Crete-Monee coach Jerry Verde has used LaQuon Treadwell as a quarterback in goal-line situations, as he did Saturday in the Warriors' 35-32 Class 6A playoff victory over Peoria Richwoods.
What was relatively new, however, was the frequency with which Treadwell carried the ball from the slot position against the Knights. Treadwell was the Warriors' primary ball carrier Saturday, rushing eight times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.
"We just felt with what they were running defensively, it would end up being a one-on-one situation with him, and that is what it was," Verde said. "They were playing a cover top with man the whole day, so we knew if he beat one man, and he runs."
Treadwell's longest rush of the day was a 14-yard effort during the team's winning drive, culminated when he took a snap from center and snuck in from one yard out. He also had a 7-yard run on that make-or-break drive that set up a first and goal from the 2-yard-line. That run was on a third down play, four yards from a first down.
"That was a big play, when he pushed it down and got us the first-and-goal situation," Verde said. "He has carried the ball out of the backfield before, but the way he did it this week was little bit different."
According to Verde, the Warriors had only committed seven turnovers heading into Saturday's game, where they committed seven more.
"The fact that we've come out on top just shows how far this program has really come," Verde said. "There was a time not too long ago where it would not have recovered from that."
Verde said his quarterback, Marcus Terrell, had only thrown three interceptions in the previous 10 games. Saturday, Terrell was picked off by the Knights' aggressive man defense three times. Terrell recovered to lead the team on the 10 play, 79-yard winning drive.
"I've got to put the ball where it needs to go," Terrell said of his performance. "The (defensive backs) were in good position, I"m not going to take anything away from them, but I've got to put the ball in the right spot."
Brown, Wesley close season on a high note: Thornton Township's season ended with Friday's loss to Downers Grove North, a contest that was a 29-0 rout until just more than two minutes remained. That's when quarterback JoWahn Brown and receiver Jauan Wesley finally hit on a big play, the first of two consecutive 92-yard touchdown collaborations between the two juniors.
Those were the 13th and 14th Brown-to-Wesley touchdowns this season for the Wildcats, and pushed Brown's touchdown pass total to 29 this year. That, and his 2,149 passing yards this season, is one of the reasons Thornton can look forward to next year, even though Jalen Banks is off to Vanderbilt and the Towns twins are also graduating.
Thornton's 8-3 finish was the best season for the Wildcats since 2008, which ended with an identical mark.
Caravan healthy for game with LT: Mount Carmel has had linebackers Nick Johnson and D.J. Romero back for the last four games and defensive coordinator Dave Lenti said that has been a plus. Both had leg injuries which sidelined them since Week 3 of the regular season.
"That's good that we are healthy for the playoffs and we are as healthy as we have been since the De La Salle game," Lenti said. "Defensively, we are up and running and hopefully on all eight cylinders. ... There's no time like the present."
Mount Carmel has five shutouts this season and the first-team defense has allowed just one touchdown in the last five games. That was to Brother Rice in the Class 8A playoff opener.
Simeon scored Friday in the Caravan's 41-6 win, but it was against Mount Carmel's second-team defense.
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