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Decatur MacArthur Generals
COACH: Derek Spates (36-34, eighth season at MacArthur)
2014 RECORD: 6-4 (6-3 in CS8)
POSTSEASON: Lost to Peoria Central 40-24 in first round of Class 5A playoffs
TOP RETURNEES: WR-DB Jamar Jones (2 catches, 1 TD; 24 tackles), Line T.J. Griffey, Line Adam Macke, RB Keeshon Sayles, K Lucas McCoskey
BIG LOSSES: Shawn'Trez Spates, DeVince Lewis, Jaquay Owens, Shaquez Bond, Xavier Cook, Davon Jackson, Tylan Powell, Seth Sturdivant
WHAT THE GENERALS DO WELL: Put athletes on the field. MacArthur made a splash in its first CS8 game last year by beating perennial league power Chatham Glenwood in overtime. MacArthur lost 10 very talented seniors from last year’s team. The Generals will be young and won’t have a lot of size, but the talent level will be high. MacArthur also might have the conference’s best returning kicker in Lucas McCoskey. Adam Macke and Tyler Griffey will anchor the offensive and defensive lines.
MACARTHUR QUESTION MARKS: Do-it-all quarterback Shawn-Trez Spates (1,537 passing yards, 1,210 rushing yards) has left for Southern Illinois University along with his talented classmates. Coach Derek Spates was looking for replacements at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, and it didn’t help that a couple of guys who could have really contributed — speedy Deion Norfleet and linemen Shane Boyster and Drake Reed — didn’t return.
WORTH NOTING: The Generals’ first season in the CS8 included big wins over Glenwood and Rochester and tough losses to Jacksonville and Southeast. The Generals were eight points away from finishing 8-1 and second in the conference. . . . MacArthur has been in the postseason five times over the past seven seasons but lost in the first round four of those times.
COACH DEREK SPATES SAYS: “We will compete. We’re just trying to replace those guys who left after last year, get the next wave of guys to work and see what it takes to compete in this conference. We have so many young guys . . . our future is bright. We’ve just got to mature a little bit. Size is always a question mark. I wish we looked like SHG across the front. But we’ll get into you and let our skilled guys make things happen. MacArthur football will be fast, hard-nosed and play the game the right way.”
