| The 2003 Season |
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Mike Menozzi JolietCatholicFootball.com
In 2003, the Hilltoppers were just another football team in Illinois beginning the season with many unknowns . . . just another football team with a state record 10 state championships that is.
Would they get up off the deck after the crushing defeat in the Quarterfinals the year before? The media dismissed any chance JCA had at state title number eleven. How would the team respond after the defeat? Could Brad Bourg run the offense effectively? What would the impact of losing so many talented seniors be?
For the first time in years there were no cameras, reporters, and preseason hype in the Hilltopper camp, which was just fine with head coach Dan Sharp. “We’re a stealth bomber, flying under the radar” he said with a laugh as the season began, he obviously knew something the media had overlooked. Yet he would comment later, “you think you’re ready for the season to begin, but you never know until it does.
The 2003 season began with tragedy, incoming freshman standout T.J. Holt and his Grandfather were killed in a car accident on his way to football practice. Holt, a gifted athlete, had already made numerous friends on the Sophomore and Varsity squads. Holt had the type of athletic ability you shape your program around. His loss would prove to be a motivating factor for the players throughout the season. Sophomore running back Dan Hrvatin took his number – 38 – in his honor.
Coach Sharp couldn’t know at the time that players injured - on the field - would dog them the entire season. Players would need to step into the vacated spots caused by injury, or the season might be lost.
The East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC) was back with 9 teams, to the disappointment of many there was no open week to play Mt. Carmel. But on the other hand, there was no last minute scramble looking for an opponent, as JCA was forced to do nearly every year while in the Chicago Catholic League.
The 2003 Schedules
2003 Football Statistics
Varsity Roster
Sophomore Roster
Freshman Roster
The season opened at home with a win over Nazareth, followed by a blowout win over St. Viator.
Unfortunately the injury bug started biting in game two. Inside linebacker Jake Trader was hit in the back and suffered what amounted to broken ribs, and was sidelined, although the prognosis was good for his return before year end.
Catholic’s first away game was St. Pats, also a victory, but they lost senior quarterback Brad Bourg for what may have been the season. Brad suffered the same injury as the Atlanta falcons QB Michael Vick – a broken (non-weight baring) bone just above the ankle. Junior quarterback John Kiernan took Bourg’s place, and guided the team to a 28-7 victory.
With a major player on defense missing (Trader) and a major player on offense missing (Bourg), JCA headed to Marist. The offense sputtered in the red zone under new QB John Kiernan, but JCA defeated Marist 31-14. Kiernan showing remarkable poise after being thrust into the starring role.
Kiernan was facing the meat of the conference schedule coming up, and the offense around him responded like true champions. The Hillmen slugged it out with Benet in the rain for 4 quarters, a screen pass from Kiernan to McKeon with 2 minutes left gave the Hilltoppers the win. On defense, Trader returned with a flak jacket which helped shut down the Benet running game.
Next up was a trip to Marian Catholic, Marian played it close 14-10 at the half, but JCA’s halftime adjustments turned it into a rout.
The Hillmen built a 28-8 lead on Notre Dame before John Kiernan suffered a broken clavicle, forcing JCA to use sophomore wingback Billy McKeon at quarterback. ND made a game of it, but JCA held on 28-20.
McKeon’s (third on the depth chart if your counting) first test running the offense would come against St. Joe’s. Not much of a test, but it gave him a game to prepare prior to the conference showdown with Carmel the following week.
Up to this point JCA and Carmel had run roughshod through the conference with similar scores against the same opponents. Camel had defeated the Hillmen only once in the school’s history, and felt they were prepared to help define their program with a win over the highly successful Joliet Catholic program.
Carmel didn’t hurt themselves any, McKeon did all he could with a limited playbook to work with, and the Corsairs made enough changes on offense to keep the JCA defense off balance. Carmel won the conference with a 41-14 win. Midway through the 4th quarter, McKeon left the game for precautionary reasons after getting hit, forcing JCA to bring in (fourth on the depth chart) sophomore quarterback Luke Mussleman.
(Meanwhile the JCA sophomores smoked Carmel for another undefeated season, and exposed Carmel’s relative lack of talent waiting to replace the graduating seniors from the Varsity team.)
Entering the playoffs, the doubts resurfaced about JCA’s ability to win number 11, due to the loss to Carmel. But Brad Bourg’s diligent rehab regimen paid off with an early return, and it was just in time.
The one constant throughout the season for the Hillmen was the offensive line. Senior tackles Jim Jadron 6’5” 285, Erik Madsen 6’5” 285, senior guards Jake Ziesmer 6'3" 230, and John Anastopoulos 6'0" 240 and junior center A.J. Tomich 5'9" 245 were quietly getting better and better. The return of Bourg meant that Billy McKeon could return to wingback, and Bobby Buchanan, who had taken McKeon’s spot in the backfield, could return to full time safety on defense, and part time wideout on offense.
Bourg’s leadership proved to be the catalyst that made the team gel exactly when it needed to. Coupled with the call up of sophomore and freshmen players who would contribute in a big way, Catholic was healthy, loaded, and ready to roll.
2003 5A football pairings
5A Qualifier Stats
Easy wins over Corliss and Rich South set up a much anticipated match-up with Morris.
JCA pictures from the Rich South Game
Football fans were treated to another excellent match-up between the Redskins and the Hillmen. JCA stuffed Morris’ quarterback Goolsby at mid-field late in the game on back to back plays of 3rd and 1, and a 4th and 1, to preserve the victory.
Joliet Catholic vs. Morris Quarter-Final game pictures
Nearly injury free, JCA was rolling now. Only John Kiernan remained out for the season, but the remaining players were on top of their game. The Semi-Final was a road game in LaSalle Peru. LaSalle was coming off dominant wins over Rochelle, and Rock Island Alleman, both running teams that were smothered by the Cavalier’s defense. LaSalle was confident they could do the same to the Hilltoppers.
LaSalle provided a great high school atmosphere for a game, a terrific, unique football stadium, rabid fans, and an entire (decorated) town looking for payback after losses to Joliet Catholic in the late 70’s.
As good as the Cavaliers were, they were unfortunate enough to catch Joliet Catholic at a time when everything was clicking. It was no contest, JCA won big 56-6.
JCA - LP Semi-Final at LaSalle Peru pictures.
Unfortunately, another injury, this time to fullback Kurt Kleeman struck again. Kurt suffered a broken thumb resulting in a cast he’d wear in the championship game. Kurt could be counted on providing the hard inside running that kept defenses honest, but most of all, he is what Coach Sharp calls, “possibly the best blocking fullback ever at JCA”. Nearly any big run by McKeon, Bourg, or Clancy had Kurt Kleeman clearing the way as the lead blocker.
Meanwhile Springfield Griffin, was waiting on the other side of the bracket after an undefeated season. Like LaSalle, Griffin was looking for payback after two losses in two meetings against JCA.
The Griffin faithful warned of an explosive running attack, and an option which was better than Carmel’s. The Griffin faithful may have been right, but the Hillmen were prepared. The Cyclone running game went nowhere, the highly touted option never materialized. Catholic was cruising 24-7 late in the 4th quarter, when SHG quarterback Peterman converted on a 4th and 12 deep in Griffin territory which led to two scores making the game closer than it should have been. Sophomore running backs Billy McKeon, and Joe Benson, Junior running back Chris Clancy, Junior tight end Tim Brown, and Senior wide-out Joe Sallese all would play a huge role in the victory. But it was the line play on both sides of the ball that was consistently dominant. They were table setters that paved the way to victory, opening holes for the Hillmen running backs, and holding Griffins running game to next to nothing.
JCA - SHG game pictures
Joliet Catholic had indeed won it’s eleventh football state championship, another state record. In the process, the Hillmen players and coaches overcame more adversity to key personnel in one season, than most teams see in a decade.
USA Today ranked JCA #8 in the Midwest
The "Tony Poll" ranked Joliet Catholic #15 in the Nation
The success this team accomplished can be traced to four letters, t-e-a-m. There was no “me” displayed by this team. They played unselfishly, they supported each other, they picked each other up when they needed it. They were a true definition of the word “team”.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the accomplishments of the football programs in 2003.
Post Game celebration
Champions for Life!
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