Danville Vikings football ties IHSA all-time football record
DANVILLE, Ill. — On October 20, while trying (successfully) to become playoff eligible, the Danville Vikings football secondary accomplished something much more difficult than making the playoffs. Something so rare, it had only been accomplished twice before in IHSA football history.
It started humbly with a pick 6 in the first quarter by Freshman Jerry Reed. Then, in the second quarter, it happened. On three consecutive defensive snaps in the second quarter, three more pick 6鈥檚: two by Junior JaVaughn Robinson, and one by Sophomore Jayden Rowell.
For just the third time in IHSA history, a team had four interceptions returned for touchdown in a single game. 鈥淚f they woulda just left us in鈥︹�� one of the players jovially lamented. Total return yards on those 4 INTs: 201 yds.
How fast did the players realize their record? 鈥淩ight after the game,鈥� said Rowell. 鈥淒uring the game!鈥�, countered Reed. Word travels fast indeed.
Rest assured, these are true athletes, not one-dimensional players.
Jayden Rowell set Freshman records in track, at the 60M and 200M distances.
Jerry Reed, who also is on the basketball and track teams, set a record for most receiving yards in 8-man football at Danville Schlarman.
JaVaughn Robinson also runs track, and was Big 12 All-Conference Second Team in basketball last season.
Of the final member of the secondary, Senior Kaden Young, who also runs track, Rowell shares the impact he has made on him. 鈥淚 used to skip practice, and he made me stay. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 still here. I am going to miss playing with him next year.鈥�
Coach Mitch Thomas explains how far these four athletes have come. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of the way these guys have grown together as a unit in the secondary,鈥� Thomas says, explaining their cohesiveness. 鈥淥nly Robinson and Young had any experience. The four of them worked all summer and into the fall, growing and getting better.鈥�
Coach Thomas shares one more story on Young. Injured and unable to play his freshman year, Young still came to practice every day, and even helped out as manager, because he so much wanted to be a part of this team. He likely didn鈥檛 know the integral part he would later play in helping his team equal a state record.
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