Stubbs' First TD, Bolingbrook Defense Stifle Yorkville
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
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Curtis Stubbs II took an unconventional route this offseason, leaving the parochial powerhouse Providence—a Class 5A state runner-up—to enroll at Bolingbrook, a public school. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver, who started for the Celtics, declined to elaborate on his reasons, calling them personal and complicated. But he was quick to praise his new teammates. "It made me feel great," Stubbs said. "TJ [Lewis], Keilan [Winfield], Tyson [Ward], all those guys on the offense. I see the picture. We can be in the running for state."
On Friday night, the Raiders showed flashes of that potential. Stubbs hauled in his first touchdown in a Bolingbrook uniform on a fourth-and-nine play, crossing the middle for a 25-yard score late in the first quarter. Ward then added a 4-yard quarterback keeper on the next drive, and the defense took over from there, leading to a 20-7 win at Yorkville in the Southwest Prairie West opener.
Bolingbrook (2-1, 1-0) had been shut out in its season opener against Homewood-Flossmoor and committed three turnovers in the second half Friday. But the first half showcased a balanced offense. A 14-play, 77-yard drive, involving six different players touching the ball, ended with Ward's rushing TD, giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead with 4:52 left before halftime.
"Our offense, once they start clicking, I've seen it before. It's just the consistency and the work," said Bolingbrook coach Titcus Pettigrew. "You're going to see a stacked box because of what TJ can do. We have to be smart enough to use a short passing game. It will come, but it's chemistry."
Stubbs described his touchdown play: "We did a post curl action, all you could see was open field. Tyson made the right read on the back side and hit me on the post curl." He is one of three receivers who caught passes from Ward during that scoring drive, and he believes the unit can reach elite status. "We can do a bunch of things with our offense. We use TJ, we have three other receivers at a high level. We can be the best receiving corps in 8A."
But Yorkville (2-1, 0-1) mounted a fight after the early deficit. Mason Keith and Will Freeman intercepted Ward passes in the second half, and James Sapp recovered a fumble, leading to an 11-yard touchdown run by Gavin Geegan that cut the lead to 20-7 with 9:06 remaining. However, the Foxes' momentum was short-lived. On the next possession, Rylan Dehr intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown, restoring the 20-point advantage.
Dehr, nicknamed the "Honey Badger" by teammates after former NFL safety Tyrann Mathieu, said, "I saw the down lineman passed up, got the receiver, ball came out, all my teammates blocked me perfectly, really good play. We were demons out there, we were very physical."
Yorkville, which had scored 62 combined points in its first two wins, never found its offensive groove. A bad snap on a punt in the first quarter set up Bolingbrook's short field for the opening score. The Foxes' best drive of the first half stalled at the 16-yard line as time expired. Late in the third quarter, they had a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but three running plays were stuffed around an incomplete pass.
"Our offense was below average and that's 100% on me. I call the offense," said Yorkville coach Dan McGuire. "We hurt ourselves more than we have done the first two weeks – really simple stuff, like cadence. We didn't do those really basic things."
Ward finished 10-for-16 passing for 87 yards, all in the first half, while TJ Lewis rushed for 91 yards. For Yorkville, Max Delgado threw for 102 yards, and Geegan ran for 51. The Raiders, defending Southwest Prairie West champions, now host Oswego—the only team that beat Bolingbrook in conference play last season.
"They've been the king of the hill in this league for so long," Pettigrew said. "In order for us to get over the hump we have to go through them. Excited for the challenge."
Article commentary
The transfer of Curtis Stubbs II from Providence to Bolingbrook highlights a growing trend in high school football: athletes moving from private or parochial schools to public programs. While Stubbs kept his reasons private, such decisions often stem from a mix of academic, athletic, and personal factors. His addition to a receiving corps that already includes TJ Lewis, Keilan Winfield, and Tyson Ward gives Bolingbrook one of the most talented groups in Class 8A. Yet, the team's offensive inconsistency—shut out in the opener, then turning the ball over three times in the second half against Yorkville—shows that chemistry takes time. This game was a tale of two halves. Bolingbrook's defense was relentless, forcing turnovers and stifling a Yorkville offense that had been explosive in previous weeks. Rylan Dehr's interception return, which he described with a nod to Tyrann Mathieu's intensity, exemplified the Raiders' physicality. Meanwhile, Yorkville's struggles, particularly with basic fundamentals like cadence, as coach Dan McGuire noted, suggest a need for mental reset after a strong start to the season. The defensive dominance on both sides underscores the importance of preparation and halftime adjustments. Yorkville's defensive staff made significant changes after the break, leading to interceptions and a fumble recovery, but the offense couldn't capitalize. For Bolingbrook, the win sets up a pivotal conference clash with Oswego, the team that beat them last year. Coach Titcus Pettigrew's acknowledgment of Oswego as the "king of the hill" reflects the respect the Raiders have for their rival, but also the confidence that they can compete. Stubbs' confidence in the receiving corps is notable, but the Raiders' offense must reduce turnovers and develop a more consistent passing game to challenge for a state title. The short passing game, which Pettigrew mentioned, could be a key adjustment against stacked boxes. As the season progresses, the chemistry between Ward and his receivers will be crucial. For now, Bolingbrook has shown it can win with defense, but the ceiling depends on how quickly the offense clicks. From a broader perspective, this game illustrates the parity in high school football. A team like Yorkville, which scored 62 points in two games, can be held to seven by a disciplined defense. And a transfer like Stubbs, who chose a public school over a parochial one, can immediately impact a program's trajectory. The narrative around transfers often focuses on the move itself, but the real story is how players and teams adapt. Stubbs' first touchdown was a sign of potential, but the road ahead is long.