James Nokes, Special to the Tribune
Matt LaCosse is the kind of quarterback that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night.
The Naperville North senior is a versatile, dual-threat athlete who breaks the traditional paradigms established for a quarterback. LaCosse headlines a growing trend in high school and college football in which coaches select their best athletes to play quarterback.
“It’s a little bit like basketball,” Naperville North coach Sean Drendel said. “You want your best athlete to be your point guard because that’s the person that controls the game.”
LaCosse has engineered a pair of Huskies wins, using his legs in Week 1. In a 17-0 win at St. Charles East last Friday, he was poised in the pocket (9-for-15, 193 yards, TD).
Defensive coordinators should have an easy time pointing out the 6-foot-7 LaCosse in film sessions because he’s usually the tallest player on the field. But they will have a hard time preparing for a Huskies offense that operates from the shotgun.
Moving LaCosse from under center is a switch that Drendel said makes the Naperville North offense more dynamic.
“It gives us a few more options,” Drendel said. “Now defenses have to defend 11 players instead of 10. When you have a tremendous athlete at quarterback it allows them to be creative.”
Naperville North (2-0) hosts Glenbard North (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday to start DuPage Valley Conference play.
Who will emerge as a game-breaking threat next to LaCosse?
Against St. Charles East it was Danny Puknaitis, the 5-foot-10 X-factor who had two second-half touchdowns to help the Huskies break a scoreless halftime tie.
The Panthers have a rugged defense and, like the Huskies, trot out a series of talented running backs who maneuver behind a solid offensive line.
“We have versatile backs that can get to the outside and be physical inside too,” Drendel said. “We know Glenbard North is similar to us. They want to run the football, block, tackle and be very physical. We know it will be one of the most physical games we play.”
