A combined 12 IHSA state championships will be on display when the East St. Louis Senior High Flyers take on the Broncos of Lombard Montini play on Saturday night in the 5th annual City of Champions Foundation football classic. Kick-off is at 6 p.m. at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis.
This year’s event will be a double-header, with the opening game between Gateway STEM and Confluence Academy beginning at 3 p.m.
The marquee match-up will feature two of the state’s Cadillac programs. Lombard Montini head coach Chris Adriano is in his 36th season. Under Adriano, the Broncos won four consecutive Illinois Class 5A state championships from 2009-2012. Montini also finished second in 2013 and 2014.
East St. Louis Senior, the state’s winningest program with 745 victories, has a total of seven state championships. East Side won six titles under former legendary coach Bob Shannon, who was 122-23 in 20 seasons. Current head coach Darren Sunkett led the Flyers top a state title in 2008.
Montini opened the 2015 season with a thrilling 20-17 win over Park Ridge Maine South. According to Adriano, he has what he feels is “his fastest team in 36 years” at Montini.
“We have a bunch of guys who can run 4.4, 4.6 (second) 40-yard times on our team,” Adriano said.
Leading the charge against Maine South was running back Prince Walker and quarterback Justin Blake. Walker, who was a 1,000-yard rusher last season, had a 60-yard touchdown gallop against Maine South to put the game on ice for the Broncos.
Blake was 13-18 for 209 yards. In addition, he rushed for 115 yards on 18 carries. It was only Blake’s second start of his career at quarterback.
Blake’s counterpart, junior Reyondus Estes, was spectacular against Chicago Simeon last Saturday night in the Flyers’ opening 28-21 victory. Estes combined for a total of 157 yards. He was 17-22 for 123 yards passing while rushing for 34 yards and a touchdown.
The Flyers also got a big boost from their running game. Junior Kerrion “Blinky” Chairs had 13 carries for 65 yards in his first season of playing football. Junior wide receivers Jeff Thomas, and Jermaine Grissom made big plays at key moments in the come from behind win against Simeon.
But it was the Flyers’ defense last Saturday that turned a 21-6 halftime deficit to a 28-21 victory against a talented Simeon team. Linebacker James “Bonecrusher” Knight had a key interception to setup a Flyers’ score late in the 3rd quarter. In addition, the Flyers had key defensive plays by safety Stanley Green and a huge game by lineman Antuan Quilling against the highly touted offensive juggernaut of Simeon.
The East St Louis defense will have a huge test again on Saturday against the IHSA Class 5-State runners-up in Montini.
Event organizers and former East Side alum and University of Illinois players Dana Howard and Julyon Brown again will feature the marquee matchup in the St. Louis area this weekend at the “House of Pain.”
Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door.
