Player Profile: Antwan Hawthorne

By Joe Winkel    @JoeTheShowQCSN

When studying United Township senior captain Antwan Hawthorne, it is easy to take many life lessons from his journey. Hawthorne has experienced many things in his young life. Having learned from mistakes, he now takes every day to cherish the opportunity he has been given.

During the spring Hawthorne was mainly given spot reps and played special teams for the Panthers, but he did not waver, when given his chance to fully grasp a two way starting role he made the best of his moment over the summer. Hawthorne is someone who looks up to and values many people in his life, and the last two graduation classes for the Panthers football program make up a huge chunk of that. He spoke about how they set an example for him on how to carry himself as well as how to lead the younger classes now at UT. “Last year (the seniors) set an example for me, as someone who got scout reps and being close with all the varsity boys it put me in the position I am now.” Head Coach Nick Welch says how impressed he is with how Antwan is now becoming a lead-by-example player for his program, and how his effort and attitude are what you can build a successful program off of. “That attitude and mindset goes a long way in developing a program and a culture that is successful. Two of the things that are most important to great programs are effort and attitude. We talk about that all the time because a lot of things in life are out of your control but you can always control your effort and your attitude. I hope the young guys realize that it takes a conscious effort to do things right on a day to day basis in order to become a successful player. Those traits are obviously critical in football but those traits will carry over in life which is even more important. I think the way Antwan approaches football will transition to life as he becomes a young adult.”

Sometimes it isn’t about what you do wrong, it is about how you learn from those mistakes and what you do after to improve yourself and your life. Consider Hawthorne a prime example of someone who can bounce back and be a bright light for a program and a community. “I feel like the struggles I went through early in my life prepared me and gave me the mentality to just work…my past really helped me out with football, it all transfers over,” said the senior captain. Hawthorne has turned things around and now views every day he puts the pads on as a new opportunity to make right. “I see it as a privilege, I don’t use football to get away from anything. I am really big on reality…I feel like I am allowed to play this game, I take it as a privilege and I give it my all.” A privilege, a powerful statement. One that can be used for anybody in any walk of life. Antwan is someone that has shown that bouncing back is the easy part. It is the work you put in and how you take every single day as an opportunity to do right that is the challenge, and Hawthorne is taking each step the right way and Coach Welch believes those steps are what led to him being voted one of the four captains for this year’s varsity team.

“Since I met Antwan in the Spring of 2019 I’ve gotten to know a young man with a very unique life experience that many wouldn’t believe. He has faced a significant amount of adversity throughout his life but he doesn’t let that impact his positive mindset and attitude. Antwan has been very dedicated to football and it is clear it is something he is passionate about without question. His commitment to the football program and his teammates is what put him into a position to be a captain of this team. His work ethic and positive attitude are two of his leadership traits that stand out the most.” Hawthorne also mentioned the family members in his life that have paved a way for him to learn and become a better person and football player. “My mom and my sister as well as my uncles, they are all big supporters. My mom has always been a hard worker, growing up with her you have to put the work in like her. She always showed us hard work will get you whatever you want. She helped put me in this position now to be able to play this game, and I just want to take it as far as I can.”

Hawthorne has made an impact already in the short season. Last week in his first varsity start, he tormented the opposition with a huge first half on defense, and closed the show with two huge catches (one for a touchdown) from the tight end position. Coach Welch mentioned how Hawthorne sets a high standard for himself, and he talked about what he expects for his captain throughout the year as conference play kicks off tonight. “The first thing that is important to understand is that Antwan has high expectations for himself. He expects to perform at a high level and contribute to our team’s success and that is critical for our development this year. We need him to be a physical football player on both sides of the ball as the tight end and defensive end position require it for success on offense and defense. His biggest development has been the addition of his receiving skillset which wasn’t quite as good his first couple of years, but he’s worked really hard at it. In our offense someone with his size, strength, speed, and now his hands make him a dynamic threat. As we continue to go throughout the season I would expect him to have a lot of catches as well as being a focal point in our run game with his physicality. On defense, he needs to continue to work on using his hands and developing a set of moves that he can use to make plays. We have seen his impact on the running game early on as it is difficult for tight ends and tackles to block him 1 v 1. He has improved significantly in his pass rush but we want to continue to hone those skills as he gets more comfortable reading blocks and identifying whether it is a pass or a run more quickly. I’ll be curious to see as we get into WB6 as teams have shown more likelihood to pass how he is able to make an impact on that side of the ball.” Coach was right about the high expectations that Hawthorne puts on himself. He spoke on some goals he has for himself and the team this season, “As a tight end, a goal I set even in a run heavy team I want to be leading receiver in a few games, that is a small goal for myself. Overall goal I want to be the best that I can, I want to be better than anyone who lines up against me.” Hawthorne also mentions how “confidence is key” to his success on the field. The way he carries himself and how he works on and off the field it is very easy to see the confidence illuminating off of him. Hawthorne also remembers what those before him left as an example for him, and he wants to build off of those bricks and try to lead this program to new heights. “I just want to take it further than the seniors last year were allowed to because of the shortened season.”

Life punches real hard sometimes. The question is, how do you respond? In the case of this young man, he learned from his mistakes and he is now someone the entire UTHS community can be proud of. His story is powerful, his attitude is contagious, and he has a bright future ahead of him. Anyone from any walk of life and any age group can read this and hopefully you take this with it; when Antwan mentioned how it is a privilege to play the game he loves, it spoke more than words. It shows that every day you are given a chance to do wrong or right, and that no matter what you can move forward with choices you made before and better yourself to become better. That is what Antwan did. We should take his story as a gift to show us that no one is perfect, but we sure can strive to use people in our life to motivate us and better us for the future as well as inspire those around us to be great. Use each day as a privilege to be the best version of yourself and who knows where that can take you, because that is what Antwan Hawthorne has done, and with that, sooner rather than later he is going to be a household name in the Western Big 6.

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Player Profile: Matthew Bailey

By Joe Winkel  @JoeTheShowQCSN

When asking Moline Head Coach Mike Morrissey about what his star player Matthew Bailey brings to the table for his ball club, the first thing he said might have been the most intriguing. 

“His credibility comes to the table immediately.”

Credibility is an interesting word choice, especially when describing a football player. But take a moment to examine the work, on and off the field, that Matthew Bailey puts in then it is easy to see why that is the right word to choose.

“He does the right thing off the field, and when he steps on he is one of our best players.” is what Coach Morrissey said about Bailey when asked about him standing out amongst everyone else. “He does things the right way.”

When it comes to Moline superstar Mattthew Bailey, the right way is taken in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s being a lead by example player on the field, his commitment to compete with being a multi-sport athlete and always in the weight room, or his stellar work ethic in the classroom, Bailey sets the standard for himself high as well as his teammates. “When it comes to teammates, I try to find the ones who are willing to work and get better every single day.” Bailey, and this Moline team, are committed to getting better and competing for a conference championship in 2021.

In the spring Bailey was at the top of the WB6 in receiving yards and was an impact player on both sides. Anytime the ball was in his hands there was a chance something big was on the horizon, or anytime on defense a play came his way he would be the first one in to make the opposition feel it. Offensively, the Maroons did a multitude of things to get 7 in Maroon and White the ball. From throwing deep his way, to lining him up under center at QB and letting him go full “Mike Vick Madden 04” mode. Bailey changed games with his presence. “We are going to do things to get him the ball.” is what Morrissey said about how they tend to use Matthew on offense this season. When Moline has possession, make sure to find out where 7 is lined up because he might just be one second away from turning a game on its head.

As impressive as he is on offense, Morrissey and Bailey both rave about the defensive side of the game. “Defensively he is just so aggressive from the safety position…he is going to come down hill and he brings it.” Morrissey proclaimed about Matthew’s ability in the secondary. He also stated the football IQ of Bailey is top notch. “He understands what he is doing, he always reads his keys and is in the right place all the time” Bailey commented on his knowledge of the game and how it has progressed over the years by saying, “Playing football as a QB helped me learn DB and WR as well…I knew what coverages the defense was doing and how to beat those coverages so as a DB I know how the QB is thinking and how they are trying to beat me. As a WR, I know where the QB wants me to be for me to be open.”

Bailey is clearly talented on both sides of the ball, but what does he prefer? Both him and his head coach know that Bailey loves to make the opposition feel it, “He only weighs 185-190 pounds, but he brings it.” Morrissey said of Bailey’s defensive aggression. “It is exciting when you have a guy like him because he can make up for so many things and  cover so much ground on the defensive end.” Bailey smiled and gushed at the mention of defense being his favorite position, “as a DB I love coming down and hitting people…it’s the best mindset to have.” It is a terrifying thought when someone as talented as him actually enjoys inflicting punishment on the opponent. Look for Bailey to make all of those moments count this season.

Bailey is only getting better, and with Moline looking to regain their seat at the head of the Big 6 table success will come with players like Bailey leading the way. With multiple Division 1 offers on the table, this won’t be the final few months of his football career. On and off the field Bailey is a prime example of what can happen when you dedicate your craft and just be determined to get better every day. Expect this season to be a culmination for the conference’s newest star, but most importantly it will be great to see him be happy sharing those moments with his coaches and teammates as one of the league’s best leaders.  Bailey fits perfectly the “Total Effort” mantra that Mike Morrissey has stamped out at Moline since day 1 of his coaching tenure. And with that effort, Bailey has proven in a very short time that he is the one at the top of the hill in the Big 6. There are a great number of fantastic players in the Western Big 6, and all will have their moment in the spotlight, but it is only fitting that the season is kicked off by Matthew Bailey, because when it comes to the WB6, Bailey is at the head of the table.

The Moline Maroons had an interesting Spring campaign for the “2020” Western Big 6 football season. A team that had competed at the top of the conference for the first 3 seasons under Head Coach Mike Morrissey had almost an entirely new lineup going into the shortened spring season.

There were plenty of ups and downs for the Maroons during the spring, and plenty of growing pains for a roster that was inexperienced and constantly shuffled new starters in and out due to injury. The one thing that was a constant for Moline though was that they were competitive. In their 6 game slate, they led in 5 of the 6, had 4th quarter leads in 4 of those 5 games (were tied in the 5th) and 2 of their 4 losses were in overtime to Alleman and at the gun vs the conference champion Sterling Golden Warriors. Rallying to win 2 of their final 3 games to end the season, the Maroons look to back that experience into regaining their spot near the top of the league in 2021.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of guys back with varsity experience this fall. Some were put into that role in the spring before they were truly ready but developed over the course of the spring and started to feel more comfortable with the speed of the game.” Coach Morrissey said in regards to the carry over from the end of the spring season into the start of the fall.

Moline has multiple key players back, as stated earlier, but none bigger than the pair of QB Alec Ponder and all around superstar Matthew Bailey. Ponder led the Western Big 6 in passing yards during the spring and Bailey was near the top of the league in receiving and also played QB, RB, and was a dominant force in the secondary on the defensive end. Ponder was huge in the final 3 weeks of the season, especially a 400 yard game against Galesburg and another huge performance against Geneseo in their final game of the year. “Alec is a gamer!” proclaimed Morrissey when asked about his star QB. “We joked around that if he had been that consistent in practice early on we would have gone to that system much earlier! But we have to keep in mind that everything was new to him when he got to Moline. Once he got comfortable with terminology and reads he really started to build confidence mentally. He’s a really talented QB that can make any throw at any time.” Ponder will be at the center of attention (comes with the territory of the game’s most important position) for Moline this year, and the team might go as he goes, but make no mistake that he can win ball games on his arm talent alone. If games have shootout written on them, he can throw this team into a winning situation, and he will have multiple playmakers to disperse the ball for this offense to click.

Ponder can be the star for this team, but Moline has a true game changer in the other half of this two headed punch returning for the Maroon and White. Matthew Bailey is one of the most talented players, if not the most talented player in the conference. Bailey is a game wrecker and can do it from multiple positions. Whether he is going over a DB to make a spectacular catch, or coming down from the safety position to lay out a running back, Bailey can make highlight plays.

What Coach Morrissey likes the most, though? His effort and leadership combined with the standard he holds himself to.

“Matthew is a very talented player but he’s also committed himself in the weight room and as a multi-sport athlete which I feel has helped him tremendously. He’s as competitive a young man as I’ve ever been around and has the ability to change a game on any given play. Our expectations of him are the same as always, a total effort every time he steps on the field. He already holds himself to an extremely high standard and he’s developed as a leader of this team both on and off the field. That’s as important as anything to our success this fall is to have a lead by example type of player, who also happens to be one of the most talented in the program.”

This team has one of the highest ceilings in the Big 6 this season. They have a lot of skill and the team had some valuable moments in the spring to learn and grow from. Can that translate into results? Coach Morrissey was ecstatic when talking about the improvements his guys have made from the end of spring to now. He feels a lot of players are ready to make that next step to contribute to a winner.

“Our guys up front on both sides of the ball didn’t get much credit last year because of our struggles at times but they were all young guys who have improved. Caleb Singleton is a Jr Nose Guard that we feel can be a factor defensively. Nate Parker, Mark Runkle and Noah Mahieu were all starters on the OL as sophomores and showed some really good things in the spring at times. Christian Raya is a Jr LB that had to play last year and is always around the football. Grant Sibley is a young man that we’ve asked to do a lot for us as well. Played QB, WR, FS and CB last spring as a sophomore and is as tough as it gets. He’ll be a two way starter for us this fall. There’s a lot of young men that have committed to being great football players this off season, we’re excited to see who steps up!”

We’ll soon find out where the Maroons land when it comes to competing at the top of the league in 2021. One thing is for certain, this team will be electric and one of the most exciting teams to watch this fall. All that is left is to see if this team turns close losses into wins and they will be right back at the top of the conference sooner than later.

For the Rock Island Rocks, the 2021 season is a chance to finally take back the reins at the top of the Western Big 6 conference. After a few years of limited success the Rocks have bounced back under coach Ben Hammer with last year’s 4-2 campaign and the previous year getting success in the playoffs. With the league as wide open as it has been in years, this is the best chance the Rocks have had in years to regain the conference crown.

The Rocks lost some key contributors from the spring squad, but return one of the top quarterbacks in the conference in Eli Reese. After splitting time for two seasons with now graduated QB Devin Swift; Reese took over after Swift was injured in-between weeks 1 and 2 in the spring and was very productive, throwing for an average of more than 220 yards per game, and a total of 16 touchdown passes. Now knowing the team will be under his control, Reese can finally look to roll and keep things going from his strong play back in March and April.

“Eli has a tremendous knowledge of our offense.  For the skill players, it is like having another coach on the field,” Coach Hammer said about his senior QB.

The Rocks also have one of the best line units in the conference. Both on offense and defense, their line play is going to be a problem for opponents this season. A big question mark is on the defensive end. The Rocks have been at or near the bottom of the conference statistically on defense the last few years, mainly against the run. They will need to improve that in order to cash in this year. Although Coach Hammer doesn’t see his defense as a negative for his club. 

“A lot of people who don’t know much about football see it as defensive struggles.  We play a very aggressive style of football from all standpoints. Looking for turnovers, fakes on special teams, onside kicks, going for it on fourth down, etc. These all will sometimes put your defense on the field more than a team that isn’t as aggressive in their systems. At the end of the day no matter how many are scored, if you have at least one more you still win.”

Whether or not the defense will be able to turn things around is a question mark, but Coach Hammer is confident that they will be fine regardless. Offensively on the perimeter the Rocks will have to replace their top four receivers, but look for the Rocks to be able to plug and play some talent with some of their athletes coming up through the ranks. They also lost top rusher Marriyon Rogers, and we may see a running back by committee type approach from the Rocks as they look for valued production from the backfield.

Time will tell on if this team can get the Rocks their first league crown in over half a decade. It has been overdue for the Rocks, and with this year being a wide open race, it is as good a time as ever to regain a conference ring. The bar at Rock Island is always set high, and the next few months will tell us if this Rocks team can clear it. If they can, it could be a memorable fall for the red and gold.