Super 25 countdown: Minooka

The backfield will look a little different this season for Minooka with the graduation of standout runner Kyle Banks.

But not to worry, because Banks’ running mate – and one of the state’s premier two-sport athletes – is back. That would be senior Kalvin Hill, a 5-foot-8, 175-pounder who followed up a successful football season by winning the Class 3A 160-pound wrestling title last season.

“He’s a great running back,” Minooka linebacker Jake Petrovic said. “He’s hard to tackle. ... He’s a tank. Kalvin will have no problem picking up the slack.”

Indians coach Bert Kooi, whose team is No. 16 in the Sun-Times preseason Super 25, feels the same way.

“He’s had a great summer,” Kooi said of Hill. “He did a whole lot of wrestling and missed some stuff for us, but we completely understood. He wasn’t getting out of shape at all.”

Hill will be the driver of Minooka’s double-wing offense, a productive unit that helped the Indians finish 10-2 and win some shootouts last season en route to a share of the Southwest Prairie Conference title. “He really is the guy who ignites us,” Kooi saud.

The Indians also have some receivers who could make opponents respect the passing game and prevent them from keying too heavily on Hill. That group includes Max Brozovich (6-3, 200), Luc Stovall (6-1, 185) and Mark Fox. “Luc Stovall is one of those special kids you don’t get every year,” Kooi said. “He’s that explosive type of receiver.”

And Petrovic likes what he’s seen of fullback Taylor Salazar: “He’ll be a good lead blocker (for Hill).”

There are some questions to be answered about the offensive line, which lacks experience. But it’s a different story on the other side of the ball. “The best part of our team will be our D-line,” Kooi said.

Back on that unit are Alec Vesper (6-1, 280) Alex Hamilton (6-0, 245) and Jake DeGraaf (6-3, 225).

Petrovic (5-11, 190) returns to start at linebacker after missing all of last season with a torn labrum, while Luc Carey (5-9, 180) is a veteran in the secondary.

“He is chomping at the bit,” Kooi said of Petrovic. “He can’t wait to get back after it.”

“My first day back, it felt awesome,” Petrovic said after Wednesday’s opening of preseason practice. “It was hard to sit back and watch last year after getting hurt.”

He’ll be right in the middle of the action this year and it promises to be an interesting season. In recent years, the Indians have had to cast a wide net to find willing nonconference opponents. Last year, they had to trek to Zion-Benton for a Week 2 win. But that’s changed this season, with a pair of quality opponents from nearby on the schedule for the first two weeks: Morris and Providence.

“We’re looking forward to those two nonconference games,” Petrovic said. “(Playing) teams that have won state championships, that’ll help us get ready for our conference.”

Kooi also hopes it prepares the Indians for another long run of November football.

“Losing to Belleville East (last season) left a bitter taste in our mouth,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can to get past that quarterfinal game.”

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