At 5-foot-7, height isn’t something that Chicago Christian running back Kenny Jager has much of.
In terms of heart, however, the senior running back possesses that in abundant amounts.
Last Saturday afternoon, Jager carried 37 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights defeated host Farmington 34-20 to earn Chicago Christian’s first trip to the Class 2A state finals in school history.
“This means everything to our community,” Knights coach CJ Cesario said. “The most special part of this is seeing our alumni and community from 10, 20 and 30 years ago light up and people telling me how special this is.
“These people will be there to see us compete for a state championship. This has been so very special.”
Chicago Christian (12-1) will take on Maroa-Forsyth (12-1) in the Class 2A state championship game Friday at 1 pm at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium in Normal. In 14 prior postseasons, the Knights had gotten as far as the state quarterfinals just once (in 2007).
“It’s awesome,” Jager said. “My friends and I have been looking forward to this moment since we started playing football together four years ago.
“It’s cool that we won, but it won’t sink in until we pull up to Hancock Stadium on Friday. It just doesn’t feel real especially with all the history that we’re making. It’s pretty cool to be part of history, but the best part is seeing all the alumni behind us. It’s insane to see all the people supporting us and watching us play. It’s so great to hear them say they’re behind us and they believe in us.”
Jager opened the scoring at 7:37 of the first quarter with a 2-yard TD run, giving the Knights a 7-0 lead.
“Kenny’s tough as nails,” Knights quarterback Christian Flutman said. “I love our O-line, but Kenny is the hardest runner I’ve ever seen. He’ll lay his shoulder into you and when you match that up with his crazy speed, you have the perfect running back.”
Two scoring runs of 1 and 4 yards, respectively, by quarterback Lane Wheelwright provided the Farmers (12-1) with a 12-7 advantage in the second quarter.
Jager put the Knights back in front at 13-12 as he scored on a 25-yard run with exactly one minute remaining in the first half.
“I like running the ball a lot,” Jager said. “Especially behind our offensive linemen. They do a great job of making me look good and I just have to find the holes.
“They block at the first and second levels and let me do my stuff.”
With 3:58 to play in the third quarter, Chicago Christian increased its lead to 19-12 as Flutman (8 of 15 passing, 65 yards) found Ed VanDellen (three receptions, 42 yards) on a 9-yard TD pass.
The Knights’ advantage grew to 26-12 at 9:43 of the fourth quarter as Jager provided his third rushing TD of the game, this time from 2 yards away.
A 31-yard TD strike from Wheelwright to Carter Lambin and subsequent 2-point conversion run by Wheelwright at 7:29 narrowed the Farmington deficit to 26-20.
Flutman sealed the victory for Chicago Christian with a 27-yard scoring run with 4:01 to play. His 2-point pass to VanDellen made it 34-20.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Flutman said. “We want to make a legacy and have something that we can pass down. Going downstate with my brothers, there’s no better feeling.
“When I sat down to think about it, it’s crazy to think about it. We had a three-hour bus ride home and I’m still shocked. We feel like the whole community has our backs and to see the excitement on their faces, it’s like we’re doing this for them and it feels great.
“Both my parents went here (to Chicago Christian) and my family is super into it. I have my whole family at our games and I love it.”