To say that senior running back Jayden Schlosser is almost unstoppable for Oak Lawn would be an understatement. He will go through a brick wall if it means an extra yard or a first down.
Facing the psychological and physical distress of a lower leg injury, Schlosser just kept plugging away for the Spartans, sounding like Patrick Swayze’s character from the movie “Road House.”
“Pain is nothing,” he said. “I knew the whole team was looking and the moment was called upon me. Ever since I stepped into high school my freshman year, I was built for this.
“And I knew I could do it.”
Schlosser definitely got the job done Friday night, rushing for 111 yards and scoring a touchdown to rally Oak Lawn to a 21-14 South Suburban Red victory in overtime over host Evergreen Park.
Junior quarterback Danny Strelow also rushed for 162 yards and scored two TDs for the Spartans (6-0, 4-0), who trailed 14-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Senior receiver Tyler Phelps caught a 40-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Brady Bruen and senior running back Cory Isaac Jr. added a 10-yard rushing TD for Evergreen Park (4-2, 2-2).
Schlosser, meanwhile, played through an ankle injury he suffered on a 29-yard run in the first quarter. Junior receiver Blake Hovanes wasn’t surprised at his teammate’s hearty effort.
“He’s one of the toughest guys on the team,” Hovanes said. “He always puts the team first. Unless he was going to die on the field, there was no way he was going to come out of the game.”
Strelow never had a doubt about Schlosser’s return, either.
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“He told me he was going to be on the field no matter what,” Strelow said. “I kept asking him and he said he was fine. I trusted him, gave him the ball and he scored.
“He just hits the hole so hard and he’s fast.”
Schlosser’s 7-yard TD run and 2-point conversion run with 8:03 remaining forced OT. Strelow then scored the winner on 3-yard TD run.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Schlosser is a prototypical fullback who powers between the tackles. A sprinter in track, he has impressive speed. The combination makes him an imposing presence.
“I feel that one thing defenses don’t count on is my speed and they don’t expect me to have these breakaway runs,” he said. “After the first time, they realize they have to play up to my standard.”
His style is predicated on delivering hits and never going down on first attempt.
“I love being the hammer and not the nail,” Schlosser said. “I always want to hit somebody and lead with my shoulder. I love contact.”
Schlosser didn’t play organized football until his freshman season.
“I wasn’t built for football,” he said. “I never hit the weight room. I was always tall for my age but not filled out. I never touched a weight until 2023. I put on muscle, lost fat and put on speed.”
Two years ago as a sophomore, Schlosser made his varsity debut as Oak Lawn went 0-9.
He took that personally.
“Hurt me mentally and physically,” Schlosser said. “I was on varsity, but I didn’t really know what that meant. I realized after that experience I wanted to change. I wanted to shock everyone.
“I wanted people to realize Oak Lawn football is changing for the better.”
Now, Schlosser throws the shot put and discus in track. He’s also fast enough to run the 100 and 200 meters. He throws off other runners when they see somebody his size lining up in the blocks.
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Confounding expectations is one of the joys for him. Off the field he tends to be quiet and inward. The closest relationship in his life is with his grandmother.
Discipline and toughness carry him through the day.
“I was able to walk and knew I was coming back,” he said. ”I have a heart for this game.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.