Lincoln-Way West’s Josh Veldman and John Ramos didn’t know each other growing up.
The junior inside linebackers played on different youth football programs. While their paths crossed briefly during freshman football for the Warriors, Veldman got promoted to varsity the next year, while Ramos ended up as a starter on the sophomore team.
But this season, they have come together to bring a sense determination and order to the defense. Their approach may be different, but the result is the same — wins.
“For a player like Josh, what he does day to day and play by play, that’s his leadership style,” Lincoln-Way West coach Luke Lokanc said. “He’s one of the hardest workers. He likes to light the fire on the defense just by example.
“Johnny is more of our vocal backer leader. He’s kind of the engineer getting everyone lined up and getting everyone on the right assignments presnap. He’s got a bright knowledge of the game.”
The combination is working for the 12th-seeded Warriors (9-2), who will host a 2 p.m. Saturday game in the Class 7A quarterfinals against Downers Grove North (9-2).
Statistically, they are as sound as can be for the Warriors.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Veldman has 95 tackles, two sacks, four forced fumbles, five pass breakups and one interception, which was returned for a touchdown. The 6-0, 183-pound Ramos has 70 tackles, a pair of sacks, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.
In other words, the Trojans’ vaunted running game could find tough sledding Saturday.
“I think coming into the season, we had a lot of doubters, especially in our school, after last season,” Ramos said. “We came out and put on a show every Friday night.”
Ramos started playing tackle football at age 8 for the New Lenox Mustangs. Veldman jumped in during seventh grade, also with the Mustangs, but by that time, Ramos had shifted to the Junior Celtics in Mokena.
Then freshman year came along, and both players give credit to Lincoln-Way West freshman football coach Brian Glynn for teaching them the linebacker position.
“Growing up, I played D-line and offensive line, and I came into freshman year much taller and leaner than I was in the past,” Veldman said. “I thought I would go out and try linebacker. He made me love linebacker.
“He just made the practices real fun. We always got along with him. He’s a good guy.”
Lokanc said the progress the pair have made since the start of this season also has been remarkable. According to Lokanc, progression works in many forms, but the key is to see growth week over week.
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If that happens, reads and formations become easier to see, presnap checks come quicker. Those may seem like little details, but in the aggregate, they can take a team far.
In the Warriors’ case, all the way to state quarterfinals and potentially well beyond.
“They played well Saturday,” Lokanc said of Lincoln-Way West’s 43-19 second-round thumping of downstate Collinsville. “Their impact was great, just like it has been all year.”
It’s a way off in the distance at this time, and water will flow under the bridge in the meantime, but both players have their hearts set on playing college football.
Ramos, who also plays baseball, said it’s his dream to play at that level. Part of the reason is his dad, Matt, is a football coach at Homewood-Flossmoor.
“That’s where I have my most interest,” Ramos said. “My dream has always been to be a football player, and it’s mostly because of him. He got me into the sport and got me to love the game.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.