The Fenwick High School football team was widely regarded as the underdog in the IHSA Class 6A title game, Dec. 2, against East St. Louis. The Flyers, owner of 11 state titles, had outscored their in-state opponents 509 to 47 this season entering the contest. It was assumed the same bludgeoning awaited the Friars.
But Fenwick did not get the memo. In another classic example of why games are played on the field and not on paper, the Friars pulled off a major upset and defeated East St. Louis 38-28 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University. It’s the second state title in program history as Fenwick won the 2021 5A championship.
Fenwick (11-3) knew it needed to force East St. Louis into mistakes in order to have a chance, and the first big break of the night occurred early as Flyers’ QB Reece Shanklin (17-of-27, 158 yds, 2 INT), in punt formation, had the snap sail over his head. He recovered but was tackled by Topher Polston at his own 4-yard line, creating a turnover on downs.
The next play, Fenwick’s first from scrimmage, resulted in a score as Jake Thies (9 carries, 100 yds rushing; 3 catches, 61 yds receiving) went into the end zone. Noah Sur added the point-after for a 7-0 Fenwick lead just 90 seconds into the contest.
East St. Louis (10-4) responded with two scores later in the first quarter – a 1-yard run by Myson Johnson-Cook (26 carries, 181 yds, 2 TD) followed by a 55-yard dash by Amir Tillman – to take a 13-7 lead. It seemed like the Flyers were on the verge of taking control.
With the game nearing halftime, Fenwick needed a game-changing play, and Odin Ferjak delivered as he intercepted a Shanklin pass and returned it 43 yards to the Flyers’ 37. On the next play, Jamen Williams (8-of-14, 155 yds, 2TD, INT passing; 11 carries, 46 yds rushing) found Cameron Garrett open for a 37-yard touchdown that put the Friars back in front, 14-13.
The Fenwick football team huddles and listens to head coach Matt Battaglia (fourth from right in black cap) during the IHSA Class 6A title game against East St. Louis, Dec. 2. The Friars defeated the Flyers 38-28 to win their second state championship. (Dan Chamnes) 
Fenwick’s Noah Sur kicks a point-after during the IHSA Class 6A title game against East St. Louis, Dec. 2. Sur kicked a 31-yard field goal late to give the Friars the lead for good in a 38-28 victory. (Dan Chamness) 
Fenwick’s Aiden Williams (#26) attempts to shed the block of East St. Louis’s Armaad Sharp in pursuit of Reece Shanklin (#11) during the Class 6A football title game, Dec. 2. The Friars defeated the Flyers 38-28 to win their second state championship in program history. (Dan Chamness)
Fenwick started the third quarter strongly, going 80 yards in six plays to extend the lead to 21-13 as Williams connected with Raphiel Stewart for a 15-yard score. But East St. Louis went on a drive that lasted nearly 7 minutes – 80 yards on 15 plays – and was capped by a 4-yard score by Johnson-Cook. Then Shanklin hit Ronnie GoMiller (7 catches, 72 yards) for a game-tying two-point conversion with 1:43 left in the third.
However, just 18 seconds later, the Friars retook the lead as Jake Thies dashed 74 yards to the house. But the Flyers again responded with a lengthy scoring march that ended with Ahmad Coleman (11 carries, 105 yards) going in from nine yards out to tie the game at 28-28 with 9:13 remaining in regulation.
Fenwick needed a time-consuming drive to halt East St. Louis’ momentum. The Friars went 52 yards on 10 plays and took 6 ½ minutes off the clock. The drive stalled, but Sur came on for a 31-yard field goal and made it with 2:45 left for a 31-28 lead.
On the Flyers’ next scrimmage play, Jake Thies intercepted Shanklin and returned it 39 yards to the 3-yard line as Fenwick fans erupted in euphoria. Then Williams applied the proverbial dagger by going in for a 3-yard touchdown with 2:22 to play.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Jake Thies starred defensively, leading the Friars with 19 tackles. Mike Murphy (sack, 2 tackles for loss) and Tommy Thies each had 14 tackles, and Zikomo Mbewe had seven tackles (1.5 TFL).
Fenwick was outgained by ESL, 512-292, had fewer first downs (10 to the Flyers’s 26), and lost the time of possession battle, 30:33 to 17:27. But the Friars came up with big plays when they were needed and made fewer mistakes than the Flyers, which is why the number that matters most is the final score.
