Hillcrest (12-0) at Joliet Catholic (8-4) Joliet Memorial Stadium Sat. 2
Hillcrest is making its third consecutive trip to the playoffs and 18th overall, with a 14-17 record.
Hillcrest is led by the state’s second-ranked (5.3 ppg) defense, led by defensive ends Cam Mattox and leading tackler Jason Coley.
Mattox leads the Hawks with 12 QB sacks, while Coley chips in with seven sacks. The Hawks’ defense picked up their fourth shutout of the season in their 27-0 Class 5A quarterfinal win over Cahokia.
After allowing Rich Central to score 16 point, in the Hawks’ season-opening victory, the Hawks’ “D” has shut out four opponents and in their other seven contests allowed just one single touchdown in each.
The Hawks’ offense is good too, averaging 43 ppg. Led by sophomore RB Mar’Keise Irving, who has 1,350 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns and junior RB Kyle Mayo (350 yards, 4TD).
Senior QB Basil Webber threw for 1,050 yards and 15 touchdown passes before going down to an injury. WR Montez Garrett has stepped in for Webber and has thrown for 750 yards with 10 touchdown strikes. The Hawks have a trio of quality receivers led by Cory Crooms (650 yards, 10 TD). Andrew Smith (400 yards, 4TD) and Nick Lindley (383 yards, 3TD) are other weapons for the Hawks.
The Hilltoppers, have outscored their three Class 5A opponents, by a combined 153-42 score. After destroying previously undefeated Highland, 55-21, in the Class 5A quarterfinal Saturday. The Hilltoppers’ dynamic duo of RB Keenan Hailey (317 yards, 5TD) and FB Nick Iannantone (217 yards, 3TD) rumbled for 544 yards and scored all eight Hilltopper touchdowns.
Hailey, has rushed for 2,323 yards on the season with 30 touchdowns. Both marks lead the area in rushing yardage and scoring. Hailey continues to trail Decatur St. Teresa’s (12-0) Jacardia Wright, who has rushed for 2,437 yards with 46 touchdowns, for Illinois’ top rushing leader.
Iannantone has rumbled for 1,191 yards with 14 touchdowns as the other part of the Hilltopper tandem.
“Nick is so big and fast. Nick is even faster than I am,” a joyful Hailey said, after Saturday’s Hilltopper win.
The Hilltopper defense, is led by senior DE Scot Fosen who had four sacks against Highland.
Hilltoppers’ MLB Fernando Chavez, has been an anchor for the defense all season.
Three-year starter, senior PK, Tony Trabold, is another weapon for the Hilltoppers.
DRAKE PICK Joliet Catholic 24 Hillcrest 20
MARK PICK Joliet Catholic 38 Hillcrest 21
CLASS 6A
Cary-Grove (12-0) at Notre Dame (10-2) Saturday 3
Cary Grove is in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season and 25th overall with a playoff record of 48-23.
The Trojans have won one state championship (2009) and finished second on three occasions.
Cary Grove is led by their multi-threat QB, Ben McDonald. McDonald rushed for 1,253 yards and has scored 17 touchdowns. McDonald, can throw, too.
McDonald has thrown for 1,358 yards with 18 touchdowns and only one interception. WR Quinn Priester is McDonald’s favorite receiver with over 700 yards receiving and 10 touchdown receptions.
Trojan FB Blake Skol (1,350 yards 17TD) and WB Danny Daigle (763 yards, 9TD) combine with McDonald for more than 3,300 Trojan rushing yards and 43 TDs. Daigle also has hauled in over 600 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
Notre Dame is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance and 19th overall. The Dons have a 15-18 playoff record with a second-place finish in 1989.
The Dons are led by their senior RB Ty Gavin who has rushed for 1,322 yards and scored 24 touchdowns on the season. Junior RB Julian Schurr (770 yards 10TD) and sophomore QB Anthony Sayles (675 yards 7TD) compose the trio of Don backs.
Paving the way for Don backs all season, the Dons offensive line, consisting of C Dom Deano, RG Pat Banich, RT Craig Kutscheke, LT Dan Yousif and LG Kevin Zeigler.
Junior LB Anthony Ranallo and senior LB Pat Carden anchor a Dons’ defense that allows under 11 points-per-game. Junior DB Jimmy Murphy and senior DB Xavier Buckley anchor the Dons’ secondary.
Another valuable weapon for 32-year,Notre Dame head football coach Mike Hennessey is PK/P Danny Simon.
Cary-Grove stats courtesy of the Northwest Herald
– Compiled by Drake Skleba