Tuesday Q&A With Lake Forest Football Coach Chuck Spagnoli

As Yogi Berra said, it was déjà vu all over again for football team Friday night. followed a 41-8 rout of Highland Park .

This Friday, the Scouts (2-1) hit the road to face North Suburban Conference foe Zion-Benton (1-2) and hope for a reversal of fortune from a .

Scouts coach Chuck Spagnoli took a few minutes from preparing for the game Monday to chat with Inside the Huddle. 

Looking at film, what impressed you most about Friday's win?

We took advantage of situations. When we had field position or turnovers (six on the night, nine in two weeks), we capitalized on it. Our offense was able to take advantage. It works both ways. We have to get them the ball and they have to get the ball in the end zone. They do feed off each other.

Your first team defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown since Week One against Buffalo Grove. Why are they playing so well? 

We gave them too much in Week One. That didn’t help us. We’ve taken a few things out, simplifying it, making it easier to understand and . 

Can you be more specific?

We run a base 3-4 defense, and the last two weeks we’ve had only one or two coverages out of it. It’s simply a matter of them lining up and understanding their responsibility. What’s the formation? What’s the coverage? We don’t ask them to make a lot of adjustments. We don’t huddle so they are getting signals from the sideline. It makes them all accountable; we are sure everybody is responsible. We grade guys each week and guys are grading better.

You are at Zion (1-2 overall, 0-1 North Suburban Conference) Friday, the first road game since Buffalo Grove. How important is a fast start?

We haven’t proven that we’ve been successful in (opposing) environment. Things are not as comfortable on the road unless you are living through it all the time. We don’t have to change a lot. Two years ago, we got the stew beat out of us up there in a driving rain storm. Going on the road is not an easy thing. History taught us that, but I know they don’t want to be a part of that history.

The Zee-Bees have put some points on the board, 49 in three games, including 27 in a win over Deerfield in Week One.  

They are the best offense we’ve faced to date. Their quarterback (Javarius Amos-Mays) is a dual-threat guy — that alone is enough to make you worry. We can’t rest on our laurels. They are better than any team we’ve played and we’ve got to tighten up a few things. We have to take them seriously.

Amos-Mays is good, but he’s not (Michigan quarterback) Denard Robinson, coach.

Not too many people are.

Scout Stat Highlights vs. Mundelein:

• Total offense: 417 yards 
• Total defense: 251 yards allowed
• Rushing yards: 332 yards
• Offensive plays: 37
• Yards per play: 11.2