From the East Side
By Maurice Scott
Flyers open football season on national stage
James Harris joins coaching staff
Darren Sunkett’s East St. Louis Flyers will be on the national stage on Saturday night when they take on nationally-ranked Warren Central High in Indianapolis. Kick-off is set for 8:30 p.m.
The Flyers will participate in a four-game jamboree that features teams from a number of Midwestern states. The event is put on by the Jeff George Foundation. George, the former University of Illinois quaterback, played professionally with a number of teams, most recently the Chicago Bears last season.
The game will be televised on the FOX Sports Network (check local listings for times). Warren Central (Ind.), which is George’s alma mater, is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation, according to USA Today.
With the great tradition at East Side, it shouldn’t phase them traveling and playing on the big stage to open the season. However, gone are stalwarts such as Kelvin “Big Game” Rogers, Trevor Dismute and All-State lineman Brandon Thomas (SEMO). But the Flyers should again be one of the top teams in the Metro East.
The defense should be one of the best in the Metro East with former East St. Louis Lincoln three-sport star James Harris joining the staff as defensive coordinator.
Harris started his high school career at East Side (for a moment) and then transferred to Lincoln, and the rest is HISTORY! Harris, along with standouts Laphonso Ellis (Notre Dame/NBA) and former Creighton star Chris Rogers, formed according to MARCH MADNESS, the greatest frontcourt in Illinois high school basketball history in 1987. The trio started an at that time unheard-of three consecutive Illinois Class AA State Championships by IHSA Hall of Fame coach Bennie Lewis Sr.
Harris went on to become a student-athlete at Temple University, playing defensive end in football. He also played basketball for another future Hall of Famer in Temple basketball coach John Chaney. Harris went on to play in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams.
“Harris should be a great addition to the Flyers’ coaching staff, being from East St. Louis,” said former Flyer great Juan Brown a standout lineman on the Flyers first State Championship team in 1979. “As a former professional athlete, the team can look at him and say, ‘He got a degree and played professional football. If he can make it, so can I.'”
The Flyers return All-American candidate Jaious Singleton at tailback for his senior season. Some say Singleton slowed last season, but those who know football agree that he could become one of the all-time greats to line up in a Flyer backfield.
Last season, Singleton (5’10 195/ 4.3 40) rushed for 1,441 and was a first-team All-Metro selection for the second consecutive season. He is considered one of the top backs in the country by many recruiting services.
Wisconsin, Illinois, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Nebraska are considered the frontrunners for the senior tailback services.
At quarterback, the Flyers have one of the best young signal callers in junior Derrick Johnson (6’2″ 175). Johnson passed for over 1,381 yards last season as a sophomore, and with the explosive passing game that coach Sunkett likes to employ on Friday nights, it could be a special 1-2 punch with Johnson and Singleton in the same backfield again in 2005. Bryan Harris, a 6’4″ tight end, should also contribute in the Flyers’ offensive scheme.
On defense, middle linebacker Tommie Liddell will pose problems for many offenses in 2005. Joe Bevis, Charles Watkins and big Darren Phiffer (6’3 305) will lead a stingy Flyers’ defense along with Jamal Jeffries (6’3 320) and Ray Brown (6’1 270) clogging up things along the Flyers’ defensive front. Nick King will provide leadership in the secondary along with one of the top defensive backs in the state in speedy Jerell McDaniel. McDaniel, a three-sport student-athlete, was part of the Flyers’ 2005 Illinois Class AA State Track & Field team under coach Roscoe Whitfield.
The Flyers finished 8-3 in 2004, losing to Chicago Morgan Park 28-27 on a fourth down and 16 scramble by Mustang quarterback Demetrious Jones in the closing seconds. Jones, who verbally committed to Notre Dame last week, is the top-rated player in the state.
With a tough road opponent, and a lot of people at Beaumont talking trash already in anticipation of the week two match-up, Sunkett’s Flyers will be ready for the test. By the way, Beaumont, I’m sure the orange & blue will show-up. It will be a good whipping again.
Scott’s Pick: Flyers 20, Warren Central 14
