Cahokia High School quarterback Wayne Grant Jr. is one of the most underrated players in the Metro East.
The 5’11” 160-pound senior has the speed, agility, and a rocket-throwing arm that reminds some of former Florida State All-American signal-caller Charlie Ward.
With Grant leading the way, the Comanches are currently 2-2, after starting the year 2-0 for the first time since 2009 under first-year head coach John Clay.
After consecutive losses to Illinois powerhouse Geneseo (35-22) and to Marion last week (23-20), the senior signal-caller must continue to play well if Cahokia plans on making the playoffs in late October.
“Right now, we just want to continue to get better day-by-day in practice,” Grant said. “We are a young team at certain positions, and our coaches are doing a great job preparing us for our opponents each and every week. We feel that, as a team, the meat of our schedule is still there. If we execute what our coaches are preparing us with each week, we will be fine”.
Through four games, Grant has looked at times like a Michael Vick mix-tape, bobbing and weaving through opposing defenses with his pinpoint throwing, and running skills. In addition, he has put up some impressive numbers, passing for 1,082 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also rushed for one score.
Grant led the Comanches on a final last-minute drive in a victory over perennial playoff contender Highland in the season opener. The following week against St. Louis Sumner, he lit-up the Bulldog defense with 11 of 15 passing for 264 yards and six touchdowns.
Grant has some young but athletic receivers he looks to connect with on Friday nights. Some have led the Comanches to multiple state titles in track and field. Elijah Rice had four catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns against Sumner. George Smith is a fast receiver. Grant’s main target, Demarion Hinkle, has 24 catches for 488 yards and six touchdowns.
“Demarion, Elijah, George and I have a bond together because of the success we have obtained in track and field.” said Grant. “We support our teammates, and look to each other to be leaders both on and off the field.”
Through four games, Clay feels that his Comanches have the makings of being a very good football team.
“We have been hit by the injury bug at the running back position, and have had to ask some guys to step up and play a bigger role for us,” Clay said. “A dropped pass here, a missed assignment there, we could easily be 4-0.”
Cahokia will look to rebound the next two weeks when they host the Carbondale Terriers tomorrow night and a September 30th date with one of the states Cadillac teams in the Centralia Orphans for homecoming.
Scott’s notes
The top-ranked team in class 7A, the East St. Louis Flyers, will start to get into the meat of their schedule in a down year for the Southwestern conference when they play host to the Belleville West Maroons tomorrow night, then go on the road next Friday in the conference showdown against the Edwardsville Tigers and All-American A.J. Espenesa.
Southwestern Conference teams have a combined record so far this season of 14-18, with East St. Louis and Edwardsville combining for 8 of the total 14 wins among conference foes.
In addition, the street patrol in East St. Louis will be looking for victories from Flyers’ head coach Darren “Quarterfinals” Sunkett the next two weeks.
The Flyers have lost to the Maroons the last two seasons, and haven’t beaten Edwardsville since September 7, 2012 (14-7) before losing to the Tigers that same year, 21-18, in the opening round of the IHSA play-offs.
