For Joliet Catholic senior Anthony Birsa, there’s no better place to be than on the offensive line.
In his spot up front, the Northwestern recruit can make sure his presence is felt on every play.
“I like being able to hit people every play, no matter what,” Birsa said. “Finishing blocks is probably my favorite part of the game. Once your hand is on the ground, in your mind it’s like, ‘I’ve got to hit this guy across from me.’
“That’s all it is.”
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Birsa has been a tone-setter for the Hilltoppers this season.
After helping Joliet Catholic win the Class 4A state championship behind an explosive running game in 2021, he has been there to lead the way this year as the offense has been incorporating a bevy of newcomers.
“The kid next to Anthony, Cam Juricich, is a sophomore who had played eight football games in his life before this year,” Joliet Catholic coach Jake Jaworski said. “It’s helped a ton having Anthony next to him.
“Anthony’s brought confidence to that group of linemen. He’s a vocal leader and a leader by example. The kids on the line and our kids on offense kind of gravitate toward him.”
Birsa’s leadership skills were especially needed after the Hilltoppers lost 48-42 to Crete-Monee on Sept. 23, snapping a state-best 24-game winning streak.
Joliet Catholic (5-1) bounced back with a 49-28 win last week over St. Laurence.
“We started it off that Monday after the loss,” Birsa said. “Instead of people getting down, we got everybody up and ready to go for another big week.
“We kept that going for the rest of the week and got that win.”
When he’s not on the field with the Hilltoppers, Birsa has been spending a lot of time at his future home in Evanston.
“I’m super excited about going to Northwestern,” Birsa said. “It was an awesome opportunity. I couldn’t pass it up. I loved everything about it. I’ve been going to games all fall and it’s been awesome.”
Birsa also plays basketball for Joliet Catholic, which helps him with his footwork and movement.
Jaworski knows Birsa is not a stereotypical offensive lineman.
“He runs like a skill guy, the way he moves his feet,” Jaworski said. “It comes with playing basketball, battling in the paint and running the floor. He’s a very athletic kid for a big guy.
“I think if he was 10 or 15 pounds lighter, he could be a Division I tight end.”
Bouncing back: Coming off consecutive losses to Homewood-Flossmoor and Sandburg and with a difficult final third of the schedule looming, defending Class 8A state champion Lockport faced a virtual must-win situation Friday at Lincoln-Way West.
The Porters (4-2) delivered, holding off the Warriors 34-28.
Senior quarterback Brady Pfeiffer stepped up, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 110 yards and a TD.
“I had no doubt we were going to win,” Pfeiffer said. “We started slow, but we knew we just had to make a play. We said all week that we treated this as a playoff game.
“After the last two weeks, we got it done. It feels great.”
Lockport, which still needs another win to make the playoffs, has games remaining with Bolingbrook (4-2), Lincoln-Way East (6-0) and Andrew (4-2).
Five is fine: Bremen (5-1) became playoff eligible in resounding fashion, rolling to a 54-20 victory over Hillcrest (3-3).
Adan Gaytan threw three TD passes and Keshawn Lewis-Hunt ran for three TDs. Breyahn Townsend ran for 143 yards.
“It’s really a group effort on our offense,” Lewis-Hunt said. “We all do our part as running backs, and it wouldn’t happen without our offensive line paving the way for us.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
