Broncos Football Aims for the Playoffs in 2011

No team earns a playoff spot in the first half of the season. But head football coach Joe Sanchez knows that if the Broncos expect to make their eighth appearance in the 8A Illinois High School Association playoffs under his tenure, then the team must play well right out of the gate, even if that means on the road.

“If you want to win a Mid-Suburban League West Championship or be a championship-caliber team, you have to win on the road, and that is what we plan to do,” the 10-year head coach said. The team's first four games are scheduled on opponents’ turf. 

One of the ways the Broncos can make the playoffs is to have a similar start to their 2010 season, which they began by winning their first seven games. That is a daunting task, considering the strength of league play and their opponents during the start of the road schedule.

The Broncos begin this year playing a handful of emotionally charged games starting with the season opener in Libertyville. Wildcat’s coach Randy Kuceyeski is coaching through throat cancer and his players will be on an emotional high for their skipper, especially their first game.

After Libertyville, Barrington will return home for an emotional night of their own as the Broncos, in conjunction with Barrington’s Quarterback Club and We Do Care, are hosting Military Appreciation night in honor of our veterans. The game is scheduled at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 against Elk Grove.

After their home opener, the Broncos will hit the road for two more MSL conference crossover games (Hersey and Wheeling, respectively) before settling into their conference schedule. 

Offensive Power

If the Broncos expect road wins, then they will need the same offensive firepower that saw them average 386.9 yards per game last year (194.4 rushing) while putting up almost 27 points per contest. 

The offense centered on a solid offensive line that gave quarterbacks ample time while simultaneously providing running lanes. Anchoring the offensive line again this year will be returning lineman, senior Dan Voltz. He will be attending the Big Ten’s University of Wisconsin next year, and is just one of many returning seniors on the offensive side of the ball. 

Returning to the backfield is senior Chase Murdock who is considered one of the state's best talents for his back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. As long as he stays healthy (out three games last year), he should have no problems making this season his best yet.

But it isn’t just Murdock that Sanchez is expecting to do the scoring.

“If it is Chase (Murdock) carrying the rock 25-30 times a game, then that is what we will do,” Sanchez said. “If it is (carrying the ball) 10 times a game and we have to throw, we’ll do that too.”

Helping to throw the ball this year is senior Mark Bennett, who was able to get valuable experience during last year’s success — and not just in mop up work.

Bennett “almost led us back in that Glenbrook South game,” Sanchez said of his quarterback. “We all looked at that performance as his coming-out party.”

Bennett’s "experience in the system and understanding in what we are trying to do with the offense has grown every week," Sanchez went on to say of how Bennett could help with the 1.8 turnovers per game the Broncos suffered from last year.

Surrounded by experience at many of the different positions, Bennett is leaning on that to help stay focused.

“Being surrounded by (Murdock, Voltz and Sam Handler), and having good players at every position, takes a lot of the stress off me,” Bennett said.

Defensive Skills

Offense isn’t the only side of the ball loaded with talent. This year, as the team moves to a 3-4 style offense, Murdock (linebacker/tailback), Handler (defensive back/wide receiver) and Dylan Zyzda (corner/wide receiver) are just a few players to accept dual roles, and will try to match the defensive intensity brought by one returning player that Sanchez has his eye’s on.

“I’ve talked to Aaron Foley about becoming the heart and soul of our defense,” Sanchez said of one of his defensive leaders. “He is the guy coming back with the most amount of experience.”

The Broncos allowed just more than 19 points while giving up 303 yards per game (189 rushing), and Sanchez believes that size and experience of nose guard Chris Van Kampen will help stop the run, while another offensive player converted to defense can impact the pass, similar to Ben LeCompte last year.

“Joe Asher (strong safety) moved from receiver to defensive back in the offseason because we knew he was one of our best football players on the team,” Sanchez said. “We were concerned about him getting buried at receiver, and then we were looking at one of our best guys sitting on the sidelines when he should be playing.”