Coal City looks to return to winning ways

Updated: August 24, 2011 7:23PM

Preseason football practice started Aug. 10, and Coal City coach Lenny Onsen realizes his players are tired of pounding on each other every day. They’re ready to line up against their first opponent to start a new season.

“I know we’re getting to the point where we definitely want to play somebody and hit somebody else on the field,” Onsen said. “We’ve done our homework. Let’s see what happens.”

Coal City will see what happens Friday night when the Coalers travel to Seneca to take on the Irish.

“We have a ways to go,” Onsen said. “I know Week 1 won’t be perfect.”

Coal City has had plenty of success in the past — the Coalers’ 4-5 record in 2010 was their first losing season in 10 years. A young and inexperienced lineup last year that Onsen said would go through a “trial by fire” returns for 2011 looking for improvement.

One position Coal City doesn’t have to worry about is quarterback. Cody Onsen, the coach’s son, passed for 1,316 yards and 11 TDs last season as a junior. He’ll be throwing to senior wide receiver Matt Halloran, who had eight TDs among his 26 catches a season ago as the leading receiver.

“They’re used to working together quite a bit,” Lenny Onsen said. “They’re on the same page most of the time. That should be a real good combination.”

Wide receiver Ryan Bonarek also will be a key part of the passing attack.

Running back Brandon Tidaback returns after missing last season because of a shoulder injury. He’ll push junior Mark Norton, last year’s starting tailback, while Alan Potter fills the role of a power runner inside.

Returning to the offensive line are tackle Ryan Bloom (6-3, 235), center Kenton Clayburn (6-foot, 245) and tight end Matt Burchfield (6-2, 190).

“The offense has been clicking pretty good,” Lenny Onsen said. “But it’s not just Cody and Halloran. There’s other pieces that go with them. Bonarek, Burchfield, a lot of kids in the mix. It’s not going to be a one-man show.”

The Coal City coach is counting on Bloom and Burchfield being two-way starters on the line. Also returning on defense will be linebackers Dominic Durando (6-1, 200) and Nate Natyshok and defensive backs Dylan Hakey and Michael Czaja. Czaja’s twin brother, Jake, will join the secondary this year.

Although Sandwich is the defending champion in the Interstate Eight Large, the Indians aren’t a clear-cut favorites this season. Coal City and Plano are looking to move up, Herscher was runner-up last year and Manteno has an experienced roster.

Coal City is 83-38 in Onsen’s 11 seasons as coach, including a second-place finish in Class 4A in 2004. The veteran coach isn’t predicting another march to a state championship game, but he is expecting a better season when compared with 2010.

After the home opener Sept. 2 against Lisle, Coal City starts its I-8 Large schedule Sept. 9 at Peotone.

“Like everything else, it’s a work in progress,” Lenny Onsen said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep taking baby steps to get better every week.”

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