Dominic Jackson’s Versatility Shines in Crete-Monee Football Victory

Crete-Monee senior Dominic Jackson has shown his commitment to his team. When Warriors coach John Konecki calls out ‘steamroller, steamroller’ on the sidelines, it’s a signal for the 5-foot-11, 250-pound defensive lineman and running back. This play involves Jackson receiving the ball during short-yardage situations. ‘I like that with running, I can help the team and put points on the board,’ Jackson explained. ‘I can give the offense momentum and the team momentum in general. I like scoring too and hitting people.’

On Friday night, Jackson excelled by scoring three touchdowns in the first half. His efforts helped lead Crete-Monee to a 44-0 nonconference win over Hillcrest in Crete. Jackson totaled 48 yards on eight carries, with touchdowns from 2, 19, and 3 yards for the Warriors, who now have a 1-1 record. His unexpected 19-yard touchdown run saw him break through a group of players and sprint into the end zone. ‘When we run Dom, we hope for 3 yards,’ Konecki noted. ‘Anything after that is a bonus.’

By halftime, Crete-Monee led 41-0, with senior quarterback August LaBranche passing for 133 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown to Monte Calvin-Bowsky. Calvin-Bowsky had six catches for 117 yards and set the game’s pace with a 40-yard kickoff return. Besides a key fumble recovery by Calvin-Bowsky, Isaiah Jordan added an interception and capitalized on a fumbled kickoff, while Keegan Quaderer recovered a blocked punt.

Jackson began playing football in 2018 after moving from Indianapolis. During grade school, he weighed 160 pounds, and by high school, he was between 200 and 220 pounds. ‘There was a lot of working out and a lot of eating,’ Jackson recounted. ‘I know I have to manage this weight. You can’t do anything if you can’t run with the weight. I know that when I gain the weight, I have to make it into muscle.’

Hillcrest, with a 0-2 record, remained scoreless, only gaining 49 yards. Senior running back Devan Watson contributed 33 yards on six carries. Jackson was crucial to the defensive effort, and his teammate Jordan praised him, saying, ‘That’s my guy, man. He’ll do anything to help the team.’

The Warriors faced challenges in their offense heading into this season. With the graduation of star quarterback Derrin Couch and receiver Dorian Patterson, now at New Mexico, more responsibility shifted to Jeremiah Stonewall. However, Stonewall, who had offers from multiple college programs, left for Grayson, a noted Georgia team. ‘That’s high school football,’ Konecki remarked with a shrug. ‘You have to figure out a way to recreate the production every year.’

Jackson has an offer from Bemidji State as a fullback and some interest as a defensive lineman. He excelled in wrestling, competing at the state level, and in track, where he threw the discus and shot put. ‘What I like to stress about him is that he’s a three-sport athlete,’ Konecki commented. ‘When he got here, he was a decent football player, but by playing multiple sports, I think it made him a better football player. He’s kind of a dying breed by being a multisport athlete, but it’s helped him a lot.’

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.