Naperville's Jones Powers JCA Football

JOLIET – Here’s a tip for opposing quarterbacks. Don’t even throw the football in vicinity of Joliet Catholic Academy cornerback Brody Wilhelmi, and if you do, it will end up being at your own peril.

The 6-foot, 170-pound senior delivered his third interception of the season Friday night as the Hilltoppers’ defense caused four turnovers during a 63-3 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory.

Junior linebacker Matt Madrigal’s fumble-causing hit was a highlight for JCA (4-0, 3-0) at Memorial Stadium, only to be topped by Wilhelmi’s leaping pick that sealed a lid on a loss for St. Viator (0-4, 0-4).

This time, the goal had an assist.

“We do tip drills every day in practice and it was a great play by the linebacker who tipped it up to me,” Wilhelmi said of junior Clayton Smith. “I didn’t see it coming at all. I just saw it there at the last second.”

It’s also why Wilhelmi credited assistant coach Earl Jones, who played defensive back in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, for drilling that sequence into Hillmen corners and safeties on a daily basis in practice.

Led by Wilhelmi and fumble recoveries from senior defensive tackles Nick Collofello and Austin Bolton and senior defensive back Adam Collins, JCA held St. Viator’s spread offense to 192 yards on 47 plays.

“We’ve been running more of a nickel package against spread teams and we’re getting more pressure on them,” said Sharp, knowing the Lions went 12-of-24 for only 96 yards. “They got the ball back for us.”

“We prepared well for the spread again,” Wilhelmi said. “Our linebackers and D-line did a great job.”

Defensively, JCA allowed 100 yards rushing on 21 carries in the first half and 149 yards on 37 plays. The Hilltoppers scored six TDs on 14 offensive plays, with Ty Isaac adding a 51-yard score on a punt return.

COMING OF AGE: With senior Jake Jankowski battling a combination of the flu and sinusitis, Jalen Hansel joined fellow sophomore J.B. Butler at tackle. Hansel replaced Jankowski on the right and Butler started at his usual left, flanking three seniors – center Pat Kripp and guards Carson Smith and Mike Giaudrone.

“I can’t remember a time when two sophs started at tackle on the offensive line,” said Sharp, who is 155-28 with six state titles and a runnerup in his 15 years at JCA. “It was nice to see those guys do well.”

Plus, with sophomore Zach Rezin making his first catch as a tight end and senior tight end Isaac Grashoff scoring on a 72-yard catch, Sharp praised how “We have a very athletic line … seven blocks of granite.”

TO A TEE: Nine extra-point kicks improved Grashoff’s totals to 26-of-27 for the year. He is 2-of-3 on field goals. Combine that with the TD and he third on JCA’s scoring list through four games with 35 points.

“I’m not complaining there,” Grashoff said with a smile as wide as the goal posts in high school.

NOTES: JCA’s starting offensive unit completed the first drive of the third quarter, boosting their total number of plays in the game to a mere 22. The Hillmen gained 277 yards in the first half. “We’ll make up for that in practice this week,” Sharp said of the lack of work … Junior fullback Tyler Reitz rushed for 70 yards on 5 carries, scoring two TDs, and Sharp pointed out the benefit of his blocking. “Tyler had another outstanding game, creating holes for Isaac and Malin Jones,” Sharp said. … Although Hilltopper fans tend to focus on coverage deficiencies, JCA has given up only 482 yards passing in four games, with two teams using the spread as the base offense. Opponents have actually rushed for 961 yards. JCA has rushed for 1,448 yards, passed for 332, and the Hillmen average 50 points scored and 17 points allowed.