TOLONO — Scott Hamilton noticed right away.
Running back Garrett Richardson in front of the Rockets’ sideline during Unity’s one of three rushing touchdowns during the Class 3A state quarterfinal game against Nashville last Saturday at Hicks Field. He was backed up, but wide receiver Brady Parr did the job.
He made a block and got the coach’s attention.
“We knew he wasn’t going to make the kind of catches he’s been making, but he’s become a really good blocker for us,” Hamilton said this week in Unity’s locker room after the Rockets finished practice in late November. I talked about par. “He locked on to the kid and had a great block. I immediately went out to him and said, ‘That was your block that resulted in a touchdown.’
Two weeks ago, Parr made a toe-tapping catch on third down near the Rockets’ sideline for the final touchdown in Unity’s 35-7 second-round win over previously undefeated St. Joseph Ogden. The drive continued.
Two plays that are both selfish and unscrupulous. However, there were two winning plays. why? Parr has a simple reason.
“I don’t want the season to end,” he said.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Parr is one of 17 seniors on the Rockets’ roster who will travel to Monticello for Saturday’s 3A state semifinal game with kickoff at 2 p.m. . Parr and the rest of Unity’s seniors have been to the postseason three times in their high school football careers, with the Rockets going 42-9 over the past four seasons and advancing to the state championship game in 2021 and 2022. The team aims to advance to the state semifinals in 2020 and the state quarterfinals in 2023.
Now, Unity (9-3) is one win away from reaching the program’s seventh state championship game, where it will take on the Sages (10-2).
“What stood out to us as a group is how much better we’ve gotten as we’ve started practicing over the last six or seven weeks,” Hamilton said. “A lot of that goes back to our senior leadership. The fact that they’ve come in and done a great job of preparing us and showing us the way, even though a lot of them aren’t vocal leaders. We showed the way by sticking to the plan. When things went wrong and people blamed us, no one got excited.”
After losing 20-10 at home to Bloomington Central Catholic on Sept. 27, the Rockets didn’t look like the type of team that could make it to the state semifinals. Unity had 2 wins and 3 losses and was in danger of missing out on the playoffs with only a few games remaining. It will be Hamilton’s second full season since he arrived in 1994.
The Saturday morning film session after the loss to BCC stands out as a turning point in Parr’s season.
“Usually we separate offense and defense,” Parr said. “This time, the offense and defense were in the same room.” Coach Hamilton emphasized, “We are a team.” If we want to change this situation and move in a different direction for the better, we need to become a team. My mood changed and I started running a little. we are here now. ”
Unity senior safety Ryan Link also noticed when he went to school Monday after the loss to BCC that the Rockets were not in the 3A field in the online playoff projections, with the remaining regular season games between Monticello and Paxton. I realized that there was still a lot left, and I became even more motivated. -Buckley-Roda.
“Monticello and PBL let us lose,” Link said. “That motivated us all to prove them wrong. When we’re being doubted, that’s when we play our best. It’s been building week in and week out. .”
Richardson is the only senior on Unity’s roster to lead the Rockets in any notable offensive or defensive category, gaining 1,788 rushing yards on 260 carries and 23 touchdowns. is the main reason Unity is still playing the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger (161-of-233 completion, 2,567 passing yards, 36 TDs, just 4 interceptions), wide receiver Tre Hoggard (77 catches for 1,357 yards, 18 TDs), and defensive end Coleton Eisenmenger. Langendorff features a deep, talented junior class that is attracting attention. (team-high 102 tackles, seven sacks) and cornerback Braden Henry (seven interceptions) drew a lot of attention from opponents and other teams.
But without the contributions of Link (92 tackles), Parr (23 catches, 283 yards, 6 TDs), wide receiver Oliver Rawlings (18 catches, 146 yards, 2 TDs) and linebacker Nick. The Rockets will not advance to the state semifinals. The senior class includes Jesse (71 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles).
“There’s a lot of attention (in the media) on Dane and Tre,” Hamilton said. “I continue to focus on players like Parr, Oliver, Link and Jesse. They are the glue that holds everything together. Without their unselfish play, we probably wouldn’t be here now. Dew.”
The Rockets are one win away from facing Montini (9-3) or Wilmington (12-0) in the state title game next Friday at Hancock Stadium in Normal at 4 p.m. Unity is two wins away from achieving that goal, but it’s a scenario that has never materialized before. And that’s winning a state title.
“We have a chance to do something that has never been done before at this school,” Link said. “I’ve been playing football since fifth grade, and Unity football is always talked about, always winning state titles.As a senior, I have an obligation to lead my team to a state title. I feel that.”
