5A State Championship Recap and Prospects to Know in ’22
In this article:
Fenwick captured their first football state championship in school history after defeating Kankakee 34-15 this past weekend. Fenwick vs. Morgan Park was the first game I covered when the IHSA season kicked off back in August. After watching Fenwick put…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFenwick captured their first football state championship in school history after defeating Kankakee 34-15 this past weekend.
Fenwick vs. Morgan Park was the first game I covered when the IHSA season kicked off back in August. After watching Fenwick put on a dominant performance to open the season, I’m not at all surprised they were the last standing in class 5A. Fenwick was a veteran team and not mention, they were loaded with talent that’ll be playing on Saturday’s next season.
The games opening touchdown came on Fenwick’s first drive when Ball State commit Kaden Cobb Kaden Cobb 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Fenwick | 2022 State IL hooked up with talented and underrated receiver Bryan Hunt for a 21-yard touchdown reception. Fenwick would grab ahold of the game’s momentum and score three answered touchdowns after striking first. Max Reese Max Reese 6'3" | 215 lbs | WR Fenwick | 2022 State IL accounted for two of the unanswered touchdowns with receptions of 22 and 67 yards, and Danny Kent, the heart and soul of the team added a rushing touchdown from three yards out to give Fenwick a 28-0 lead over Kankakee.
With half-time approaching and Kankakee facing a 28-point deficit, Kankakee finally got in the endzone after senior quarterback Tomele Staples connected with junior running back Karson King Karson King 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Kankakee | 2023 State IL for a 6-yard touchdown reception to bring the score to 28-7 heading into the half.
Kankakee was able to find the endzone on their first drive of the second half when Nate Hill punched it in from two yards out followed by a successful two-point conversion to bring the score to 28-15. Just as things were beginning to get interesting, Fenwick would march back down the field and answer Kankakee’s 14 unanswered points with a 2-yard touchdown run from Kaden Cobb Kaden Cobb 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Fenwick | 2022 State IL to bring the score to 34-15.
Fenwick was able to control rest of the game with stout defense and some hard nose running by Danny Kent. I’d be remised if I didn’t mention Suleiman Abuaqel Suleiman Abuaqel 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Fenwick | 2022 State IL ; he’s one of the most persistent pass rushers I’ve seen this season and wreaked havoc on Kankakee’s offensive line. Danny Kent would continue to exploit the holes in Kankakee’s defense and finished the day with 31 carries for 212 yards and one touchdown as the Fenwick Friars were able to hold off Kankakee 34-15 to claim their school’s first ever football state championship.
Prospects to Know Going Into Next Season:
Fenwick Friars
Patrick Durkin | TE/LB | ’23
Luke Mizukis | OL | ’23
Aaron Johnson | OL/DL | ’23
Luke D’Alise | RB/LB | ’24
Aiden Boyle | OL | ’23
Kankakee Kays
Karson King Karson King 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Kankakee | 2023 State IL | RB | ’23
Jyaire Hill | DB | ’23
Quan Mcelroy | WR | ’24
Caron Johnson | DB | ’23
Naz Hill | DB | ’23
Sights and Highlights From the Game
@KankakeeFB with a huge 4th down stop in the redzone. Fenwick 6 Kankakee 0. 3:41 left in the first qtr pic.twitter.com/irBJzpMXur
— Darnell Clay (@dclay1889) November 27, 2021
@MaxReese10 breaks up the sideline for a 67-yard score to give him his 2nd touchdown of the game. @FenwickFB 21, Kankakee 0. 7:14 left in the second qtr pic.twitter.com/dLhoBOIEtr
— Darnell Clay (@dclay1889) November 27, 2021
Kankakee gets on the board after Tomele Staples hooks up with Karson King for the Kay’s first score of the game. Fenwick 28, Kankakee 7 pic.twitter.com/JVoW5ihSDz
— Darnell Clay (@dclay1889) November 27, 2021
@cobb_kaden extends Fenwick’s lead to 34-15 on a short QB run. 4:22 left in the third. pic.twitter.com/4vpK7DsZ7J
— Darnell Clay (@dclay1889) November 27, 2021