By Drake Skleba
Thirteen IHSA State Football Championships have been won by the Hilltoppers of Joliet Catholic Academy more than any other school in Illinois.
Thirteen IHSA State Football Championships have been won by the Hilltoppers of Joliet Catholic Academy more than any other school in Illinois.
The late, great Gordie Gillespie was the venerable, head coach, for the Hilltoppers’ first five, state football championships. (1975-1978;1981).
Current Joliet Central head football coach, Brett Boyter”s, father Jim, was the head coach of the 1987 Hilltopper state champions. Bob Stone, led the Hilltoppers, to their seventh state football championship, in 1990.
Current Joliet Catholic Academy, long-time Athletic Director Dan Sharp, won 199 games and six state football championships, at the helm of Catholic High. Sharp’s Hilltoppers, won three state championships, between 1999 and 2001. The Hilltoppers won two more in 2003 and 2004, before winning their 13th and last state championship, in 2007. Sharp retired as head football coach, at the end of the 2016 campaign.
Enough with the history lesson.
For second-year, Hilltopper head coach and Hilltopper alum, Jake Jaworski, 2017’s 3-6 Hilltopper season, was a learning experience.
On Friday night, Jaworski’s Hilltopper’s kicked off the 2018 season, in style. Led by senior tailback, Keenan Hailey’s 233-yards rushing, with three touchdowns the Hilltoppers shocked highly-ranked, St. Rita 30-20, at Memorial Stadium.
Senior fullback Nick, Iannantone, plowed his way to 158 more yards, as the Hilltoppers’ rushed for over 400-yards, on the night. Behind the Hilltopper “O” line of LT Colin Cox, RT Ty O’Janovac, C Ryan Laule, C Conor Sullivan, RG John Nash, RG Conor Kovas and RT Dave Monnot.
The Hilltopper defense, after giving up a St. Rita touchdown on the opening Mustang series, slammed the door on the Mustang offense, until the game was well in hand.
Facing the Hilltoppers, this Friday night, an even larger task, awaits. A long bus ride to Plunkett Field in Elmhurst, to face the two-time defending, Class 3A State Champions, from Immaculate Conception.
The Knights return All State, wide receiver/defensive backs, the Saunders twins, Khalil and Khali. The Knights return seven offensive starters and eight defensive starters, as they look to win the Class 4A State Championship in 2018. With the two consecutive Class 3A state championships, the Knights will be moved up to Class 4A in 2018, by the IHSA.
“Losing Kenyetta (Williams) and Ryan (Laule) early to injuries, really inspired us,to win the game for them,” Hailey said. “Our guys up front, “Our Big Dogs”, did their job and I did mine. I have faith in my offensive line.”
“In think Friday night’s game at IC, is even more meaningful to us, than the Rita game was. IC,with their two state championships, is trying to be like us, Joliet Catholic, with our 13 state championships. We feel like they are disrespecting us, by winning state championships, that we should be winning. We are all ready and we are going to Elmhurst and show them that Joliet Catholic is back!”
“Felt great to get the season off to a great start,” Iannantone said. “It felt great also, to beat a real good team like St. Rita. Our offensive line played well tonight. I had one big run but I was most proud of my other carries that were for tough yardage and first downs.
“We are much more excited for the IC, game , than we were for St. Rita. We know they are very good and have won state championships the last two seasons. We will be ready and want to show them, that we are Joliet Catholic.”
“We are much more excited for the IC, game , than we were for St. Rita. We know they are very good and have won state championships the last two seasons. We will be ready and want to show them, that we are Joliet Catholic.”
“As a program, it was exciting to see the kids, make a big step forward,” Jaworski said. “Our offensive line was outstanding blocking for Keenan (Hailey) and Nick (Iannantone), who had huge nights, running the ball for us. The defense gave up seven points early and then responded and did a tremendous job.
In closing, in our Week 1 Area football game predictions, I boldly picked our Hilltoppers, to spank the Mustangs, last Friday night.
Do I dare, pick our Hilltoppers again, over the more-powerful Knights? Check out Mark our Week 2 Area Game Picks, in our Week 2 Area Game Preview, to be posted Thursday night or Friday morning.