Althoff dominated Illinois 1A football in 2024. Can the Crusaders do it again?

Standouts Dierre Hill Jr., Jason Dowell, and Charleston Coldon have moved on to Division I college football, but the cupboard is far from bare for the Althoff Catholic football team.

The Crusaders returned eight players from their 14-0 IHSA Class 1A championship squad a season ago.

Key returners on offense include junior quarterback Jayden Ellington, junior running back Steven Brown, sophomore wide receiver Logan Thompson, and senior defensive backs Alex and Robbie Schallert.

Junior Jordan Wright, senior Zach Beckman, and junior Chris King will form the core of the Crusaders’ offensive line.

“We might have been over 300 pounds (per lineman) last year, we were so big. I don’t know if we’re quite that big now, but over the course of the summer, these guys got further along faster from an execution standpoint,” Frazier said. “I think they’re going to prove they’re just as capable as that group was last year.”

Althoff’s offense will run primarily through the two-headed monster of Ellington and Brown.

Ellington passed for 2.078 yards and 36 touchdowns while rushing for another 378 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

“It’s pretty clear that the reins have been handed down, and now the responsibility is Jayden’s. This is his offense, and he’s one of the team leaders and he’s set up to have a monster year,” Frazier said.

Brown, who backed up Hill Jr. as a sophomore, ran for 467 yards and six touchdowns with a 5.8 yards per carry average.

“I’m not saying Steven Brown is Dierre Hill. He’s not, but he’s looking really good and we’re really impressed with him and I’m going to be really excited to see what he does with 10, 15 touches a game,” Frazier said.

When the Crusaders go to the air, Thompson and junior fullback/tight end Tru Washington will be strong targets.

Juniors Diontae Woods, and Drew McGee will anchor the defensive line.

Senior Steven Ache (69 tackles) heads the linebacker corps. Joining Ache in the linebacker spots will be senior D. J. Bush in the middle and senior Jakobi Tow at weak side.

“These guys are seniors and battle tested as part of a really good team last year, and we’re really excited with their development,” Frazier said.

In the defensive backfield, Thompson will see time at one cornerback spot along while Lorne Greene will man the other corner position. Seniors Alex and Robbie Schallert will also see time in the secondary.

Sophomore Cornelius Anderson is a newcomer who is expected to compete for snaps at receiver and defensive back.

One big weapon Frazier is glad to have back this fall is sophomore punter/kicker Austin Wilkinson. Wilkinson, who averaged 41.37 yards per punt and kicked 74 extra points last season.

“Our kicker, Austin Wilkinson, is nationally ranked,” Frazier said. “There’s not a better sophomore punter in the state, and he’s a top-3 kicker in the entire state as a sophomore as a combo kid.”

Althoff Catholic will be playing a grueling schedule that includes 5A schools such as Highland and 6A schools Belleville East and Maple Park Kaneland. The schedule is designed to help them prepare for the rigors of trying to win a state championship in Class 3A or 4A this fall.

Frazier said the Crusaders are not looking that far ahead now but rather focusing on keeping the daily focus simple.

“Let’s just minimize our concerns and focus just on the practice for the day, the period for the day, and the individual development for the day,” Frazier said.

This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM.