MM_082417

44 | August 24, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger football preview guide
mokenamessenger.com
Providence eager to take on tough schedule
Celtics hope for
return to playoffs
with talented roster
Chris Walker
Freelance Reporter
The road ahead
• Week 1 — at East St.
Louis, 5 p.m. Aug. 26
• Week 2 — hosts St.
John Vianney, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1
• Week 3 — hosts St.
Rita, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8
• Week 4 — hosts St.
Ignatius, 7:30 p.m. Sept.
15
• Week 5 — at Brother
Rice, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22
• Week 6 — at Hope
Academy, 7 p.m. Sept. 29
• Week 7 — hosts
Fenwick, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6
• Week 8 — hosts Loyola
Academy, 7:30 p.m. Oct.
13
• Week 9 — at Mt.
Carmel, 7:30 p.m. Oct.
20
Providence Catholic is to
open the season by making
the long drive down Interstate
55 to face defending
Class 7A champion East St.
Louis.
The following week, the
Celtics are to host St. John
Vianney from Missouri,
which also won a state title
a season ago.
Then, they jump right
into the Chicago Catholic
Conference Blue Division,
including a game against
Class 8A runner-up Loyola
Academy in Week 8.
It is never easy for the
Celtics, but as 10-time state
champions themselves, they
would have it no other way
— although they are as antsy
as ever to get back to the
playoffs after falling short
the past two seasons.
“Those first two teams being
state champs are only
going to make us better, but
they put us in almost a situation
that they’re must-win
games,” Celtics coach Mark
Coglianese said. “Heading to
St. Louis will be a tough challenge,
but if we can get a big
win, that could catapult us to
big things down the road.”
Tough losses to St. Rita
and Fenwick ended up
crushing Providence’s
hopes of making the playoffs
in 2016, but one of its
biggest positives was how
it finished. The Celtics beat
Mt. Carmel in Week 9 to
keep the Caravan out of the
playoffs for the first time
since 1985.
“That was a huge momentum
swing, and we want to
keep the intensity from that
game all season,” senior
De’Shon Gavin said. “We’re
not taking anything for granted,
especially us seniors. The
seniors are looking really
good and poised after a great
summer and we’re ready to
finish it, and our juniors and
some sophomores have been
impressive.”
Providence’s roster is
smaller than it has been the
past, which is one of the
team’s biggest concerns.
“They key is staying
healthy, because we’re not
real deep,” Coglianese said.
“We have a lot of quality
players, but the numbers
are low so we can’t afford
to lose many guys. Lots of
guys are going to see both
sides of the ball. ... It’s
something we have to do.”
An experienced offensive
line will look to provide
sufficient time and blocking
for an offense that likely
will rotate three or four
guys in the backfield. Incoming
quarterback Caden
Kalinowski only saw a little
bit of time last season playing
wide receiver.
“He’ll be out there, and
we’re going to need him to
stay healthy — and, if he
Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media
does, he should be able to
do some big things,” Coglianese
said. “Losing Richie
Warfield is a big loss, but we
think we have a few guys in
the back that can carry the
ball and bring something
else to the table.”
Gavin added, “Expectations
are through the roof
right now. Our coaches believe
in us, and we believe
in each other and have great
leadership. I don’t expect
anything but the best.”
When Providence opened
its season a year ago, the
Celtics offensive line featured
only one player who
played a single down of varsity
football. Their inexperience
was apparent, but even
an experienced veteran line
likely would have struggled
against a big, athletic, highflying
East St. Louis team.
Now, with a full season of
play behind them, the offensive
line — which includes
the return of Jack McFarland,
Thomas Farley, Hunter
Dauparas and Cody Nawrot
— is one of the team’s
strengths.
“Playing East St. Louis
was an eye-opening experience,
but I think that was
the best way possible to
start, to play the best,” Mc-
Farland said. “We didn’t
want a score like that, but
we learned the most in that
first game and continued to
learn during the season.”
Weakness quickly turned
to strength.
“I don’t really think it
matters who is behind us,”
Mark Coglianese
Team: Providence Catholic High School
Years coaching the team: 29 total, 10 as head
coach
2016 regular season record: 4-5
Who is your coaching hero?
I would say Tom Landry. He was always in
control, but also in charge.
What is your favorite play to run?
I guess being a defensive coach — I was a
defensive coordinator for many years — so I
would say multiple blitzes. Trying to catch the
offense in something that maybe they haven’t
seen or prepared for.
What is a favorite moment during your coaching
career?
I guess there are a couple. When I first
took over as coordinator, we had a 50-
game winning streak. That included four
state championships. That was kind of big.
The second one would be winning a state
championship as a head coach back in 2014.
For more, visit NewLenoxPatriot.com.
Providence Catholic’s Brenden Martus runs with the ball
Aug. 16 during a practice. Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media
McFarland said. “We have
a strong, tight-knit group
unit, and we trust everyone
on the line to do their job.
We’ll get the job done, and
we know we can’t run it
for them. We can just help
them find where to run, and
we think we’ll do the right
thing and get the job done.”