Honoring a gridiron star

At last year's homecoming game, Javaun McDonald was leading the charge toward a third consecutive Super Bowl championship for the Hanover Park Hurricanes.

This season, his football team held a ceremony in remembrance of the 14-year-old, who died June 1 in a tragic accident at his home, just hours before his eighth-grade graduation ceremony.

It was a moving tribute to a player who garnered respect from coaches and players around the Bill George Youth Football League, which Javaun joined at age 7.

Javaun, who played running back and defensive end, was remembered Sept. 21 in a homecoming pep rally.

The team went all out.

The Hurricanes retired Javaun's No. 25 jersey.

All the players had a No. 25 sticker on their helmets, and a big No. 25 was painted on the field. Buttons dedicated to Javaun were given to all the players and cheerleaders, including his sister, Victoria. They used a medallion for coin flips with Hurricanes on one side and Javaun on the other.

"They went over and beyond this weekend," Javaun's mom, Debra McDonald, said. "It's wonderful to know he touched so many people. I know my baby was there with me."

The Hurricanes also presented Debra McDonald with a No. 25 helmet and two framed poster-sized action shots of Javaun, as well as a framed jersey.

Hanover Park Village President Rod Craig attended the game.

"Javaun was a fine young man who was involved in his church and cared deeply for his family," Craig said. "I don't know how Debra got through all this. I guess her faith is carrying her through this."

Family members discovered Javaun dead June 1 in his backyard in what authorities called an accident that involved a water hose hanging off a tree.

Phil Rizzo, Javaun's coach for the past two seasons, says Javaun had lightning speed. He was quick on his feet and an intelligent runner.

"He had that football sense that can't be taught," the coach said.

Rizzo recalls the title game two years ago at Northern Illinois University's stadium.

"Javaun scored the touchdown that put the game on ice for us," Rizzo said. "He made a nice 35-yard run down the left side. I watch that film all the time."

Javaun graduated from the Hurricanes program last year, and was set to play football at Bartlett High School.

His best friend, Aaron Thabuteau, plays on Bartlett's freshman football team and wears No. 25 in Javaun's honor.

Debra said her son's plan was to be a Hurricane again after high school -- at the University of Miami. He also thought about pursuing sports law if his athletic career didn't work out.

Still, who's to say Javaun couldn't have gone pro?

"If you're going to dream, you might as well dream big," McDonald said.

"I told him the sky's the limit, baby boy, you can do anything you want."

In what may be the most enduring tribute, the league created the Javaun McDonald Award, which will honor one football player from the league at each season's end. Debra McDonald will present the award this year.

The recipient will be selected based on heart, attitude, knowledge of football, and conduct on and off the field.

The Hurricanes dedicated their season to Javaun -- and so far, they're undefeated through four games.

HPBFA President Rick Roberts, who first met Javaun when the boy was 8, considered Javaun one of the 10 most talented players in the league.

Roberts said they've created the Corner of Honor, a spot next to the football field where the helmets and jersey's of Javaun and of Chris Sleck, a Hurricane player from 1991, will be displayed during games.

"We see it as sacred ground right now," Roberts said.