Lincoln-Way Central has determined look

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:43AM

One thing is certain for Lincoln-Way Central this season: Motivation won’t be an issue after a 1-8 season ended a streak of 15 straight playoff appearances.

“We don’t want that again,” said returning offensive tackle Charlie Athans, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior. “We’re going to do everything we possibly can to not have that.”

Inexperience hit Central hard and kept the Knights off balance in 2010 under first-year coach Brett Hefner.

“The first year in a new system and we played a lot of underclassmen last year,” Hefner said. “So, a second year in the system, a full offseason with them and a number of returning starters on both sides of the ball — the kids have a good idea of what to expect.”

The way returning linebacker Mike Leibovitz sees it, all of that should add up to a much better season.

“We were a very young team last year,” Leibovitz said. “Now all our starters from last year are moving up to starting again. We’re going to be a lot stronger this year, a lot better, a lot more experienced.”

Part of that team growth came during offseason training.

“This offseason with this group was a lot different than last offseason,” Hefner said. “The way they handled themselves, the way they carried themselves, the way they challenged and pushed each other.”

Central starts the season with 14 returning starters, seven each on offense and defense. Brendon Hennessy (6-3, 285), Jake Martinsen (6-foot, 220) and Blake Huddlestun (6-1, 230) were regulars on the offensive line with Athans, and Liam Sears joined the group for the last few games.

“That’s the most important group to have back,” Hefner said. “We’re expecting a lot out of our offensive line.”

Senior tailback Brett Ditchman will lead the ground attack and wide receivers Kevin Ward and Matt Doherty will be the main targets.

Defensive returnees are linemen Evan Panfil (6-4, 220), Ryan Gromnicki (6-foot, 210) and Grant Bartel (6-2, 230), linebackers Leibovitz and Tom Gianares, and Ryan Thome and Matt Quinn in the secondary. Junior linebacker Matt Schneider will join an experienced group.

“They’re not learning a system — they’re able to play without having to think,” Hefner said. “We’re excited to get going and I know they’re excited to get going.”

The season starts on the road Friday at Lincoln-Way North, with a home game Week 2 vs. Thornridge. The SouthWest Suburban Blue opener is Sept. 9 against Homewood-Flossmoor, a preseason conference favorite.

“The conference is as good as you’ll find in the state,” said Hefner, who also has coached at Shelbyville and Centralia. “You do not have one Friday night when you can relax. They can’t take any game off, any play off, because of the quality of the competition.

“I would think you have to put (Lincoln-Way) East at the top and H-F at the top after their postseason runs and with what they have coming back. And I would think Bolingbrook would be right up there, too.”

Athans has circled the Oct. 7 Lincoln-Way East game on his calendar.

“We’re actually playing them on my birthday,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Hefner thinks his players will be mentally stronger after what they endured last year.

“You hope so,” he said. “It’s something we’ve seen a little bit in the offseason. Until we get out there on a Friday night, you’re never 100 percent sure.”

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