CHAMPAIGN — JP Schmidt has been around the IC Catholic program his entire life. He watched the Knights win four state titles from the sideline or the crowd.
On Friday afternoon, the son of IC Catholic assistant Bill Schmidt was in uniform to help bring home another championship trophy.
“It means so much to me,” JP Schmidt said. “I grew up around this program my whole life. In (2008), I was on the field with my dad when he won that state title. I was there for the three-peat (2016-18). I was at every game.”
JP Schmidt, a junior receiver/linebacker, had two interceptions, a team-high 16 tackles and a 74-yard touchdown catch as the Knights overcame an early 10-point deficit and rolled to a 48-17 win against Williamsville in the Class 3A state championship game at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium.
“It’s kind of a surreal feeling to actually be on the field and be a part of it and to contribute the way I did,” he said. “It’s really emotional, and it’s an awesome feeling.”
Denzell Gibson ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries, Dennis Mandala completed 10 of 17 passes for 200 yards and four TDs and KJ Parker had four catches for 86 yards and two TDs for IC Catholic (13-1), which won the program’s sixth state title.
“It feels great to be around these guys after what they just accomplished,” IC Catholic coach Bill Krefft said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these kids and what they’ve done.”
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Williamsville (12-2) led 10-0 early in the second quarter as the Knights struggled to ignite their powerful offense early. But JP Schmidt made sure to keep his team close with pair of first-half interceptions.
“It was important because we know how explosive our offense is and we knew it was just a matter of time before the offense got going,” he said. “On defense, it’s our job to make plays and get the ball in the offense’s hands.”
Krefft was impressed with JP Schmidt’s ability to make big plays to get his team on track.
“Those two plays were pretty incredible,” Krefft said. “You’ve got an outside linebacker dropping back to the seam, breaking on the football, undercutting it and picking it off. Those were big changes in the football game.”
The Knights rebounded to take a 13-10 halftime lead and then pulled away with 28 third-quarter points. JP Schmidt capped the third-quarter surge with a 74-yard TD catch.
Bill Schmidt was IC Catholic’s coach from 2005 to 2008, winning the Class 2A title in his final year before moving to an assistant’s role. JP Schmidt also has several uncles who played for the Knights.
“It’s a true legacy here, and I’m just happy to be the next line of it,” JP Schmidt said. “Being a coach’s son, you can imagine how hard he is on me all the time. But at the end of the day, it really molded me into the man I am today.
“I’m just happy I got to follow in my dad’s footsteps and all my uncles’ footsteps because they were all really great examples for me.”
IC Catholic’s win was something JP Schmidt had imagined happening for as long as he can remember.
“My whole life, this is what I’ve worked for — to be in this jersey, out on this field in a state championship game,” he said. “This was my dream, really before anything else. This was what I wanted to do. I’d always tell my dad.
“After the last game, knowing I was going to be here, it was a really emotional moment for me and my family. They’d tell me all the time how much they wanted it for me, and they knew how badly I wanted it.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.