Treadwell leads Hillcrest to big win
Treadwell takes the lead role at QB as Hillcrest steams past Tinley Park
Hillcrest’s Caleb Treadwell believes he’s back where he belongs — playing quarterback. Treadwell completed 6 of 8 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns to lead the visiting Hawks to a 72-0 South Suburban Blue win over Tinley Park.
Hillcrest senior Caleb Treadwell believes he’s back where he belongs. At quarterback. After spending two seasons at receiver for CreteMonee, Treadwell transferred to Hillcrest, returning to the position he had played for most of his life.
“Quarterback is natural to me,” Treadwell said. “I had to work on some things again, but the Hillcrest coaches got me right.”
Treadwell resembled a poised veteran Friday against Tinley Park.
He completed 6 of 8 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns to lead the visiting Hawks to a 72-0 South Suburban Blue victory.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Treadwell, who spent his freshman year at Morgan Park before transferring to Crete-Monee, also showed some fancy footwork escaping pressure and improvising on the go.
Senior running back Mar’Keise Irving, a Minnesota recruit, rushed for 151 yards and two TDs on just 10 carries. His totals would have been even more impressive if he hadn’t had TD runs of 48 and 53 yards called back due to penalties.
Also for Hillcrest (3-0, 2-0), Tywon Lee combined an 11-yard TD run with a 48-yard TD pass to Tyree Lee. Ajani Rush added a 70-yard TD run.
“Caleb has been great,” Hillcrest coach Morgan Weaver said of Treadwell. “His football IQ is extremely high. He thinks like a quarterback. He can spin it.
“He understands what we want to do in our scheme, which is hard to do. He’s picked it up.”
Irving had no doubt Treadwell would thrive at quarterback.
“We’ve been playing together since Little League,” Irving said. “He’s a great leader. He knows how to read the defense. He looks at the game a lot better as he’s gotten older.”
Treadwell wasn’t given the starting job. He had to outduel senior Robert Myles, who guided the offense as a junior as the Hawks advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Despite the fierce competition, the duo remain supportive of each other. That was evident Friday when Treadwell connected with Myles on a 7-yard TD pass.
Later on, Myles took a pitch from Treadwell and lofted a 26-yard TD pass to Na’zir Jones.
“Nothing was given to me,” Treadwell said. “I had to earn it. Robert is a great quarterback. It was a competition, but we had fun. Whichever way it went, it would have worked out. I would have moved to receiver.”
Myles handled the competition and position change with class.
“I trust my coach’s decision,” he said. “I’m willing to do what’s best for the team. I just wanted to play.”
At the next level, however, Myles plans to play quarterback. He will attend North Central College in the fall.
“I’m still preparing myself as a quarterback,” he said.
“But I’m prepared to play another position if it doesn’t work out at quarterback.”
At 6-4, Myles offers an intriguing target at receiver or tight end, but he’s also an imposing figure at quarterback.
Weaver confirmed it was a tough decision to name a starter at quarterback. But he feels the team and both players have benefited from the change.
“By moving Myles to receiver, it allowed us to be more versatile,” he said. “It’s allowed him to showcase his abilities for the next level. He can even play cornerback. He’s a really good athlete.
“The offense has been putting up a lot of points. All these guys want what’s best for the team.”
Tinley Park coach Josh O’Shea is confident the Titans (1-2, 0-2) will bounce back against Oak Lawn.
“Hillcrest is a powerhouse,” O’Shea said. “Our kids have practiced hard and played hard. We were overmatched, but our kids are resilient.
They’ll be ready next week.”