Matt Kies was the embodiment of clutch last season for Lockport, making big plays time and again as the Porters went on a magical ride to the Class 8A semifinals.
Kies’ most impactful moment came when he batted down Homewood-Flossmoor’s potential game-winning 2-point conversion pass, enabling Lockport to hold on for a 21-20 second-round win.
Kies, now a senior defensive back, is using those memories to fuel that belief in his ability to come through when it matters the most. But he’s also taking nothing for granted.
“It’s a confidence booster, for sure, but the biggest thing for me is to stay levelheaded and stay even-keel,” Kies said. “You don’t want to get too high. When life looks like easy street, danger comes knocking on your door.”
Kies, twin brother Josh and Jake Manzo are all senior returning starters in the secondary who will look to keep Lockport out of danger.
The Porters (9-4) return five starters on offense and four on defense as senior lineman Cornell Bass, a Northern Illinois recruit, joins the defensive back trio.
Kies knows he has to step up with many new faces joining the lineup.
“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure or anything,” he said. “For me, being a leader is kind of a character trait. I’ve been playing sports my whole life. I know what the coaches expect of me and I know I’ll live up to that expectation.
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“We’ve got some young DBs coming in, and I want to be able to shape them for next year and just help out in any way I can.”
Kies took his shot at just about every sport out there as a young kid, competing in track, basketball, baseball and soccer. He took something away from each experience.
“It’s all definitely shaped me to be who I am today with help from all the coaches who have taught me different things,” he said.
Of course, Kies has also learned plenty along the way from his twin brother.
“It’s amazing playing with him,” Kies said. “Not a lot of people get to play side-by-side with their brother, especially in the same defensive back group. It’s something I won’t take for granted. I want to take it in, experience all of it, make the most of it.
“We do fight. We’re brothers. It happens. But I think all that emotion, we bring it out on the field and it helps a lot.”
Manzo has seen Matt and Josh have their battles, on and off the field, but he knows the sibling rivalry helps both.
“They get very competitive,” Manzo said. “They’re always butting heads, whether we’re at school or just hanging out or, especially in practice. They’re always trying to one-up each other.
“But they’re great. I’ve played with those guys since fifth grade. Knowing I have Matt on the other side of me and Josh over the top, it makes me feel a lot more comfortable.”
Lockport coach George Czart plans to lean on the Kies brothers, especially in guiding the younger players.
“They’re great leaders,” Czart said. “They’re vocal. They work hard in the weight room. Their actions back up their words. They compete in every rep in practice. It’s good.
“Who knows what they say in their bunk beds at night? They might say, ‘Hey, you didn’t have a good rep.’ But they’re always pushing each other.”
Josh Kies confirmed the twins plan to savor this potential final season playing together.
“We’re blessed to have a built-in best friend,” he said. “We’re competing all the time, helping each other getting better, always pushing each other.”
Quick hits
Team: Lockport.
2025 record: 9-4.
Offensive leaders: Philip Ponterio, senior, lineman; Griffin Russell, senior, quarterback; Khairi Sias, senior, receiver; Marcello Thomas, senior, lineman.
Defensive leaders: Cornell Bass, senior, lineman; Matt Kies, senior, defensive back; Josh Kies, senior, defensive back; Jake Manzo, senior, defensive back.
X-factor: Nick Ontiveros, senior, defensive lineman/offensive lineman/tight end.