Practice makes perfect: Scout team helps prepare 13-0 squad

By DAN WOESSNER  dwoessner@svnmail.com  800-798-4085, ext. 553

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Each week, Jason Caruso has a different name, a different number, but the same job.

For the past 13 weeks, the Morrison football coaching staff has asked the 5-foot-10, 165 pound junior to mimic a different star. Caruso does just that as a member of the Mustangs’ scout team.

During preparation for semifinal opponent Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Caruso was 1,900-yard rusher Michael Romshek. This week, he’s playing the role of Dalton Coventry, Maroa-Forsyth’s top back. Morrison plays the Trojans for the 2A state championship at 1 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

“I always run hard,” Caruso said, “so I think that’s why I get to do it. I take a lot of hits, but it can be fun.”

Caruso is the type of player who leaves practice with the dirtiest, most tattered jersey, and probably won’t see his name in the Saturday morning box scores.

“Any team that has success is because they get as much out of practice as possible,” Morrison coach Cory Bielema said.

“We have a few guys that go two ways, but we try and keep that to a minimum. That allows us to have strong scout teams mixed with players that start.”

Andrew Cook’s name does appear in the box score every week, as the Mustangs’ starting quarterback. He also regularly runs the scout team offense.

“We play like we practice,” Cook said. “The scout team has played a big role this season. The scout offense does everything it can to get the defense ready. They did that really well when we played teams like Bureau Valley, Newman and Amboy.”

Skyler Bethel is a senior earning his keep as a backup lineman. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder understands he plays an important role.

“I’ve been playing with these guys since I was in sixth grade,” Bethel said. “All I try to do is come out to practice everyday and push them as hard as I can.

“This has been a great experience and I am really glad that I am a part of it.”

The scout team has spent this week trying to prepare Morrison’s defense for Maroa-Forsyth’s high-powered, pass-heavy offense.

“They run a lot out of the shotgun,” Caruso said. “They have a lot of fast plays and quick handoffs. Hopefully we can prepare the team well for it.”