Highland senior defensive end Jace Harris made significant plays during the first series of the game against Whiting. His tackle for a loss and quarterback pressure set the tone for the Trojans. Harris, who also contributes on the offensive line, expressed pride in his team’s effort. “I feel like I was doing really well getting off the ball on defense, closing my gap, making those tackles,” Harris said. “I like how my O-line gave it their all, how my D-line gave it their all. It all starts with the line. It all starts in the trenches. It starts with us and ended with us. I’m just trying to do as much as I can for my team.”
Harris played a pivotal role as the Trojans secured their first victory under interim coach Jimmy McCormack, defeating Whiting 50-7. He had an impressive debut season at Highland, recording 54 tackles, including 12 for loss. His performance earned him a spot on the Class 4A junior all-state team. Against Whiting, Harris managed three tackles for loss. “Jace is a great player,” coach McCormack commented. “He’s an incredible ballplayer for us. He had a rough start last week against Griffith, so seeing him come out and be his usual self, come out and bounce back, it’s really nice to see.”
Previously a backup at Crete-Monee, Harris emerged as an all-conference defensive lineman. He took on an offensive role last year after not playing on offense since middle school. “It was hard, but it wasn’t too hard to get back into it,” Harris remarked. “Coming here, it basically felt like a new life. It was a new start, a good beginning. Transferring in last year, coach Mac and coach Ben Geffert did a great job helping me adjust. And especially my teammates, they did a great job too.”
Junior quarterback Aaron McCormack praised Harris. “Jace is a great athlete,” said McCormack. “He’s contributed so much to this program since he joined last year. He’s a big contributor on both sides of the ball. He brings a lot of energy no matter what — practice, weight room. He’s a big part of this program.”
Freshman wide receiver Jonathon Lee made a significant impact. He returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Despite initially mishandling the ball, Lee broke tackles and completed the impressive run. He also caught two passes for 33 yards, showcasing his ability to turn short plays into substantial gains.
Junior quarterback/running back Julian Madrueno scored Whiting’s lone touchdown with a 76-yard run in the fourth quarter. This prevented Highland from achieving a complete shutout, although they have won all six matchups against Whiting since reviving the series in 2021.
Coach Jimmy McCormack, a 2010 Morton graduate, shared his satisfaction. “Honestly, the kids met my expectations,” he said. “I wanted them to come out and compete for four quarters and do their best to wear our opponent down. The scoreboard indicates we did a nice job. But I’m just really proud of our guys and the effort they gave to make this a possibility for my first win tonight. It was just the consistency from start to finish with our physicality up front.”
Harris summed up the team spirit and success, “It just feels great. I believed in my team, and they believed in me. When we come together, we do great.”