Peotone at Granite City, 6 p.m.; Nazareth at Kankakee, 7 p.m.; Wilmington at Morris, 7 p.m.; Pontiac at Coal City, 7 p.m.; Herscher at Canton, 7 p.m.; Manteno at Sandwich, 7 p.m.; Central at Bismarck-Henning, 7 p.m.; Oakwood at Momence, 7 p.m.; Reed-Custer at El Paso-Gridley, 7 p.m.; Hoopeston at Iroquois West, 7 p.m.; Watseka at Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 7 p.m.,; TF North at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
Lawrenceville at Bishop McNamara, 1 p.m.; St. Anne at Martinsville, 7 p.m.; Milford-Cissna Park at Schlarman, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
Kankakee at Lincoln-Way East, 6 p.m.; Meridian at St. Anne, 6 p.m.; Bishop McNamara at Herscher, 7 p.m.; Momence at Central, 7 p.m.; Plano at Manteno, 7 p.m.; Marengo at Peotone, 7 p.m.; Harvard at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.; Sandwich at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Iroquois West at Watseka, 7 p.m.; St. Thomas More at Milford/Cissna Park, 7 p.m.; Crete-Monee at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30 p.m.; Coal City at Richmond-Burton, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
Thornridge at Kankakee, 6 p.m.; Christ the King at Bishop McNamara, 7 p.m.; Herscher at Manteno, 7 p.m.;
Girls Flag Football Schedule
MONDAY, AUG. 25
Joliet Central at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Marist, 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 28
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Homewood-Flossmoor, 5:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2
Plainfield East at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3
Mahomet-Seymour at Kankakee, 5:30 p.m.
Wilmington and Coal City 8
Manteno and Peotone, 9 Vermilion Valley Conference
Clifton Central and Iroquois West 10 Momence and Watseka .............11
Peotone at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Bloom at Coal City, 7 p.m.; Streator at ReedCuster, 7 p.m.; Momence at Westville, 7 p.m.; Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Central, 7 p.m.; Salt Fork at Iroquois West, 7 p.m.; Watseka at Oakwood, 7 p.m.; Hutsonville/Palestine at St. Anne, 7 p.m.; Oblong at Milford/Cissna Park, 7 p.m.; Waubonsie Valley at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
Kankakee at Normal Community, 7 p.m.; Bradley-Bourbonnais vs. St. Mary’s Southside Catholic Prep (Missouri) at Millikin University, 7 p.m.; Chicago Christian at Bishop McNamara, 7 p.m.; Wilmington at Herscher, 7 p.m.; Coal City at Streator, 7 p.m.; Manteno at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.; Oakwood at Central, 7 p.m.; Iroquois West at Bismarck-Henning, 7 p.m.; Hoopeston at Momence, 7 p.m.; Watseka at Salt Fork, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
Milford/Cissna Park at Schlarman, 7 p.m.; St. Anne at Schlarman, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
Kankakee at Thornwood, 6 p.m.; Bishop McNamara at Aurora Christian, 7 p.m.; Reed-Custer at Coal City, 7 p.m.; Manteno at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Central at Watseka, 7 p.m.; Iroquois West at Momence, 7 p.m.; Streator at Peotone, 7 p.m.; South Fork/
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6
BBCHS Jamboree, 9 a.m. (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Danville, 7 p.m.; Kankakee at Mahomet-Seymour, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Andrew, 6 p.m.; Thornridge at Kankakee, 6 p.m.
Edinsburg/Morrisonville at St. Anne, 7 p.m.; Stagg at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
Pawnee/Lincolnwood at Milford/ Cissna Park, 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
Kankakee at Rich Township, 6:30 p.m.; Marian Central Catholic at Bishop McNamara, 7 p.m.; Coal City at Manteno, 7 p.m.; Herscher at Streator, 7 p.m.; Peotone at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.; Central at Westville, 7 p.m.; Salt Fork at Momence, 7 p.m.; Thornton at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Bismarck-Henning at Watseka, 7 p.m.; Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Iroquois West, 7 p.m.; St. Anne at Unity Christian/Mt. Pulaski, 7 p.m.; Bradley-Bourbonnais at Lincoln-Way Central, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCT. 4
Meridian at Milford/Cissna Park, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
St. Anne at St. Thomas More, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 16
St. Anne at Milford/Cissna Park, 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 17
Kankakee at Thornton, 6 p.m.; Bishop McNamara at Hope Academy, 7 p.m.; Herscher at Coal City, 7 p.m.; Manteno at Peotone, 7 p.m.; Wilmington at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.; Momence at Watseka, 7 p.m.; Central at Iroquois West, 7 p.m.; Bradley-Bourbonnais at Lincoln-Way West, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 24
Crete-Monee at Kankakee, 6 p.m.; Blue Ridge/DeLand-Weldon at St. Anne, 6:30 p.m.; St. Edward at Bishop McNamara, 7 p.m.; Coal City at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Peotone at Herscher, 7 p.m.; Streator at Manteno, 7 p.m.; Central at Salt Fork, 7 p.m.; Iroquois West at Westville, 7 p.m.; Momence at Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 7 p.m.; Hoopeston at Watseka, 7 p.m.; Milford/Cissna Park at Unity Christian/ Mt. Pulaski, 7 p.m.; Bradley-Bourbonnais at Andrew, 7:30 p.m.
Bloom at Kankakee, 6 p.m.; Milford/Cissna Park at Blue Ridge/ DeLand-Weldon, 6:30 p.m.; Bishop McNamara at Wheaton Academy, 7 p.m.; Coal City at Peotone, 7 p.m.; Reed-Custer at Herscher, 7 p.m.; Manteno at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 7 p.m.; Streator at Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Hoopeston at Central, 7 p.m.; Iroquois West at Oakwood, 7 p.m.; Momence at Bismarck-Henning, 7 p.m.; Watseka at Westville, 7 p.m.; DeKalb at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30 p.m.
Bishop McNamara starting fresh with new stadium, new head coach
By Mason Schweizer
This fall will feature plenty of new around Bishop McNamara’s football program. The original Rich Zinanni Stadium was torn down after 65 years and replaced with a physical representation of the new era of the program’s storied history. Since Zinanni, a fivetime state champion coach, retired after the 2021 season, the Fightin’ Irish have suffered a three-year playoff skid, the longest in school history. Last year’s defensive coordinator, former Olivet Nazarene University assistant Greg Youngblood, was named the 17th coach in program history and fourth head coach since Zinanni’s retirement. Youngblood, his staff and his team are eagerly excited about the program’s rejuvenation. But excitement alone won’t win football games, and they’ll have to take things one day at a time.
“I’m very excited with what the guys have shown and the potential,” Youngblood said. “There are a lot of new things - new coaching staff, new schemes, new stadium. There’s a lot of excitement and that’s great, but the important thing I told them is to focus on what they can control, which is going 1-0 and winning the day. Win today, win tomorrow. We have a lot of stuff that’s exciting and fun, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ve gotta focus on the task at hand.”
While they do have a new coach and clean slate, the familiarity Youngblood and his players have with one another from last season helped them start the summer a step or two ahead of most programs undergoing a coaching change. While there’s still plenty to learn, that baseline understanding of Youngblood’s expectations have been met and then some when it comes to the work the players have put in.
“I think our guys have done a good job in the weightroom,” Youngblood said. “There’s a core group of them that have gotten a lot stronger, so I think that’s good. And I think the maturity and fact we have quite a few older
guys, you can never trade for enough experience and maturity.
“With that said, we haven’t had the success we’ve needed to have,” he added. “We haven’t won a ton of games, but it’s a good group; they’re mature, they’re hungry and they know how it works.”
Two of those experienced players, seniors Karter Krutsinger and Gavin Antons, as well as junior Bradley-Bourbonnais transfer Micah Lee are all vying for the starting quarterback position, a spot Krutsinger held at the start of 2024 until a season-opening injury cost him the fall. The team has yet to name a starter at the position, and all three could rotate in to start the season, but Youngblood has confidence in all three.
“Competition is always a helpful thing,” Youngblood said. “They all bring different things and can play at a high level, so it’s a good problem. We have three guys that can win football games for us.”
Whoever takes snaps for the Irish will have the luxury of handing off to a pair of talented senior running backs. Leading rusher Julius May (55 carries, 336 yards, 5 TDs, 20 receptions, 187 yards, 4 TDs) and Jordan Callaway (78 carries, 333 yards, 1 TD) are both back and both will be expected to be more permanent backfield fixtures after spending time at slot receiver in 2024.
“They can be great,” Youngblood said. “They have a lot of ability, they’ve worked hard this offseason, they’re very driven. I can’t say enough about them as leaders and they have great attitudes. I expect big things from both of them.”
Another senior duo returns at receiver, with 6-foot-6 Richie Darr and 6-foot-3 Coen Demack providing plenty of size. Speedy junior Malachi Lee, Micah’s twin brother, spent last season in the slot for the Boilermakers and can expect a similar, if not expanded, workload with the Irish.
The Irish have the least amount of
their experience coming back in the trenches, but three-year starting seniors Logan Popovich and Kian Bramer are back in the fold, as is junior Keegan Cooper. Tucker Inman began his varsity career on the offensive line two years ago, with the senior back for his second year at tight end.
Several players will be called upon
as two-way contributors after doing so a year ago. Popovich, Bramer and Cooper will plug up the middle while Inman, Callaway and junior Michael Clark will lead the linebacker corps. The secondary has several familiar faces, with Krutsinger back at safety
Bishop McNamara football coach Greg Youngblood, right, gives instruction to Jack Purcell during the first day of practice Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mason Schweizer
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Bradley-Bourbonnais boilermakers
Bradley-Bourbonnais eyes 4th straight playoff trip following first quarterfinal appearance since 2015
By Mason Schweizer
Since their trip to the 2022 IHSA Class 7A Playoffs gave them their first appearance in four postseasons, the Bradley-Bourbonnais football team has continued to see progress. The Boilermakers made a first-round exit that season, won a playoff game in 2023 and made their first quarterfinal appearance in nine seasons last fall.
In 2025, the Boilermakers are as enthused as ever about their season prospects.
With nine starters back defensively and seven back offensively, including the two-way trio of seniors Lyzale Edmon (WR/DB) and Calvin Kohl (TE/LB) and junior Rontez Smith (WR/DB), the Boilers roster and coaching staff alike know that the talent is there for a run that could at least match the 2015 team’s trip to the semifinals. But they also know that they have to prove it first, especially through a tricky SouthWest Valley Conference Green Division and beefed up nonconference schedule that includes Crete-Monee at home in Week 2 and
a neutral-site meeting with St. Mary’s Southside Catholic Prep (St. Louis) at Millikin University in Decatur.
“They do (have special potential), but the challenge is making sure they know it’s not going to just happen,” head coach Mike Kohl said. “We have to make the playoffs first, and that starts Week 1 against TF North at home.”
Edmon, the lone junior on last year’s Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 7A All-State first team, will be the top target for senior quarterback Ellis Johnson. Johnson’s starting experience is light, but as the backup to 2025 graduate Gavin Kohl the past two seasons, he’s gotten to see some snaps. Last year, he completed 13 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“He has all the attributes: he can run, he’s fast, he’s a student of the game and he’s a senior,” Mike Kohl said. “Any time you’ve got a senior back there you’ve got a shot.”
The backfield returns a pair of last year’s three-headed monster, sopho-
more sensation Ky’ren Edmon and speedy senior Isaac Allison. Ky’ren Edmon, a top-notch recruit with an offer from Ole Miss already, led the team with nine rushing scores a year ago and tallied 620 yards on 91 carries while Allsion had 263 yards and four scores on 43 attempts. Mike Kohl said the pair reminds him of the backfield duo of Noah Fritz and Donnie Ringo that helped them to the 2015 semifinals, their furthest postseason run to date.
so many weapons,” Mike Kohl said. “ … The ball is going to go a lot of ways and it will be hard for a defense to stop us just because the ball can go in so many directions.”
Senior right tackle Joel Morrical is back for his third year in the starting lineup, joined in the trenches by seniors Donovan Prude at left tackle and Austin Snyder at center, with junior guards Tyrell Berry and Colton Byrne filling the line out.
“They both can fly speedwise, they both have great vision, they’re both great teammates and they can both play receiver,” Mike Kohl said. “You’ll see that this year with them both on the field at the same time, one in the backfield and one in the slot.”
Out wide, Lyzale Edmon, Smith and junior Keshawn Tucker will be the primary receivers, with senior tight end Calvin Kohl once again providing pass-catching and blocking ability as a Daily Journal All-Area and All-SWVC tight end, with exciting junior Clark Six providing tight end depth.
“I don’t know if we’ve had a team in the 15 years I’ve been here that’s had
They return a quartet of defensive linemen, speedy seniors Tye Thurmond and Dareon Warren at end, senior Khalan Clemons at nose guard and Braden O’Connor at tackle. There’s some freshness to the linebacker spot, where Calvin Kohl will be a more permanent fixture after playing end/outside linebacker last year.
“He’s a great, honorable kid who will end up at the Air Force Academy or somewhere like that,” Mike Kohl said. “He’s just a phenomenal football player but we have to make sure we pace ourselves with him going both ways.”
See Bradley Page 13
Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Lyzale Edmon makes a catch during a drill before the Boilermakers hosted Wilmington for a joint summer workout in July. Mason Schweizer
Kankakee kays
Kankakee looks to keep building, growing as Ed Hazelett era begins
By Mason Schweizer
Four years ago, the Kankakee football team made its first, and so far only, state championship appearance when they took home the IHSA Class 5A runner-up plaque in 2021. After four years in his native Indiana, the defensive coordinator of that team, Ed Hazelett, is back to lead the Kays as their new head coach.
Hazelett replaces now-Evanston coach Miles Osei, who led the Kays to a 21-3 record and a pair of Class 6A quarterfinal trips in his two seasons on W. Jeffery St. And with contests against defending state champions Nazareth (Class 5A) and Lincoln-Way East (Class 8A), there’s been a sense of urgency over his first offseason.
“The sense of urgency is real, real tight around here,” Hazelett said. “We’ve got some juggernauts to come out, so we’ve got to be on point at all times. Might as well practice that now.”
While the Kays did say farewell to a deep class of seniors that was led by All-State linebacker Kennyan Chandler and honorable mention running back/ defensive back James Stampley Jr., they’ve also got an electric collection of talent back, and even more ready to make their own varsity impact.
Junior quarterback Phillip Turner returns after bursting onto the scene with 1,291 yards and 13 touchdowns on 81 for 127 passing, adding another 273 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The maestro of the offense, Hazelett can’t wait to see what Turner can do in year two.
“He’s one of the players I’m most excited about because we’re able to do so many things,” Hazelett said. “I want to do everything that will make him be successful and I want to see him do great things. I’m just excited about what we’re going to be able to do, what he’s going to be able to do.”
The backfield will feature some new names, but the same expectations. Senior Jaymari Hairston, the younger
brother of 2016 Bishop McNamara graduate and current New York Giants running back Jonathan Ward, will see plenty of touches, as will talented juniors Zayden Henley and Zion Thomas.
“Jaymari is just finding the holes and looking amazing out there, looking like his brother,” Hazelett said. “I hate to compare them and want to let him be his own man, but the way he looks, he’s a man amongst boys.”
The Kays boast a pair of senior leaders at receiver in Zeke Sherrod (12 catches, 295 yards, 5 TDs) and Cedric Terrell III (24 catches, 245 yards, TD), with the latter operating all over the offense. Hazelett called the duo his “dogs,” but is also excited at the prospects of freshman Davion White and junior David Andrade, the latter of whom will also log snaps at tight end.
“You saw [White] hit a bit of a freshman wall when things started going a million MPH for him, but things have started to slow down for him and I can’t wait to see what he can do,” Hazelett said. “David, he can play multiple positions, knows what to do and I’m excited to see the roles he’s going to play.”
Former offensive line coach Kendrick Crite returns to coach a line that returns sophomore guard Dameir Green. Senior Bryce Arceneaux, who played tackle last year, will play some tight end as well in 2025. Seniors Ethan Tanzie, dubbed “Mr. Reliable” by Hazelett, and Jeremiah Watson have locked in spots on the line as well.
The Kays return a pair of uber-talented defensive linemen in Daily Journal All-Area and All-Southland junior tackle Jyheir Sutton and All-Southland senior Camron Johnson at end. Freshman KJ Crite will immediately hop into the starting unit up front as well.
Led by Chandler, the school’s alltime leading tackler, last year’s linebacking unit all graduated. That leaves Hairston and junior Caden Benson to
lead this year’s linebackers, with senior Dearsy Barlow and junior Momence transfer Taj O’Brien to see time there too.
Sherrod and his seven interceptions are back at one cornerback spot with fellow senior Dominic White on the other side. Terrell III will also man the deep safety spot after doing so last year. They may lack the size of prior Kankakee secondaries, but what they lack for in length they make up for in speed.
“I’m looking forward to see how those guys can guard people, especially going against some of the quarterbacks we’re going against,” Hazelett said.
As he’s come in and built on the same defensive schemes and mentality they program operated under after he left, and also worked with a familiar coaching staff to prepare a new offense, Hazelett has had his team as active as they could be this summer. Now that the season is here, he can’t wait to see what all that work has led to.
“The summer was really busy for us,” Hazelett said. “Our kids played a lot of football, they banged a lot, so now it’s just getting our horses to the race, fine-tuning and getting ready for the season.”
Kankakee’s Phillip Turner rolls to his right during a team scrimmage at summer camp in July. Mason Schweizer
Herscher tigers/ Reed-Custer comets
Experienced Herscher determined to end area’s longest playoff drought
By Mason Schweizer
When Mike Mosier was named the new head coach at Herscher ahead of the 2022 season, he and most people close to the program knew that the Tigers had a promising freshmen class coming in.
Now, that group is a bunch of hungry, experienced seniors with their sights set on ending the area’s longest postseason drought, last having reached Week 10 in 2018. After a 4-5 2024 campaign, the Tigers know they’re close, and also remember the feeling of how far away that one game from playoff qualification felt.
“That was a lot of motivation for them to get going,” Mosier said. “They want in [the playoffs] pretty bad.”
Six of their nine returning starters
will go both ways for the Tigers, with senior Tanner Jones back at quarterback and safety for his third season. He’s thrown for 2,143 yards and 16 touchdowns so far, and Mosier has seen him take a large leap ahead of his senior year.
“You can see it a lot this year with the way he listens, the board work he’s done, the paying attention he’s done,” Mosier said. “The growth has been really good and he’s making really good reads.”
Senior running back/linebacker Alek Draper is also back for his third year, looking to rely on his unique blend of speed and strength in an advantageous position in the offense of new coordinator Austin Berns.
“He really worked on his explosive-
ness and his power, and it’s just paid off,” Mosier said. “When we did our joint practices you could really notice it. I can’t wait to see him in Week 0 and Week 1.”
Another senior, Reed Laird, returns as a starting wide receiver while fellow seniors Dale Cloonen and Gavin Nelson and junior Tyler Lundberg will also see action.
Mosier’s most excited about his offensive line, centered around returning seniors Nash Brubaker, Gavin Hull and Brock Crane. Juniors Mason Zirkle and Brayden Crews round out a starting unit that will be coached by iHSFCA Hall-of-Famer and longtime Tigers coach John Wakey.
“It’s the most solid line we’ve had in a while,” Mosier said. “The biggest
thing has been getting coach Wakey to come back and coach the line. He’s been awesome.”
Brubaker, Crane and Mavric Strahan are back on the defensive line, where Crews, Zirkle and Tyler Emard will provide depth in the Tigers’ new 4-4 look under new coordinator Kurt Quick. Hull, the Tigers’ lone Daily Journal All-Area pick, will be joined at linebacker by Draper, Laird and Jaxon Sukley, with Jones, Mason Roberts and Gaige Brown all back in the secondary.
“They put in an amazing offseason, even before summer, coming to 6 a.m. workouts during basketball season,” Mosier said. “And this summer has just been one of the best. We’ve definitely come out of it the strongest we’ve been in a while.”
Reed-Custer hitting reset button in 2025 with new head coach at the helm
By Adam Tumino
Coming off a 1-8 season and with a new head coach at the helm, the 2025 season will be a reset of sorts for ReedCuster. Joe Turek will be the Comets’ new coach as he takes on his first varsity head coaching job after a decade coaching the sophomore team at Lincoln-Way East, getting his players ready to contribute to a varsity Griffin squad that had perennially been one of the best in the state.
Turek will have some comfort with some longtime Comets on his staff, including athletic director Nick Klein, former head coach Mark Wolf and strength and line coach Tyler Graham.
“I’m just leaning on them,” Turek said. “They know the lay of the land around here, and then obviously the kids are helping out too with good personalities and wanting to be here. I think it’s been great. I want to be here and I think they want to be here too.”
Turek said having players like Dominic Alaimo, Dhane Debelak and Alex
Rodriguez back along the offensive and defensive lines will certainly help make things easier, as will having linebackers Jeremy Knutson and Hudson Cook back in the fold to help anchor the back seven on defense.
Alaimo has been a stalwart on the defensive and offensive lines throughout his career, and Turek said that the wrestling and track standout will also be running the ball a bit for the Comets as a senior. Thomas Emery and Kris Budick also will be back at the receiver/defensive back positions, giving nearly every position group some veterans to rely on.
“We’ve got a good group of seniors that are going to have a lot of experience from last year that we’re going to kind of lean on this year,” He said. “It helps that they kind of know what to do, they’ve put in the time, they know they want to be here and they’re going to hopefully build off some things they saw when they first got here (back-toback Class 3A State quarterfinal runs
in 2021 and 2022).”
The Comets are zeroing in on their season opener throughout the preseason, and with the team having dropped its first eight games of the season in 2024, Turek said that getting off on the right foot can really propel a team forward through the season.
“We feel like if we come out of the
gate strong there, we’ve got a chance to maybe get something going,” he said. “Making sure we’re putting in the effort and hard work, leading and becoming accountable, and just having passion and pride in what we’re doing. We’re living the standard we’re trying to have around here.”
Wilmington wildcats/ Coal City coalers
Wilmington reloads for another playoff run, now without all-time rushing leader
By Adam Tumino
Few programs in the state have established a standard as high as the one set by Wilmington over the last few decades. The four-time state finalists and threetime champions are looking for their 29th straight playoff appearance after a 12-1 2024 in which they went a perfect 7-0 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference and fell to eventual Class 3A State champion Montini in the semifinals.
All of this success has certainly helped bolster the Wildcats’ roster, with head coach Jeff Reents saying the program is coming off a very positive summer for one of the largest programs in the area despite being one of the smaller schools.
“The attendance board was full all
summer, and that’s half the battle,” he said. “We’re excited to get going here and see where we’re at. We’ve got some of the best numbers we’ve ever had here. I think we have 88 or 89 kids out for the program, so overall we’ve got a lot of good things happening right now.”
The Wildcats will be looking to replace one half of their two-heading monster of a rushing attack with Kyle Farrell, the program’s all-time leading rusher (4,533 yards), now gone. The 2024 team’s leading rusher was Ryan Kettman, who will be back after a 1,431-yard season and Class 3A AllState honorable mention pick. His presence certainly makes the transition to a Farrell-less offense easier, and Reents said there are several candidates aiming to fill that gap.
“Nate Cupples is going to be a senior and he’s done a really good job this summer there,” Reents said. “Hunter Kaitschuck is a sophomore and we’re looking for him to help out in that spot too, and [senior] Jay Nevels.”
The blocking unit for Wilmington’s powerful rushing attack had remained almost entirely intact for this season, with juniors Jack Cutter and Will Wilson and three-year starters and seniors Logan Van Duyne and Zach Ohlund back in their spots on the line.
The departure of All-ICE tight end/ linebacker Ryan Nelson leaves a gap on the defensive side for the Wildcats. But Ohlund, also an All-ICE pick who had 16 tackles for loss last season, will be back to spearhead a defense that returns eight starters, along with senior
defensive back Billy Moore, with a pair of rising juniors in linebacker Nash Rink and lineman Cooper Holman figuring to make an impact as well.
Further playoff success and a run at another state championship would seem to be on the table once again for the Wildcats. If they want to continue to flex that winning standard they have set, Reents said that the team just needs to keep focusing on their process and allow positive results to follow.
“My biggest thing is to have a lot of fun,” he said. “Here we are starting [the first day of practice] on Aug. 11, and it’ll fly by and be November 11 here before you know it and we’ll be through the regular season. Let’s make it the season that they want to make it and play to those expectations.”
Coal City aiming to stay on upswing following trip to state semifinals
By Adam Tumino
The Coalers increased their win total for the fourth straight year in 2024, also the fourth season for head coach Francis Loughran. They finished 10-3, an increase of two wins from the year prior, and reached the postseason for the 13th straight season in which the playoffs took place. The Coalers nearly played for a state title, too, but suffered a 21-14 loss in the state semifinals to eventual Class 4A champions DePaul Prep.
“We had a good offseason,” he said. “I think one of the biggest keys is that the seniors have taken a leadership role. Between the workouts, 7-on-7’s, camp days, I feel really good about where we’re at. The guys have repeated that they’re not satisfied after last year, so it’s good to see they’re still working hard and looking to have as much success as last year.”
The Coalers will head into the season looking to replace 2025 graduate Landin Benson and his school-record 4,111 career rushing yards. He ran for 1.700 yards and 28 touchdowns on
268 carries last season, earning Class 4A All-State honors and was named the Daily Journal Player of the Year. Juniors Logan Natyshok and Aidan Scorgham will get the chance to fill that void, as will senior Brody Widlowski.
The offensive line will once again be anchored by players like three-year starter Cade Poyner and Wyatt Koehn, players that Loughran highlighted as two of the team’s most important seniors when it comes to leading by example through their commitment and hard work.
Junior Connor Henline started a handful of games at quarterback last season while the graduated Zander Meents was out with injury, and now he’ll be called upon to be the guy from day one, already having familiarity with returning senior pass-catchers Natyshok and Gavin Berger.
“He’s worked hard in the offseason, physically but also understanding the playbook,” Loughran said. “He’s a great leader, good teammate, so he’s been doing a great job.”
The Coalers also bring back plenty of experience on defense, with players like Poyner and Emmitt Easton bringing tenacity and production to the defensive line, Mason Garner leading the linebacking core and Brock Finch returning in the secondary.
With no shortage of veteran leadership on both sides of the ball to help the younger players grow into new roles,
Loughran said he expects the team to be able to hit the ground running.
“We need to have a good start Week 1,” he said. “Throughout the season, especially early on, guys are trying to find their spot. That’s going to kind of work its way out, and in order for that to happen is to continue having good preparation, good practice and see how things shake out.”
Manteno panthers/ Peotone blue devils
Manteno to lean on veteran leaders in bid for 2nd straight playoff berth
By Adam Tumino
After a sizzling 7-0 start to the season that clinched them their first IHSA Class 4A Playoff berth since 2019, Manteno saw its season end with three straight losses to state semifinalists in Wilmington (Class 3A), Coal City (4A) and a first-round postseason loss to Normal U-High.
The Panthers may have graduated a ton of talent, but the cupboard is anything but bare for a program that took a huge leap last year and now looks to take another in 2025.
“Our effort has been outstanding,” head coach RJ Haines said. “Obviously we’re inexperienced in a lot of spots and lost some experienced play-
ers, but we have kids stepping up right now and we’re super excited about the potential of this group.”
A key absence from last season’s team will be All-Illinois Central Eight running back Niko Akiyama. While it’ll be an all-hands-on-deck approach in the backfield, namely senior Levar Lee and junior Nick Honkisz, returning three-year senior quarterback Connor Harrod and some of his favorite weapons will give the offense a great starting point.
“It’s just leadership,” Haines said of Harrod. “Especially when we get into our Week 0 and we get into Week 1, if you’ve never played in a game before, I don’t care how well you prepare, a
game is different. So having a kid like Connor who is in control of our offense, and he’s been there and done that, just calms everybody down.”
Brayden Wasney will also be back at center to anchor the offensive line, and Haines said Wasney has stepped into a major leadership role with that unit heading into his senior season, taking that responsibility from current Illinois State University lineman Cooper Monk.
The receiver/defensive back positions will get a boost with the return of seniors Tyler Buehler and Dylan McIntyre, and rising junior Briggs Cann, who won conference and sectional championships in the 400 meters in track in the spring, will also bring his
speed and athleticism to both sides of the ball this season. Jake Stevens is also returning at tight end, and Haines said Jacob Boeschel, Franklin Leonard and Hayden Palka are set to provide the team with a strong linebacker corps.
Heading into the season, Haines said the Panthers are aiming to be competitive in the conference yet again after last year’s third-place finish.
“You start looking at Coal City and Wilmington, and they’re kind of the standard, maybe in the state,” Haines said. “That gives you something to push for, that gives you something to work for. But our biggest thing is to do what we do, control what we can control, and keep getting better.”
Large junior class set to contribute for Peotone team lacking varsity experience
By Adam Tumino
The Peotone football team will be seeing a bit of a youth movement in 2025. This upcoming season’s senior class is about half the size that 2024’s group was, leaving the Blue Devils a large junior class and quite a few players who will be seeing varsity action for the first time.
“We’re really young this year,” head coach Apostolos Tsiamas said. “We’ve only got about 10 seniors on the team, so we have a lot of juniors that are going to be playing for us. We’ve just got to concentrate and focus on getting kids up to par and getting ready to play varsity football, with a lot of them not having done it.”
The Blue Devils will have some experience at key positions, particularly at running back where the team has arguably its largest gap to fill. Gone is All-Illinois Central Eight Conference back Chase Rivera, who ran for 1.231 yards and 20 touchdowns last season to go with 249 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Tucker Cain was excellent as the
secondary back last season, rushing for nearly 800 yards and 11 touchdowns, and will be back as one of the team’s seniors. Nick Cronin came on late in the season as a sophomore, tallying 145 yards in just three games. With this duo of returning backs, and returning starters Evan Pane and Omero Isais back on the line, the running game should be able to provide some stability while the Blue Devils work in a new quarterback.
Ruben Velasco started every game behind center as a senior last season, but Alex Chenoweth will assume the role as a junior this year. Chenoweth was also one of the team’s top defensive players last season, finishing third on the team with 65 total tackles and will be the team’s top returning tackler.
With these returners and players in leadership positions helping provide some stability, Tsiamas said the main focus is just getting some of the less experienced players ready for the reality of being out on the field in game action.
“We’re really trying to focus on
football IQ, just having a better understanding of what you have when you’re out there,” Tsiamas said.
Still, with a young team there may be a bit of an adjustment period early in the year. Regardless of this, Tsiamas said the team is still aiming for a fifth straight playoff berth in 2025, and ideally a playoff win after picking up just
one over their previous four postseason appearances.
“Normally when people say young team, that means you’re probably going to have some growing pains and struggles,” he said. “That may or may not happen with us, but the expectation is we want to be in the state playoffs and we want to compete.”
comets/ Iroquois West raiders
Veteran roster helping Central through first coaching change in 27 years
By Adam Tumino
The Central football team is in new hands this season, but they’re not wholly unfamiliar hands. Jeff Perzee, a 1994 Central grad and former assistant coach with the Comets, took over the head coaching reins from Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Brian Spooner, who retired following the 2024 season after 27 years in the role.
But while the Comets may have a new head coach manning the sidelines for the first time in nearly three decades, there is plenty of carryover on the roster. Nearly all of Central’s top contributors from last season’s 5-5 team are back, with quarterback
and offensive Swiss Army knife Aiden Podowicz being the one key departure after a Daily Journal All-Area, All-Vermilion Valley Conference and All-Iroquois County senior season.
“We’ve got an experienced group, so they’re getting after it and we’re just trying to bring up our JV kids slowly,” Perzee said. “We’ve got decent depth, not great depth, and just having those older, experienced kids is a godsend because we’re actually moving a lot faster than we normally would.”
Senior Brady Shule will return under center, a position he was at early in the season until a season-ending injury. Senior Brody O’Connor and juniors Jake Thompson and Kaedyn Meents will give
the Comets’ offensive line plenty of experience in front of Shule. Seniors Evan Cox and Derrek Rodriguez will bring their experience to the run game and also on the defensive side at the linebacker position. A trio of returning junior receivers in Kaden Neveu, Andrew Rohlwing and Derek Meier will give Shule plenty of targets on Friday nights.
Fellow juniors Owen Palmateer and Everett Bailey are shaping up to make an impact on both sides of the ball as well. Senior basketball and baseball standout Blake Chandler will also be back on the gridiron for the first time since his freshman year, where he figures to be a contributor in yet another sport.
Perzee said his experienced coaching
staff is helping him settle in as head coach while also helping to establish that culture he is trying to set with the Comets. With most of the staff in place from last season and almost all of last year’s team back, the Comets are much further along than most programs with first-year head coaches and are eager to get back to the top of the VVC.
“We have an all-in approach,” Perzee said. “Kolton Koch, it’s his first year as offensive coordinator but he’s been in the program for many years. And then Matt Sertich has been the defensive coordinator forever, 20-some years, and he’s back. I’m just blessed with great coaches. We really get along and we really work hard together.”
Underclassmen to gain valuable experience for young Iroquois West squad
By Adam Tumino
Upperclassmen are few and far between for Iroquois West this season. The Raiders were relatively young last season as well, but in 2025 have just four seniors and four juniors on the team with 22 underclassmen rounding out the roster. These veterans will help set the foundation this season, but there will be plenty of opportunities for
the freshmen and sophomores on the roster to build up varsity playing time.
But head coach Tim Hamilton, who is heading into his third season as head coach at Iroquois West, said he has liked what he has seen out of his small-but-dedicated pool of players.
“The kids that we’ve got are giving great effort,” Hamilton said. “We’re pretty strong at our positions, but we
just can’t afford for anybody to get hurt. We had about four freshmen that played last year at the varsity level, so we’re still going to be young but we’ve got some experience.”
Luckily for the Raiders, several of those returning upperclassmen will be at key positions. Both of the team’s top two rushers, Christian Gaytan and Julian Melgoza, will be back as seniors, giving the offense a couple of known commodities to lean on.
sophomore” according to Hamilton, who expects his young signal-caller to take a step forward in his second season. Serving as key targets for Miller are receivers senior Wyatt Breen and junior Aaron Songer. Breen was second on the team with both 10 receptions and 119 receiving yards last season and caught a team-high four touchdowns.
Gaytan ran for 201 yards and a touchdown last season while Melgoza was second on the team with 145 yards on the ground. They each ranked in the top three on the team in both receptions and receiving yards last season as well. They should be assets in the passing game again for returning quarterback Aayden Miller, who as a freshman last season was the most productive of the handful of players to pass the ball for the Raiders. He led the team 433 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Miller is “pretty doggone good for a
Kobie Hendershot will be a big absence for the Raiders on the offensive line, and also on defense where he led the team in total tackles as a senior last season. But there are a number of younger players in the trenches that have already seen plenty of playing time. Hamilton said junior Drew Talbert has emerged as a leader on the line, with sophomores Anthony Alcantar and Noah Schrove also shaping up to contribute.
Any experience that could be gained this offseason will be big for Iroquois West, a program not far removed from back-to-back playoff trips in 2021 and 2022.
Momence redskins/ Watseka warriors
Momence
By Mason Schweizer
to
lean on 4th-year QB Erick Castillo in quest to
Playing up on varsity since he was a freshman, Momence senior quarterback Erick Castillo felt just as much a part of last year’s graduating class at Momence as he does his own. That’s why he felt so bad, not just physically, but also mentally, when an injury took him out of last year’s IHSA Class 2A first-round playoff game against Dwight/Gardner-South Wilmington, a 41-13 upset win for the Trojans.
And Momence coach Wayne Walker said it’s also put an even bigger chip on Castillo’s shoulder ahead of his own senior season this fall.
“Just the motivation out of Erick so far, he really got along with that se-
nior class, so he really wants to turn us around, get us back in the playoffs and get us further,” Walker said. “Seeing him go out with that injury, that was heartbreaking.”
Through his first three seasons, Castillo has amassed 4,464 passing yards and thrown 46 touchdown passes, including an area-best 1,814 yards and 18 touchdowns last year on 111 for 203 passing. He also had another 356 yards and nine TDs on the ground. Walker said that Castillo’s work ethic doesn’t just rub off on his teammates, but the Momence community.
“I think it’s everybody in the school,” Walker said. “He’s a great kid off the field, he’s a great kid that has high standards of how he should hold himself
and standards of where everyone else should be. It’s a rarity.”
Bellcow running back Marchello Draine graduated, but senior Dakota Lewke is ready to rise a spot on the depth chart after a productive summer. Draine’s younger brother, Phyllip Draine, will see his share of carries as well.
Castillo’s favorite target, All-State wideout Brogan Halpin, also graduated, but Jayden Dau is back after becoming a bit of a freshman phenom last year, and senior Eddie Ferreira is healthy and looking to revert to his 2023 form after battling injuries last season. Another sophomore, Grayson Cantwell, looks to have locked in a spot out wide as well.
The trenches have some holes to fill, but seniors Jackson Ford and Josh Garcia are back on both sides of the ball, and fellow senior James Prutsman will also go both ways after an impressive summer transferring in from Marian Catholic. Another senior, Corday Watkins, will also man the line.
Momence’s youngest position group is linebacker, where sophomores Caden Billadeau and Jimmy Penley will man the middle, with Lewke and Cantwell on the outside. On the contrary, the secondary is quite experienced with Ferreira back at safety, Castillo converting to cornerback from linebacker and Dau and Draine working in the opposite cornerback spot.
Experience in trenches, under center to guide Watseka’s attempt at breakout season
By Adam Tumino
After consecutive one-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, Watseka increased up
to two wins in 2023 and then finished 3-6 a season ago. Looking to continue improving in 2025 under fourth-year
head coach Max Fransen, the Warriors have a small but very experienced team set to take the field.
“We’ve got a good group of kids that come out every day ready to work,” Fransen said. “Our numbers are small, but our hearts are big. I think that’s one thing that really stands out about this group. Football is hard, so it’s easy to stay home, it’s easy to run around and do other things. But these guys show heart and I can’t say how much that means to me.”
A place where heart will always be needed in a football game is in the trenches. Helping to anchor the experienced returning group for the Warriors is a set of players on the offensive and defensive lines that have been going to battle together for quite a while.
“The people I always highlight are
my line, and they have a whole bunch of experience coming back,” Fransen said. “We’ve got Justin Covarrubias, who’s a junior, and the rest are seniors. We’ve got Kayden Brault, we’ve got Pete Jeglinski, we’ve got Zach Wichtner and we’ve got Noah Hanson, and all five of them come with a lot of experience playing, some of them three but all of them at least two years.”
On the offensive side, this unit will be blocking for another group of experienced returners. Austin Morris boasts most of that experience as a senior, but is moving from running back to quarterback this fall.
“He’s been a phenomenal leader for us and I’m really happy with his growth,” Fransen said.. “I always tell
See Watseka, Page 13
Milford-Cissna Park bearcats/ St. Anne cardinals
Milford/Cissna Park looks to continue winning 8-man tradition
By Adam Tumino
The move to 8-man football has been fruitful for Milford/Cissna Park. The inaugural I8FA champions in 2018 have put up an overall record of 52-17 as an 8-man program, including a 6-4 record last season. Veteran head coach Clint Schwartz said that the standard that has been set in recent years will not be any different in 2025.
“Since we made that transition to 8-man football, things have gone really well for our kids, and it’s really brought that love of football back for our community and our players,” he said. “Our guys, they don’t know anything else than competing in every single game and trying to go 1-0. The goal is to
make the playoffs and hopefully be able to make a run when late October and early November rolls around.
There will be plenty of returners from last season’s team to try and help the Bearcats keep their winning 8-man reputation intact. A big key for Schwartz is that the team will have continuity with a pair of seniors at the only two positions that are basically guaranteed to touch the ball on every single play.
“A lot of it starts with our returning quarterback, Dierks Neukomm,” Schwartz said. “He had a really good, solid year for us last year. He finished I think 60 yards short of our single-season passing record, and we missed two
St. Anne to rely on deep senior
By Mason Schweizer
A year after reviving their program from almost a 50-year slumber, the St. Anne football team made its first-ever playoff appearance of any kind when they went 8-3 and reached the Illinois 8-Man Football Association quarterfinals in 2024. As they look to solidify the program in year three of I8FA play, head coach Alan Rood said the Cardinals and their senior-heavy bunch still have to prove that they belong.
games because of forfeit... We look forward to him leading the offense again, taking the next step in that leadership and being more vocal with our guys, and he’s done a really good job with that. Then the guy that gets him the ball on every snap, Jaden Souders at the center spot for us, this will be his third year starting. It’s just an exciting time to have him back and not have to worry about that exchange between center and quarterback.”
Key returners elsewhere include senior Mario Martinez at linebacker and running back, who comes into this season 20 pounds heavier that he was a year ago while maintaining his quickness on the field. He will be joined at
the linebacker position by Coy Lucht, who Schwartz said has emerged as a vocal leader on defense while continuing to lead by example with his physical play.
There are also some seniors that will be getting their first shot to fully contribute as starters this season after three years waiting in the wings, with Jream Renteria stepping in to start at tight end and Ben King sliding into a starting spot in the offensive line at guard. Junior Brayden Forbes is a player that Schwartz expects to be a factor on the defensive side, while fellow juniors Jace Comstock and Skylar Estay help shore up the receiver position.
core to continue growth in 3rd season
“We still have to prove it every day and earn it every day,” Rood said. “We have more experience, we’re older, so it should be going in that direction with this group because we have a lot of seniors and a couple really good juniors. They still have to earn that every day, so we’ll see.”
The state’s leading 8-Man rusher last year, Chris Link, graduated. But with a 10-man senior class that includes a bevy of starters, the Cardinals will
look to replace the 2,214 yards and 34 touchdowns of total offense Link produced with a group approach.
Grant Pomaranski is one of those seniors and he’s set for his third year at quarterback. He had 634 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 117 more yards and two more scores, and Rood likes the experience and athleticism he brings as a dual-threat option.
“We can be stacked inside, we can spread it out, we can flex a tight end out,” Rood said. “It all depends on what defense they’re playing, what we’ve been running, what we can adapt to what we’re doing. It’s that process with the offense, so that’s how we continue to develop the offense.”
“He’s better, he’s hitting better throws in practice, but he’s also a better leader,” Rood said. “People believe in him in the huddle because this is his third year.”
Jason Bleyle is back at center and will also lead the defensive line alongside Mason Romein, Schoth, Thompson and Trevor Van Pelt. The backside of the defense will be made up of largely the same group of offensive skill players.
Quinton Thompson will lead the backfield after serving in a complimentary role to Link each of the past two seasons, totaling 334 yards and three scores. Elijah Gibbs, Damarius Lucas and Gavin Threm will also work the backfield and get snaps at receiver, where Matthew Langellier returns and sophomore John Fifer will see time. Brandon Schoth returns at tight end, where the Cardinals will look for another replacement for the graduated Ben Harpster after Elijah Van Scyoc moved out of state.
As exciting as last year’s journey was, it’s now history. All the Cardinals can do is keep looking forward as they look to legitimize themselves as an I8FA power.
“The time is now to continue this process and be better than we were last year,” Rood said. “That was last year, we can only handle everything this year. That’s why I say you’ve got to earn it every day and why I say the time is now, because they have the opportunity to continue on this tradition at an early age of this program.”
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Bradley-Bourbonnais not satisfied with last year’s 4thplace finish at IHSA State Finals
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By Mason Schweizer
A year ago, coach Tremaine Turner and the Bradley-Bourbonnais girls flag football team were going over the basics to the game – how to throw the ball, how to pull a flag and the like. What a difference a year makes.
This fall, the Boilermakers are preparing for the 2025 season as one of the top programs in the state, returning all but one starter on offense and a handful more defensively – while also welcoming new faces who have had success in other sports – after a 17-4 record and fourth-place finish at the inaugural IHSA State Finals in 2024.
Having so much talent back in the fold being pushed by a new wave of players – the Boilers had 60 girls try out this year compared to 48 last year – has created an energetically competitive atmosphere as the Boilers turn the page after a successful summer that included a second-place finish at the Chicago Bears’ Nike 7s competition in July.
“Athletes get better when they compete,” Turner said. “When you have athletes like that on the field, it just makes it easier.”
All-state center Suttyn Hop is the only starter to replace offensively. Sophomore quarterback Elise Munsterman was nearly flawless last fall, going 201 for 279 for 3,388 yards and 38 TDs to just one interception. After doing it on the field, Turner said his sophomore slinger has shown progress as a confident leader as well.
“Elise being our quarterback, we’re
seeing her step forward with maturity and also confidence in the pocket. …” Turner said. “ Elise knows where the receivers want the ball, she knows how she wants to run her offense.”
Hop accounted for nearly a third of those yards, but the junior receiving trio of Bristol Schriefer (784 yards), Amber Melchor (727) and Kylie Stanek (700) gives Munsterman plenty of pass-catchers that she’s grown in her rapport with.
Another junior, Nevaeh Brown, showcased her athleticism over the summer as a sprinter at the USATF National Junior Olympics, and will look to increase her production after tallying 1,764 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago.
Junior cornerback Avery Moutrey, senior safety Evie McIntyre and senior linebacker/safety Audrey Conradi are back to anchor a defense that allowed more than 20 points only four times last season. Nia Lawrence, a Daily Journal All-Area soccer pick last spring, will take her talents to the secondary at the other cornerback spot as perhaps the most notable newcomer to the defense. While their summer indicates another potential postseason push this fall, Turner and his staff have made it clear to the Boilers that once the regular season kicks off, everyone’s equal again.
“In the beginning, right before we even did anything, we let them know that last year was last year,” Turner said. “They have to write their own story this year.”
Kankakee brings back athletic experience in quest for regional repeat, and then some
By Mason Schweizer
Aside from their regular-season and sectional semifinal losses to Bradley-Bourbonnais, nobody else the Kankakee girls flag football team played in 2024 could beat them. After a 10-2 record built by blazing speed on both sides of the ball, the Kays return a plethora of key cogs from last fall as they look to improve upon last year’s regional championship campaign.
“The regional title was fun, but losing in that next round stung a bit,” Kays coach Marques Lowe said. “I feel like they were better than they played, so if we can do that, and maybe get to the sectional finals or state, but winning state would be the ultimate goal.”
The Kays have good reason to feel they have a chance, as only three graduated seniors need to be replaced. Junior London Stroud was the full-time quarterback by season’s end, and fellow junior Lamaryah Smith gives Lowe a “1A and 1B” quarterback room.
“They both have deep balls with good accuracy,” Lowe said. “Now it’s just working on when the arm is tired, knowing when the play breaks down and what to do, getting out of the pocket and hitting your receivers in the hands.”
They’ll both have plenty of targets, as state track and field sprinters Trinity Noble (sr.) and Jasiah Hawkins (jr.)
Bishop
FROM PAGE FOUR
and Darr, May, Antons, Demack and Alex Kostecka all back after serving at various spots in the secondary last year. A former player of Youngblood’s at Olivet, Ben Toberman, joins the McNamara staff from Momence and will serve as defensive coordinator.
Their 38th playoff appearance is the goal, and contending for the Chicagoland Christian Conference is also on the team’s to-do list. And in Youngblood’s eyes, it all goes back to their day-by-day approach.
“I think everyone has the goal of making the playoffs and going deep obviously,” Youngblood said. “We want to go as far as we can and win the whole thing. We have those goals like everybody and I told them that everyone has those goals, so what can we do to separate ourselves? Go 1-0 each day.”
Watseka
FROM PAGE ELEVEN
are back at receiver, while their state track teammate, junior Essence Bell, is joining the team as well. Another state track star, Da’Mariana Tooles, returns in the backfield with fellow senior Taniyah Sherman.
With Lowe also serving as their track and field coach in the spring, Noble said the program-wide comfort helped the girls hit the ground running when the flag football program started.
“Most of us had our mindset set with Coach Lowe, so we just made sure to stay in the game, made sure to stay focused,” Noble said. “That was pretty much it, staying focused in the game, at practice, in the classroom.”
Most of the same players will be on the defensive side, where their stingy unit allowed just 11.2 points per game last season, allowing two scores or less in nine games. Lowe knows that their team athleticism was the primary factor on defense last year, with this offseason providing more of an emphasis on the finer things, including taking advantage of the rules change that allows defenders to blitz from a yard off the line of scrimmage as opposed to 7 yards last year.
“Track the ball, get the flag, try to limit the runs and identify their players who have speed,” Lowe said have been the main talking points. “But mostly just making sure they’re breaking at the right angles and their awareness.”
Bradley
FROM PAGE FIVE
The secondary returns all three members of the starting rotation last year, Smith, Lyzale Edmon and Seth Teague, as well as senior safety Jordan Fitch, with the group perhaps the most evident example of the team speed that has the coaching staff ecstatic.
With so much talent and excitement around the program, the Boilers are looking to improve off of last year and make it to at least their second-ever state semifinal. But despite their uptick in recent years, Mike Kohl knows that prior results don’t add any wins to this year’s record.
“I think the ultimate thing is, who are we this year?” Mike Kohl said. “It’s a different group of kids, we don’t know each other yet. We have to care about each other first, and if we can’t figure that out we won’t win many games. The kids and staff have to care about everyone first and we’ll go from there.”
everyone that it’s really good when your best leader is under center, and that’s what we have this year.”
Fellow senior Dennis Goodman is back as the primary running back while junior Frankie Shervino will be in the fold as a big, exciting prospect.
Returning seniors Dale Hebert and Lucas Shoemaker figure to factor in once again as tight ends. Some newcomers can be expected to see some meaningful playing time as well, starting with senior Payton Schaumburg, who will be donning the shoulder pads for the first time. Another fresh face to
look for is sophomore Brayden Lease, who Fransen said will bring a lot of strength and physicality to the field.
The Warriors will just look to keep heading in the right direction in 2025. They made four consecutive playoff appearances from 2016 through 2019, but haven’t been back since. They opened last season with three wins in a row, including a Week 3 win over an Oakwood team that finished with a winning record and a spot in the playoffs.
“You just want to see them grow every day and continue to take the right steps,” he said. “That’s something we talk about regularly, and not focusing on week nine. We’re focusing on what’s important right now, and right now it’s getting better each and every day.”
Kankakee’s London Stroud throws a pass at flag football practice this month. Mason Schweizer
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