Offseason work pays off for Mooseheart QB

Updated: August 29, 2011 8:30PM

As expected, the area’s top returning quarterbacks turned in the type of performances fans and coaches alike expected — from Aurora Christian’s Anthony Maddie to Geneva’s Matt Williams to Oswego’s Ryan West.

But there were several other eye-opening performances by area quarterbacks, with none more surprising than the show put on by Mooseheart junior Jon Hart in the Red Ramblers’ new pistol spread option offense.

Hart (6-3, 160) went 16-for-23 with three touchdowns while passing for 236 yards in leading the Red Ramblers to an impressive 48-7 victory over rival and perennial Class 1A power Alden-Hebron.

Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler, along with assistant head coach Charlie Palochko and assistant coach Scott Hart, worked long and hard over thelast offseason and in camp to develop and install the no-huddle offense to take advantage of a bevy of speedy playmakers.

“I’ve said it in the past — our inability sometimes to throw the ball and throw it with purpose and for teams to take us for real with that, we had to do something,” Urwiler said. “We practiced really hard this summer with our contact days and at the beginning of camp to put this new system in place. The guys have responded really well and I had no idea we would execute the way we did. But I’ll definitely take it.”

While the Red Ramblers coaching staff has been mulling some kind of change to the offense the last couple of seasons, Jon Hart’s continued development in the weight room and as a quarterback helped give the coaches confidence the players could execute it.

“The biggest thing with Jonathan is he’s an extremely hard worker and a great leader,” Urwiler said. “I was always questioning his durability but he’s done everything he can to come in (ready for the grind).”

Hart has progressed over the past year as a quarterback, working out of Don Beebe’s House of Speed camps at reading defenses and getting the ball out quickly and accurately. Urwiler concedes there is room for improvement with the junior, but the coaching staff trusts him enough to run the new offense at a quick pace.

“He’s not a strong-armed kid, but he’s a smart player and understands reading defenses,” Urwiler said. “I think I’ve spent enough time with him that he understands what I want and how we want to go about and he’s really grasped it. I have confidence in him on the field to carry those things out.

“What is nice is we’re giving a play to Jonathan and he puts people in motion based on how they’re aligned and where he wants them to end up. For the first game, to be able to do that, and do it the magnitude that we did, I’m excited.”

New face, familiar place

At Kaneland, Drew David became just the fourth Knights quarterback in the last eight years and played much like his predecessors against Brooks with a 14-for-20, 203-yard effort.

Not allowed to speak to the media following the game, David remains somewhat of a mystery at this point but one thing is for sure — the Kaneland middle school and freshmen programs know how to identify and develop quarterbacks.

Rotation, rotation

Two teams have interesting QB situations to keep an eye on — Marmion and West Aurora. Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer played it coy Friday night after his first career victory, and wouldn’t be pinned down when reporters asked about his rotating quarterbacks.

“You’ll see some of that,” he said. “I think it’s a week-to-week thing. I think Richie Renner was very consistent tonight. He does a nice job of leading our base offense. I think there are some things all the other three have to offer. We’re gonna put our athletes in the best position.”

That included utilizing 6-4, 215-pound Quintez Jones at H-Back, where he shifted and took a couple snaps. After one handoff to Shon Enoch, Jones was spotted 10 yards downfield throwing a block for his back on a 15-yard gain.

Marmion also employed a rotation under center, using Charlie Faunce and Dan DiBartolo. They did not experience much success, however, in a disappointing 36-7 loss to Batavia. The pair threw four interceptions and completed just four passes for 34 yards in the defeat. Sophomore Brock Krueger also got under center for a few reps as well. As the season goes along, this rotation is something to keep an eye on as the Cadets try to work in a near full makeover of the skill positions.

O’Brien finally catches a break

A feel-good story coming out of Week 1 was in Yorkville, where senior running back Neil O’Brien rushed for 184 yards and two scores on 27 carries in the Foxes’ 21-12 victory over Streator.

O’Brien, who caught the attention of Yorkville coaches as a freshman, has battled shoulder injuries the last two seasons. He was injured in Week 1 against Streator last year after a 40-yard run and hard fall out of bounds, and tried all year to get back on the field but consistently ran into setbacks.

“The poor kid was snakebit,” said former Foxes coach Jim Still. “He just couldn’t shake it. He’s always been an outstanding player in the program.”

A hard worker, O’Brien got himself healthy over the summer and finally was able to show what he could do Friday night.

“I had heard stories about what the kid could do (coming in), and we saw in the summer he had a little bit of speed and had some good moves so we were just happy we could get him in a position where he could carry the ball,” current Foxes head coach Karl Hoinkes said. “He ran really strong.”

Rick Armstrong contributed to this report.

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