1999 All-State Football Team
Hawkins, Mangan and Clifford head up Tribune's list for
Illinois' best high school gridders.
By Bob Sakamoto
Tribune Staff Writer
November 26, 1999
A smile slowly spread across his face as Thornton
quarterback Stafford Owens was told about the proposed
backfield. The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound sleight-of-hand expert whom
many consider the state's most dangerous game-breaker would
mastermind this collection of breakaway runners.
Owens immediately began running the show.
"We would run the Thornton offense with big Jason Hawkins
(6-2, 217) as the fullback and Ryan Clifford and Mike
Mangan as the halfbacks," he said. "We would all get plenty
of carries, and I wouldn't have to do anything except
spread the wealth and maybe run it once or twice.
"There isn't a defense anywhere that could stop us."
The Preps Plus version of the Four Horsemen would indeed
wreak havoc across the high school football landscape, and
for that reason, they head the 1999 Tribune All-State
Football Team.
Hawkins has rushed for 2,595 yards and scored 39 touchdowns
in leading Schaumburg to Saturday's Class 6A title game
against Naperville Central and Clifford, who has run for
2,421 yards and scored a state-record 47 touchdowns.
When Hinsdale Central was upset by York in its playoff
opener, Mangan forfeited any chance of adding to his 2,320
yards and 24 TDs. The versatile Owens, who is drawing
comparisons to ex-Thornton and current Indiana quarterback
Antwaan Randle El, ran for 1,765 yards and 27 touchdowns
and passed for almost 700 yards. "It sounds like a great idea," Mangan said. "Stafford would
do his thing and we'd be off to the races."
How about the match race Clifford and Hawkins are
conducting Saturday in Champaign? What better way to
culminate the season than having the state's leading
running backs go head to head with a championship on the
line? Even better, because Hawkins doubles as a strong
safety, these two appear headed toward some memorable
collisions. "I think it's cool that he'll be coming after me because I
love competing," Clifford said. "Since he goes both ways,
I'm hoping our defense will hit him hard and wear him
down." Defiant might be a good way of describing Hawkins'
response. "If he tries to wear me down, I won't get tired," Hawkins
said. "I've been going both ways all season, and as the
game goes on, I get stronger."
Several more All-Staters will be involved in Saturday's 6A
fray. Clifford's lead blocker is often 6-5, 275-pound Dave
Hilderbrand, along with second-team selection Don Baskin
(6-5, 290). Clearing the way for Hawkins is 6-4, 275-pound
Greg Robson, and kicker Brian Huffman gives his team a
long-range weapon.
There will be five other first-team All-Staters competing
at Memorial Stadium over the weekend. Mt. Carmel linebacker
Dan Casasanto and punter Matt Piotrowicz will face Marian
Catholic in the 5A title game, and defensive lineman Mike
Maloney (6-5, 265) and linebacker Mike Goolsby (6-5, 230)
will lead Joliet Catholic into a 4A showdown against
Metamora. Offensive lineman Pat Babcock (6-4, 305) hopes to
power Stillman Valley to the 2A championship.
In addition, De La Salle defensive back Jonathan Cox, the
Catholic Metro Green Player of the Year, heads up the
Meteors' effort to wrest the Prep Bowl crown from Hubbard
on Friday at Soldier Field.
Wisconsin recruit Travann Hayes of Larkin nailed down one
of the receiver spots after accumulating 1,775 total yards
and scoring 27 TDs on handoffs, passes, punt and kickoff
returns and interception runbacks. Glenbard South's Tim
Snyder was a key component in his team's reaching the 5A
quarterfinals. He caught 63 passes for 1,095 yards and 14 TDs, averaging more
than 17 yards per catch. Rounding out the All-State offensive line are Ben Lueck
(6-5, 275) of 5A semifinalist Oswego and St. Charles' 6-6,
240-pound Phil Jaynes, the Upstate Eight No. 1 offensive
lineman.
Alongside Maloney on the defensive line are 6-4, 265-pound
Brendan Duran of Springfield and 6-2, 205-pound Tyjuan
Hagler of Bishop McNamara. After facing Hagler, Benet coach
Gary Goforth said, "He is an outstanding competitor, and in
our game, he was a man among boys."
Joining Goolsby and Casasanto at linebacker are
Edwardsville's punishing hitter Joe Bevis, who has orally
committed to Illinois, and Lake Park's Allen Lindahl, the
No. 1 defensive player in the Upstate Eight.
In the secondary, Lincoln-Way's Jim Boldrey was voted the
SICA Blue's top defensive player, and Vince Massat of
Andrew was SICA Gray player of the year. Wheaton
Warrenville South junior Brett Bell figures to be among the
Midwest's top recruits next season.
Copyright 2000 The Chicago Tribune
You can see this and more sports news at
http://www.chicagosports.com/preps/content/story/0,1984,61823,00.html
------------------------------------------------------------