Experience at the quarterback position certainly won't be an issue for Elgin High's football team this fall.
That's because senior Tom Roth will be back under center for the Maroons in the rare spot as a three-year varsity starting quarterback.
While most teams turn to juniors or seniors to handle quarterbacking duties, Elgin gave Roth the job two years ago when he was just a sophomore. Given his age, it wasn't a big surprise that he took his fair share of lumps during the 2006 season, throwing for 535 yards and eight touchdowns while also being intercepted eight times.
However, that experience paid off in a big way last year when Roth vastly improved his numbers. As a junior, the 6-foot, 170-pounder completed 75 of 165 passes and was second in the area with 1,686 passing yards. He also threw for 16 touchdowns while drastically cutting his interceptions down to only two for the season.
With Elgin now in its second week of summer camp, the three-sport standout is focusing squarely on continuing his upward trend this fall.
"It's my senior year and I pretty much want to do everything possible to lead the team," Roth said.
"Basically what I look to do this year is be a leader both on the field and off the field. I want this year to be the best year out of all of them."
With the start of the 2008 season a little more than a month away, Roth is busy getting used to being surrounded by new personnel.
Gone is standout running back Kenny Williams , who is now at Eastern Illinois after putting together four stellar varsity seasons. Roth is also dealing with a new coach in Dave Bierman , who took over for the departed Tom Kim only two months ago.
While those changes are noteworthy, Roth does enjoy the luxury of having Jamal Cook -- his top target from last year -- back in the fold.
There were rumors swirling during the spring and early summer that Cook might be transferring to another area school, but the receiver is back at Elgin's summer camp.
"He is back and more freakish than ever," Roth said of Cook, who built a reputation as being one of the most athletic talents in the Upstate Eight Conference last year while catching 20 passes for 559 yards and eight touchdowns.
As for getting used to Bierman's coaching style, Roth said the process is going smoothly. Like Kim, Bierman will be calling the offensive shots from the sidelines this fall.
If Bierman's three-year stay at Larkin is any indicator, he'll have no hesitation throwing the ball this year, which is encouraging to Roth as he looks to guide the Maroons to their first winning record and playoff appearance since 2001.
"In some ways it's a lot different (with Bierman), but it's football," Roth said. "The terminology is different, but it's the same plays we ran last year. We're gelling pretty well now and it's going pretty good."
Area QB watch -- Roth isn't the only area quarterback who is returning this fall after enjoying a productive 2007 season.
Bartlett's Josh Hasenberg , St. Charles North's Nick Neari , Genoa-Kingston's Chris Wilkins and Dundee-Crown's Logan Kissack are all expected to be back under center for their respective teams when the season starts next month.
Hasenberg, Neari and Wilkins all have especially high expectations after throwing for more than 1,000 yards last season. For Neari, this summer has been a productive one as he continues to learn the intricacies of the position.
Despite playing quarterback while growing up, Neari tended to focus more on basketball than football. His pure athletic ability helped him land the quarterback job last year as junior, and he went on to complete 106 of 205 passes for 1,380 yards and nine touchdowns while also being intercepted eight times.
With the North Stars entering the season in search of their seventh straight playoff appearance, Neari plans on being more polished this year.
"I'm just trying to get my mechanics down and my fundamentals down," Neari said. "I was always more of a basketball player than a football player. Now I'm really focused on fundamentals and trying to learn things that other guys learned a while ago."
Bartlett registration information -- Registration for Bartlett's football program will be held Aug. 11. Equipment will be issued at the time of registration.
Varsity registration will be held from 9-10 a.m., sophomore registration will be held from 10-11 a.m. and freshman registration will be between 11 a.m. and noon.
For more information, contact football coach Tom Meaney at (630) 372-4700, ext. 8105.
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