Junior linebacker Vito Pickard Jr. was ready to make a statement for Homewood-Flossmoor.
But it wasn’t just about the Vikings and their team. The deeply personal message also concerned coach Troy McAllister, who was facing off Friday night against his former team in Sandburg.
“I knew this game was important for our coach because he was going up against his old school,” Pickard said with a nod. “I told everyone on the team that I was going to set the tone.
“And make sure that we stay on point.”
Pickard definitely made his point for host H-F, coming through with five tackles and scoring a touchdown on a fumble return in a 35-13 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over the Eagles.
Senior quarterback Rahsaan Coleman connected on a 64-yard TD pass to junior receiver John Gadson to spark the Vikings (3-1, 1-1), who bounced back from a 38-7 loss to Lincoln-Way East.
Senior quarterback Sean Ruisz threw a 20-yard TD pass to Northern Illinois-bound senior tight end Lucas Matykiewicz in leading the Eagles (3-1, 0-1).
Senior linebacker Cameron Wilkerson broke the game open with a 19-yard fumble return TD.
“When I saw Vito score, I said I also had to get one,” Wilkerson said. “Vito really changed the momentum. He’s very coachable, fast, and he knows how to tackle. He’s got a very high IQ.”
Pickard, meanwhile, was the disruptive force.
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“Vito is a wonderful football player with a lot of athletic ability,” said McAllister, directed Sandburg to the state playoffs three times in four years. “Obviously, when you’re playing against Sean Ruisz, you’re going up against one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the state.”
Still, H-F sacked Ruisz five times, forced four turnovers and scored twice on fumble returns.
“Vito embraced the challenge,” McAllister said. “He accepted the coaching and understood the assignment of what he was supposed to be doing.”
Pickard wears No. 25, more common for a running back than a speedy, electric linebacker.
“I did play running back when I was younger,” he said.
Late in the first quarter, Pickard flashed open-field ability by scooping up the loose ball and returning it 34 yards for his first career TD.
“My style is very fast,” he said. “I saw the ball, said it was mine and I was going to score. Coming off a loss last week, I thought it was really important to show a lot of leadership.
“I wanted to keep everybody’s heads up.”
It has been quite a journey for Pickard, who played his freshman season in Hammond, Indiana. He had to adapt quickly to playing in a different state and for a new program.
His arrival coincided with McAllister. A second-year starter, Pickard is more comfortable now.
“It was hard at first, but I worked really hard in the offseason,” he said. “My father put me in the game at a young age, and I think what I’ve always loved about the game is how it releases stress.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound Pickard is a hybrid player, too. He’s more like a natural safety who uses his speed and quickness to chase down the quarterback or cover receivers in space.
A sprinter in track, he knows the importance of moving quickly.
“One thing I’ve noticed since coming here is the atmosphere,” Pickard said. “You have the band, the audience, and I love showing out for them. I love to hit and create havoc every time.”
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Quiet by temperament, he transforms into a different player in the course of a game.
“People say I’m a quiet guy, but I get pretty loud on the field,” Pickard said, “(Friday night), you saw how I am. I got the team very high with hope and made everyone want to be better.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.