Thornton Twp.
High School

2007 Schedule

8/24 7:00 @
Country Club Hills (Hillcrest)
9/1 1:00 H
Lockport (Twp.)
9/8 1:00 H
Crete (C.-Monee)
9/14 7:00 @
Olympia Fields (Rich Central)
9/22 1:00 H
*South Holland (Thornwood)
9/29 1:00 H
*Dolton (Thornridge)
10/5 7:00 @
*Lansing (Thornton Fractional South)
10/13 1:00 H
Bartlett
10/19 7:00 @
*Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.)
@ Bloom-Sarff Field
#### - Enrollment
*Conference Game

Stadium Directions

Week #6 vs.Tinley Park (Andrew) 6-0
10/2/2004

Maurice Jefferies runs free to the endzone to put the Wildcats up 16-13 in the third.

Bolts Strike on Defense

Harvey - Andrew's bid for an upset and it's hopes of continuing it's undefeated season were looking dim as the Wildcats of Thornton showed why they were ranked 26th in the state to start off Saturday's game.

On the Thunderbolts second play on their first possession of the game the Wildcats would tip a Joe DeCeault (QB 6'1 177 jr.) pass and Dwayne Melton (DB 6' 190 jr.) would get a diving interception before it hit the ground, giving the Wildcats a 1st &10 deep in the Thunderbolts territory. The Thunderbolt's defense held strong on their first assignment of the day forcing a turnover on downs.

With the ball back and the game still scoreless, the Thunderbolts looked to start their second drive off from about where they started the first. But a speedy Wildcats' defense led by star defensive end Terrance Jamison (DE 6'4 230 sr.) forced the Bolts to go 3 and out.

A bad snap on the punt would put the Bolts down by 2, but a smart play by the punter & team captain Matt Sigourney to pick up the ball and run it out of the back of the end zone for a safety, would save the Bolts from being down by more than 2.

Thornton scored on a 57 yard run by Lavell Jackson (QB 5'9 185 sr.) on the ensuing possession, as he scrambled left and broke free for the big gain to put the Wildcats up 9-0 with just under 7 minutes left.

The Thunderbolts, although down, were not out as they drove almost the length of the field with a 4 minute drive, scoring on a 5 yard run by Brett Rossberg (WB 5'9 174 jr.) . A PAT attempt would hit the upright and the Making the score 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.

DeCeault would plunge into the endzone from about the 1 inch line with about 7 minutes left in the half. An interception in the end zone by Marcus Murry (DB 6' 190 sr.) with no time left, would end the half for the Thunderbolts.

The second half seen a charged Thunderbolt attack on defense. Multiple players managed to get into the Wildcat's backfield and disrupt running plays as well as sack Jackson.

Andrew's defensive coordinator Tom Lahey who's squad gave up only two touchdowns on the day made some adjustments for the defense going into the second half. "We made some adjustments & the kids responded them" Nathan Everhart, Mark Gryczka & team captain Sean Grady all had sacks early in the third quarter.

"They can move pretty fast, so we just had to contain them & get them down pretty quick" Grady said about Thornton's offense.

Lahey added "[the defense] was poised.. When they stayed poised we shut them down. That was important, that was the key."

That poise may have let up late in the third, but just briefly. As Thornton's Maurice Jeffries (RB 5'9 195 sr.) had a couple of big runs, capping it off with a 3 yard TD run that put the Wildcats ahead with 3:48 left in the third.

The Thunderbolts regained the lead & never let go once the 4th quarter started. Scoring on a DeCeault TD pass to Sigourney for 32 yards. Bill McDonald (WB 5'9 180 jr.) would helped the Bolts get some insurance as he plowed in for a 2 yard TD, putting the Bolts up 26-16 for good with 7:52 left in the game.

DeCeault finished the day going 14 of 18 for 171 yards passing with 1 TD & 2 interceptions.

by Vincent Johnson

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Related Stories:
-2004 Week #6 recap
-2002 Week #7 Recap

Photo Archive:
-2004 Week #6
-2003 Week #5
-2002 Week #7

Photo Ordering

Team Accomplishments

State Champs
1990 6A

Runner up
1989 6A

Semifinals
1990 6A, 1989 6A,

Conference Champs
SICA (East)
2006*
SICA (Gray) 2005
SICA (Blue) 2001

*co-champs

School Facts

Enrollment:
2684.00

Conference:
SICA (East)

Class:
7A

Colors:
Purple/White

Nickname:
Wildcats

Head Coach:
Bill Mosel

Last Season's Record:
7-3

First Varsity Season:
1926

2006 Schedule

8/26 1:00 H
Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) 1360.00
9/1 7:00 @
Lockport (Twp.) 3761.00
9/8 7:00 @
Kankakee (Sr.) 1383.00
9/16 1:00 H
Olympia Fields (Rich Central) 1483.00
9/23 1:00 @
*South Holland (Thornwood) 2373.00
9/30 1:00 H
*Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 3492.00
10/6 7:00 @
*Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) 1683.00
10/14 1:00 H
*Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) 1767.00
10/21 12:00 @
*Dolton (Thornridge) 1870.00

2005 Schedule

8/27 7:00 @
Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) 1260.00
9/3 1:00 H
Lockport (Twp.) 3524.00
9/10 1:00 H
*Oak Lawn (Community) 1778.00
9/16 7:00 @
*Palos Heights (Shepard) 1817.00
9/24 1:00 H
Palos Hills (Stagg) 2478.00
10/1 1:00 H
*South Holland (Thornwood) 2224.00
10/7 7:00 @
Tinley Park (Andrew) 2544.00
10/15 1:00 H
*Dolton (Thornridge) 1877.00
10/21 7:00 @
Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) 1834.00

2004 Schedule

8/27 7:30 @
Maywood (Proviso East) 2314
9/4 1:00 @
South Holland (Thornwood) 2328
9/11 1:00 H *
Palos Heights (Shepard) 1762
9/17 7:00 @ *
Palos Hills (Stagg) 2340
9/24 7:30 @ *
Bolingbrook 1996
10/2 1:00 H *
Tinley Park (Andrew) 2456
10/9 1:00 @ *
Dolton (Thornridge) 1800
10/16 1:00 H *
Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) 1783
10/22 7:30 @ *
Romeoville (H.S.) 2412

8/30 1:00 H
Maywood (Proviso East) 2100
9/6 1:00 H
South Holland (Thornwood) 2420
9/12 7:30 @ *
Palos Heights (Shepard) 1782
9/20 1:00 H *
Palos Hills (Stagg) 2306
9/27 1:00 H *
Bolingbrook 1802
10/3 7:30 @ *
Tinley Park (Andrew) 2343
10/11 1:00 H *
Dolton (Thornridge) 1759
10/17 7:00 @ *
Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) 1734
10/25 1:00 H *
Romeoville (H.S.) 2096

2002 Schedule

8/30 7:30 @
Maywood (Proviso East) 2156
9/7 1:00 @
South Holland (Thornwood) 2572
9/14 1:00 H *
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) 2883
9/20 7:00 @ *
Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) 2624
9/28 1:00 H *
Orland Park (Sandburg) 3269
10/4 7:00 @ *
Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 2774
@ Chicago Hts. (Bloom Trail)
10/12 1:00 H *
New Lenox (Lincoln Way) 2955
10/19 1:00 H *
Joliet (Twp.) 4534
10/25 7:00 @ *
Lockport (Twp.) 3007