Cahokia football, it’s fantastic
Cahokia Comanches football coach Antwyne Golliday’s team has taken on all comers and won many games in his first two seasons. In his third year, Golliday has turned the Comanches into one of the best-kept secrets on either side of the river.
The Cahokia athletic program is becoming one of the best in Southern Illinois. The boys’ track and field team finished third in the Illinois Class AA State meet last spring with freshmen and sophomores dominating the roster. The boys’ basketball program won a regional title and advanced to the sectional playoffs, and the football program started it off last fall with an impressive 9-2 record, including huge wins over South Seven Conference powers Carbondale and Belleville Althoff.
The defending South Seven champions also had a big win over Illinois power Geneseo. Geneseo is the Green Bay Packers of the state. Their uniforms are just like the Pack in a town where the residents’ dogs and cats attend home games.
But in Cahokia, the hometown fans love their beloved Comanches who play five out of the first six games on the road. Currently, they are 2-0, scoring 55 in a win against Memphis Northeast in their opener and another 41 points on a tough Ladue Rams team last Saturday. After putting 41 points on Ladue, maybe I’m overrating another Missouri school; just last week I thought Beaumont would at least score 14 points.
Anyway, I’m glad E-side and Cahokia are through with Missouri schools this season. Now, they can get down to business this week. Cahokia has a huge rematch and the third of three consecutive road games to boot when they travel to Geneseo tomorrow night. You see, Hazelwood Central wouldn’t return a home game against the Comanches this year after getting hit around at their place last season. What’s up, Hawks? Don’t bother, I already heard your excuse on the East Side.
Golliday is getting huge plays from 2004 All-Conference performers Edward Jackson (6’4″ 215 lbs.) and defensive back Ronnie Holmes (5’10” 185 lbs.). Jackson was a two-way All-Conference performer at tight end and defensive tackle in 2004.
However, the man who gets the Cahokia team going is junior running back Martavis Hines. Hines may be one of the best running backs ever to wear a Comanche uniform. The elusive fireplug averaged 6.6 yards per carry last season in a limited role. But early in the 2005 season, Hines is being mentioned in the same breath with sophomore sensation Jason Ford Jr. at Althoff.
Running back Xavier Jackson (5’8″ 170 lbs.) plans to figure in the mix this season. All these young men come from the tough Centreville peewee football program. Erin Saverson (6′ 170 lbs.) can also line up at multiple positions. And one of the Comanches’ most electrifying players is Myron Washington Jr. (5’10 165″ lbs.). Washington’s dad was a standout at Lincoln High. Washington raced 89 yads for a score on an interception return last Saturday in the rich ‘hood in Ladue to put the game away.
A former standout at Lincoln High and Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Golliday finished 9-2 last season. It was the best record for Cahokia since 2000 when they went 10-1. And no school in the conference faces a more rugged schedule than Cahokia.
Said Golliday, “We appreciate all the help we get. A lot of fans get behind our program and support what we are trying to do here. Parents, friends, it’s fun.”
St. Louis Rams’ equipment manager Todd Hewitt has contributed too the program for a number of years. “Mr. Hewitt has helped our kids out a lot and we appreciate all (the Rams) have done for us.”
By the way, nice job last week, Coach. Cahokia 41- Ladue 7.