Football: Plainfield North looks to regain swagger
By Dick Goss dgoss@stmedianetwork.com August 19, 2012 4:28PM
Plainfield North’s quarterback Kurt Palandech (14) runs toward the side line against Minooka in the first quarter in Minooka Friday October, 7, 2011. | Ray Luna ~ For Sun-Times Media
Plainfield North
Nickname: Tigers
2011 record: 4-5 (Class 6A)
2011 Southwest Prairie record: 3-4
2012 football enrollment: 1,954 (Class 7A)
Head coach: Tim Kane (65-82 in 16 years overall; 0-5 as interim coach in 2006 at Plainfield North, 25-22 in five full years at Plainfield North)
Offensive coordinator: John Darlington
Defensive coordinator: Tim Kane
Base offense: I
Base defense: 50
2012 SCHEDULE
(Opponent football enrollment in parentheses)
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Aug. 24 at Bradley (2,061) 7 p.m.
Aug. 31 Lockport (3,699) 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 Plainfield South (2,439) 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 Plainfield East (1,860) 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Plainfield Central (2,165) 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 Romeoville (1,790) 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Oswego (2,371) 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 Minooka (2,557) 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Oswego East (2,001) 7 p.m.
2011 RESULTS (FINAL RECORD 4-5)
(Opponent final record in parentheses)
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Aug. 26 Bradley (5-4) W 36-20
Sept. 2 at Lockport (7-4) L 28-21
Sept. 9 at Plainfield East (3-6) L 38-12
Sept. 16 Plainfield Central (5-4) W 35-28
Sept. 23 at Romeoville (3-6) W 42-0
Sept. 30 Oswego (8-3) L 42-21
Oct. 7 at Minooka (6-4) L 28-21
Oct. 14 Oswego East (2-7) W 35-7
Oct. 21 at Plainfield South (5-5) L 27-7
PLAYOFF HISTORY
Appearances: 2
Record: 0-2
Did you know?: In addition to winning a 7-on-7 tournament this summer at Bowling Green, Ohio, Plainfield North lost in overtime in what amounted to the semifinals of a tournament at Central Michigan. Former North standout linebacker Cody Lopez is playing at Central Michigan.
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Updated: September 21, 2012 6:03AM
Plainfield North coach Tim Kane is straightforward in his assessment of what went wrong in 2011, when the Tigers had playoff aspirations but finished 4-5.
“Honestly, we were not very consistent last year on either side of the ball,” he said. “We played well in some games and not others.
“We have to eliminate the bad plays this year.”
One method Kane and his staff will use to help accomplish the objectives is to utilize his best players both ways at least some of the time.
“We’ve got to get our best players on the field,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to the playoffs and compete for a (Southwest Prairie) title.
“Obviously, we’re still a young school, but we’ve taken pride in getting better and had higher expectations last year. We have a lot of experience back, and we’re looking forward to adding on, accelerating a little more this year.”
Kane’s comments came in large part in conjunction with his discussion of senior quarterback/defensive back Kurt Palandech. The three-sport standout is solid defensively, and considering his throwing and running ability, his experience operating the North offense and his athleticism, he may be among this area’s top quarterbacks.
Running back Jay Roberts, meanwhile, is coming off an 1,100-plus-yard rushing season, and 215-pound fullback Ben Meyers lends quality, experienced support in the backfield.
“Palandech is dangerous throwing and with his feet,” Kane said. “We have to utilize all his skills. Roberts is a good power back, a tough, hard-nosed runner. As the game goes on, he seems to get stronger and better.”
Jake Vojslavek, Brock Thomas, Matt Welch, Corey Johnson and Kendall Interial all are in the receiving mix.
Offensive tackle Kiefer Ketelhut, a 6-foot-6, 270-pounder who was a tight end last year, is receiving significant college interest. Zach Yost, who weighs 300, is the other tackle, with Nick Bergstrom, Dillon Rogers, Ricky Johnson and Blake Glynn vying for playing time in the line.
Along the defensive front, the Tigers could have Meyers and Ricky Johnson at the end spots with some combination of Bergstrom, Chris Bruns, Dillon Rogers and DeShawn Tandy also battling for time.
The linebacking corps includes returning starter Brett Fox along with Trent Cavin and Collin Cassady.
Collin Holt figures to be one of the defensive backs, and Palandech will see time there, perhaps quite a bit. Kane also mentioned Johnson, Marty McGrail and Jack O’Connor as likely contributors in the secondary.
“We have to get our best players on the field and he (Palandech) is one of our best,” Kane said. “We won a 7-on-7 at Bowling Green this summer, and he never came off the field.
“After we won the conference title in 2010, to finish 4-5 last year was a disappointment. This year we would like to get back to competing for the conference championship.”
