YORKVILLE – John Swarn, in a sense, is an embodiment of Yorkville football.

At a compact, solidly-built, 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, the Foxes’ senior is not the biggest receiver around. But he has big talent.

Yorkville’s team, likewise, has more than acquitted itself well in its first two years as the smallest school in the Southwest Prairie Conference. The Foxes posted their second straight 8-3 playoff season in 2019, and held their own in a 3-3 spring season.

Still, Swarn and the Foxes recognize that in some circles they still have something to prove.

“We have a lot of talent here. I think we are pretty much underestimated,” said Swarn, citing one prediction that has Yorkville pegged to slip back to 2-7 this fall. “We use that as fuel. When we get on the field, we want to punish opponents.”

It’s a healthy chip on the shoulder that Swarn is more than happy to carry into the fall season. He’s not alone, either.

“I feel like we’re all motivated to get back to the playoffs, especially because all of the doubters we have,” said junior defensive back Malachi Jones. “There’s lots of excitement to get on the field and prove the doubters wrong.”

It will no doubt be a tough slog to return to the postseason for a third straight nine-game season. A fast start will be critical with a rugged finishing stretch of Oswego East, Minooka and Oswego.

But the pieces are in place.

The Foxes feel particularly good about themselves on the lines, and Jones leads a big group of returning players on defense that cut their teeth during the spring.

Yorkville opens its season August 27 at Romeoville.

“Every year, we try to start fast, and we take pride in it,” Yorkville coach Dan McGuire said. “There are no games on our schedule that we look and say that’s a guaranteed win or a guaranteed loss. But we’d definitely like to start fast, there is no doubt about that.”

McGuire has been highly complimentary of the potential of his lines throughout the summer. The defensive front brings back 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior Andrew Laurich and Jake Davies, and McGuire thinks that junior Andrew Zook adds a dimension. On the offensive line, Yorkville is glad that 6-foot-3, 300-pound Kendren Smith is back from injury. Kyle Clabough returns to the fold after sitting out the spring to concentrate on track, where he won a state shot put title.

“Excited about both lines, to be honest,” McGuire said.

Running back Deajeion Lewis and Swarn in the slot are the two Foxes’ skill-position players with the most experience. Swarn, in his second season at Yorkville, is the epitome of the slot receiver who does well catching short passes and working in space.

“John is a guy that we have to figure out how to get the football to and get as many touches as we can. He’s developed into a good leader for us,” McGuire said. “Very excited about John.”

Swarn is excited to work with Yorkville’s younger receivers and new starting quarterback Nate Kraus, who looks to add a running dimension to the position.

“Nothing against the other guys, but in the years past we haven’t had that dual threat. Nate can do some things that other quarterbacks we’ve had couldn’t do,” Swan said. “He has the talent, the IQ, the skill. We’ve been with each other all summer and connected. We have a lot of young talent and depth at the receiver position.”

Jones established himself as a playmaker on Yorkville’s defense in the spring. He primarily played cornerback as a sophomore, but will be moving between corner and safety this spring.

“I like it, it’s fun,” Jones said.

McGuire said he likes having guys such as Jones and Blake Kersting as leaders in the defensive backfield.

“Malachi is just an awesome kid. I think he just grew this summer as a person and as a leader for the team,” McGuire said. “In our games last year, he made some really big plays for us. A big thing is confidence and we think he’s really grown in the area. We’re excited for Malachi. We think he can be a college player.”