Vajdic turned in a ‘top-notch’ season for Deerfield football team

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Tyler Vajdic (No. 2) celebrates in the end zone after scoring in Deerfield's win over Maine East in early October. | Brian O'Mahoney~For Sun-Times Media

Updated: January 30, 2012 8:00AM

Tyler Vajdic’s fine season was hardly a surprised — to his coach.

“Tyler exemplifies what it means to be a Deerfield football player,” said Deerfield football coach Steve Winiecki. “He put in the time in the offseason to get better. He was there every day in the summer leading the program.”

The Deerfield coach knew he had a winner in Vajdic.

“As the season progressed, he found a niche at fullback. His commitment to the program was top-notch,” Winiecki said.

Vajdic wound up leading the Warriors (6-4) in rushing yards (429). He also was tops on the team in touchdowns (8).

He saved his best for the last regular-season game, when everything — Central Suburban League North title and a berth to the IHSA Class 6A football playoffs — was on the line.

Standing in the way was arch-rival Highland Park: Road game, hostile crowd and the Warriors’ nemesis of late.

No problem, as Deerfield won 45-21, capping off an improbable season that went from 0-3 to 6-3. Vajdic was a difference maker in the game. He rushed the ball 30 times for a career-high 188 yards.

Vajdic capped off the highlight-reel performance with TD runs of 24 yards and a yard.

After the game, the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder was quick to dole out the credit.

“Where do I begin? It’s the offensive line and their blocking,” Vajdic said. “They opened up big holes. All I saw when I got the ball was green.”

Earlier in the season, Vajdic was used in multiple positions to help in any way possible — from special teams to slotback to defensive back.

“Coach (Winiecki) said to go and play fullback,” Vajdic said. “I’ve been playing running back since grade school, so I wouldn’t have wanted to have it any other way.”

Vajdic tipped his cap to senior running back Jeremy Kritt (422 yards, 4 TDs).

“Jeremy was so selfless to share the carries with me,” Vajdic said. “The most meaningful thing that anyone has said to me was Jeremy telling me that he couldn’t have done it without me.”

Vajdic is hoping that his playing days aren’t over.

“I’m definitely going to try and play in college,” Vajdic said. “It’s the game I love. I’m going to keep playing until they make me stop. And it all started here (at Deerfield). I’ll never forget it.”

Stat sheet: After starting 0-3, and being outscored 122-20 in the process, the Warriors improbably turned things around, producing a six-game winning streak. During the run to the CSL North championship, Deerfield outscored its final six regular season opponents by an average of 41-9.

“We took a big step this year,” Winiecki said.

Senior quarterback Brad Holway returned from a hand injury to lead Deerfield to the conference title. He rushed for 316 yards and five TDs. Senior wingback Marc Pagano gained 426 yards and tallied seven TDs, while senior wingback Ryan Adkins scored six TDs to go along with his 380 yards.

The dynamic Warriors’ rushing attack was made possible by senior left tackle Jordan Cloch, senior left guard Omar Alrashid, sophomore center David Vanderkloot, senior right guard David Mospan and junior right tackle Casey Spiwak, along with senior tight end Joe Harris.

On defense, John Kerstein had a stellar season. Named the CSL North Defensive Player of the Year, the senior finished with a team-high 65 tackles.

The team also was led by linebacker Artie Bess (team-high 44 tackles), senior defensive back Michael Maki (37 tackles), senior defensive back Austin Jones (36 tackles) and junior defensive back/linebacker Jacob Balder (35 tackles).

Maki also boomed kickoffs into the end zone and tied a school record with a 43-yard field goal.

Playoff recap: The No. 14-seeded Warriors’ season ended with a 35-6 loss to No. 3 seed Nazareth Academy. Adkins scored Deerfield’s lone touchdown — with a 19-yard run — while defensive end Joe Harris had a fumble recovery and junior defensive back Brett Freedberg picked off a pass.