Sports

Football: Bailey's Return Uncertain as Raiders Look to Playoffs

Coach John Ivlow talks quarterbacks Aaron Bailey and Quincy Woods and preparing for the IHSA 8A playoffs.

The Bolingbrook High School Raiders football team (6-2) has one more game in its regular season before the IHSA 8A playoffs. The team travels to Lockport Friday. Lockport is currently 1-7 this season. 

Then IHSA will post playoff pairings Monday. You can check out the IHSA playoff outlook here. 

Whether or not quarterback Aaron Bailey will play the rest of this season is uncertain. The Tribune reported Bailey would know more after a doctor's appointment this week. 

Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Players are staying optimistic about defending the team's 2011 8A IHSA state championship. 

"I definitely feel like the state championship goal is still alive," senior safety Greg Amos told the Tribune. "The defense is really picking it up right now, and once Bailey comes back we should be dangerous on both sides of the ball."

Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Check out the Q&A below with Bolingbrook Coach John Ivlow. Ivlow provided these answers via e-mail. 

Is there any update on Aaron Bailey's injuries? 

Unknown when or if Bailey will be back.

What has the team learned as other players have had to step in due to injuries? How have you seen them grow? What has that experience been like? 

Opportunity.  With all the injuries we have had to play several kids. They are all getting better with each game and rep they take. It can be frustrating because at the HS level you usually don’t have a lot of depth.  On the other hand, our job as coaches is to get the kids ready to play.  We do not make excuses here. We play with what we have.

What are your areas of focus heading into the playoffs? What are areas that you think will serve you well and what do you think the players need to work at? 

Going into the playoffs we need to keep getting better by focusing on fundamentals. We are in week 9 and STILL correct head placement on blocking, watching the ball into your hands, proper footwork, etc etc. 

How have you felt about this season so far?

QB Quincy woods is getting a better feel for the offense now and continues to get better each day. We need to stay healthy in the playoffs!  A lot of injuries right now. Most of them will not return, so again…we are going with what we have.

Anything else you'd like to have mentioned?

Very pleased with the team. Of course we don’t like to lose and we have had far too many injuries for one season, but nonetheless…..very happy with our progress.


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