CONFERENCE: Southwest Valley Green
HEAD COACH: Jacob O’Connor
2023 RECORD: 3-6
OUTLOOK: New head coach Jacob O’Connor will lead the Chargers in their inaugural season in the new Southwest Valley Conference. O’Connor is excited for the opportunity to build a program. He spent the previous three seasons on the Chargers staff under Colt Nero.
Stagg improved from 0-9 in 2021 to 2-7 in 2022 to 3-6 in 2023. The three wins last season were the program’s most since 2017.
Junior two-way players Olaf Kozub (RB/LB) and Landen Moreno (RB/LB) will split the rushing load
Returning starters include Demetrius Cohn (DB), Dewitt “Tre” Washington (TE/X/LB) and Terrell Williams (OL/DL).
Senior Isaiah Jiminez will take over at quarterback after the departure of three-year starter Lebarion Gilmore.
The Chargers have not qualified for the IHSA playoffs since 2005. Getting there will be a major goal for this team.
O’Connor has seen the Chargers drop some winnable games over the past three seasons, and he believes that with a few adjustments those losses can become wins, even with the relatively young roster.
“Our athletes know how close we were in multiple conference games last year and how a couple close plays really made the difference between a playoff berth and not,” he said.
DID YOU KNOW? Former Stagg graduate and Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz is the tight ends coach at Middle Tennessee State.
— Xavier Sanchez
SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 Joliet Central, 6
Sept. 6 @Oak Lawn, 7
Sept. 13 @Lincoln-Way East, 6
Sept. 20 @Naperville Central, 7
Sept. 27 Waubonsie Valley, 6
Oct. 4 Bradley-Bourbonnais, 6:45
Oct. 11 @Lincoln-Way Central, 7
Oct. 18 Thornwood, 6
Oct. 25 @Dekalb, 7