4 L’s — but a title
Joliet Catholic storms back after starting season slowly
CHAMPAIGN — Keenan Hailey was honest.
The Joliet Catholic running back didn’t know how the season would play out.
Not after the Hilltoppers lost a key offensive player to a season-ending injury in Week 1.
Not after they faced a halftime deficit in a must-win game in Week 9.
And especially not after Hailey — who had more than 2,500 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns heading into Saturday's Class 5A state final against Montini — went down with an ankle injury.
But Hailey returned to run for his second touchdown of the game and Nick Iannantone carried 40 times for 318 yards and three TDs as Joliet Catholic beat Montini 35-27 at Memorial Stadium for its 14th state title and first under coach Jake Jaworski.
“I had no idea,” Hailey said of whether he would return after coming out of the locker room at halftime on crutches. “I knew it was a close game. I knew we needed momentum. I felt I needed to be out there.”
It capped a remarkable rebound for the Hilltoppers (9-4).
They lost running back Kenyetta Williams in Week 1. Then they needed to come from behind to beat Notre Dame in the regular-season finale to squeak into the playoffs at 5-4.
“I had no idea where we would end up,” Hailey said.
“I had no idea we would win state. But everybody came through and did what they were supposed to do.”
Indeed. Offensive linemen Colin Cox, Dave Monnot, Ryan Laule, Ty O’Janovac and Connor Kovas paved the way for the Hilltoppers to run for 461 yards on 66 carries.
And Iannantone took on a heavier than usual workload.
“When (Hailey) went down, Coach said, ‘Stay with me, keep grinding.’ ”
The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder did just that, rallying the Hilltoppers from a 21-7 deficit. His touchdown runs of 3 and 9 yards pulled Joliet Catholic into a 21-21 tie in the third.
After Illinois recruit Nick Fedanzo (17 carries, 186 yards) ran 20 yards for his third TD to put Montini up 27-21, Iannantone went 18 yards to put Joliet Catholic up 28-27 with 7 minutes, 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Hailey scored from 30 yards out with 1:33 left to make it 35-27, and the hopes for Montini (12-2) ended when Hilltoppers lineman Andrew Gorski picked off Robert Brazziel’s desperation pass on the last play of the game.