When Ryan Kubacki Jr. learned he was going to be Benet’s next starting quarterback, he was like a teenager who had just been handed the keys to a Cadillac.
He couldn’t wait to take it for a spin.
“It feels great,” Kubacki said. “I think I bring a whole new energy to the team and can make plays that are tough and break some runs, get the team buzzing a little bit.”
The buzz is back at Benet after back-to-back losing seasons, and it’s not coming only from Kubacki. The 5-foot-8 junior has the confidence of Benet coach Pat New heading into the season opener against Oak Forest at home on Friday.
“He’s a really hardworking kid with a great arm and is a really good runner,” New said. “He’s got those qualities that you like in a quarterback — the competitive fire and the confidence.
“He’s got those great quarterback qualities in addition to having those physical skills. His teammates look up to him as a leader.”
Kubacki earned the respect of his teammates while quarterbacking the sophomore team the past two seasons.
“I got to play with the class ahead of me as a freshman, and that helped a ton,” he said. “We really built a bond, and I think that’s an advantage going into this season.”
The Redwings, who went 4-5 the past two seasons, have surrounded Kubacki with veteran talent. Senior receivers Pat Pitello and Rocky Rosanova are back, and the offensive line has three returning starters with seniors Quinn Guerin and Michael Bigoness and junior Joe Rodi, who will help keep the rookie field general upright.
“Our biggest thing this year is we have more depth on both the offensive and defensive line,” New said. “We’re excited about that. That was our biggest problem over the last two years. We were a little bit small up front, and then last year we carried only six offensive linemen, so when injuries hit, it really hurt.”
Kubacki isn’t the only one bringing new energy to the Redwings.
“Coach brought in some great coaches in coach (Craig) Harmon and Dan LeFevour and Ryan Graham,” Kubacki said. “That helped me a ton.”
LeFevour, a former Benet and Central Michigan quarterback, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2010 and had an eight-year career in professional football, including stops with the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. Graham played quarterback at Northern Illinois, where Harmon was an assistant.
The addition of LeFevour has been especially helpful for Kubacki.
“I’ve been working with Dan for a little over a year now,” Kubacki said. “I think the most important factor he taught me is how to be calm and how to trust the offense, have trust in your players.
“It’s more a mentality than anything. You’ve got to be confident and trust your guys.”
Kubacki doesn’t lack confidence, and he trusts that the Redwings are poised to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, the final year of a program-record eight consecutive postseason appearances.
“I think we can make some upsets and change the stigma around Benet as an easy game,” Kubacki said. “Everyone is counting us out, but I really think that we’re going to shock the world.”
That could be teenage bravado talking — or not. New said the defense will be solid too. He described the defensive line — which includes senior Gavin Malec, senior Will Van Someren, junior Liam Rooney and junior Declan Walsh, a Nazareth transfer — as one of the best he’s had in his 14-year tenure at Benet.
A stiff schedule includes defending Class 8A state champion Loyola and defending Class 3A state champion IC Catholic Prep, which visits Lisle on Sept. 8, and will put the Redwings to the test.
“That Week 3 IC game is big,” Kubacki said. “I think we’re going to knock off IC, and that will show that we’re serious.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
