Last season, Isaac Patton started at defensive back as a sophomore for Providence.
Patton found himself in plenty of pressure situations as the Celtics went all the way to the Class 5A state championship game before losing to Wheaton St. Francis. And he learned one big lesson.
“Have a short mind,” Patton said. “You can’t have a bad play and then carry it on with you for the rest of the game. If you get a pass caught on you, let it go. If you give up a touchdown, let it go.
“Keep moving throughout the whole game.”
Patton made a play Friday night, however, that he will definitely want to remember for a while.
His 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half sparked the host Celtics on their way to a 27-0 win over Joliet Catholic in a Catholic League crossover.
Western Illinois recruit Broden Mackert ran for 111 yards and a TD on 12 carries to pace Providence (3-0). Dominic Vita threw a 22-yard TD pass to Jaden Malone, while Brayden McKay returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score.
CJ Hill added an interception and John Fife contributed a sack as the Celtics held Joliet Catholic (1-2) to only 114 yards.
Da’Sani Smart ran for 51 yards on 15 carries for the Hilltoppers. Dylan Travis came through with an interception, while Caleb Smith and Parker Toole
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each had fumble recoveries.Down 14-0, JCA was trying to get back in the game just before halftime when Patton pulled down his interception at the Celtics’ 4-yard line and raced all the way across the field for the momentum-grabbing TD.
“It was the first pick six of my career,” Patton said. “I saw nothing but green turf in front of me and I saw all my teammates running up the sideline celebrating. I loved it.”
So did Fife, a senior linebacker who watched Patton grow up last fall in becoming a reliable playmaker
“He’s just a baller,” Fife said. “That pick six, that was hype. All the guys getting down there, celebrating. Changing momentum. It was huge.”
And so was the performance of the entire defense. Fife felt like the offense carried the Celtics a bit the first two weeks in a 28-21 win over St. Rita and a 39-24 victory over Kenwood.
“We stepped up on defense,” Fife said. “We haven’t been the best all season, but we showed it (Friday) and put up a zero. It’s the Holy War. We’ve got to stop them.”
Patton learned plenty about trying to stop people last season when he consistently went up against star senior receiver Xavier Coleman in practice. Coleman is now playing at Western Illinois.
“I talked to the seniors a lot last year and let them help teach me,” Patton said. “Xavier Coleman was one of the guys who I talked to all the time and he helped me so much.
“I always covered him in practice and that was so tough. He’s nice.”
Providence coach Tyler Plantz is seeing things start to get easier for Patton, who has always been a playmaker in the secondary.
“He’s just a big-time ballplayer,” Plantz said. “He’s a kid who last year had all the attributes of a great player but he was 14-15 years old. Now to have a year of experience under his belt, the game’s slowing down for him.”
It’s a game Patton has been playing for as long as he can remember.
“My dad (Joseph) got me into football,” Patton said. “He played at Joliet Central. He’s always teaching me things, always telling me to keep a short mind, always supporting me. I love him.”