East St. Louis dominates quarterfinal showdown between Illinois heavyweights
One of the most stress-free jobs in the metro-east? The clock operator at East St. Louis High School football games has to be right up there.
Job description: Push the buttons for a little bit, wait until the Flyers get their 40-point lead, then sit back and relax, maybe play a little Solitaire
So it went for the person assigned the scoreboard clock Saturday afternoon at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium, where the Flyers dominated Chicago Simeon, 49-0, in mercy-rule Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game.
The defending state champion Flyers (8-3) advance to a semifinal game against 8-4 St. Laurence next weekend on the road.
It was no doubt a long, quiet ride back to Chicagoland for the Wolverines, whose season ended at 7-5. It was a breezy, jovial postgame atmosphere at Jordan Stadium, with players such as wide receiver Kortez Rupert part of the fun crowd.
“They were talking a little crap on social media this week, so I was expecting a better effort from them,” said Rupert, a senior who is committed to play at Indiana University next fall. “We just prepared to do what we do.”
The Flyers just can’t find a good game in this state. The Flyers’ three losses in the regular season were to non-conference, out-of-state opponents. Against in-state opponents? The record is 8-0, by a score differential of 449-33.
The Flyers didn’t start some top players in this one. Myson Johnson-Cook, the four-star junior running back with offers from 12 high-powered Division 1 schools, did not play until the final series of the game.
Neither did 6-10, 315-pound sophomore offensive lineman Antonio Grayes, who most certainly will get some D1 offers when he turns 16 next year. Grayes could have played, but was decided to rest a shoulder that was dinged up some.
That only gave teammates such as Rupert, Amir Tillman, Ahmad Coleman, and Jahmori Ware more playing time to shine. Led by quarterback Reece Shanklin, before he was taken out early in the third quarter, the Flyers had a 41-0 lead at the half.
Rupert caught two scoring passes, from 36 and 27 yards, from Shanklin, while Coleman and Ware also scored touchdowns.
The Flyers were assessed 25 penalties for 216 yards in a playoff victory last weekend at Chatham-Glenwood, but other than a couple of pass interference calls, they played a nearly perfect game.
Does winning like this ever get boring?
“For us, it’s all about the outcome – winning,” Flyers coach Darren Sunkett said. “It’s about preparing for your next opponent, during the week, and going out there and executing.”
Sunkett said he expects “to come out fully loaded” personnel-wise against St. Laurence. Cook, who ran for 257 yards and three TDs against Glenwood, carried the ball just one time at the end.
That’s probably bad news for St. Laurence.
“Just gotta stay focused, and be fundamental,” said sophomore running back Ware.
About what it’s been like to play his first year under ISHA Hall of Fame coach Sunkett, Ware said, “He’s a great coach. He’s hard on you, but he gets you where you want to go.”
For the Flyers, their destination appears to once again be in Bloomington on Nov. 29 for the 6A championship. That is, unless St. Laurence can give them a game.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 6:10 PM.