Stagg junior Nathan Morales grew up playing sports, but football wasn’t one of them.
“I played a little bit of basketball, soccer, and a little bit of baseball,” he said. “But honestly, in baseball I was too fat. I would get hit with the baseballs, so I stopped playing that and then got into lifting in the seventh grade and took off from there.”
He credits Stagg coach Jake O’Connor for sticking with him.
“OC’s always been there for me, ever since I was a freshman,” Morales said. “He did not even know what I was capable of, but he’s always been hyping me up and congratulating me on victories.”
Morales’ first touchdown of the year was a reason to celebrate as Stagg defeated visitig Thornridge 31-13 on Sept. 25 to snap a four-game skid.
“I saw the gap and, immediate excitement,” Morales said. “I just ran through it and did my little celly which I probably shouldn’t have done.”
Morales celebrated with fake leg cramps, falling down, and some pushups.
Those cramps were very real for him in the past, but he’s avoided them this year.
“I really focused on lifting and my workouts, and started tracking my calories and I drink a gallon (of water) every day of the week so I don’t cramp,” Morales said. “I only cramped once so far this season.”
Cramps were an issue for Stagg (2-4) last season so the Chargers put more focus on hydration. O’Connor has players carrying around gallon jugs filled with water to drink throughout the school day.
“That was big for us,” O’Connor said. “Going back to last year, Week 1 against Romeoville, we had 11 starters go down with cramps.”
John Chowaniec, Stagg’s junior quarterback and Morales’ friend, completed 13 of 23 passes for 155 yards against Thornridge with touchdown passes to Jazen McHerron and Gavin Hines.
Morales and Chowaniec met before their freshman year and bonded for the first time at the Palos Hills Friendship Fest. Now, the duo spends time working out and having lunch together.
“I just love talking to the guy,” Chowaniec said. “He’s my brother.”
Junior Damani Morris had another big performance on the ground for Stagg, running 22 times for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Morales also had a big game on defense against Thornridge with a game-high nine tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks.
“I thank God I could get through it and He helped push me,” Morales said. “My family helps push me, especially my mom.”
Morales’ mom Joanna is one of the team moms.
“She comes to all the games,” he said. “She’s a team dinner mom and helps out all the time. I don’t even know how she does it — (it’s) honestly impressive to me.”
“You can tell he was raised well by his work ethic that was instilled in him as a kid,” O’Connor said. “He’s a kid that is the kind of kid you like to coach.”
The excitement for this season remains especially with the playoffs expanding by 50% to 384 teams. All three-win teams and some two-win teams are expected to qualify.
“We’ve got to take it one practice at a time. It’s almost like those four practices are four quarters,” O’Connor said. “Stacking those quarters together typically will give you a really good Friday night.”