An end of an era begins Friday when Fremd’s football team takes the field in its 2011 opener against Lake Zurich.
Head coach Mike Donatucci will retire at the end of the season after 19 years at the helm. Donatucci has led the Vikings to 16 consecutive state playoff appearances while accumulating a 133-58 record.
“It has always been about the kids,” Donatucci said. “That’s why I have done it.”
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The Vikings won’t have that huge offensive line of past years. Gone are Brian Bobek (Ohio State) and Jack Knonopka (Northwestern). So this year Fremd will look to rely on speed and quickness.
“It is a challenge. We are young and inexperienced,” Donatucci said. “But that’s OK. We are working hard and our skill kids are definitely above average and the chemistry is coming together pretty good here.”
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The Vikings will have 59 players on their squad this year, including seven sophomores. One of those sophomores is quarterback Sam Beutler, who started the last half of the season for the Vikings and helped them turn around a 1-4 start and lead them to the playoffs.
“It is different this year knowing that I am going to be the starter,” Beutler said. “It was all so new last year. But I think we will be pretty good.”
Beutler, who will direct an offense that may go five-wide at times, will look to throw to Connor Pfister, Matt Metzen, Jack Bassong and Matt Isola. A.J. McGhee and Nick Storm will get most of the carries on offense while Nicholas Loden is the lone returning starter on the offensive line.
“We are going to mix it up,” Donatucci said. “We won’t be the pounding team of years past.”
Defensively the Vikings return two starters in linebacker Ryan Barr and defensive back Keith Browning.
Andrew Stark will handle the placekicking duties for the Vikings. Stark, who is a sophomore, showed how strong a leg he has by booting a 55-yard field goal in practice.
The Vikings schedule is not easy. It features six teams that qualified for the state playoffs last year, including the opener with Lake Zurich, which could contend for the Class 7A title.
“We always play a good schedule,” Donatucci said. “The boys have worked hard this summer. They will be ready.”
Fremd 2011 schedule
Aug. 26 H Lake Zurich 7:30 PM
Sept. 2 H Prospect 7:30 PM
Sept. 9 A Elk Grove 7:30 PM
Sept. 16 H Buffalo Grove 7:30 PM
Sept. 23 A Conant 7:30 PM
Sept. 30 H Schaumburg 7:30 PM
Oct. 6 H Palatine 6:30 PM
Oct. 14 A Barrington 7:30 PM
Oct. 21 A Hoffman Estates 7:30 PM
