Joliet Catholic vs. St. Laurence
Joliet Memorial Stadium
7:30 p.m. Kickoff
Freshman Game vs. St. Laurence 5 p.m. Kickoff

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Homecoming 2021 features top-ranked Hilltoppers versus St. Laurence

Joliet Catholic Academy will celebrate Homecoming 2021 on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Joliet Memorial Stadium. We welcome back all of the Hilltoppers/Angels alumni, that will be attending the festivities. 

The Homecoming game will feature our No.1-ranked Hilltoppers, against CCL-ESCC Orange member, the St. Laurence Vikings, from Burbank, Illinois. This past spring, the 2020 Hilltoppers blasted the Vikings 49-0, in Burbank on March 19, 2021, in the Hilltoppers spring-opener. 

On Friday night, the Hilltoppers (5-0, 1-0) and the Vikings (3-2, 1-0), will battle for sole possession of first-place, in the CCL-ESCC Orange standings. 

The Hilltoppers blasted archrival CCL-ESCC Orange foe, Providence (3-2, 0-1) 42-0, while St. Laurence went on the road and defeated the Montini Broncos 21-13, in Lombard on September 17, in their CCL-ESCC Orange opener. 

Once again in this week’s Associated Press’ State Football Rankings, the Hilltoppers garnered all 12 of the AP writers first-place votes and sit atop the Illinois Class 4A state rankings. 

The Vikings are led by their three-year starting quarterback, senior Brandon McCoy. McCoy possesses 4.5 speed in the forty and is a dangerous ball carrier. McCoy, also has a strong arm to throw the ball to the talented, Viking receiving corp. 

The Vikings offense also has depth at the running back spot, led by senior Matt Ochoa and sophomore Corey Taubor. 

The Vikings defense is led by senior linebacker Matt Szpara and senior defensive back Mike Gentile. 

Never fear. “The Hogs” and Vinny are here. 

Running behind the 1,495 pounds of the Hilltoppers massive offensive line aka “The Hogs”, senior running back Vinny Iannantone has emerged as one of the top backs in Illinois.

Running behind senior Josh Jones and the rest of “The Hogs”, Iannantone has rushed for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. Iannantone ran over and around state-ranked Crete-Monee, for 203 yards and three touchdowns last Friday. 

Voss to Fieldman

Hilltopper three-year starter at quarterback, senior Aidan Voss, has completed 21 of his 44 passes this year, for 424 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Voss’ favorite target, senior wide-receiver Jake Fieldman, has hauled in 11 of Voss’ tosses for 262 yards and six touchdowns. 

Senior fullback Ryan Louthan, who ran for 40 yards in just four carries against Crete Monee, has rushed for 141 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Louthan has caught three of Voss’ passes for 35 yards and a TD. 

The vaunted Hilltopper “D”

The Hilltoppers defense, facing the elusive Warriors of Crete-Monee last Friday, were led by senior defensive back, Tajhaun McClellan and All-State DB Malachi Hood. McClellan took a Crete-Monee fumble 57 yards to “the house” for six and Hood came up with a huge interception. 

 All-State linebackers, Mike Rouse and Robby Purchase III, were all over the field and got a huge assist from junior defensive end, Jeremy Johnson. 

The battle-lines are drawn for this first-place showdown in the CCL-ESCC Orange.

I would imagine the visitors from Burbank, have not forgotten the beating they took from the Hilltoppers, in the spring. They will certainly be out to avenge that humiliating defeat. 

Another beautiful fall Friday night is forecasted, to welcome all of our distinguished alumni, as they “come home” to “The City of Champions”

Drake Skleba for Joliet Catholic Academy