New coaching additions at Rockford Lutheran could help elevate the Crusaders

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Rockford Lutheran’s football program is coming off back-to-back playoff seasons. Those have left the Crusaders hungry for more, and they just might have the personnel to do more this season.

It took two tremendous football programs to knock the Crusaders out of the 1A playoffs the last two seasons, Fulton and Lena-Winslow. Those were valuable learning experiences for a Crusaders team that is ready to elevate its level of play another notch or two this season.

“Our expectations are a lot higher this year,” said third-year head coach Jeff Luedke. “We got kicked out in the second round two years ago, and we got kicked out last year by Lena in the first round, but I think this year could be a little bit special.”

“We have so many seniors this year, so I feel like when you have that many leaders on the team and that many athletes, it just really contributes to the team going farther,” said tight end and linebacker Jack Behmer.

The Crusaders graduated only two starters off last year’s team, so the roster looks very similar. It’s the coaching staff that has all of the new faces. Bill Flodin and former Auburn head coach Willie Tolon have taken over the defense, and Tolon has brought many of his former Auburn assistants with him to Lutheran.

“I love coach Willie,” said Behmer. “He’s a really good coach.”

The new coaches on both sides of the ball will mean a new look for the Crusaders on offense and defense. Luedke won’t reveal what the Crusaders will do differently, but the changes will be apparent early on this season.

“The Bruce Bazsali offense is pretty much gone,” said Luedke. “We’ve changed things up significantly this year.”

The Crusaders struggled to find an offensive identity last year. They have a better handle on who they are this year.

“I think we’re definitely going to score a lot more points this season, and that’s what our goal is, to get as many points as possible,” said receiver David Ballard.

The Crusaders are talented at the skill positions. Junior Gavin Sanders is one of the most electric running backs in the state at the small school level. He’ll also play some quarterback again this season, but that job primarily belongs to another junior Daniel Ballard.
David Ballard, Behmer, Mason Villafuerte and Richard Anderson lead a strong set of receivers.

So the Crusaders are set at the skilled positions. As always, the question with them is do they have enough on the lines to go head-to-head with the physical competition they’ll face in the Big Northern Conference?

“We have changed our offensive scheme, our offensive blocking,” said Luedke. We knew what our problem really was last year in our eyes it was we couldn’t move anybody off the ball.”

A couple newcomers to the lines will help starting with Rockford Christian transfer Julius Holt, and there’s 6-8 360-pound Jr. Malachi Richardson. He needs some polish, but the Crusaders are optimistic he’ll be a good addition.

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