Libertyville is area’s big surprise in early going

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:47AM

If you aren’t a fan of any particular high school football team, then your “home” team for this season surely is Libertyville.

Not only is this retiring coach Randy Kuceyeski’s final season at the helm, but his coaching routine and, in fact, his life has been turned upside down while he fights his own personal battle with cancer.

But, as you might suspect. The coach is not alone in his fight.

He has all 60 varsity players all praying for him and pulling for him, and, yes, winning for him.

The Cats are a surprising 2-0 with a team expected to be a bottom-feeder in 2011. Friday, they take on 2-0 Antioch in yet another tough test for the Orange/Black.

Luke Mathewson, a starting linebacker/tight end and one of the captains, said the team is driven to succeed despite not having the individual talent of other squads.

“I’ve never been on a team like this, that plays this much together as a team rather than as individuals,” he said. “We don’t have any big (NCAA) Division 1 prospects or the biggest, fastest guys.

“But we have an entire team of guys who want to play for their coach and for each other.”

So far, the club has played inspired in a shocking win over Barrington and a shutout win over Urban Prep from the Big City.

Fact: Libertyville’s last team to start 3-0 was 2006.

“Knowing what Coach has to go through every day makes you push yourself that much more,” said Michael Parker, a defensive lineman and co-captain. “Knowing that he’s going through chemotherapy treatments while we’re complaining about sprints puts things in perspective.”

At practice Thursday, Coach K. was absent, but his twin brother — Ron K. — was on hand and he talked with the players after their workout.

“Coach’s goal when he told us in the spring that he had cancer was to walk out there with us that first night against Barrington,” said Mathewson. “He came out there with the captains.

“Now, every game, the goal is to walk out of the tunnel with us. I know people in the stands said it brought tears to their eyes seeing him come out with us.”

The ultimate present for their coach would, of course, be qualifying for the playoffs.

But that will take a tremendous amount of hard work and at least one more major upset win.

“Making the playoffs was one of Coach K’s. big goals,” Parker said. “He really wants to go out with a playoff appearance.

“We haven’t had one for a few years.”

With Coach K. out, practices are run by assistant coaches. But since the group has been together 15-plus years, the workouts are still organized and the team looks like a well-oiled machine.

One of the assistants said the plan is for Coach K. to walk out of the tunnel again on Friday when the team goes for 3-0.

So get to the game early.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.