DISTRICT NEWS & PR |
FOOTBALL: Kahoks had a season that was this close
November 02, 2009
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Greg Uptain
Collinsville Herald
October 31, 2009 |
Four of Collinsville's losses by a TD or less
Two-hundred fifty-six teams began play this weekend in the Illinois High School Association state football playoffs. With a couple breaks here and there, the Collinsville Kahoks could have been one of those teams.
On the surface, the Kahoks' 2-7 record this season wouldn't lead many to believe the team was anywhere close to sniffing the playoffs. But, a look beyond the numbers is necessary.
Collinsville lost a pair of games by two points apiece, another game by two points and yet another by six points. That's four losses by a touchdown or less.
If all four go the Kahoks' way, they are in the playoffs at 6-3. Even if only three of those four go its way, Collinsville would more than likely have been in at 5-4.
"Three of those four teams are in the playoffs," Kahoks coach Mike Liljegren said. "It was a little bit frustrating being so close."
Seven of the nine opponents on Collinsville's schedule made the playoffs, a testament to the strength of the Kahoks' schedule.
"It's a tough schedule," Liljegren said. "There are no patty-cakes."
The schedule will change slightly next season, as one of the Kahoks' two non-conference opponents will be different. Gone will be Springfield, which will be replaced by another playoff team in Althoff.
"I'm excited about starting that series," Liljegren said. "Those are two comparable programs. Althoff might even be a little more storied."
Collinsville will enter next season with a solid group of returning players from this season's squad. Liljegren hopes they will reap the rewards of being battle-tested.
"The positive thing is we were very close this year," he said. "Hopefully, that will motivate them going into the offseason in the weight room."
One very positive development this season was the play of junior quarterback Austin Hails. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound signalcaller directed the Kahoks' spread offense quite well. Hails completed just a shade under 50 percent of his passes (175-of-353) for 2,342 yards with 16 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
"He had a great year this year and now we'll have a chance to look at the film this offseason," Liljegren said. "One of things we'd like to improve on is efficiency. We'd like to increase the touchdown passes and decrease the interceptions."
Hails will have most of his stable of receivers back next fall. Chris Marshall (60 receptions, 873 yards) will be gone, but Chris Tidwell (60, 886) and Tre Lewis (40, 631) return for their senior seasons and Liljegren plans to get Gus Wellmaker more involved in the passing game after the sophomore showed what he could do with a seven-catch, 79-yard performance in last week's season finale at Belleville East.
"We feel like we have a great group back," Liljegren said. "And we have a good group of sophomore receivers."
The Kahok running attack was virtually non-existent all season, but Liljegren hopes to ramp it up next season.
"We have a few candidates who could make an impact at that position," he said. "And we'll also have James Wellmaker (167 yards) back."
The young Collinsville defense matured as the season went along.
After getting nicked for at least 28 points in each of the first four games, the Kahok D allowed more than 22 points just one time over the final five games and that came against powerful East St. Louis.
Liljegren started as many as five sophomores - Gus Wellmaker, Cole Newingham, Charles Miller, Erik Brown and J'Vaughn Williams - on the defensive side of the ball at times this season.
"That year of experience will be huge," he said. "This sophomore class is the best class we've had come through here in a while in terms of quality and numbers. We feel quite good about that."
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