Sandwich makes smooth transition to new coach

Updated: August 19, 2011 8:04PM

SANDWICH — Still basking in the glow of last season’s run to the Class 4A semifinals, the farthest the program has ever gone in the playoffs, Sandwich welcomes a new coach.

Well, not really a new coach. After Derek Avery left the program for an administrative position in DeKalb County, 13-year assistant coach Dusty Behringer ascended from offensive line coach to the top job. And he kept the rest of the coaching staff around.

“At one of the first meetings I had with the coaches, I said, ‘Hey, we all just got a promotion,’” Behringer said.

So it’s under Behringer, with a returning group of 22 seniors, that the Indians set out this season to prove that last year’s run was no fluke.

“It’s been a lot like last year,” senior PJ Crotty said. “Coach Behringer is a lot like Coach Avery. They even look alike somewhat. He’s really carried a lot of what Coach Avery did over here. He’s kept a lot of the same things. That’s very important.”

Crotty will be one of the big keys for Sandwich this season. Though he’s only 150 pounds, he will be the main running back and also start in the defensive backfield. In the Indians’ Wing-T attack, Crotty will be joined by the likes of seniors Spencer Carlson and Trent Webber in the backfield.

“I think we’ll be very strong in our running game,” Crotty said. “There will be a lot of teams keying on me. They know me from last year. That will also open it up for our fullback and our other running backs. They can’t key on all of us.”

Junior tight end and defensive end Seth McDonald will be a key player as well. He’s received some preseason hype and could be one of the top juniors in Class 4A this season. Seniors Jeremy Anderson and Jake Fiedler and junior Logan Lee will help anchor both the defensive and offensive lines.

“PJ, Spencer, Jeremy and Seth all have a chance to be all-state players,” Behringer said. “They’re that good. Trent has our school record for the longest kickoff return. There’s a buzz around here. We did lose a lot, but the seniors are showing leadership and having the extra practices in the playoffs really helped.”

That’s a side effect of a long playoff run that teams who have never experienced that don’t realize. All of those extra repetitions in practices, often with many players from the sophomore team up to participate, manifests itself the next season.

Behringer is hoping to reap the benefits of that this fall.

“There’s been some differences, but we’ve been working with them all summer,” Behringer said. “It’s been a real easy transition. We’re gelling pretty well. Everybody is buying into everything, so it’s good. It’s going to be fun.”

Sandwich Indians

Coach: Dusty Behringer

2010 record: 11-2

Top returners: Jeremy Anderson (Sr., OL/DE); Spencer Carlson (Sr.,RB/LB); PJ Crotty (Sr., RB/DB); Jake Fiedler (Sr., OL/DE); Logan Lee (Jr., OL/DT); Seth McDonald (Jr., TE/DE); Trent Webber (Sr., RB/DB).

Key newcomers: None.

Outlook: Longtime assistant Dusty Behringer replaces Derek Avery as the head coach for the Indians, who had their deepest postseason run in school history last fall. The defending Interstate Eight Large champions return 22 seniors and the rest of the coaching staff beyond Behringer as they look to build on last season’s Class 4A semifinal appearance.

Schedule

Aug. 26 at Westmont 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 Dwight 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 at Herscher 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 16 Peotone 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 at Coal City 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 at Manteno 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 Plano 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 Seneca 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 at Wilmington 7:30 p.m.

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