By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Freezing temperatures, snowflakes in the air and a squad of undefeated Hawks from Hillcrest High School in Joliet for an IHSA Class 5 semifinal battle with Joliet Catholic Academy.
After 48 minutes of hard-hitting football, however, Hillcrest (12-1), was no longer, undefeated.
After the Hilltoppers’ 42-6 destruction of Hillcrest, JCA’s pursuit of its 14th state championship had begun.
Thanksgiving Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois, JCA (9-4), will take on an old foe – the Broncos of Montini Catholic (12-1).
While the he JCA offensive line and the Hilltoppers dynamic running back tandem of seniors Keenan Hailey and Nick Innantone put the points on the board for JCA, it was the defense that shined in the win.
Led by seniors middle linebacker Fernando Chavez and defensive back Mundo Meyer, the Hilltopper defense totally throttled the high-powered Hillcrest offense. The Hawks entered Saturday afternoon’s game averaging 43 points-per-game.
Led by Chavez and the defensive line, Hillcrest quarterbacks Montez Garrett (2-for-11, 30 yards, 3INT) and Basil Webber (3-for 8 , 77 yards, TD, 2 INT), were under constant assault by the front seven. The Hilltopper secondary put on a show intercepting Garrett and Webber a combined five times on the afternoon.
“I’m in shock right now,” Chavez said. “That was a very good football team we beat today and I am just proud of the way we stepped up big-time today. It’s going to be crazy against Montini next week.”
Meyer led the larcenous Hilltopper secondary with two interceptions. Matt Yanke, Kurt Weis and sophomore Ben Stoner all had interceptions.
‘It’s such a great feeling to have overcome all the adversity we faced this season,” Myer said. “Our backs were against the wall when we were 4-4 and to make it all the way to state is incredible. Our schedule really prepared us for situations like today. We faced tremendously talented athletes all season. It helped to defend the Hillcrest athletes.”
“The defense was outstanding today,” Jaworski said. “We intercepted five passes today and our secondary was outstanding, but credit has to be given to the defensive line as well. We had constant pressure on the Hillcrest quarterbacks that assisted the secondary for their outstanding play.”
Yanke’s interception in the end zone thwarted a Hawk drive to get on the board first in the opening quarter. The JCA line led Hailey and Iannantone as they responded with a 14 play, 80-yard drive culminated by Hailey’s first of five touchdowns on the game for an eventual 8-0 lead, with 39 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
“The Hillcrest quarterback rolled out and I stayed with Crooms, who is a great receiver,” Yanke said. “I went up into the air and grabbed the interception. I celebrated with my teammates and we knew we were going to go on and win the game.”
Hillcrest had 13 players on the field, which forced the ever-reliable Hilltopper, place-kicker Tony Trabold, to miss his only extra-point of the game. With the Hillcrest penalty, the Hilltoppers went for two, as Hailey ran it in the end zone.
A weird turn-of-events, aided the visiting Hawks, with 0.3 seconds remaining in the first half. On the previous play, the first half clock should have ran out. For some reason 0.3 seconds remained on the clock and Hillcrest quarterback Basil Webber, found Garrett for a 28 yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half. Hillcrest’s two-point conversion was stopped and the Hilltoppers took an 8-6 lead into the halftime locker room.
The Hilltoppers, took out their frustration on the Hawks in the third quarter.
Hailey scored three times and rushed for 101 of his game-high 217 yards in the third quarter. Iannantone rushed for 52 of his 120 yards rushing on the afternoon in the third quarter as the Hilltoppers exploded out to a 29-6 lead after three quarters.
“Its a dream come true for me to go to state,” Hailey said. “I never thought that I would be in a position like this. Very grateful for the opportunity to play for a state championship. Nick and I and “The Dirty Hogs” worked together each patting each other on the back, as we ran the ball down the field. We have a motto with “The Dirty Dogs” You do your job and we will do ours.
“We knew Hillcrest was very fast but we are fast, too and we are bigger. We used that to our advantage and really took it to them. They were talking a lot of trash but we kept our mouth shut and won the game. After the Notre Dame win, which really gave us confidence, we needed to go on this incredible playoff run.’
“Oh my God this is unbelievable,” Iannantone said. “This group of players, we have been working towards this since our freshman year. This isn’t just for us it’s for the entire Joliet Catholic football program. All the guys that went before us and we want to bring the state championship back for everyone.”
Hailey scored his fifth touchdown of the game with 6:34 left in the contest for a 36-6 lead.
Nick Iannantone’s younger brother, Vinnie, would crash in from four yards out for a 42-6 Hilltopper lead, with 1:50 left in the game.
Hillcrest, this season had run numerous kickoffs and punts back for touchdowns. With his five kickoffs that went into the end zone, Trabold, single-handily, or should I say with his leg, negated a large part of the Hawks’ attack.
“We have been waiting for a long time but we finally began to get it to click,” Ryan Laule said. “I know that sounds generic but that is the story of this team.”
“The seniors have guided me threw this season, being just a junior,” Conor Kovas said. “This is amazing to be going to state.”
“I am so happy for the kids to have a chance to experience a state-championship game,” Jaworski added. “I had the honor to play on a Joliet Catholic state champion. The outstanding teams on our schedule made us so much better for us to make this amazing playoff run we are on. It’s a credit to our kids.
“We saw things from the films of the regular season that if we could clean some of those things up we could make a run for the state title. Very proud of the kids for their hard work and effort. Mundo Meyer has played outstanding against D-I receivers and the defense is very confident right now. Keenan is now third in single-season Joliet Catholic rushing yardage history (2,540 yards, 35 TD). Keenan is so humble and always gives credit to his line and Nick. We just want to see Keenan carry that 5A State Championship trophy, in his last game for JCA. I am sure glad I have Keenen for one more week.”
The Hilltoppers will now celebrate Thanksgiving with an early morning practice.
“I really love my family, guys,” Jaworski told the team after the game. “But there is nothing like practicing on Thanksgiving morning and playing for a state championship on Saturday.”