Sandwich looking to duplicate last year’s success

Updated: October 27, 2011 7:38PM

Coming off the best season in school history, an 11-win season and a trip to the Class 4A semifinals, new Sandwich coach Dusty Behringer had a clear vision of how he thought this year would go when offseason workouts began June 13.

Behringer, moving up from the ranks of assistant coach to the head coach after Derek Avery moved on, knew this season’s team could be just as special as last year’s Indians squad.

“That was our goal, to host a home playoff game,” Behringer said. “This is where we expected to be. We have an opportunity to do what we did last year.”

The sixth-seeded Indians are right where Behringer envisioned them, hosting No. 11 seed Harvard, a fellow 7-2 squad, Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

“Everybody is really excited,” Sandwich senior P.J. Crotty said. “We’re having a blackout, so hopefully all of our fans will participate and get into it. That will be great. I believe we’re in a terrific spot and we got a good draw in our bracket.”

Sandwich had a little hiccup in the middle of the season, losing consecutive games to Coal City and Manteno. But the Indians recovered with a win over rival Plano and then beat Wilmington for the first time since 1993 in Week 9.

“We know those losses were because we made mental mistakes,” Behringer said. “In the win over Wilmington, there were times where we could have been undisciplined and we worked on it and I’m proud of the guys, because we grew as a team. I’m pleased with where we’re at. That was the first time we beat Wilmington in 18 years. They believe they can beat anybody in Class 4A now.”

Sandwich welcomes a Harvard team that is making its second playoff appearance since 2007 and was only 1-2 against playoff teams all season. Every other game was played against a team that was under .500.

Harvard is a balanced squad that Behringer says mixes the pass and run evenly, though it would like to establish the run first. Quarterback Timmy Linhart averages about 100 yards passing per week and has thrown only two interceptions. The combination of Matt Smith and Brad Lovell carry the running attack.

“They only have 38 guys on the team, and 19 are freshmen and sophomores, but they have some big kids on their team and some great athletes,” Behringer said. “We know it will be a challenge.”

Making a run deep into November last year has this year’s group of Indians up for that challenge.

“Last year gave us experience,” Crotty said. “We had a lot of juniors starting. We want people to remember last year. But we want them to remember this season, as well.”

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