Crete-Monee senior Dominic Jackson confirmed that he’s willing to do anything to help his team.
So when Warriors coach John Konecki yells out “steamroller, steamroller” on the sidelines, it’s sweet music to the ears of the 5-foot-11, 250-pound defensive lineman/running back.
It’s a formation that means Jackson will be getting the ball in short-yardage situations.
“I like that with running, I can help the team and put points on the board,” Jackson said. “I can give the offense momentum and the team momentum in general. I like scoring too and hitting people.”
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Jackson did that and more Friday night, scoring three powerful touchdowns in the first half in helping to lead host Crete-Monee to a 44-0 nonconference victory over Hillcrest in Crete.
Jackson finished with 48 yards on eight carries and TD runs of 2, 19 and 3 yards for the Warriors (1-1). The 19-yard run was a nice surprise as he broke out of a scrum and chugged into the left side of the end zone.
“When we run Dom, we are hoping for 3 yards,” Konecki said. “Anything after that is a bonus.”
Crete-Monee took a 41-0 halftime lead as senior quarterback August LaBranche threw for 133 yards, including a 59-yard TD strike to Monte Calvin-Bowsky. Calvin-Bowsky caught six passes for 117 yards and set the tone with a 40-yard kickoff return to open the game.
While Calvin-Bowsky also contributed a fumble recovery, Isaiah Jordan added an interception and recovered on a fumbled kickoff. Keegan Quaderer recovered a blocked punt.
Jackson, meanwhile, started playing football in 2018 when he moved to the area from Indianapolis. In grade school, he weighed 160 pounds, but estimates he was between 200 and 220 pounds when he got into high school.
“There was a lot of working out and a lot of eating, too,” Jackson said. “I know I have to manage this weight. You can’t do anything if you can’t run with the weight.
“I know that when I gain the weight, I have to make it into muscle.”
Hillcrest (0-2), on the other hand, remained scoreless on the season after a 12-0 loss to Thornwood in Week 1. The Hawks mustered just 49 yards Friday, with senior running back Devan Watson accounting for 33 yards on six carries.
Jackson played a big part in that defensive effort. And Jordan admires Jackson’s strength.
“That’s my guy, man,” Jordan said of Jackson. “He’ll do anything to help the team.”
Heading into this season, the Warriors knew they needed to do some work on offense.
The graduation of star quarterback Derrin Couch and standout receiver Dorian Patterson, who’s now at New Mexico, meant the bulk of the offensive responsibility would go to Jeremiah Stonewall.
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But Stonewall, who received offers from Ole Miss, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and multiple Big Ten schools, left the program in July. The senior running back headed to Grayson, a national powerhouse from Georgia.
“That’s high school football,” Konecki said with a shurg. “You have to figure out a way to recreate the production every year.”
Jackson already has an offer from Bemidji State as a fullback along with some interest in having him possibly play on the defensive line. He qualified for state in wrestling in the winter. In the spring, he threw the discus and shot put in track.
“What I like to stress about him is that he’s a three-sport athlete,” Konecki said of Jackson. “When he got here, he was a decent football player, but by playing multiple sports, I think it made him a better football player.
“He’s kind of a dying breed by being a multisport athlete, but it’s helped him a lot.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.