Super 25 countdown: Oswego

Updated: August 3, 2011 10:34AM

Oswego missed the IHSA playoffs last season for the first time since 2001, but that doesn't mean the Panthers weren't interesting to watch.

Led by strong-armed quarterback Ryan West, the Panthers were involved in some epic shootouts. They beat Romeoville 61-53 and lost 49-43 to Plainfield North in a game that featured Kapri Bibbs' 520-yard rushing effort for the Tigers.

The bad news for opponents is that West returns this season, along with some of his favorite targets. The worse news is that Oswego, ranked 24th in the Sun-Times' preseason Super 25, should be able to make a few more stops on defense this fall after allowing 35 points a game in 2010.

"So far we've been really jelling as a team," said West, who passed for 2,471 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. "Lots of seniors coming back on offense. Defensively, we should be solid there also."

That could help the Panthers turn around a few of the L's from last season, when all but one of their defeats went down to the wire. "Losing four games by seven points or less is a tough way to go," coach David Keely said. "We've got to play strong defense and at the same time, keep scoring points like we did in the past."

It starts with West, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder who picked up his first scholarship offer, from Southern Illinois, this week.

"One of the things I really wanted to work on was reading coverages better," he said. "When teams drop back eight guys, I want to make my audibles, check off a pass to make it a run."

West has some big-play receivers with the likes of junior Jack Kwitakowski (6-4, 190), senior Josh Mapolo (5-7, 185) and senior Parker Meek (6-3, 200). Kwiatkowski and Mapolo combined for about 1,000 receiving yards last season. Other receiver candidates include Freddie Miller (6-6, 185) and Jamaal Richardson (6-1, 185).

Given the expectation that West will air it out at every opportunity, Keely and his quarterback know they'll have to balance out the play-calling to some degree.

"During this whole summer, coach Keely - he's been stressing it - we've just got to keep teams honest," West said. "Passing will open up the run, running will open up the pass."

Up front, senior Kent Koulback (6-0, 210), who split time last season between center and guard last season, is back to anchor the offensive line.

There's experience on defense as well. Key players there include Chad Burdo at linebacker, Kwiatkowski at free safety and Shaun Gauden and Jay Bodine at the corners.

What is adds up to remains to be seen, especially given the strength of the Southwest Prairie Conference. The league hasn't been around long - and neither have several of its schools - but it's produced some breakout stars like Bibbs and some perennial powerhouse programs like Minooka.

"We've always had good competition there," West said.

That figures to continue. If the results are good as well, then the Panthers will be a happy bunch this season.

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