of the ball, talented skill players and a promising quarterback make for a strong foundation.

There also is the fact the Spartans have experience and numbers – 50 players on the varsity compared to 28 a year ago.

“We were able to get kids out here who love the game of football,” Gibson said. “Now, we’re going to try to provide the best opportunity for them to enjoy success and put things back to where [defensive coordinator Julio Carrasco] and I left it."

Gibson was the USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year in 1989, leading the Spartans to an 8-2 mark.

Lately, however, there haven’t been many glory days for his alma mater. Romeoville has made the playoffs once in the past 13 seasons.

If that’s going to change, the Spartans will need a big season from senior running back Jordan Nettles, a Northern Illinois recruit.

“I’m coming into this season with a lot of confidence,” Nettles said. “We have a new offense. We’re looking good and executing. We have more discipline and leadership this year.

"Our offensive line is tough. They’re getting after it, working hard. Our tailbacks work hard every day. Our receivers and running backs all can catch. We have a lot of talent and we’re hungry.”

Gibson likes the pieces the Spartans have around Nettles. Senior Tyree Allen is another talented running back, and 6-foot-5 junior quarterback Cam Neely is getting Division I looks, including from Northwestern.

Senior receiver Nolan Soper figures to be one of Neely’s top targets.

“We have, basically, a Division I backfield,” Gibson said. “Tyree Allen has the potential to be a D-I back, Cam is getting interest from Northwestern, and Nolan should play college ball also.”

Up front, senior guards Scott Oderio and Felipe Alvarez and senior center Thaddeus Ampadu anchor a veteran offensive line.

“We’re a brotherhood on the line,” Oderio said. “The confidence we have in our running backs really helps. We have a good, young quarterback and some wide receivers that are fun to watch.

“It might take six wins for us to get into the playoffs. It’s not going to be easy, and we don’t want it to be easy. We’re ready to come out of the shadows and play in November. We are way too good and we have way too much talent to not do something great."

On the other side of the ball, junior defensive end Mike Caceres is a player to watch. Senior defensive end Davon Maxey and senior nose guard Oscar Ramirez also are returning starters.

The linebacking corps is loaded with veterans, including seniors Birley Johnson, Steve Serritella and Jorge Ocampo.

“Last year, we had some really young guys up front and had a little bit of culture shock,” Caceres said. “This year, we have a great core group. We love competing with our O-line. I’m always trying to push them to get better, and they do the same for me.”

Caceres has seen a major change in the attitude of the Spartans, one he hopes will lead to a much more successful season in 2016.

“We’re workers this year,” he said. “Last year was a little loose. We thought we had the ’85 Bears' dancing-around-thing going on, and that’s not us. That’s not Midwestern football.

“We’ve got to get our nose down and grind, and that’s what we’re doing."

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SPARTANS

Coach: Oliver Gibson

2015 record: 1-8, 1-6 Southwest Prairie

Classification enrollment: 1,824 (Class 7A)

Offensive coordinator: Chaz Kuhn

Defensive coordinator: Julio Carrasco

Returning offensive starters: C Thaddeus Ampadu, G Scott Oderio, G Felipe Alvarez, WR Nolan Soper, RB Jordan Nettles, RB Tyree Allen

Returning defensive starters: DE Mike Caceres, DE DavonMaxey, NT Oscar Ramirez, LB Birley Johnson, LB Steve Serritella, LB JorgeOcampo

Schedule: August: 26 - vs. Plainfield South, 7 p.m.; September: 2 - at Oswego East, 7 p.m.; 9 - at Plainfield North, 7 p.m.; 16 - vs. Joliet West, 7 p.m.; 23 - vs. Oswego, 7 p.m.; 30 - at Minooka, 7 p.m.; October: 7 - vs. Plainfield East, 7 p.m.; 14 - at Plainfield Central, 7 p.m.; 21 - vs. Joliet Central, 7 p.m.