The East St. Louis Flyers took another step toward their ultimate goal after missing the 2015 play-offs due to a teachers strike by defeating Lisle Benet Academy 20-0 in the Illinois High school Association class 7-A semi-finals Saturday at Benedictine College.
The win propels East St. Louis (13-0) to an impressive 11th State Championship appearance and second under head coach Darren Sunkett. In addition, it was the sixth shutout of the season for the Flyers defense.
Last Saturday in the northern suburbs of Chicago Illinois, the Flyers’ defense stole the show, pitching a shutout on a cold, windy afternoon.
East St. Louis’ defense caused havoc all afternoon for Lisle Benet Academy, limiting the Redwings to 109 yards of total offense, including negative 29 yards rushing. Only one of the Redwings 13 rushing attempts amounted to positive yardage.
Redwings quarterback Jack Sznajder was impressed by the East St. Louis Flyers.
“They absolutely flew to the ball; they are so fast and so aggressive,” he said. “When you play a team like that with so many athletes, it’s really tough to execute an offense.”
Leading the way for the Flyers last Saturday were defensive backs Markevion Darough, Malcolm Bell and Under Armour All American Jeff Thomas. All three had interceptions in the game.
In addition, linebackers James “Bone-crusher” Knight and LaMontre “State Street” Harvey, along with senior Terez Lagrone, had some crowd-moaning hits against the Redwings offensive players.
The game ultimately became a chess match.
“There are 11 guys out there on our offense, and we are allowed five eligible receivers,” said Benet Coach Pat New. “They manned-up on our five receivers and brought six. With a quarterback throwing and five running routes, you’re left with five blocking against six rushing the passer. Even when you leave a running back in to block, they just bring an extra guy. Credit them. You’ve got to win one of those one-on-one match-ups, and we weren’t able to do that today.”
On offense Flyers running back Jerell Anderson was awesome, rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Reyondous Estes and All American wide receiver Jeff Thomas showed why they are one of the best combinations in the state, with Thomas being part of two of the most crucial plays in the game and ultimately securing the victory.
Late in the 3rd quarter, with East St. Louis holding only an 8-0 lead, Estes hooked up with Thomas on a 52-yard bomb to the Redwing 25-yard line.
Anderson scored with 2:58 left in the 3rd quarter to put East St. Louis in front 14-0. Two plays following the score by Anderson, Thomas intercepted a Jack Sznajder pass. And Estes wasted little time converting throwing a dart to James “Jimmy Jam” Knight from 32 yards out.
It took 54 seconds for the Flyers to extend their lead from 8-0 to 20-0, and seal the deal to a trip to Champaign, Illinois this Saturday afternoon for the right to play for a State Championship.
The Flyer will play No. 16 seed Plainfield North out of the Southwest Prairie Conference, who beat Oak Park Fenwick 18-17 in OT.
This is how both teams reached the Class 7-A State Championship game. East St. Louis defeated New Lenox Lincoln – Way West 44-7, Glenbard North 32-28, Villa Grove Willowbrook 60-27 and Lisle Benet Academy 20-0. Plainfield North defeated Highland Park 42-0, Bradley Bourbonnais 49-20, Rockford Auburn 30-7 and Oak Park Fenwick 18-17.
The Plainfield North Tigers are coached by former Collinsville High School head football coach Tim Kane.
Kane’s Tigers (11-2) are riding an 8-game winning streak. Their last loss was September 23 against Oswego East 21-14. Leading the way for Plainfield North on offense is quarterback Bradley Miller, who has 20 touchdowns passes this season. Miller favorite target is wide receiver Conner Peplow. Running back Tyler Hoosman has rushed for 1,623 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tiger are led by defensive tackle Ari Ekona and defensive end Tim Donahue; both have 20 tackles for losses between them.
The secondary features Kevin Block, Dillon McCarthy, William Stoll and Jared Frey, who have six interceptions between them.
The game will be held at the University of Illinois; kick-off is at 4 p.m. Saturday. East St. Louis will be making its 11th State Championship appearance and seeking its 8th title. East St. Louis last won in 2008, beating Geneva 33-14, led by current Flyers defensive-back coach Terry “Black-Kat” Hawthorne.
Prediction: The community of East St. Louis will be giving thanks on Thanksgiving, and a large group of fans plus six charter buses are making the trip to Champaign this weekend. Some are leaving on Friday to go to Springfield to cheer the basketball team on, then heading to the football game the following day.
Flyers head coach Darren “Quarter-finals” Sunkett is seeking to win his second Illinois class 7-A State Championship while at East St. Louis.
With Reyondous Estes, Jeff Thomas, James Knight, Jarrell Anderson, Jigg Brown, Lamontre “State Street” Harvey and the rest of the band going 13-0 to this point. No need for me to think that he won’t bring the title back to the City of champions East St. Louis Illinois.
I’m going against the street patrol this week and rolling with Sunkett.
East St. Louis 28- Plainfield North 17.
