A year ago, Cameron Leach was an eighth-grader recovering at his Plainfield home from a serious knee injury. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Leach couldn’t stop from smiling in the locker room after the Nazareth football team won its Class 5A state semifinal game.
While many of his teammates were part of last year’s Class 6A undefeated state championship season for the Roadrunners, Leach missed all that excitement. However, he has created his own memories this season as the only starting freshman for Nazareth. Leach and the rest of the Roadrunners are headed back to the state championship game after beating St. Laurence 34-0 in a snowstorm in Burbank.
Nazareth will play Lincoln-Way West (11-2) in the state championship at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in DeKalb.
“For my freshman year, I thought I would dress for the varsity (games),” Leach said. “Playing for the varsity is even better. It’s a dream come true.”
Leach and the Nazareth defensive line limited fifth-seeded St. Laurence (10-3) to minus-5 rushing yards in the first half as the seventh-seeded Roadrunners (11-2) led 21-0 at halftime. Vikings running back standout Fayezon Smart, who has gained over 2,000 yards rushing this season, was held to 16 yards on 15 carries on a day when both teams combined to attempt 14 passes in the snow.
Notre Dame-bound Julian Love powered the Roadrunners’ offensive with four touchdowns on runs of 99, 32, 27 and 75 yards. He rushed for 283 yards on 11 carries. Nazareth did not complete a pass in the game on four attempts.
In addition to Leach playing at tackle, Nazareth’s defensive line against the Vikings included juniors Devonte Dunn at left end and Christian Sampleton at tackle, and Lehigh-bound right end Matt Prendergast. Dunn is the only returning starter from last season’s defensive line.
The 6-foot, 240-pound Leach has the size to start on the varsity defensive line as a freshman, but he didn’t develop the awareness until the second half of the season. His first start came in a 33-0 victory over Benet on Oct. 2 in Week 6.
“It was homecoming week. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was nothing like junior ball,” Leach said.
Leach is the product of the Naperville Patriots, the same youth football program that has produced several of his Nazareth teammates. He tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee during a game last season and could not join the Patriots for its national championship victory in Florida to end the season.
Over the summer, he completed his rehab and said he used a series of sprinting drills to get his knee back into shape.
“Everybody’s good (in high school). That’s the biggest difference,” Leach said. “You have to listen more (to your coaches).”
With Leach becoming a starter, every class at Nazareth is represented on the field. The sophomore starters for the Roadrunners are center Gavin Smith and linebacker Wesley Lones. Nazareth coach Tim Racki said Leach’s normal position was linebacker, but when he told Leach he could see the field quicker as a lineman, Leach jumped at the opportunity.
“(Leach) has developed as the season went on,” Racki said. “That’s part of our culture. We’re ‘classless.’ The best player available (plays). Leach has earned that as he has practiced with us.”
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Racki said Leach has been a “sponge” during the season as he’s learned to play defensive line. The last freshman to start for Racki was senior running back Ivory Kelly-Martin, who had 70 yards on 13 carries against St. Laurence. According to Racki, Leach is the first freshman starting lineman he has had in his 11 years.
“(Leach) has worked hard. He wanted badly to become a varsity player,” Racki said.
Twitter: @geomwilcox