As Prairie Ridge senior Tyler Vasey, the Sun-Times Player of the Year, approached the state’s single-season rushing and touchdown records, heads started to turn in Crystal Lake.
“More people kind of stare at me,” Vasey said. “I don’t know if I really like it. You don’t realize how it will make you feel until more eyes are on you. It’s weird. You walk around school and people look at you.”
In an era of overbearing parents that wear down kids and coaches, Vasey hit the jackpot with his mom and dad.
“They were happy I was getting all the recognition but at the same time they made sure I was ok and wasn’t too stressed out,” Vasey said. “The thing I loved about it is they supported me in a way to make sure I was enjoying the game and having fun. That I was doing it because I wanted to do it, not because I had to do it. They weren’t telling me to go get the record. They motivate me and support me so much. I really do appreciate them.”
Vasey wound up setting the Illinois High School Association record for rushing yards in a season. He finished with 3,878 yards. According to USA Today it was also the most rushing yards in the country this season. Vasey beat out Ethen Knox from Oil City, Pa. by 173 yards.
Vasey held the touchdown record for about a week. He scored 53 rushing touchdowns, beating John Dergo’s record of 51 for Morris set in 2005. But then Decatur St. Teresa submitted a new claim that Jacardia Wright scored 55 in 2018. So Vasey is second.
The 5-11,170-pound quarterback was a total unknown heading into the season, mainly due to injuries. Last season he was injured a week before the season started. He came back and played the last six games as a running back. He missed all but two games of the short COVID spring season his sophomore year after breaking his collarbone.
Vasey’s speed is obviously key to all the rushing success. But Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp says that Vasey’s decision-making is what made him a historically dangerous triple-option threat.
“When we are running an option play I give him the choice of midline, inside veer or outside veer,” Schremp said. “He chooses it based on the alignment of the defense. His vision on that and ability to pick the right play is better than any quarterback I’ve ever had.”
Vasey posted eye-popping numbers in most games this season. He had back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns against Jacobs. He broke the rushing yardage record with 481 yards and eight touchdowns against Harlem in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
“It’s like a sports car,” Schremp said. “His zero to 60 is crazy. And then he can just cut and bam, hit it and go.”
Heading into the season Vasey’s goal was to get Prairie Ridge (12-2) to the state championship game. He did that, but the Wolves lost to East St. Louis 57-7.
“I’ve never seen kids that big,” Vasey said. “They were really good football players. We scored on the first drive but they just wore us down. They are so big that at halftime everyone was just hurting.”
Vasey hasn’t made a college decision yet. He’s also a top-notch shortstop. Vasey hit .413 last season and runs a 6.6 in the 60-yard dash.
“I’ll probably just play one sport in college,” Vasey said. “I know how much time it takes in college to just do one. It wouldn’t be fair to pick right now because I’m just coming off football.”
Schremp has coached another Sun-Times Player of the Year, Samson Evans, who won the award in 2017. Evans put Prairie Ridge on the map and Vasey has cemented the school’s legacy.
“He’s a special kid,” Schremp said. “I’m just going to miss seeing his face in school every day and having the chance to talk with him.”
The complete list of Sun-Times Football Players of the Year
1951 - Bob McKeiver, Evanston
1952 - Frank Pinn, Mount Carmel
1953 - John Carroll, Fenwick
1954 - Jack Delveaux, Fenger
1955 - John Swain, Vocational
1956 - Ed Ryan, Leo
1957 - Mike Lind, Calumet
1958 - Jack Strobel, Fenwick
1959 - Dick Butkus, Vocational
1960 - Al MacFarlane, Taft
1961 - Jim Grabowski, Taft
1962 - Jim DiLullo, Fenwick
1963 - John Byrne, St. Rita
1964 - Chico Kurzawski, Weber
1965 - LaMarr Thomas, Thornton
1966 - Randy Marks, Loyola
1967 - Tom Spotts, Maine South
1968 - Carlos Matthews, Evanston
1969 - Barry Cernoch, Downers Grove
1970 - Ken Ferguson, Lane Tech
1971 - Bill Marek, St. Rita
1972 - Jeff Stewart, Elk Grove
1973 - Kevin King, St. Laurence
1974 - Frank Shellenback, Barrington
1975 - Mark Carlson, Deerfield
1976 - Rich Weiss, New Trier
1977 - Chris Boskey, St. Francis de Sales
1978 - Marty Finan, Fenwick
1979 - Tim Marshall, Weber
1980 - Mike Tomczak, Thornton F. North
1981 - Tony Furjanic, Mount Carmel
1982 - Eric Kumerow, Oak Park-R. Forest
1983 - Dempsey Norman, Tilden
1984 - Chuck McCree, Romeoville
1985 - John Foley, St. Rita
1986 - Kent Graham, Wheaton North
1987 - Jeff Lesniewicz, Homewood-Flossmoor
1988 - Brian Dunlavy, St. Viator
1989 - Alex Rodriguez, Lane
1990 - Corey Rogers, Leo
1991 - Mike Alstott, Joliet Catholic
1992 - Broc Kreitz, Waubonsie Valley
1993 - Greg Williams, Bolingbrook
1994 - Jason Loerzel, Maine South
1995 - Tim Lavery, Naperville Central
1996 - Mark Floersch, New Trier
1997 - Rocky Harvey, Dunbar
1998 - Philip Macklin, Proviso East
1999 - Ryan Clifford, Naperville Central
2000 - Brett Basanez, St. Viator
2001 - Tim Brasic, Riverside-Brookfield
2002 - Tom Zbikowski, Buffalo Grove
2003 - Sean Price, Maine South
2004 - Chris Jeske, Joliet Catholic
2005 - John Dergo, Morris
2006 - Dan Dierking, Wheaton Warrenville South
2007 - Jordan Tassio, Naperville North
2008 - Charlie Goro, Maine South
2009 - Matt Perez, Maine South
2010 - Reilly O’Toole, Wheaton Warrenville South
2011 - Ty Isaac, Joliet Catholic
2012 - Laquon Treadwell, Crete-Monee
2013 - Justin Jackson, Glenbard North
2014 - Dewayne Collins, Phillips
2015 - Julian Love, Nazareth
2016 - Jake Marwede, Loyola
2017 - Samson Evans, Prairie Ridge
2018 - Payton Thorne, Naperville Central
2019 - AJ Henning, Lincoln-Way East
2020 - Vaughn Pemberton, Loyola
2021 - Jack Lausch, Brother Rice
