Non-conference schedule tempers East St. Louis for the heat of state championship run
Armed with another deep and talented roster heading into the 2019 season, East St. Louis football coach Darren Sunkett loaded the Flyers non-conference schedule with a home date with St. Louis Trinity Catholic and three games in the Chicago suburbs that included an opening week showdown with former Class 7A state champion Batavia.
The reason? To temper his players with as much playoff-quality heat as he can before the playoffs even start.
“We want to play to top football programs with great tradition. I want our football team to get the experience of playing on the road in a hostile environment because it prepares us for what we’ll see in the playoffs,’’ Sunkett said. “This group has bought into what we’ve been telling them all season. They’ve done a good job of taking it week by week and playing a little better each week.’’
Top-seeded in its half of the Class 6A playoff bracket, undefeated East St. Louis (13-0) will try for a ninth state championship Saturday when it takes on Crystal Lake Prairie Central (12-1) in the title game Saturday. The 1 p.m. game will be played at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in Dekalb.
In the playoffs for the 39th time, the Flyers are making their first title game appearance since defeating Plainfield North 26-13 in the Class 7A final in 2016. East St. Louis, which won six state championships under coaching legend Bob Shannon, also won the Class 7A crown in 2008 under Sunkett, beating Geneva 33-14.
The Flyers have dominated the competition this season, outscoring the opposition 672-176. Led by junior quarterback Tyler Macon (3,937 passing yards, 36 TDs), senior running back DaMonta Witherspoon, a huge offensive line led by University of Tennessee recruit Javontez Spraggins, and a quartet of top wide receivers, East St. Louis averages more than 450 yards of total offense per game.
Linebackers Kendrick Scarborough and Darius Walker lead the Flyers physical defensive unit with 140 tackles each while all-state defensive back Antonio Johnson is one of the best in the nation.
“How good is East St. Louis? Athletically, they are as good as we’ve seen in quite a while,’’ Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp said. “They have speed, they are big and they are physical on both sides of the football. We know we’ve got a huge challenge in front of us.
“Our football team has been very solid all season, but I don’t think it’s any surprise but we have control the football. We need to be able to keep their offense off the field.’’
A member of the Fox Valley Conference, the Wolves have been the top Class 6A program in the state the last eight years. After winning the state championship in 2011 with a 12-1 record, Prairie Central claimed back-to-back undefeated titles in both 2016 and 2017.
“We have a lot of good, hard-working kids who have done what we’ve asked of them both on the football field and in the classroom,’’ Schremp said. “Our system is very disciplined and our success depends on all 11 players doing their jobs on every play.
“We’ve had a lot of success around here and its been a team effort.’’
The Wolves, who have won nine games in a row after a week four loss to Huntley, run a triple option offense. Running behind a quick, athletic offensive line, Prairie Central has four running backs with more than 450 yards and who average more than eight yards per carry. The foursome, led by senior Carter Evans (897 yards, 15 touchdowns) has combined to score 44 touchdowns this season.
Quarterback Connor Lydon (498 yards, 12 TDs) is also a capable runner. Despite completing just 44 of 75 passes, Lydon has thrown for 17 touchdowns.
Sunkett said the Wolves offense is something the Flyers haven’t had to defend against this season.
“There aren’t many teams who run it. We’ve seen it on film and we’ve been working the kids the last couple of days on how to defend it,’’ Sunkett said. “The key is doing your job. Once the game starts and we see it, we’ll learn and make the proper adjustments.’’
A win Saturday would also make East St. Louis the only school in state history to win the state basketball, track and field and football championships in the same year. The Flyers won the Class 3A state basketball title in March and the Class 2A state track championship in May.
East St. Louis State Championship games
1974 Class 5A Glenbrook North Lost 19-13
1979 Class 5A Burbank St. Laurence Won 20-14
1983 Class 6A Addison Trail Won 13-0
1984 Class 6A Downers Grove South Won 38-6
1985 Class 6A Chicago Brother Rice Won 46-0
1987 Class 6A Arlington Heights Hersey Lost 26-6
1988 Class 6A Chicago Mount Carmel Lost 21-7
1989 Class 6A Harvey Thornton Won 55-8
1991 Class 6A Glenbard North Won 48-6
2008 Class 7A Geneva Won 33-14
2016 Class 7A: Plainfield North Won 26-13
