The football programs at Cahokia, East St. Louis, and Althoff all have some unfinished business in 2016. All are hungry and have something to prove in the state of Illinois.
Let’s start in Cahokia, where the Comanches have new life and are looking for newfound success under first-year head coach John Clay.
Clay – a former first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, and the right hand man for both of current Flyers coach Darren Sunkett’s state championships teams at East St. Louis and Riverview Gardens – is now the head coach at Cahokia.
After finishing 4-5 and missing the playoffs in 2015, John Clay has assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the Metro East. Joining Clay at Cahokia is former Flyer defensive coordinator Marion Stallings, who helped guide the Flyers to seven state championships and three state runner-up finishes with head coaches Bob Shannon and Sunkett. Former Comanche standouts Byron Gettis and Orlando “Doc” Gooden have also joined Clay’s staff.
Clay feels his team will be both fast and physical this season. Leading the way on defense will be All-South Seven Conference performer Nate Williams. In addition, Clay has one of the top freshmen in the Metro East who will start at linebacker in Darren “Tank”Perkins. Perkins has the quickness and footwork that will have college recruiters hanging out in Cahokia the next four years.
The Comanches offense will be in good hands with senior quarterback Wayne Grant Jr. under center. Grant threw for 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cahokia has one of the best wide-outs in the South Seven in junior Demarion Hinkle. Hinkle caught 42 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns.
Cahokia opens its season on Friday against Highland.
ESL poised to shut up street patrol
Now on to 4901 State Street and the East St. Louis Flyers. Deemed the “City of Champions,” the Flyers’ season was cut short due to in 2015 due to the teacher’s strike.
Head coach Darren Sunkett has an overall record of 119-49 since taking over in 2001, including the state championship during the 2008-09 seasons. Most communities would be perfectly fine that winning percentage.
But in East St. Louis, it’s up for debate, having to live up to the standards of former head coaches Fred Cameron, Cornelius Perry and Bob Shannon. Deemed “Quarterfinal Sunkett” by many alumni and fans within the street patrol, the Flyers seemed poised to shut upthe street patrol in 2016 and make a run for an eight state title.
The horses are certainly there in All- American wide-out Jeff Thomas, who’s being recruited by every major college football program in the country, and Mizzou recruit Reyondous Estes at quarterback.
Estes and Thomas are the most feared duo in the Metro East, and possibly the state. Thomas, despite playing five games last season, has 75 catches and 25 touchdowns during that span. In addition, Estes had 20 touchdown passes his sophomore year. Both have been around for four years at the varsity level, so there leadership will be the key for East St. Louis this season.
On defense the Flyers will led by my cousin, two-time All-Southwestern Conference performer James Knight ( 6’2 220) at linebacker, along with Kenneth Dixon (6’1 210) and LaMontre “State Street”Harvey (6’3, 265) and Terez Lagrone (6’5 285), the nephew of former Billiken basketball player Tyrone Caswell.
The Flyers once again have one of the toughest schedules in the area opening at perennial Chicago power Providence Catholic Saturday night, and opening at home against Missouri state power CBC before Southwestern conference play.
Althoff has firepower returning
Belleville Althoff won 13-straight games and averaged over 44 points per game, but Ken Turner’s team ended the season on a sour note, losing 51-7 in the Class 4A title game to Chicago Phillips.
The Crusaders have Cadillacfirepower returning and are poised for another run to the title game. Leading the way for the Crusaders is WR/DB C.J. Coldon. One of the most gifted athletes in the Metro East, Colden will be a two-way All-State player at both the receiver and defensive-back positions.
A stand-out guard on the state championship basketball team last season, Colden has college recruiters knocking down his door in both sports. Other top performers for Althoff include Saint Louis University basketball recruit Jordan Goodwin, Miami of Ohio recruit Jaylon Bester, big play WR/corner-back Edwyn Brown (6’5 210) defensive lineman Christian Wills, tackle Jordyn Slaughter, nose guard Devyn Nash, and All-State linebacker Bryson Strong.
Althoff opens up Friday night against Southwestern conference member Collinsville, and then gets a rematch against Jefferson City Helias, whom the Crusaders beat last year in a 54-38 shoot-out.
