The culture has changed.
“Expectations are very high,” Yorkville senior linebacker Joey Nauman said. “We’ll do our best to live up to them.”
The Foxes, under the guidance of veteran coach Karl Hoinkes, ended a 10-year postseason drought by making the playoffs each of the past two seasons. One and done in 2013, Yorkville reached the second round last year before losing to eventual Class 6A runner-up Lemont.
“Everybody expects to make the playoffs this year, and hopefully go farther than we did last year,” junior tight end Austin Avery said. “We expect the best.”
The standards remain high for this varsity group despite the fact that Hoinkes has stepped down after four years. Before taking over at Yorkville, he coached 26 years at Oswego, leaving in 2007 when he retired from teaching. He has returned to Oswego to assist Brian Cooney.
Hoinkes’ defensive coordinator, Dan McGuire, has dropped his head basketball coach duties and stepped into the lead role in football.
“Except for a couple volunteers we have, I think I’ve got the longest tenure on staff, which is pretty amazing at 35 years old,” McGuire said. “So we have a great young staff that’s very energetic and willing to do whatever it takes. That makes the job easier.
“Karl took us all under his wing. We use a lot of Karl’s things on offense and just changed some terminology. I think the transition has been smooth.”
Former offensive line coach Mike Guzaldo moves up to be offensive coordinator, with help from former sophomore coach Ben Graham and quarterback coach Tom Regnier, while Matt Williams assumes defensive coordinator duties.
A big key for the brain trust will be replacing the void left by the graduation of All-State running back Mike Kurtz (Valparaiso). Hoinkes’ workhorse back, Kurtz averaged 27.4 carries and ran for 2,168 yards and 24 TDs.
Senior Bryce Shewan, who was behind Kurtz and Henry Imburgia (University of Chicago) last year, will get the nod.
“He’s a heckuva wrestler and tough kid,” McGuire said. “He’s gonna be a great running back, too. He’s different, more of a knees-and- elbows kind of guy who’s gonna run between the tackles. He won’t try to outrun people, he’s gonna be physical.”
Cameron Van Boekel, a 6-foot-3 senior, moves into the starter’s role at quarterback and will lead an offense that figures to be more diversified.
“There was a lot of blocking for me last year,” Avery said. He’ll be starting at tight end for the third year and figures to be one of the Foxes’ few two-way starters as he mans an inside linebacker post.
“This year, we’ll get to experience a little more passing. We’re repping those plays as much as our running game so we’re smooth with both.”
McGuire praised Van Boekel’s touch.
“He can throw the deep ball with the best of them,” McGuire said. “He has a great arm and puts it right in there.”
An offensive line that McGuire figures will be a team strength includes returnees Jack Fiedler, Zach Clough and Dylan Souza.
Nauman and senior Will Ferguson join Avery to form what should be a strong linebacker corps, playing behind a strong line led by defensive ends Sam Weisz and Aurora Christian transfer Sean Kuhn. The secondary will feature all new faces.
A balanced field in the five-team Northern Illinois Big 12 East should make for an interesting title chase.
“I don’t see any game we’re guaranteed to win and I don’t see any that we can’t win,” McGuire said. “We could easily have a two-loss team win it. We’re gonna beat each other up. It will be interesting to see how our kids respond to having a target on our back. We’re gonna get everybody’s best.”
Twitter: @RickArmstrong28
YORKVILLE
Last season: 8-3 (3-1 Northern Illinois Big 12 East).
Playoffs: Lost 35-14 to Lemont in Class 6A second round.
Coach: Dan McGuire, first year.
Players to watch: Austin Avery, junior, tight end/linebacker; Jake Fiedler, senior, offensive tackle; Bryce Shewan, senior, running back; Will Ferguson, senior, fullback/linebacker; Joey Nauman, senior, linebacker.
Schedule: (x-denotes Northern Illinois Big 12 East games, all begin at 7:15 unless noted). Aug. 28: at Plano, 7:05; Sept. 4: Sandwich, 7:30; Sept. 11: at Rochelle, 7:30; Sept. 18: x-at Kaneland; Sept. 25:, x-Morris; Oct. 2: Geneseo; Oct. 9: x-at Sycamore; Oct. 16: x-DeKalb; Oct. 23: at Ottawa.
