DARIEN – Deontae Curry begins his third season on varsity as the unquestioned leader of Hinsdale South's defense. The team captain was a West Suburban Gold all-conference pick and one of the team’s leading tacklers a year ago. Curry is the younger brother of Marcus Curry, an all-state running back last year. Curry spoke with Suburban Life correspondent Matt Le Cren about being a senior leader and the key to the Hornets' recent success.

Le Cren: Now that you’re a senior, what is different about your role?

Curry: I've got more responsibility, a lot more leadership. Everybody is looking at me to be the captain. It's a lot more weight on your shoulders, but I like it.

Le Cren: What is it going to be like playing without your brother?

Curry: My last year of youth football, I had to play without him, so I got used it. But it's going to be a lot different because I was with him throughout my years of high school. He kind of led me.

Le Cren: What advice did Marcus give you for being a leader?

Curry: Just make sure you do everything right because everyone is going to be watching you.

Le Cren: What’s been the key to the team’s recent success?

Curry: Making sure that we know we're a family, working together. I got moved up sophomore year so I was part of that team too. So I got to realize how close we were. We hung out a lot. It's a big family, not any problems.

Le Cren: You graduated a huge senior class that included 12 players now playing in college. Will the team be able to have success without them?

Curry: We have a lot of talent this year. We've just got to make sure everyone sees where they fit, make sure everyone knows what is best for the team.

Le Cren: The program has been on the rise under coach Mike Barry. What do you think has been the key to that rise?

Curry: All of the coaches are going to keep working you until they get the best out of you. When they get the best out of you, they're still going to work you because they want us to be great, and that's what we are.

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WHAT TO WATCH

STILL ON THE RISE: The Hornets have made the playoffs three times in Mike Barry's first five seasons as head coach, with the last two being the most impressive. South advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2014 and last year went 9-4 and made the state semifinals for just the second time in school history and first since 1980. But the team graduated a strong senior class that included 12 players who are now playing collegiately. "We don't think that we need to rebuild," Barry said. "It's more of a next-guy-up situation. We should be able to compete for a (West Suburban) Gold championship."

GETTING THEIR CHANCE: The Hornets have only four returning players who were full-time starters but many of the seniors got significant varsity playing time, so the expectation is they'll be ready to step into leading roles. "We were able to score quite a few points last year, so as a result we had a lot of kids that got time in the third and fourth quarters," Barry said.

SPEED MERCHANTS: Senior Brian Rudolph and junior Justin Kolzow are battling for the quarterback job, so the offense might take a while to get up to speed, but the same can't be said for the defense. "Defensively our team speed is faster that we were last year," Barry said. Middle linebacker Deontae Curry, senior defensive back D.J. Anderson, who is the basketball team's point guard, and Destin Talbert, who also plays receiver, bring the quickness. "Our defense is always a strength," Curry said. "We really don't have any weaknesses this year. We've just got to build off of last year and keep rising."

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AT A GLANCE

Coach: Mike Barry

2015 Record: 9-4 (5-1 WSG)

Conference: West Suburban Gold

TOP RETURNERS

Jack Bortman sr. LB

Deontae Curry sr. LB

Destin Talbert jr. WR/DB

Shawn Wimberly sr. RB

Aaron Woods sr. DL

Zach Zarubin sr. OL

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

D.J Anderson sr. DB

Jacob Brocato sr. K/P/WR

Julian Kinsey jr. DB

Justin Kolzow jr. QB

Brian Rudolph sr. QB

Nick Wenkus sr. LB/WR

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WEEK 1 MATCHUP

Who: Hinsdale S. at Prospect

When: 7:30 p.m Aug. 26

Where: 5500 Grant, Hinsdale

2015 records: South 9-4, Prospect 3-6

Outlook: Coming off a run to the Class 6A semifinals, the Hornets will look to pick up where they left off last season in the debut of new QBs Justin Kolzow and Brian Rudolph. After this one, South plays defending 7A champ Glenbard West and rival Downers Grove South.