Fenwick High School senior Tommy Thies already was part of a high school state football title even before the starting linebacker and the Friars became Class 6A state champions, Dec. 2. As an eighth grader, Thies was an official ball boy when the Friars captured the program’s other IHSA state championship in 2021 in 5A.
“My dad [Scott] is the athletic director. I was wearing the game management ball [vest] with the big X, with the balls in my bag, giving them out,” Thies said. “It was really a dream come true.”
This championship was more memorable — and one that only a few ever believed possible. The Friars defied the odds one last time as they surprised heavily favored and defending 6A champion East St. Louis 38-28 at the frigid Illinois State University field in Normal.
The Friars (11-3) never trailed after taking a 14-13 lead 1:49 before halftime and always had the answer offensively, even though East St. Louis (10-4) led 512-292 in total offensive yards and tied the game twice in the second half.
“It would be silly for me to say I didn’t [dream of returning as a player], but not every guy gets to experience this. I always believed I could put myself in position to make plays and put us in position to win games,” Thies said. “I never thought it would have taken me to a state championship [game], let alone win, but I’m glad it did. It’s just a testament to the guys we have on this team.”
Jake Thies, Tommy’s brother, was a game-changer. He rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yarder for a 28-21 Fenwick lead with 1:25 left in the third quarter.
Defensively, he was tops with 19 total tackles (7 solos) and had an electrifying 39-yard interception return to the Flyers’ 3 that all but secured the victory just after senior Noah Sur’s 31-yard field goal for a 31-28 lead with 2:45 left.
On the next play, senior quarterback Jamen Williams scored from the 3 with 2:22 remaining.
“Really fun, probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in,” Jake Thies said. “The last one with my brother; it meant everything. And coming out on top, a great feeling.”
Williams was 8-for-14 passing, after an 0-for-3 start, for 155 yards with TDs to seniors Cameron Garrett (37 yards) and Raphiel Stewart (15 yards). Williams’ game-clinching TD run came inside a push pile loaded with teammates.
“I was going nuts. I blacked out, saying some very rated-R words. But in the end, I followed them right in there. They just pushed me in,” Williams said. “This feels like a movie. A lot of these guys on this team, we’ve been dreaming of this since like fifth grade. This is a really big moment. I’m just grateful for it all.”
Senior linebacker Mike Murphy (team-high 9 solos) and Tommy Thies each had 14 total tackles. Senior cornerback Odin Ferjak had a second-quarter interception that set up the Friars’ first go-ahead touchdown.
“A surreal feeling. Nobody expected us to win, besides the guys in this room,” Murphy said. “We just believe and we think we’re going to come out on top every single day.”
For head coach Matt Battaglia, this is his second state title in six seasons.
“Just a great team. I’m glad the state gave me three extra days with this group because I would gladly take three more months. This is a special group,” Battaglia said.
Murphy, also Sur’s long snapper, excelled despite being in the hospital earlier in the week following emergency surgery. Murphy’s infection in his left shin worsened to black after the 28-27 overtime semifinal victory over defending 5A champion Nazareth Academy.
“I was 100 percent playing no matter what — even if the game was on Saturday,” Murphy said. “It didn’t matter. One doctor said I could play and that’s all I needed.”
East St. Louis was playing in its sixth consecutive 6A state title game, winning in 2022 and 2019 before the canceled 2020 fall season. The Flyers had scored at least 48 points in all nine victories with one forfeit.
Fenwick’s experience with tough opponents shined through. In the regular season, the Friars only lost to Mt. Carmel and Montini Catholic, the respective undefeated 8A and 4A state champions, by a combined nine points as well as 7A qualifier Carmel.
“I think it helped that everyone picked against us in every big game this year,” Battaglia said. “I think that definitely helped put a chip on our shoulder but really the difference was this team led by this senior class. Through their four years, they’ve only lost six or seven games.”
An upset appeared ripe from the start. After a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Flyers had a bad punt snap and Fenwick took over at the 4. One carry from Jake Thies and Fenwick was in the end zone and ahead 7-0.
When East St. Louis came back to tie 21-21 in the third quarter, Thies had his 74-yard TD run on Fenwick’s next offensive play.
When the Flyers tied 28-28 with 9:13 remaining, Fenwick executed its most sustained drive (10 plays for 52 yards) – climaxed by Northwestern recruit Sur’s field goal. On the second play, Garrett recovered a sidelines fumble at the Fenwick 36.
“We knew they’ve got special players everywhere so we knew they were going to make plays. It’s how you bounce back,” Murphy said. “We did a lot better in the second half.”
East St. Louis junior running backs Myson Johnson-Cook (183 yards, 2 TDs) and Ahmad Coleman (102 yards, TD) surpassed 100 yards rushing and junior quarterback Reece Shanklin passed for 183. Junior Amir Tillman’s 55-yard TD run put the Flyers ahead 13-7 with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.
However, the Friars led 2-1 in takeaways and East St. Louis had penalties in key situations (9 for 57 yards total). Illegal procedure penalties came before both unsuccessful fourth-down attempts in the second quarter when leading 13-7.
Facing fourth-and-15 from the 22, East St. Louis had an incomplete pass to the end zone. On third down from the 11, Murphy had the Friars’ lone sack for a 6-yard loss.
On the next drive, Ferjak intercepted at the 20 and returned the ball 43 yards to the Flyers’ 37. That set up the Friars’ halftime lead and another emotional swing they sustained.
“Tommy [Thies] was playing great defense. He tipped the ball so I was surprised [at the interception] and I was like, ‘Oh. I’ve got to run,’” Ferjak said. “I knew that our offense was going to respond fast, and they did. Just like that, we had insane momentum throughout the game.”
“NFL guys talk about the middle eight all of the time – the last four minutes of the first half, first four minutes of the second half,” Battaglia said. “That was a critical time where we were able to steal a possession, get a stop.”
Tommy Thies, Williams and Sur were named 6A all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. All of the seniors went out with a bang — as well as the Thies brothers one last time as a football duo.
“We work out together in the offseason so just stuff like that [I’ll miss], the little things. He’s just a great guy to have around. He’s really the leader of the defense, too, so we’re going to be missing him a lot,” Jake Thies said. “It’s my favorite [game together], obviously, a state championship. Just a full team effort – 11 guys on each side that wouldn’t lose no matter what happened. We knew if we fought for four quarters, we’d be hard to beat and that’s just what we did.”
