By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com
Mike Alstott, JR Zwierzynski and Ty Isaac are just some of the names on the long list of historic running backs to wear the brown and white of Joliet Catholic.
After this season, however, they are all looking up at a new name atop the list of single-season rushing leaders.
While current players talk of Mike Ivlow, Josh Ferguson and Michael Johnson, future generations will be talking about – and chasing – Keenan Hailey.
Keenan Hailey breaks away from Montini defense in route to his teams 35-27 state championship victory at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mark Gregory)
The 5-foot, 9-inch, 185-pound wingback had a record-setting season, racking up 2,637 yards, passing Isaac atop the single-season list.
“I never thought this would happen,” Hailey said. “Passing up one of my favorite people that ever came out of JCA, that is just a great feeling. That I can I be one of those legends, hopefully people will think that of me when I leave, is just a good feeling.”
Hailey added 120 receiving yards and a pair of scores to his gawdy rushing totals.
For his efforts, Hailey is the 2018 Voyager Media Football Player of the Year.
This season he is an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 5A All-State selection, as well as East Suburban Catholic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, WJOL Offensive Player of the Year and member of the 20th annual EdgyTim.com All-State team.
Hailey led JCA to its state record 14th IHSA state title, a 35-27 win over Montini Catholic, coming back in the game to score the eventual final touchdown after an injury knocked him out early in the first half.
It was the yardage on that final run that put him past Isaac for the single season record, giving Hailey the ultimate Hollywood ending to his JCA career.
“It was special for Keenan to be able to cap off his senior season like that,” JCA coach Jake Jaworski said of the final touchdown of the game. “Talking to him on the sideline when it didn’t look like he would be able to return, to lead us here and then be out would have been a terrible way to go out. He is the ultimate warrior, I had a feeling he would suck it up for a few carries.”
When Hailey went out of the game, he was still shy of Isaac’s record and it was the man he would eventually pass on the list that was one of his biggest voices of inspiration on the sidelines.
“It was awesome to have another voice in my ear to keep going,” Hailey said. “He was telling me, ‘be a man, this is what you were trained for. This is our legacy. This is our tradition – we are hard here. He was a big confidence booster for me.”
While Hailey has the state championship ring and the record, he is waiting his chance to give back to the future Hillmen.
“There are young running backs that I see potential in and that I think can be the next thing,” Hailey said. “I will be waiting for the day when I can go back to state and cheer on my high school team. It will be a great time and I am waiting for it.”
Local players on the All-Area team are:
Patrick Banich, Notre Dame
Offensive guard for state semi-finalists in Class 6A. Led an offensive line that produced more than 4,000 rushing on the season.
Jack Benish, Benet
Led the Redwings with 80 tackles, including 17 for loss to go with a team-best 6.5 sacks.
Patrick Carden, Notre Dame
Linebacker led the team with 78 tackles and posted five sacks and 12 tackles for loss on a defense that allowed 10 points per game and advanced to the 5A state semifinals.
Drew Cassens, Downers North
Senior quarterback tallied 1,700 all-purpose yards, 1,200 on the ground. He scored 10 rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.
Colin Cox, JCA
The 6-foot, 2-inch, 295-pound left tackle helped the Hillmen rush for more than 5,000 yards rushing this season.
Kevon Dorris, Joliet West
One of the best athletes in the area, Dorris posted 547 receiving yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Cole Dow, Maine South
Stepped in and took over the quarterback role for the Hawks when starter Bobby Inserra went down with injury. He finished the season 1,449 yards and an area-best 14 passing touchdowns.
Scott Fosen, JCA
Senior defensive end tallied 30 tackles, including 12 sacks on the season. He forced a pair of fumbles and recovered one.
Ty Gavin, Notre Dame
Senior led the Dons to the IHSA Class 6A state semifinals after an ankle injury forced him to miss the final game of the regular season and play at less than 100 percent most of the playoffs. From his running back position, Gavin rushed for 1,421 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 131 yards and a pair of scores. As a defensive back, Gavin posted 51 tackles, broke up five passes, posted four interceptions and returned two for touchdowns.
Colin Gillespie, Benet
Redwing junior passed for 1,461 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.
Connor Hall, Plainfield South
Cougar Inside linebacker was voted co-defensive player of the year in the Southwest Prairie Conference and was team’s leading tackler with 84 tackles to go along with 17 tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles.
Nick Iannatone, JCA
Senior put the Hillmen on his back when Hailey went out of the state championship game and carried the ball a Class 4A title game record 40 times for 318 yards and three touchdowns.
On the season, he finished with 1,615 yards on 191 carries, while scoring 17 touchdowns.
Demo Kellie, Lisle
Jay McGrath’s top target, he posted 604 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
Seth Lehr, Minooka
Junior quarterback was team offensive MVP and named to the Southwest Prairie All Conference first team.
Completed 94 of 162 passes and threw for 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. On the ground, he carried the ball 69 times for 197 yards and seven scores.
Jay McGrath, Lisle
Mr. Do-it-All for the Lions finished the season as the area’s leader in pass yards with 1,571 and added 10 passing touchdowns. He completed 92 of his 158 passes for a 58.2 completion percentage. He led the team in rushing with 5698 yards on 142 carries and 14 touchdowns. McGrath was third in the area in scoring with 141 points. As a defensive back, he posted 48 tackles and led the team with five interceptions. He also handled kicking duties for Lisle. McGrath was a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 3A All-State team.
Mundo Meyer
Joliet Catholic
Posted 72 tackles, 10 pass break ups and intercepted three passes from the defensive backfield. Offensively, he had a pair of catches, one going for a score.
Cameron Mitchell
Bolingbrook
Defensive back tallied 32 total tackles, 18 of which were solo. Mitchell intercepted three passes, forced two fumbles, recovered and blocked one kick.
Adriel Montemayor
Plainfield South
The top defensive lineman on the Cougar defense. Drew opponent double teams and posted 46.5 tackles on the season. Had 13 tackles for loss and a team-best eight sacks.
Ty O’Janovac, JCA
The 6-foot, 4-inch, 270-pound offensive left guard helped pave the way for Hailey, Iannantone and company this season. Also added 19 tackles and 1 sack on defense.
Joe Passarelli, Downers North
Trojan linebacker posted an area-best 125 tackles, 22 for loss, to go along with five sacks and forced two fumbles.
Luke Preston, Maine South
Senior linebacker was the CSL co-defensive player of the year. He led the Hawks with 81 tackles and posted 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks and one interception.
Quentin Pringle, Bolingbrook
Senior running back carried the ball 105 times for 1,112 yards and a team-best 18 touchdowns on the season.
Jake Shipla, Minooka
Junior defensive tackle was the team defensive MVP and named to the Southwest Prairie All Conference first team.
Posted 84 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He also started as an offensive guard.
Danny Simon, Notre Dame
Kicker scored 60 points for the Dons this season and was a weapon in the arsenal for Notre Dame’s state semifinal run.
Peter Skoronski, Maine South
Junior lineman was the unanimous CSL South lineman of the year. This season, the 6-foot, 4-inch, 285-pound tackle/nose guard had 56 pancake blocks this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, he tallied 22 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss.
Michael Thompson, Westmont
On offense, he posted 23 catches for 472 yards, a 20.5 yards per catch average, to go along with seven touchdowns. Defensively, Thompson tallied 84 tackles, 37 solos and three tackles for loss.
Tony Trabold, Joliet Catholic
Huge weapon for the state champion Hilltoppers this season, scoring 68 points, connecting on all three of his field goal attempts. Handled all kicking duties for JCA, placekicking, punting and kickoffs.
Kurt Weis, JCA
Defensive back is a member of the IHSA Class 5A Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State team and leader of a defense that rose to occasion in the playoffs en route to a state title.
He posted 127 tackles and seven interceptions on the season. Offensively, he had 5 receptions for 62 yards and one score.