Progress Report: Maine West eager to build on best season in program history

Maine West has had football since 1960, yet its first 9-win season came courtesy of sixth-year head coach Jason Kradman just last season.

Kradman took over the program in 2014, and the program has increased its number of wins every season since. Last year was also significant for the Warriors, it was their first playoff win in program history.

“Our guys reached 'the pinnacle' as far as the nine wins last year with that being the most in school history,” Kradman said. “We talk about staying motivated, staying on the ball with things. We have some unfinished business that we feel like is still out there for us.”

Head Coach: Jason Kradman (6th season)

Last year's record: 9-2

Biggest question

Can Maine West take the next step?

Maine West under Kradman has gotten better every season, but that process becomes harder the higher you ascend the Class 7A ladder.

Maine West lost in the second round to Willowbrook, 36-26, and Kradman remains determined to push the Warriors to new heights.

“Having won that first playoff game, and to be honest with you, we played really well in the second round game versus Willowbrook, they just made more big plays than us,” Kradman said. “We felt like we were pretty evenly matched there.”

Quarterfinal football is an exclusive club to gain entrance to, but that and beyond is the aspiration of Maine West this season.

“As far as the big picture goes, our goal is really to win a 7A state title,” Kradman said. “And we’ve never had that goal before, we’re pretty realistic as a coaching staff and that’s not something we would use if we didn’t feel like it was actually realistic.”

Players to Watch

The Warriors return 10 starters, but will suffer the loss of all-state running back/linebacker Jacob Bellizzi and four offensive linemen.

Senior Danny Kentgen returns at quarterback, who holds multiple school passing records for both season and career. Kradman plans to adjust for the loss of Bellizzi and most of his offensive front.

“We got some stacked boxes quite a bit, and were able to take advantage of that in the play-action game and RPO game and all that type of stuff,” Kradman said. “Offensively, we’re going to have to be a little more creative this year, we’re not changing any of our schemes or anything like that. We’re just going to highlight some a little bit more than the last few years, just based on our personnel.”

The Warriors will air it out a bit more this season according to Kradman, so they will rely on Kentgen and returning senior receiver Sean Collins and senior tight end/safety Jaden Dolphin.

“I think Sean Collins is primed for a breakout year, he’ll be a three-year starter as a wide receiver,” Kradman said. “He hasn’t had a ton of stats per se, but he’s always made big plays for us.

“I think Jaden Dolphin is going to be really big for us this year. Last year he was mostly a defensive player as a safety, this year he’s going to be both ways as a tight end and a safety. He’s going to hopefully take on the role that Ellys [Grimmer] played for us last year.”

Grimmer played safety/tight end last year, setting school records for touchdowns and receiving yards in a season.

The returning offensive lineman is Michael Bartusiak, who played right tackle last year and will be the leader of the Warrior line this season.

“He got to learn from those guys who were multi-year starters for us, and was kind of their protege so to speak,” Kradman said. “Now he’s the captain of that offensive line.”

Newcomers you need to know

For the Warriors, two players you’ll need to know are Rodney Njoku and Semaje Johnson. Both are transfers, Njoku from Leyden last year, and Johnson from Curie this year. Both players are able to play multiple positions.

For Njoku, Kradman will play him at defensive tackle although he has experience at running back.

For Johnson, Kradman classifies him as a skill player, who will play a range of positions on offense and in the defensive secondary.

Schedule Analysis

Maine West’s schedule should allow the Warriors to stack wins in the regular season again this season.

They travel to Mundelein for nonconference play in Week 1 and host Wheeling, a new addition to the nonconference schedule, in Week 4. Maine West defeated Mundelein, 42-0, in the season opener last fall.

The Warriors are the reigning Central Suburban North champions, winning their five conference games against Deerfield, Highland Park, Maine East, Niles North and Vernon Hills last season by an average of 35 points.

West will also face Glenbrook South and Hoffman Estates in conference crossover play.

Hoffman Estates is the only team on the Warriors' schedule to qualify for the playoffs last season.

Early Take

Even with the loss of Bellizzi and the majority of its offensive line, Maine West should still be formidable this season.

With a schedule affording them room for growing pains, the Warriors have an opportunity to pick up at least seven wins and possibly run the table heading into the playoffs. It's hard to know where they'll go from their considering the offensive question marks, but there is a chance for the Warriors to take the next step after reaching the Class 7A second round last season.