Ready to start anew
Benet fullback returns from ACL injury
With his idol, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott, out for the season and possibly done for his career, perhaps Benet's Dan McGue can follow in the former Joliet Catholic star's footsteps and become the new power-rushing standard-bearer. Because McGue is certainly used to following in people's footsteps.
Now a senior, McGue claims to have been "destined to be a Redwing," as his mother and two older sisters all graduated from Benet. And he recently committed to play football at West Point, where his father was a cadet at the beginning of a 10-year stint in the Army.
Gregory Morley / Special to The Sun
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 24 At Oswego 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 Montini 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 At Nazareth# 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 St. Viator# 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 At Joliet Catholic# 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 At Marist# 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 St. Patrick# 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 At Marian Catholic# 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 Notre Dame# 7:30 p.m.
* All home games played at Benedictine University; # ESCC game
But one place McGue, a two-time varsity letterman coming off an ACL injury that cut short his junior year, would like to take the lead is in the Class 7A playoffs. He's hoping to carry the Redwings beyond the second round, which is where last year's team was eliminated following an unlikely run after a 2-3 start to the season.
"It was a great experience being a part of that team," said the 6-1, 225-pound McGue. "Even though I couldn't play I was still really happy to watch everybody do as good as they did. We got pretty far, into the second round, and we're just trying to do better every year."
That should be easier with the bruising McGue back as the crux of Benet's double-wing offense.
"We missed him last year," teammate and fellow three-year starter Peter Schimeck said. "We had some kids step in who did a good job, but it's just a totally different game with him in there."
After gaining 332 yards on 71 carries and scoring two touchdowns, McGue succumbed to the injured knee and was replaced by a combination of Mike Vanchieri and Dan Cannon. Now those two players will be counted on as the starting wings behind McGue.
Benet coach Gary Goforth believes the experience Cannon and Vanchieri gained was invaluable.
"In a way, (McGue's) injury kind of was a blessing," said Goforth, now entering his 20th season. "It's just going to make us a better team."
As will McGue's return to health.
"He's just an animal," Schimeck, a defensive end, said. "He's one of the hardest kids I've ever had to tackle. He puts his shoulder down and he'll just run you over. But he can blow by you, too, with his speed."
Cornerback Emmett Carrier painted a similar picture of McGue.
"I really don't like to face him that much in practice," Carrier said. "I mean, a big guy coming right at you like that, it's got to be tough on the defenses that we're going to play."
That includes last year's East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champions St. Viator and Joliet Catholic.
"Our conference is so competitive," McGue said, "that in any one game, anyone can beat another team."
Despite having six starters return on each side of the ball, including defensive tri-captains Schimeck, Jim East, and Ryan Flaherty, Goforth is taking nothing for granted.
"We'd like to do better than last year's team, go farther in the playoffs," he said. "But right now, we're focused on winning on the first game, and then we'll be focused on winning the second game. With our schedule, you cannot look past any team."
Contact Dan Stark at dstark@scn1.com or 630-416-5287.
