While the Fenwick High School football team had a great start to the Class 6A state championship game Dec. 2, senior Connor Wahl didn’t. The starting center from Riverside was battling additional pain.

“I dislocated my finger in the first quarter and my back’s been hurting,” Wahl said.

Of course, Wahl stayed in the game — and he couldn’t have felt any better by the end. The Friars just surprised defending 6A state champion East St. Louis 38-28 at a frigid Illinois State University in Normal for the program’s second IHSA state championship.

“It’s surreal. It’s everything I imagined (winning state) would be,” Wahl said. “It’s like (beating Nazareth in the overtime semifinals) all over again but even better because this is what we play for. We made it.” 

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Seniors Luke Leone, Will Tomczak, Topher Polston and Diego Robles and freshman Jack Rooney, all from Riverside, and senior Odin Ferjak of Lyons also were part of the Friars’ success. 

Senior quarterback Jamen Williams scored on a group push with teammates with 2:22 remaining. Part of that pile, Wahl played with the dislocated finger and an adjoining one on his left hand taped together.

Fenwick football players Luke Leone (left), Connor Wahl, Will Tomczak, Odin Ferjak, Jack Rooney and Diego Robles, all from Riverside. Topher Polston is not pictured. (Bill Stone)

“Celebrating with my friends, my family, I’ll remember that with the rest of my teammates,” said Wahl before raising his injured hand. “It’s all taped up. It was going sideways. We’re all right. We’ll survive. We’re done.” 

The Friars eclipsed the euphoria of their 28-27 overtime semifinal victory at defending 5A champion Nazareth Academy. Starting defensive lineman Leone was injured during the Nazareth game but showed no signs in the title game, recording one solo tackle and two assists. Ferjak (4 solos, assist), Tomczak (solo, assist) and Polston (solo) also contributed tackles.  

“I’m doing great. I just won a state championship,” Leone said. “I don’t feel great (physically) but I feel great on the inside. I’m happy.”

Williams was 8-for-14 passing after an 0-for-3 start for 155 yards with TDs to seniors Cameron Garrett (37 yards) and Raphiel Stewart (15 yards). 

The Fenwick High School football team with the Class 6A championship trophy following a 38-28 victory over East St. Louis in the title game at Illinois State, Dec. 2. (Provided by Scott Thies)

Starting receiver Tomczak also had a 14-yard kickoff return. He had no receptions in the final but 45 receptions for 561 yards and 5 TDs for the season.

“We did as good as we could (defensively). They had some huge guys up front,” Leone said. “I had to go up against them but I’ve done it before.”  

Ferjak had one of the key plays on the Flyers’ second failed fourth-down second-quarter drive. 

Ferjak intercepted at the 20 and returned the ball 43 yards to the Flyers’ 37. Williams hit Garrett for a TD pass on the next play for the Friars’ halftime lead and another emotional swing they sustained.

Will Tomzcak (10) catching the ball during the Nazareth Academy game. (Ian McLeod)

“Tommy (Thies) was playing great defense. He tipped the ball so I was surprised (at the interception) and I was like, ‘Oh. I’ve got to run,’” Ferjak said. “I knew that our offense was going to respond fast, and they did. Just like that, we had insane momentum throughout the game.”

For most seniors, part of the emotion was that it was their last competitive football game, and their final one as a group. 

They received three additional days together when the area snowstorm Nov. 29 resulted in the 5A through 8A state championships being rescheduled, an unprecedented occurrence in the 51-year history of the IHSA state football finals.

“We always knew we could beat anyone in the whole state,” Ferjak said. “Our team is different than anyone else’s. We have compassion, love for each other. We work as a team. We knew coming into this game, of course, it’s going to be a dogfight, but, of course, we’re going to come out on top.”

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