East St. Louis’ path to 11th state football title goes through Washington. Here’s a preview

Twelve total games and three games into the playoffs, the East St. Louis football Flyers are in a familiar spot as they prepare to take the final step toward another IHSA state championship game appearance.

On Saturday, East Side (10-2) will visit Washington (11-1) looking to win and go to the state title game for the 15th time in program history.

The Flyers head to Washington on a red-hot roll, riding an eight-game winning streak after starting the season at 2-2. They are the top seed in Class 6A.

East St. Louis is the defending 6A champion and winner of three titles since 2016.

On offense, the Flyers are led in their run-pass option game by senior quarterback Robert “Pops” Battle and junior running back TaRyan Martin. Battle has rushed for a team-high 638 yards averaging 6.9 yards a carry while Martin has rushed for 452 yards and averages 6.3 yards per carry with a team-leading 11 rushing touchdowns.

Larevious Woods also has been a solid rushing threat in the red zone for the Flyers with 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Through the air, Battle has thrown for 1,95 yards and has averaged 177 yards passing per game. His top targets have been senior Jesse Watson ( five touchdowns, 553 yards receiving), junior Christopher Bennett, Jr. (487 yards receiving, three touchdowns), and senior Rico Bond (458 yards receiving, four touchdowns).

Defensively, junior inside linebacker Keondre McClendon (8.1 tackles per game), senior free safety Smiley Bradford (7.5 tackles per game), and senior linebacker Bryce Harrison (7.5 tackles per game) have been paced the Flyers relentless defense.

Senior defensive lineman Andrew Bownes has provided the heat in the Flyers pass rush with a team-high eight quarterback sacks and 48 yards for loss.

Washington, winners of 10 straight games since a 7-3 loss to Kankakee in week two, comes into Saturday’s semifinal matchup at 11-1 and seeded third in the 6A bracket. The Panthers won the Mid-Illini Conference regular season championship.

The Panthers advanced to the semifinals thanks to a 59-16 blasting of Chatham-Glenwood at Chatham-Glenwood in the quarterfinals last Saturday.

East Side took down previously unbeaten Kankakee 39-13 on the road last weekend to punch its ticket for the semifinals.

Should the Flyers win this weekend, they will move on and play for the program’s 11th state championship in the IHSA Class 6A championship game at 1 p.m. on Nov. 25 at Hancock Stadium in Normal on the campus of Illinois State University.

The other 6A semifinal Saturday pits No. 4 Lake Zurich (10-1) against No. 5 Cary-Grove (9-2).

Washington is led on the sidelines by head coach Darrell Crouch, who is in his 19th and final season of his career. He’s the winningest coach in Washington history and has led the Panthers to a 145-52 record, 15 consecutive playoff appearances, two trips to the state semifinals and seven seasons with 10 or more wins. Washington won a state championship in 1985.

East Side is led by longtime head coach Darren Sunkett.

This story was originally published November 15, 2023 at 6:00 AM.