Fourteen months after a serious injury derailed his junior season and changed his plans entirely, Thornwood’s Jayden Lester is enjoying his new school, his new teammates and a long-awaited opportunity.
Lester was in a competition for the starting quarterback job at Homewood-Flossmoor last summer when he suffered a torn hamstring. A long rehab followed and Lester eventually decided to transfer to Thornwood for his senior year.
“After the injury, it was tough to stay consistent,” Lester said. “I had to do a lot of physical therapy and I had to get comfortable knowing my role was going to be as a backup when I got back.
“It took a toll on me mentally. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to be where I am now.”
Where he is now is leading the Thunderbirds into the playoffs. Lester threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jamar Spencer and ran for a 2-yard TD, lifting Thornwood to an 18-7 Southland Conference win Saturday over host Bloom in Chicago Heights.
Lester completed 11 of 18 passes for 121 yards. Reggie Bailey led a dominant defensive effort for the Thunderbirds (4-4, 3-2) with three tackles for loss.
With Bloom down 12-7 and attempting to rally in the final seconds, Lakobe Grissett
More Top Picks Best Amazon Prime Day Hp Laptop Deals 2026
came up with an interception and returned it 92 yards for a victory-sealing TD on the final play of the game.“My coaches had been yelling at me all game, ‘Get back, get back, get back,’” Grissett said. “That’s what I did. I got into my backpedal, watching the quarterback, saw the ball and got to it.
“I give credit to my teammates for blocking and I was able to weave my way all the way for the touchdown.”
Brian Ellis scored on a 1-yard TD run for Bloom (3-5, 1-4). Kelonnie Owens had a sack and three tackles for loss.
Lester, meanwhile, led Thornwood on a 14-play, 65-yard drive on the first possession of the game and capped things off with a 2-yard TD run to set the tone.
“It was a big thing for me to start like that,” Lester said. “I just trusted my playmakers, trusted my feet, went through my progressions and things worked out.”
Speaking of things working out, Lester could not be happier with his new home at Thornwood.
“It’s a great environment,” Lester said. “It’s a bigger brotherhood over here and I feel genuine love here. I’m just blessed to be here with this team. I’m very grateful.
“It’s a big opportunity for me to finally get this chance to be the starting quarterback and try to accomplish some goals with this team.”
Grissett pointed out it was easy for the Thunderbirds to embrace Lester.
“I love this guy,” Grissett said. “He’s new here, but he clicked with us pretty quickly. He fit right in. It’s like he’s supposed to be here. He’s been a good big brother to me. I look up to him.”
Lester was sacked four times Saturday as Bloom wreaked some havoc defensively, but Thornwood coach Tramaine Weaver was impressed with how his quarterback kept responding.
“Jayden is an awesome kid,” Weaver said. “He’s just a resilient kid. There was a lot of pressure on him (Saturday), things weren’t going our way, and he just hung in there and kept going.”
It’s what Lester has been doing for over a decade now as a quarterback.
“When I first started football, I played receiver for one year and then switched to quarterback at 7 years old,” Lester said. “I feel like at quarterback, I can be myself. I can control the game. I can influence my teammates.
“Playing quarterback is just me. I’d never see myself at a different position.”