Nation sees what Billingsley can do in game on ESPN
Alabama recruit Jahleel Billingsley lived up to the hype Sunday on ESPN against nationally ranked Pickerington Central of Ohio.
Phillips’ 6-5 senior caught six passes for 65 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass. He also made an impact in the game as a punter and defensive end, picking up a key sack.
But a nightmarish final 51 seconds of the first half was too much for the Wildcats to overcome, and they lost 49-18.
Phillips trailed 21-18 as halftime approached. Three missed PATs separated the teams. Then the Wildcats fumbled twice in the last minute of the second quarter. Both turnovers resulted in touchdowns by Pickerington Central.
Wildcats quarterback Leonard Smith was 11-for-20 for 135 yards and one interception. Running back Rayshaun Thompson had 18 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Illinois recruit Fabian McCray caught five passes for 66 yards.
Phillips (0-1), the first Public League football team to play on ESPN, turned the ball over six times and went scoreless in the second half.
Pickerington Central, the defending Division 1 Ohio state champs, has three times as many students as Phillips and twice as many football players. The Wildcats play St. Louis Chaminade in East St. Louis on Saturday.
Jansey proves to be two-way threat
Batavia’s Michael Jansey Jr., a Northwestern recruit, received a lot of hype in the preseason. The linebacker was named the top defensive player in the area by the Sun-Times’ Beth Long.
Jansey lived up to the hype in Batavia’s 22-15 victory at Lemont on Friday. The senior had two sacks to lead a stout defense, but his biggest contribution might have come on offense.
Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron said in the preseason that he planned to use a power running formation occasionally. That plan was key against Lemont.
Jansey’s 12-yard touchdown run broke a 15-15 tie in the fourth quarter. Fellow linebacker Luke Weerts was the lead blocker. Jansey had six carries for 36 yards.
Encouraging effort by Lydon
There isn’t a player in the area with bigger shoes to fill than Prairie Ridge quarterback Connor Lydon. The junior has to step in for Sun-Times Player of the Year Samson Evans, a Fox Valley legend who led the Wolves to back-to-back undefeated seasons and state championships.
Lydon got off to a great start in a 58-27 victory against Crystal Lake Central on Friday. He rushed for 120 yards and four touchdowns and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass. He was 2-for-5 for 87 yards in the air. There was some debate if the Wolves were worthy of their preseason Super 25 ranking this season. So far so good.
Olsen boots record 8 field goals
Wheaton Warrenville South junior Jack Olsen set an IHSA record with eight field goals Friday in a 26-0 victory at Metea Valley. Olsen missed a 52-yard attempt that would have tied the national record. He was the starting kicker for the Tigers last season but didn’t have any games with multiple field goals.
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