JCA Celebrates State Football Champs - Flag Football, That Is

In hindsight, Joliet Catholic Academy defensive coordinator Jared Voss recalled the Hilltoppers’ 18-13 comeback victory over Oak Park-River Forest as the turning point in their state championship season.

“I think we set the tone in that first game of the playoffs,” Voss said. “We were down by two scores at halftime, and since the second half of that game, we were on a roll and nothing was going to stop us.”

While the JCA football team gets ready to kick off for the Class 5A state championship Saturday against Montini, the Hillmen have been celebrating a different kind of football state title – flag football.

Tony Giese, Voss’ assistant during the varsity baseball season in the spring, served as JCA’s head coach. Voss called Giese “the Mike Martz of flag football,” referring to the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator.

And, ironically enough, the 34-team flag football league for high schools in the Chicagoland area that offer flag football as an intramural sport is sponsored by the NFL Bears. Teams like JCA compete in league play for seven weeks prior to the kickoff of the five-game state tournament.

The 2011 semifinals and championship games were held at the Walter Payton Center at the Bears’ facility in Lake Forest on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Payton Center is commonly referred to as Halas Hall.

As the state champs, the JCA coaches and players were guest of the Bears’ game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Nov. 13 and were honored during an on-field presentation at halftime.

“Being able to play at Halas Hall and the anticipation of getting to go to a Bears game as guests was, no doubt, something great for the kids,” Voss said. “They picked the best game of the year for us to see.”

After a first-round forfeit win over Bishop McNamara, JCA followed the aforementioned 18-13 win over Oak Park-River Forest with a 30-16 decision over Waubonsie Valley, a 49-22 win over Providence-St. Mel and a convincing 24-8 victory over Lake Forest in the championship game.

Voss credited the play of quarterback Nate Searing, offensive and defensive lineman Chris Blatti and defensive back Nolan Hucek, who highlighted the title game by intercepting three passes.

“Nate, being our quarterback, did a great job,” Voss said. “I thought Blatti anchored both the offensive and defensive lines and Hucek had a terrific championship game. But they all contributed to the win.”

JCA’s flag football team included Joliet natives Blatti, Hucek, Searing, John Chignoli, Kevin Duchene, Andrew Gudac, Mike McGrath, Zach Melone, A.J. Naal, Jon Nonnie, Adrian Nunez and Brett Wilson,  Tyler Berlin of Plainfield and Chris Jagodzinski of Channahon. Like Voss, they are veterans of the sport.

“From fourth through eighth grade, all we did was play CYO flag football,” said Voss, a Lockport-St. Dennis product. “There’s more tackle now, but most of our guys played flag football in grade school.”