[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Ah47WJIsk[/youtube]

After a disappointing 3-6 record last year, The Wolves Varsity Football team is looking to bounce back with a much more mature and primed roster. All looks optimistic with a home heavy schedule this season. The NWN had the opportunity to sit down with head Coach Scott Baum who had nothing but good things to say about the upcoming season.

NWN: How is the team looking this year?

Baum: Well coached! Haha, we are excited to get some new kids playing alongside some veterans, and how we are going to mesh it all together, but it’s been a good camp so far and we are ready to play our first game.

NWN: After not qualifying for the IHSA playoffs last season, what is the team doing to make sure that doesn’t happen again this year?

Baum: I think that started the day after the season ended last year. We have been in the weight room taking care of business. We had a pretty successful summer, and we just keep that in the back of our minds. Our goal every year is to make the playoffs, and so after last year we went back to the drawing board and we are working hard to get back to where we need to be.

NWN: Who are going to be some of the key players to help make this season a success?

Baum: Games eight and nine last year, we had 11 underclassmen on the field, and so we are looking this year to have a lot more maturity. At quarterback is senior Johnny Pabst, senior receivers, Matt Galanopoulos, Matt Metz, Dino Perocevic, and Greg Leftakes. These are all guys that have played before. I am excited about our offensive line. We have seniors Josh Weichel, Thomas Lappas, Chris Adams. Offensively we are pretty stacked, but defensively we are going to need some guys to step up. On the D Line we have seniors Rafael Aguayo, Aidan Montoya, and junior Joseph Park. These are all guys that contributed last year and we need them to step up this year.

NWN: Does anything else stand out about this season in particular?

Baum: We have a good home schedule this year, with a few more home games than last year, and we love having that Friday Night Lights high school football atmosphere, and when the stands are packed.

The Wolves bust out their season Friday, Aug. 26 at home against Buffalo Grove. The boys will be looking for vengeance as they dropped a close game to BG 45-41 last year. Make sure to pack the stands and expect a warm night for a highly competitive football game.