Daily Chronicle Week 1 football notebook: Sycamore loaded with experience, even with junior class

Last year’s Sycamore football team had as many three-year starters on the field as a lot of teams have seniors on the entire roster.

And while there are some three-year guys on this year’s Spartans, there’s a handful of juniors who have dressed for varsity for pretty much two years’ worth of games.

[ Daily Chronicle football previews: Week 1 ]

Quarterback Burke Gautcher and receiver Carter York have 17 games on the varsity roster. They got to dress and be on the sideline as freshmen during the team’s run to the 5A semifinals, then they were starters last season as sophomores when the Spartans returned to the semifinals.

Throw in a handful of three-year starters such as Tristan Countryman and Gable Carrick, and coach Joe Ryan said there’s a good leadership group in place. And that’s been important this week, not only with a big rivalry game against DeKalb but the mid-90s temperatures throwing practice schedules into havoc.

[ Scouting the Kishwaukee River/Interstate Eight: 2023 IHSA football season preview ]

“We have some guys that have played 26 games,” Ryan said. “They understand what it takes to be successful in games, whether it be your Week 1, your rival, a playoff game, whatever. So those guys we’re kind of leaning on, and they’re doing a really good job of bringing those those other kids along that haven’t experienced that yet.”

Kickoff for the Week 1 game between DeKalb and Sycamore is 7 p.m. Friday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Numbers game

Genoa-Kingston heads north to open the season, facing Rockford Christian at 7 p.m. Friday. The Royal Lions have only 15 players on their football roster.

Coach Cam Davekos said he expects a tough game regardless of the numbers.

“We preparing like they’ve got 55,” he said.

[ Scouting the Big Northern Conference: 2023 IHSA football season preview ]

G-K’s roster isn’t exactly huge with 24 players on the roster at the start of fall camps.

“It’s got to be an all-hands-on-deck kind of effort from one on down to 24,” Davekos said. “We know what we have to do, and do it at a high level, from blocking to catching to reading blocks and holding on to the ball. All things need to be on point.”

Finding a role

After a battle through the summer and fall camps, DeKalb coach Derek Schneeman said sophomore Cole Latimer edged junior Mikey Hodge and will start at quarterback for the Barbs.

[ Scouting the DuPage Valley Conference: 2023 IHSA football season preview ]

But Schneeman said he’s going to find a way to get Hodge involved.

“I don’t like putting those kids in a cupboard and then shelving them until they’re needed,” Schneeman said. “If they show they can play, then they can play. And Mikey can play, so we’re going to find a spot for him.”

Getting defensive

Last year was a big offensive turnaround for Kaneland, and first-year coach Michael Thorgesen is hoping the defense elevates this season.

The Knights gave up 14 points or fewer in each of its seven wins last season and more than 28 points in each of its four losses.

So what does a successful Week 1 against Washington look like?

“I don’t want to put a number or a specific goal on it,” Thorgesen said. “I think playing sound defense is being locked in and knowing their job to the best of their ability. That is job No. 1 right now. Go hard every play and good things will happen.”