Conjure up images of Brian Grzelakowski and Pierre Thomas and they really should be in black-and-white because these two high school football players are throwbacks to a bygone era.
Certainly both running backs are blessed with some natural ability. And yet it was more unrelenting sacrifice and dedication that has elevated them to the pinnacle of their sport.
Little did Ed Grzelakowski dream that his football workouts with toddler Brian would one day lead to his son heading up the 2002 Tribune All-State Football Team along with Thomas.
“I was barely walking when my dad had me running around making diving catches as a toddler,” said Brian Grzelakowski, who helped lead Hinsdale Central to its first state semifinal by rushing for 2,356 yards and 27 touchdowns. “Instead of playing with toys, I’d want to go down to the basement and do our football drills.”
Little did the Pop Warner football coaches realize that this Grzelakowski kid had such a head start. As a 7th-grader, he was on the field only the minimum six plays each youngster must obtain.
“Then, in the third game, our kick returner got sick,” Grzelakowski said. “The coach couldn’t find anyone to replace him. I happened to be standing right next to him.
“`Go back there and just catch the ball,”‘ were Grzelakowski’s instructions. “I returned the kick 85 yards for a touchdown and began playing both ways.”
Grzelakowski, who carries a 5.12 grade-point average on a 5.0 scale and has a 29 ACT score, has recruiting visits set up for Illinois and Harvard next month. He also is considering Dartmouth, Brown, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Bowling Green.
Thomas, who ran for 2,373 yards and 38 touchdowns in leading Thornton Fractional South to its first state semifinal, pushed a friend’s four-door Chevy around as part of his off-season training regimen.
He also ran up and down a hill the size of a three-story building 20 times to strengthen his legs. Once he even tried carrying a book bag loaded down with 50 pounds of weights, but that put too much stress on his back.
That was in addition to his weight-training workouts at school and running the bleachers at the Rebels’ football stadium.
“Last summer was my most difficult off-season,” said Thomas, who has made an oral commitment to Illinois. “There were times when I got tired and didn’t feel like going through it. But I kept telling myself this is what it takes if I want to be a really good football player.”
He was a nightmare for opposing coaches. After Thomas scored on his second carry against Richards, Bulldogs coach Gary Korhonen said he wanted to pretend he was sick so he wouldn’t have to watch Thomas the rest of the game.
“I can’t remember in my 38 years of coaching a more dynamic figure than Pierre Thomas,” said Korhonen, who watched Thomas lead T.F. South to a 32-14 victory over his team in the Class 6A quarterfinals. “The only other guy I can compare him to is Quinn Buckner when he played for Thornridge in 1970 and ’71.”
Grzelakowski and Thomas have been breaking tackles the same way the All-State combo of Steve Walker and Spencer Jensen have been breaking the hearts of Lockport opponents with their late-game heroics.
Jensen made a touchdown-saving tackle of Corey McKeon and then watched Walker throw the winning TD pass to Joe Trubich on fourth down with 20 seconds left in the Porters’ 24-21 playoff upset of Naperville North.
Two weeks later Walker fired a game-winner to Jensen on fourth down with three seconds left in a 41-38 upset of Hinsdale Central in the 8A semifinals.
“I really respect Walker’s poise and accuracy,” said Grzelakowski, who joined second-team All-State QB Brad Bower in the secondary during Lockport’s final 96-yard drive. “He has the pocket presence of a college quarterback and beyond. His great awareness on the field and the way he handled our blitz caught us by surprise.”
The 6-foot-1-inch, 190-pound Walker passed for 3,710 yards and 33 touchdowns this season, while Jensen had 69 catches for 1,469 yards, 16 touchdowns and an average of 21.3 yards per catch. He also returned an interception 97 yards for a score against Downers Grove South.
“Steve is an absolutely incredible human being,” said Lockport coach Bret Kooi. “The character and poise he displays on the field is just as great off the field.
“Spencer just continues to amaze me. He has only been playing receiver for a little over one year. What he has done in that time is phenomenal.”
Imagine Walker setting up behind an offensive line featuring Martin O’Donnell (6-5, 300) of Downers Grove South, Mike Jones (6-5, 310) of Richards and Akim Millington (6-6, 310) of Wheaton North.
According to Joliet recruiting analysts Chris Pool and Tim O’Halloran, that trio composes the highest-rated linemen the Chicago area has produced in one season. Some national recruiting services have ranked O’Donnell as the top offensive lineman in the country.
No wonder Miami, Oklahoma and Nebraska are in hot pursuit, along with powers such as Notre Dame, Iowa, Michigan and Oregon. Earlier this month, Millington made an oral commitment to Oklahoma.
The All-State defense is led by lineman Lawrence Dampeer of Decatur MacArthur, defensive back Tommy Zbikowski of Buffalo Grove and junior linebacker Sam Carson of Downers Grove South.
Many scouts are convinced the 6-4, 292-pound Dampeer, who has the speed of a linebacker, will someday be playing on Sundays. Even when opponents ran away from him, Dampeer routinely would chase down running backs from behind.
Zbikowski is another throwback player who went both ways and also returned kicks and punts. As a quarterback, he accumulated 2,666 total yards and 34 total touchdowns while intercepting three passes as a defensive back. He has aspirations of a pro boxing career and hopes to compete for the 100-meter dash title at the state track meet.
Carson led the Mustangs in tackles, had five sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
TRIBUNE ALL-STATE TEAM
Offense
QUARTERBACK
Steve Walker, 6-1, 190, sr.
Lockport
Led the Porters to their first state championship game, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 3,786 yards and 33 TDs. Best assets are his uncanny accuracy and touch on deep passes. Drawing some interest from Northwestern, Eastern Illinois and North Central.
RUNNING BACKS
Kenni Burns, 6-1, 190, sr.
Sacred Heart-Griffin
Rushed for 2,464 yards and 36 TDs for the Springfield school with his 4.4-second speed. The Central State Eight player of the year is being recruited by Iowa, Penn State, Oregon, Missouri, Northern Illinois and Indiana.
Brian Grzelakowski, 5-11, 195, sr.
Hinsdale Central
The stellar student-athlete (5.12/5.0 GPA, 29 ACT) helped lead the Red Devils to their first state semifinal appearance, rushing for 2,356 yards and 27 TDs while piling up more than 2,600 all-purpose yards.
Pierre Thomas, 5-11, 190, sr.
Thornton Fractional South
Ability to break tackles and then break away from pursuit enabled the Illinois-bound star to rush for 2,373 yards and score 38 touchdowns. “You’ve got your heart in your mouth every time he carries the ball because he could score at any time,” said Richards coach Gary Korhonen.
RECEIVERS
Spencer Jensen, 6-0, 175, sr.
Lockport
With three seconds left and a berth in the 8A title game on the line, the Porters went to Jensen, who made the biggest TD catch in school history to beat Hinsdale Central 41-38. Jensen caught 68 passes for 1,443 yards and 16 TDs.
Derek Rademaker, 6-1, 175, sr.
Pekin
Set the state record for career receptions with 217, surpassing the 199 of ex-Kaneland All-Stater P.J. Fleck (1998), who is now at Nothern Illinois. Rademaker had 94 catches for 1,357 yards and 15 total TDs.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Ben Amundsen, 6-6, 290, sr.
Moline
The best player in Western Big Six and the most dominant Downstate lineman sealed off his side of the line all season. Illinois, Iowa are among colleges recruiting him.
Mike Jones, 6-5, 310, sr.
Richards
Rated among the top offensive linemen in the country, Jones has set up visits to Notre Dame, Iowa, Michigan and Tennessee and is also being heavily recruited by Miami, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Robbie Krutilla, 6-3, 285, sr.
Mt. Carmel
His blocking has enabled second-team All-Stater Greg Owens to rush for 1,562 yards and 14 TDs and QB Dan O’Brien to accumulate 1,217 total yards and 29 total TDs.
Akim Millington, 6-6, 310, sr.
Wheaton North
This nationally rated offensive tackle played a key role in the Falcons’ 12-1 season and their berth in the 8A semifinals. After considering scholarship offers from 15 colleges, including Iowa, Miami and Wisconsin, Millington made an oral commitment to Oklahoma on Nov. 3.
Martin O’Donnell, 6-5, 300, sr.
Downers Grove South
Several national recruiting services rated this two-time All-Stater as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country. A terrific student (4.2/4.0 GPA, 28 ACT), he is considering Illinois, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and Oregon.
PLACEKICKER
Shane Longest, 5-11, 165, jr.
Wilmington
After starting at quarterback on the freshman and sophomore teams, this former soccer player became a long-range weapon who helped lead the Wildcats to the 3A semifinals. Among his nine field goals in 13 tries, he kicked a 52-yarder against Manteno.
Defense
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Bob Giannini, 6-3, 215, sr.
Stevenson
Two-way standout led the defense with eight interceptions and was the third-leading tackler. At quarterback, Giannini passed for 1,715 yards and 18 TDs and rushed for 585 yards and six TDs.
Corey McKeon, 6-2, 210, sr.
Naperville North
Excelled in the secondary, as a linebacker, at running back and as a receiver. He’s being recruited as a defensive back, with Purdue, Wisconsin, Boston College, Nebraska and South Carolina as his top choices.
Mark Reiter, 6-2, 180, sr.
Providence
Straight-A student named the Catholic Metro Red’s defensive player of the year with five INTs and more than 70 tackles. He is the leader of a Celtics unit that has given up 52 points in 13 games.
Tommy Zbikowski, 6-1, 190, sr.
Buffalo Grove
Led the Bison to the 7A quarterfinals with 2,666 total yards and 34 TDs as a QB and had three INTs while playing defensive back full time. Has visits scheduled for Notre Dame, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona State and Boston College.
LINEBACKERS
Sam Carson, 6-1, 226, jr.
Downers Grove South
Heart and soul of a defense that gave up only 23 points during the regular season. Carson finished with 115 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
Sean Kenney, 5-10, 190, sr.
Stagg
SICA Gray’s defensive player of the year had more than 140 tackles in leading the Chargers to their first conference title in 31 years. He sparked a physical defense that helped enable Stagg to qualify for its first state semifinal game.
Zach Kettelkamp, 6-3, 228, sr.
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin
The Central State Eight defensive player of the year had 161 total tackles and four interceptions. On offense he gained 648 yards rushing and receiving and averaged 40 yards per attempt as a punter. Being recruited by Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana and Northern Illinois.
Chris Patterson, 6-4, 225, jr.
Hubbard
Rated the No. 1 player in the Public League, this three-year starter keyed the Greyhounds defense with more than 100 tackles, 12 sacks and three INTs. On offense, Patterson ran for more than 600 yards and scored nine total touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Lawrence Dampeer, 6-4, 292, sr.
Decatur MacArthur
Rated by recruiters as the top defensive player in the state, Dampeer had nine sacks as offenses routinely ran plays away from him. Has narrowed his choices to Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Illinois.
Steve Pilcher, 6-4, 230, sr.
Hinsdale Central
Defensive player of the year in the West Suburban Silver, Pilcher had 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries for 8A semifinalist. In his last two seasons, this athletic DE came away with 27 sacks.
Adam Wilk, 6-2, 255, sr.
Lake Zurich
Along with QB Miles Beatty, he was instrumental in leading the 11-2 Bears to their first appearance in the state semis and turning around a program that was 4-5 last season. He has received scholarship offers from Illinois, NIU, Ball State and Central Michigan.
PUNTER
Idris Amao, 6-1, 185, sr.
Rich Central
Provided field-position advantage with an average of 44.2 yards per attempt. Against 5A finalist Providence in a second-round playoff game, this all-conference soccer goalie as a junior who opted for football this year had punts of 70, 66, 50 and 50 yards.
–Bob Sakamoto
All-State football second team
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OFFENSE
POS NAME SCHOOL HT WT YR
QB Brad Bower Hinsdale Central 6-2 210 sr.
RB Clay Cleveland Providence 5-7 170 sr.
RB Greg Owens Mt. Carmel 5-10 215 sr.
RB Milan Woodard Edwardsville 5-11 185 sr.
WR Joey Coia Riverside-Brookfield 6-0 180 so.
WR Greg Turner Driscoll 6-0 180 jr.
OL Matt Biondi Geneseo Darnall 6-6 310 sr.
OL Joe Cerullo Providence 6-3 308 sr.
OL Steve Douglas Joliet Catholic 6-4 275 sr.
OL Mitch Krombach Carmel 6-3 270 sr.
OL Pat McGrath Hinsdale Central 6-4 290 sr.
PK Sean Collins Notre Dame 6-2 175 sr.
DEFENSE
POS NAME SCHOOL HT WT YR
DL Nick Cosmos Niles West 6-3 230 sr.
DL Chris Flores Wheaton W. South 6-3 265 sr.
DL Brian Griffin Hinsdale Central 6-1 210 sr.
DL Jay Ramshaw Champaign Centennial 6-4 235 sr.
LB Eric Andino Buffalo Grove 6-1 205 jr.
LB Reggie Anthony Edwardsville 6-2 215 sr.
LB Buck Casson Pontiac 6-2 215 sr.
DB Mike Cholipski Lincoln-Way East 5-10 175 sr.
DB Ross Crampton Joliet Catholic 6-2 212 sr.
DB Jake Cunningham Pontiac 5-11 175 sr.
DB Neil Sherlock Maine South 5-11 180 sr.
P Chris Miller Carmel 6-2 180 sr.
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Special mention
(in ranked order)
Quarterbacks
Jared Dall, Prospect; Zach Ullrich, Wheaton North; Billy Yeo, Rich South; Nick Stanton, Providence; Sean Lewis, Richards; Britt Davis, Riverside-Brookfield; Andre Brown, Bloomington; Benjy Kennedy, Morris; Dustin Powell, Lincoln-Way East; Joey Albin, Lake Park; Luke Drone, Mt. Carmel (Ill.); Matt Mahaney, Driscoll; Jered Shipley, South Beloit; Anthony Schreiber, Immaculate Conception.
Running backs
Al Bazile, Belleville Althoff; Dion Foster, Richards; Cinque Chapman, Morgan Park; Uhlon Rich, Belleville West; Greg Gerritsen, Lincoln-Way East; Leon Wiggins, Conant; Alex Francois, Lane Tech; Trent Steckle, Crystal Lake South; Dave Hochstetter, Lake Park.
Receivers/tight ends
Nick Iovino, Prospect; Jack Simmons, Carmel; Frank Lenti Jr., Mt. Carmel; Mike Dragosavich, Richards; Trey Koziol, Hinsdale Central; Dareon Spencer, Wheaton North; Terry Love, Proviso East; Eric Epps, Rich South; Kevin Howard, Bloom.
Offensive linemen
Drew Nystrom, Prairie Ridge; Charles Myles, Harper; David Pammer, Lincoln-Way East; Bart Miller, Elk Grove; Andrew Kernes, Bloomington; Greg Ford, Rock Island Alleman; Vince Natali, Maine South; Jared Lassa, Naperville North.
Defensive linemen
Otto Linwood, Lincoln-Way East; Josh Blazek, Downers South; Harrison Noffs, York; Justin Lowery, Edwardsville; Aaron Vogt, Pontiac; Devon Parks, Libertyville; Brandon Sing, Joliet Catholic; Kambium Buckner, Morgan Park; Justin Curran, Mt. Carmel; Richard Rylee, Metamora; Nick Koh, Clifton Central.
Linebackers
Marty Marino, Providence; Nathan Duprey, Carmel; Ryan Lincoln, Joliet Catholic; Chris Jeske, Joliet Catholic; Joe Mays, Hyde Park; Travis Cherry, Glenbard North; Joe Schifferdecker, Belleville Althoff; David Townsend, Hillcrest; Pat Brownson, Rochelle; Derek Hunsinger, El Paso; Jim Tranchitella, Driscoll.
Defensive backs
Orlando Lemus, Morris; Tristan Burge, Romeoville; Nate Hardwick, Wheaton North; Dave Mordis, Stagg; Dexter Reid, Carmel; Bryan Vavruska, Naperville North; Paul Salopek, Oswego; Josh Franklin, North Chicago; Donovan Moore, Richmond-Burton; Chris Dixon, Aledo.
Kickers/punters
Kris Coffee, Downers South; Daniel Martinez, Curie; Jason Reda, Rock Island.
— Bob Sakamoto
