2021 DeKalb County Football Previews: Genoa-Kingston Cogs

Genoa-Kingston at a glance

Conference: Big Northern Conference

Spring 2021 record: 3-0

2019 record: 9-2, 8-1

Coach: Cam Davekos, first season

Meet the players

Keep an eye on: Josh Kleba, sr., C. The Cogs offense out of the wing-T is only as strong as its line. Kleba will be a big part of that in the middle this year paving holes for the bevy of backs.

Also: Declan Creadon, sr., LT; Colin Nesler, sr., FB/LB, Nolan Perry, jr., QB; Michael Sauber, sr., RG; Jake Oates, sr., TB; Brody Engel, jr., WB; Aiden Vasak, jr., LB/DE; Drew Benson, jr., DT; Chase Engel, sr., FB/TE/QB; Owen Bohne, jr., RT

Genoa-Kingston in photos

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Genoa-Kingston's Colin Nesler tries to strip the ball from teammate Chase Engel during a drill at practice Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 at the school. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

The Big Idea: Another BNC title

The last time there was a full season, the Cogs split the league title with Stillman Valley (whom they beat) and Byron (who beat them).

Even in the shortened season last year, the Cogs were technically co-league champs as they, North Boone and Rockford Lutheran all went undefeated.

Back to normal, the Cogs are aiming at another league title. Here’s what they say about that quest:

“I think it will be special for these kids. They’ve been working so hard and they’ve been together. They’ve played for each other. So I think getting a conference championship would be icing on the cake. But there’s a multi-tier cake with that. We want to push the envelope and set lofty goals and I think these guys can rise to the occasion.

—  Davekos

“We want to keep grinding, go 9-0, hopefully end up the best team in the conference.”

—  Kleba

“We don’t want to come in here and go 0-9. We’re expected to come in here and go 9-0. We’re expected to win, I guess.

—  Kleba

“The main goal is to go 9-0 in conference. But we want to go all the way this year. We want to be the next team that it’s like, that was a good Genoa-Kingston team.

—  Bohne

What else they’re saying

* Davekos on getting through this week of practice, which he called a grind week.

“They pick each other up. And I have to give them all the credit in the world. They are hard workers. They play for each other and they love what they do. You can really see it on the field.”

* Davekos on the team’s goals.

“We have lofty goals in mind and I think we’re well on the way to achieving those goals. But to be honest, we take it one day at a time and one rep at a time. They stay humble.”

* Kelba on how the team will look with a new coach, as Davekos took over for Chad Wilmarth this summer.

“It’s been going good. It’s kind of the same stuff. We’re not really changing anything.”

* Bohne on how the team looks under Davekos.

“It feels just like a Genoa team. It’s like a Genoa team has always been. We’ve had coach Davekos since I think seventh grade, so it’s been the same thing for a long time. We like it.

The schedule

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted; all games are conference games

The lowdown

As Davekos said, the Cogs not only are aiming high, but have their sights set on multiple accomplishments. Not only do they want to repeat as BNC champs, they want to make a deep playoff run.

And they just may have the depth to do so. Nesler, Perry, Oates and Brody Engel all will get touches behind the experienced line, but Davekos said this team has some depth as well. Chase Engel will be like a Swiss Army knife, Davekos said, pitching in at every skill position. And there will be guys such as Vasak and Benson who won’t have to play two ways and who can fill in when needed on defense. The team won two playoff games in each of Chad Wilmarth’s three full seasons. Things may be falling into place for another quarterfinals run, like the team made in 2016, or something even deeper.

For more information

[ Davekos named Genoa-Kingston’s football coach ]

[ Chad Wilmarth leaving after 4 years as Genoa-Kingston head football coach ]

[ Cogs wrap up summer workouts under 1st-year coach Cam Davekos ]