The sweet taste of victory! East St. Louis romps to 10th state football championship

Garen Vartanian
·5 min read

The number 10 sure has a nice ring to it.

Just ask the East St. Louis Flyers football team.

The Flyers secured the 10th state football title in program history by virtue of a 57-7 win against Prairie Ridge in the IHSA Class 6A championship game Saturday at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign.

The Flyers, seeded No. 6, finished their outstanding campaign at 12-2 and on an 11-game winning streak.

“It’s a great feeling,” said East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett, who captured his third state title with the Flyers. “We set this goal last year when we lost in the state championship (to Cary-Grove). We had great leadership and these guys knew how to get back here.”

The Wolves, the No. 2 seed, wrapped up at 12-2 while seeing their nine-game winning streak snapped. Needless to say, the Flyers impressed Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp. East St. Louis also defeated Prairie Ridge 43-21 in the 2019 title game.

“Today, talent-wise, we met our match,” he said. “You can’t match up with that talent. When you’ve got Division I talent up and down the lineup — and we don’t have any D-I players — to be able to match up is tough for anybody. We were out-athleted today, that’s for sure.”

Putting the clamps on Prairie Ridge’s triple option attack fueled the Flyers victory. Senior quarterback Tyler Vasey entered the game with an IHSA record 3,776 yards and 58 touchdowns on 317 carries this fall. However, after the opening drive, East St. Louis did a strong job containing Vasey and the entire Prairie Ridge offense.

Having seen the triple option in last year’s 37-36 title game loss to Cary-Grove aided East St. Louis on Saturday.

“Our defense still felt bad from last year,” Sunkett said. “Each headline we read was about if we could stop the triple option, so we felt we had something to prove. These guys stepped up this year. We have great defensive coaches. Hats off to all those guys.

“We have a great deal of respect for (Vasey). We had all 11 guys keying on him.”

East St. Louis’ offense also was virtually unstoppable, amassing 569 yards to go with the 57 points. More specifically, the Flyers averaged a whopping 13.9 yards per play, compared to just 3.5 for the Wolves.

Junior quarterback Robert Battle anchored the attack, completing 10-of-12 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns and was named the player of the game. Sophomore TaRyan Martin, meanwhile, rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries and credited the offensive line for his performance.

“The five guys in front of me work hard every day,” he said. “I just kept my eyes open and was patient.”

Prairie Ridge struck first Saturday on Vasey’s 14-yard touchdown run with 7:13 left in the first quarter. Senior Brogan Amherdt made the extra point. Vasey’s 20-yard pass to freshman Luke Vandewell on 4th and 6 keyed the drive.

The Flyers only two minutes to respond, as Martin scampered 34 yards for a touchdown. Battle connected with senior Antwon Hayden for the two-point conversion and an 8-7 lead.

Martin’s second touchdown run — this time from 6 yards out — upped East St. Louis’ margin to 14-7 early in the second quarter. Junior Rico Bond made the extra point. Battle’s 16-yard run on 3rd and 15 helped extend the drive.

After getting a stop, the Flyers then embarked on a 95-yard drive that chewed up most of the second quarter. Martin capped the march with a 6-yard touchdown run and, following another PAT from Bond, the Flyers were in charge 22-7 just 3:39 before halftime.

Sophomore Sael Reyes’ interception near the end zone helped East St. Louis end the half with the 22-7 margin.

East St. Louis pulls away

The Flyers then secured victory for all intents in purpose on the first drive of the second half as Battle connected with junior Jesse Watson on a 27-yard scoring strike and Bond added the point after for a 29-7 bulge with 8:43 left.

Battle’s nifty 26-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the third quarter, followed by Bond’s PAT, swelled the lead to 36-7. Sophomore Christopher Bennett’s 12-yard rushing score made it 42-7 with 2:10 remaining in the period and Bond’s PAT made the score 43-7.

Battle then hooked up with Bond for a 41-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left in the quarter for a 49-7 lead. Bond added another point after. That kicked off the mercy rule running clock the rest of the game.

Hayden’s 69-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter extended the lead to 56-7. Bond nailed his sixth extra point.

Flyers cherishing state crown

All in all, with title No. 10 in the books, Sunkett could not have been happier.

“It’s big,” he said. “You saw our crowd out there. We’re a football town. This is what we live for.”

Added offensive lineman Miles McVay, a University of Alabama commit, “It felt amazing. We let the city down last year. It just wasn’t going to happen again.”

East St. Louis’ Brandon Henderson and Miles McVay raise the championship trophy after a 57-7 victory against Prairie Ridge in the IHSA Class 6A state championship game Saturday at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign. The Flyers captured their 10th state title while finishing the season with 11-straight wins and a 12-2 record.
East St. Louis wide receiver Jesse Watson heads into the end zone during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign. Watson and the Flyers rolled to a 57-7 victory, securing the program’s 10th state championship.
East St. Louis wide receiver Jesse Watson heads into the end zone during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign. Watson and the Flyers rolled to a 57-7 victory, securing the program’s 10th state championship.
East St. Louis offensive lineman as seen on the sideline during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis offensive lineman as seen on the sideline during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
The East St. Louis High School football team takes to the field Saturday for the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.
The East St. Louis High School football team takes to the field Saturday for the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.
East St. Louis High School coach Darren Sunkett watches his football team warm up Saturday prior to the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.
East St. Louis High School coach Darren Sunkett watches his football team warm up Saturday prior to the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.
East St. Louis quarterback Robert Battle looks downfield for an open receiver during the IHSA Class 6A championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis quarterback Robert Battle looks downfield for an open receiver during the IHSA Class 6A championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis running back TaRyan Martin carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis running back TaRyan Martin carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis linebacker Bryce Harrison celebrates after sacking the Prairie Ridge quarterback during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis linebacker Bryce Harrison celebrates after sacking the Prairie Ridge quarterback during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis quarterback Robert Battle carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis quarterback Robert Battle carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Brandon Henderson eyes up a Prairie Ridge defender during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Brandon Henderson eyes up a Prairie Ridge defender during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis running back TaRyan Martin carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis running back TaRyan Martin carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Terran Scarborough levels a Prairie Ridge defender during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Terran Scarborough levels a Prairie Ridge defender during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Paris Patterson Jr. leads the way for TaRyan Martin during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis offensive lineman Paris Patterson Jr. leads the way for TaRyan Martin during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis wide receiver Christopher Bennett Jr. carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.
East St. Louis wide receiver Christopher Bennett Jr. carries the ball during the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Prairie Ridge.