It took a while for Tony James to get on the field for Kennedy, but the wait was worth it for him and the Crusaders.
The two-way junior standout made big plays on both sides of the ball on Oct. 15 as Kennedy punched its ticket to the IHSA playoffs with a 34-14 win against Lake View at Rockne Stadium.
It was a win-or-go-home game for both Public League White division teams. Kennedy (8-1) bounced back after suffering its first loss of the season a week earlier, 30-14 to Phoenix and finishing in a three-way tie for the White West title with Phoenix and Rauner.
Now the Crusaders are state playoff-bound for the third straight year and the fourth time in program history. Kennedy is the top seed in the north half of Class 6A and has an opening-round bye before hosting Champaign Central (5-4) or East Moline United (5-4) in the first round.
By then, James and his teammates will be well rested. He caught three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown against Lake View and also had an interception.
He’s just glad to finally be playing for the Crusaders. James spent time with the program the summer before his freshman year before moving to Michigan that season. He was back at Kennedy last year but wasn’t eligible to play because of transfer rules.
“It was tough, man,” James said. “… It hurts me. I’ve been playing football since I was a baby, man. It hurt my soul, not being able to play, not being able to get the ball.
“So being able to be out here this year and accomplish everything we’ve been able to do, do new things for this school has been amazing.”
James is one of a trio of talented receivers — Jacob Tunstill and Kavarion McCarter are the others — who have been targeted by junior quarterback Alex Hernandez. Throw in a talented running back in Victor Sandoval and it’s easy to see why the Crusaders are averaging 33 points per game.
Against Lake View, Hernandez was 5 of 10 passing for 131 yards and two TDs with one interception. He also ran four times for 31 yards and a score.
Sandoval had nine carries for 142 yards and a touchdown. Tunstill caught two passes for 30 yards and a TD as Kennedy opened a 34-0 lead after three quarters.
Kennedy coach Deandre Mosley isn’t surprised by James’ breakout season.
“Tony is — he’s not the heart because I’m not going to do that to my seniors,” Mosley said. “But he’s the next best thing to the heart of our program. A lot of kids know Tony from (before) his freshman year. The juniors, like Alex, they’ve been knowing him since grammar school.
“And again, Tony came back to Kennedy because he felt like it was home. And he just feeds off the energy. (His teammates) keep him motivated, they keep him focused.”
Back of the Yards 37, Marine 0: Alejandro Anguiano ran 10 times for 191 yards and four TDs for Back of the Yards (5-4). Israel Lopez also ran for a score.
Fenger 40, Gage Park 20: Kenneth Wright ran for 197 yards and two TDs, including an 85-yarder, for Gage Park (1-6). He also ran a kickoff back 75 yards for a score.
Goode 42, Curie 0: Aedan Cleveland ran nine times for a program-record 279 yards with touchdowns of 13, 63, 59, 67 and 42 yards as Goode (6-2) rolled by Curie (5-4).
Caron Williams added five carries for 61 yards and a TD for the Knights. Pacing the defense were Ryan Ogburn (sack, three solo tackles, assist), Dorrell Rios (three solos, four assists, interception), Daniel Pacheco (three solos, six assists), Trenell Clark (1.5 sacks, two solos, forced fumble) and Kayvion Campbell (sack, four solos).
Goode is the eighth seed in the north half of Class 6A and will host either Quincy (6-3) or TF South (3-6) in the first round of the playoffs.
Curie is the 31st seed in Class 8A and will host Oswego East (4-5) in the opening round.
Noble Street 44, Kelly 6: Deonta McGee had a touchdown catch for Kelly (1-6).
St. Viator 53, De La Salle 6: Prentice Coleman Jr. scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for host De La Salle (0-9, 0-3 Catholic League Red).
Solorio 14, Clemente 0: Donovan Villegas ran for a TD and freshman quarterback Robert Long-Smith threw a scoring pass to David Ortega on a flea flicker for Solorio (1-6).
Mike Walsh contributed to this story.