The football fans and alumni of East St. Louis Senior High School really enjoy this time of year. The leaves are falling, the weather is changing, and basketball season is right around the corner. It also means that the Flyers are in the state football playoffs again.
East Side will face Normal West in the first round of the Illinois Class 6A playoffs on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Flyers have reached the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year, with expectations once again high for the team to go deep into the playoffs in 2013. After a 1-3 start, the Flyers are sporting a five-game winning streak. They are playing at a level that satisfies head football coach Darren Sunkett this time of year.
“I’m proud of this team,” Sunkett said. “After a few weeks of not playing our style of football, we have turned it around. Our goal is to play for the state championship on November 30.”
The last time the Flyers competed in Class 6A was the 2000- 01 season, when then head coach Terry Hill’s team finished 7-3 after an opening-round playoff loss. East Side had been competing in Class 7A up until this season.
“Last time I checked the size of the state championship trophy, they were the same size,” Sunkett said. “These young men have gotten their playoff assignment, and we are looking forward to competing in Normal on Saturday afternoon.”
Normal West (8-1) finished second in the Big 12 Conference, with its only loss on the road in Week 5 to cross-town rival Normal (Community) High, 35-21. The Normal West Wildcats love to run the football. Last week against Champaign Centennial, they piled up 611yards of total offense, with 479 yards coming on the ground. The Wildcats are led by running backs Dominique Stevenson, who had 179 yards on 21 carries last Friday, and Darin Bethke, who added 130 yards.
Meanwhile, East St. Louis is rolling into the playoffs with its offense in high gear.
The Flyers have outscored their opponents during the five-game winning streak, 242-40. They are playing with a chip on their shoulders after many jumped off the kids’ bandwagon six weeks ago.
Leading the way is quarterback Dominic Nelson, who has thrown for 1,091 yards and 12 touchdowns in only six games. Nelson’s favorite target is freshmen wideout and return man Jeff Thomas. Thomas has 38 receptions for 691 yards and seven TDs. Thomas is a threat in the return game as well.
Maybe the heart and soul of this team in 2013 is its defense. The Flyers’ defense has risen of late to propel this team as a legitimate threat for the 6A crown. They are led by preseason All-American defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr., University of Kansas recruit LB Kyron Watson, University of Missouri recruit safety Greg Taylor (who also has 978 yards rushing on offense), and Western Michigan recruit Trevon Prater at strong safety.
Darren Sunkett’s team has a chance at State title No. 8! Good luck, ESL Flyers!
