First aim for Lions: a good start

Lisle senior running back Ricardo Lee, left, was a big part of the Lions' offense in 2007 and had three games with more than 150 yards rushing.
Jon Cunningham / Special to The Sun

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Lee Gorski has the best explanation for why the Lisle football team started 0-5 in 2007.

"We had too many guys who were not mentally in the game," Gorski, a senior, said. "This year that won't be a problem. We are focused and much closer as a group, to let something like that happen."

So expect the Lions to pick up where they left off last season when they won three of their final four games to finish at 3-6. It marked the first missed postseason since 2000 for coach Dan Sanko's club.

Lisle started sophomore Jon Surber at quarterback last season and Surber said it took time for him to adjust to the varsity game.

"I went right from playing freshman football to varsity and the pace of the game is so much faster," said Surber, who is now a junior. "I think I have gotten a lot stronger and in a lot better shape entering this season. I feel a lot more comfortable with my teammates because it took some time for me to earn their confidence."

One of Surber's favorite targets this season will be Gorski, who plays tight end and defensive end. Another plus for the Lions is the return of running back Ricardo Lee who will depend on the blocking of four returning starters along the offensive line in seniors Cole Beidelman, Tony Kisla, senior Tyler Triplett and Kyle VanDenburgh.

Junior running back Jake Kretman will join Lee in the backfield.

Cameron Wright and David Pawlowicz will double as receivers and members of the secondary.

"We should be really exciting on offense with the group of guys that we have who can catch and run with the ball," Gorski said. "Last year we saw improvement throughout the season because we grew as a team both individually and as a group. It has continued through the summer. We are a closer group already at this point than we were last year."

Sanko said that his numbers are down this season, but he isn't too concerned with the group he has put together.

"These guys know some will have to play on both sides of the ball and we've prepared for it," Sanko said. "We will have to make do with the guys we have, but we'll be fine."

After opening the season Aug. 29 at Reed-Custer in Braidwood, the Lions will open their home schedule against Coal City on Sept. 5 at Benedictine University. For the third straight season, the Lions will play all of their home games at Benedictine.

The luster of playing at a college venue has not worn off - at least for the players.

"I love playing at Benedictine," Gorski said. "I know some people miss that we don't play our home games at the junior high because we do lose a little bit of the atmosphere, but playing under the lights and with the synthetic surface is great and gets the adrenaline pumping."

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