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2019 record: 8-3 overall, 5-2 Interstate 8
Coach: Pat Ryan (22-11, fourth season)
Keep an eye on: Jack McIntire took over last season because of an injury to the starting running back on the first play from scrimmage of the year, then got hurt later in the season. This year, the senior will start in the backfield, which Ryan said will be very deep and explosive this year. He also said McIntire could help solidify the Knights’ inexperienced backfield.
Also: Evan Hogan, sr., RB; Jackson Certa, sr., RB; John Davis, sr., OL/DL; Sam Pryor, sr., OL/DL; Erik Teran, sr., LB; Anthony Clevinger, sr., CB
Schedule: 1 p.m. March 20 at Sycamore; 1 p.m. March 27 vs. Sandwich; 1 p.m. April 3 vs. Rochelle; 6 p.m. April 9 vs. Plano; 6 p.m. April 16 at Ottawa; 6 p.m. April 23 at LaSalle-Peru
The lowdown: Kaneland has four returning starters on the offensive line, including all-state selection Pryor.
Ryan also said he likes his front seven, with guys like Davis, Pryor and Teran.
There’s also a quarterback battle brewing between junior Cole Pugh and sophomore Lane Robinson. Pugh started a game last year when both starter Joe Smith and backup Brett David were hurt.
Ryan said the goal this year is an I8 title. They won a share of the old Northern Illinois Big 12 East titles in 2017 and 2018.
“We want to compete for a conference championship,” Ryan said. “At Kaneland I think that’s something we strive for every year. It’s going to be a tough road. We want to go 1-0 to start the yter but we’ve got a real tough opponent in Sycamore to start the year. We know that nd our focus is going into that first game.”