Oswego returns to playoffs with new identity

Updated: October 26, 2011 6:41PM

After a one-year absence, the Oswego football team is back in the postseason and this time it will have a new look on both sides of the ball.

When Oswego hosts Thornton at 6 p.m. Saturday at Ken Pickerill Stadium in a Class 7A first-round contest, it will be the first time the Panthers play in this type of environment with their new spread offense and newly formed defense.

Coach Dave Keely began implementing the spread offensive system during the 2010 season after the Panthers had lost for a third straight season in the second round of the playoffs in 2009.

At that time, quarterback Ryan West was a junior. There were some growing pains during the 2010 season as the Panthers suffered an overtime loss to Minooka in Week 9 that kept them out of the playoffs, but this year after two difficult losses in Weeks 1 and 2 to high-caliber playoff teams in other classes (Marian Central Catholic and Waubonsie Valley) Oswego has rattled off seven straight wins.

“We have a lot of weapons and this offense really allows us to get all of those playmakers involved,” West said. “Everyone gets touches, which keeps people happy.”

West has thrown for 2,655 yards with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He is averaging 295 yards passing per game, and it is safe to say he’s adapted to the new offensive philosophy.

West doesn’t lack for options when he drops back as he has formed tight bonds with his receivers led by a core of juniors.

Junior Jack Kwiatkowski leads the receivers with 47 receptions for 753 yards. Junior Brett Wainwright has 34 catches for 589 yards, while junior Elliot McGaughey has collected 43 passes for 513 yards and junior running back Mickeel Stewart has 323 receiving yards. Senior Josh Mapalo has 367 receiving yards.

“It’s been fun to see Ryan get everyone involved while the team has grown into the offense,” said Keely, who is in his fifth year as head coach. “It helps that Ryan is a tremendous leader and he is someone the kids fully respect. I think it has shown as they’ve continued to develop throughout the season.”

The offense isn’t the only area where the Panthers have changed. On defense, Oswego moved from a 3-5-3 to a 4-2-5 this season.

Things didn’t start out easy on that side of the ball as Oswego allowed nearly 30 points per game through its first seven games, but the past two weeks the Panthers have started to figure things out and held Plainfield Central to six points and playoff-bound Minooka to seven.

“Earlier this season, we were just expecting the offense to outscore the opponent,” senior linebacker Billy Baker said. “These past few games we’ve really started to come together and we’re starting to play more like we thought we would all along. It was a bit of a slow progression during the season, but everyone knows their own roles and the key is to trust everyone to be in the right spots. We’re doing that now.”

Now with its new identity on both sides of the ball, Oswego hopes to embark on a long postseason run.

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