How 15 players celebrated their 15 minutes of fame

Andy Warhol once promised each of us 15 minutes of fame.

This past fall there were many players, as well as entire teams, who enjoyed noteworthy performances on a given Friday night where all eyes were upon them and they enjoyed 15 full minutes and more of fame.

Many years from now they'll probably tell yarns about the incredible play they made that saved or won a game, or the overall performance they put on display on a cool fall 2007 night.

Years from now they might be teachers, doctors, engineers or accountants. Most will get married and become parents themselves. In a life full of many memories, one thing they won't forget is those special plays and games during the high school football season.

One thing they probably won't remember though is how they celebrated afterwards.

So, that's why we're going to take a look back at 15 area football players and how they celebrated their special moment.

We're talking about high-fives, hugs, shouts of joy, laughter, singing and dancing on bus rides and eating. Lots and lots and lots of late-night eating.

So now's the time to take a look at how on at least one occasion these 15 players celebrated 15 minutes of fame during one day or night during their teenage years. (Note, because some writers cannot add or subtract as well as they think they can write, you'll actually find 16 players' stories so enjoy the bonus one.)

Wes Allen, St. Charles East

Aug: 25: Allen scored three touchdowns in East's 30-7 thumping of Batavia. Rushed for 99 yards on 26 carries in that victory.

No one really knows which bus was more boisterous on the way back to St. Charles ­ the one loaded with defensive players, which only allowed a late touchdown, or the offensive one which featured Allen, who scored three touchdowns, quarterback Sam Gunther and the young offensive line which played extremely well.

"It was a great bus ride," Allen said. "When we got back to school a bunch of the Super Fans were there and they had a cake and then we had a barbecue."

Allen estimates that there were at least 20 Super Fans hootin' and hollerin' onsite at St. Charles East and since none of this was expected it made the celebration all the more enjoyable.

Shane Holl, Batavia

Aug. 31: After struggling defensively in the opener, the Bulldogs responded in a big way and linebacker Shane Holl led the charge.

The senior intercepted two passes, returning one for a 65-yard touchdown and nearly returning the second one which still culminated in a Batavia touchdown. He also recovered a fumble and sacked Wildcats quarterback Chris Wille twice.

Holl revealed that he and his teammates usually have an idea of what they'll do after a game but that can change according to the outcome. After the dominating win over West Chicago, and the bus ride back to Batavia, Holl and some of his teammates and fellow classmates headed to Jack Creed's house. Creed was sharing quarterback duties at this point of the season before eventually moving to linebacker.

"We watched the game film, his parents made a whole bunch of pizzas and then we went swimming," Holl said.

Sean Grady, Geneva

Aug. 31: Entering the game on offense in the second half for the injured Michael Ratay, Grady rushed for a 23-yard touchdown and accumulated a total of 75 rushing yards on only 8 carries in a 29-12 victory over South Elgin.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking when I first went in but it felt great to fill in for Michael," he said. "I was glad to keep the offense going smoothly and close the door."

Things continued to go smoothly later that night for Grady who visited a friends house with other teammates, enjoying a barbecue, late-night post-game dinner while sitting around a campfire.

Ricky Bird, Marmion

Sept. 1: Bird completed 21-of-39 passes for 317 yards, threw for a touchdown and rushed for a pair of touchdowns in a 42-38 victory over Kaneland.

Since the Cadets won during a Saturday afternoon ballgame rather than under the lights, the team was able to take its time afterward. You would've thought that after grinding it out with the Knights for three hours and 80 points that Bird would want a break from football. Hardly.

"A bunch of us went out to dinner later that night for wings," he said. "We went to Buffalo Wild Wings in Geneva. A couple of us hung out, talked about the game and watched the rest of the college games that were on."

Jack Leopardo, St. Charles East

Sept. 7: It's a play the 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior will never forget.

"I was supposed to drop back in deep coverage and they ran a shorter route," Leopardo said. "The pass was deflected, I came up, saw a wide open field and it felt like only seconds had gone by and I scored."

Leopardo had picked off a pass from Waubonsie Valley quarterback Tyler Castro and raced for a 45-yard touchdown. It was one of the biggest plays of the game in the Saints' 14-13 victory.

Leopardo found himself rehashing that play and other key plays after 11 p.m. that night at a McDonalds.

"We were just hanging out, talking about the game, the big plays and how everyone did a good job and stuff like that."

Leopardo didn't mention if he enjoyed a Big Mac in honor of his big play, but we know for a fact that he didn't enjoy the boneless pork and barbecue sauce on a bun with onions and pickles -- the McRib -- it simply wasn't brought back on the menu until October of this year.

Kyle Edwards, Aurora Central

Sept. 7: His team trailed by 12 points in the fourth quarter against St. Edward but he helped them rally to a 52-36 victory. Edwards had 3 touchdown receptions -- his first three touchdowns of his career -- and also had two key fumble recoveries.

The celebration began on the 40-minute ride home.

"It felt really good because we haven't had too many wins so getting them means a lot," Edwards said. "We were rowdy on the bus. A lot of shouting, talking and jumping around, so much that some of us got cramps."

What's a good thing to alleviate stomach cramps? How about Chili's on Orchard Road?

"A bunch us went over there to celebrate," Edwards said. "We ate some food, talked about the game and how we were going to try to keep doing better."

Korey Maple, Kaneland

Sept. 21: Korey Maple returned a lot quicker from an injury than expected and hauled in 10 catches for 150 yards as Kaneland beat Batavia 31-28.

The first play from scrimmage was a reception by Maple and it helped set the tone for the evening as the Knights claimed their fourth consecutive victory over the Bulldogs.

While Maple was ecstatic with the victory, afterward he wasn't in much of a mood to do anything.

"I don't think I'm going to do anything tonight," he muttered. "I'm sore, I'm tired. I mean, it feels great to be back, but I'm ready to just sit down and rest."

That was probably the safe bet for Maple.

"The doctor said it would be 4 to 6 weeks before I could get back and this is only the third week," he said. "I felt a lot better and just went out and played."

With the victory, Maple probably enjoyed the rest and recovery later that night with a smile on his face.

Nic Higgins, St. Charles North

Oct. 5: At a time when North Stars coach Mark Gould said, "We're fighting for our playoff lives," Higgins came up huge, rushing for nearly 200 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns in a 28-13 victory over Larkin.

Higgins treated the victory like most other games. Afterward he headed to teammate Tim Janeway's house.

"Usually after games we'll look up the other scores to see how the other teams did and then just start thinking about the next game and research on how that team's doing," he said.

They didn't have to do much research on their next opponent -- St. Charles East -- who was resting for it's contest against South Elgin the next day.

"We knew beating Larkin was just one small step and we knew we had little time to turn our attention to who was next."

J.R. Kabba, Batavia

Oct. 5: Batavia performed like an offensive machine when it routed Sycamore 48-27. The Bulldogs collected over 600 yards of total offense and J.R. Kabba, with 157 yards on only 14 carries, was one of the many standouts for Batavia.

After the bus ride back to Batavia, which was chock-full of excited Bulldogs, Kabba and some of his teammates made post-game plans.

"We were recapping the game on the bus and there was a lot of shouting," Kabba said. "When you get back late it's tough to usually do anything but we were able to go out to Chili's to get something to eat."

Joining Kabba in a booth at the restaurant were Jordan Coffey, Stuart Charles and Cam Hartman. Kabba wouldn't divulge who paid the bill nor did he say if they put it on coach Mike Gaspari's tab.

Jordan Roberts, Aurora Christian

Oct. 6: Aurora Christian's first ever school victory over Walther Lutheran occurred on Jordan Roberts' 17th birthday. He threw a TD pass that was fumbled and recovered in the end zone, ran for a 34-yard touchdown and handed off to teammates for 2 touchdown runs in a 30-15 victory.

It's hard to imagine a better day in the life of a teenager. A birthday. A historic victory. The realization that you're the starting quarterback, and have been for three years, and have arguably the most visible and important role on the team.

Even with all of those things Roberts didn't do too much to celebrate.

"I didn't do anything special," he laughed. "The next night we went out with my family, my Mom, Dad, brothers and sister. I just took it easy."

Tim Janeway, St. Charles North

Oct. 12: His team was on the road, had just given up a touchdown and was on the verge of allowing the rival hosts to tie the game with a two-point conversion. The clock read 1:49.

With the momentum swaying in St. Charles East's favor, Janeway, at defensive end, was salivating for a victory like a starving dog. He led the charge with some of his North Stars' teammates as they stopped Saints quarterback Sam Gunther short of the end zone and St. Charles North held on for a 28-26 victory.

"We ran around with a megaphone and celebrated and then the bus took us back," Janeway said. "A group of about 15 of us went to Wendy's in Elgin and just hung out. It was mostly just seniors. It was a pretty ecstatic night."

Jonathan DeMoss, St. Charles North

Oct. 12: DeMoss gave the North Stars a shot at making the playoffs and winning a conference championship. He also squashed the Saints dreams of an undefeated conference season and outright ownership of a conference title.

He did it on defense with an interception. He did it on offense with a 28-yard touchdown reception and a 13-yard touchdown run. And, he did it on special teams with a 38-yard kickoff return on the opening kick that culminated in the North Stars' first touchdown of the evening.

"I was real tired," DeMoss said. "It was pretty cold, but not too cold, but the bus ride home was a lot of fun."

DeMoss and quarterback Nic Neari retreated to DeMoss' house where the two enjoyed some well-deserved P'zones from Pizza Hut and then played a few games of Halo 3.

"We talked a lot about the game, reminisced about guys like (Pat) Friel and others (at East) who we played with in middle school and are now playing against."

After the food began to settle, the fatigue started to set in.

"It was such an exhausting game and it's one that I still get chills from when I think about it."

Markus Cocroft, West Aurora

Oct. 12: Cocroft transformed into a human highlight reel in a 48-27 victory over West Chicago. The junior had 3 interceptions, one that he turned into a 70-yard touchdown. But that didn't excite the home fans most, that would come in the form of an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

A nice paparazzi was waiting for him afterward.

"Me, a couple of linemen and other players walked over to John's (quarterback John Nunnally) house and I felt like a celebrity," Cocroft said. "People were asking questions and taking a lot of pictures."

Slowly his accomplishments sunk in as he enjoyed a late-night barbecue at Nunnally's.

"I always wanted to have a game like that," he said. "And my father was there so that was exciting."

Celebrating doesn't last very long though as Cocroft soon found out.

"The next day I just woke up and went to practice and I was over and done with that."

Eric Strauss, Geneva

Oct. 19: Who had a better view of Geneva finishing off its first undefeated regular season than Vikings center Eric Strauss? Probably no one. Strauss helped the offensive line create opportunities for Michael Ratay who rushed for both Vikings' scores in a 14-12 victory over Batavia.

"We stood on the field for a while and reflected on what a great feeling it was to cap the (regular) season off with a win at Batavia," Strauss said. "The bus rid was the best ride ever. It was insane. We had different guys like Jordan (Boser) singing along."

Soon the Vikings were in Geneva and shortly thereafter Strauss, the rest of the offensive line and several other players made a run for the border, as in Taco Bell. Imagine the staff's surprise when about 15 big, hungry and celebrating football players walked in after 10 o'clock.

"It was just us O-line guys being pigs and eating."

Michael Friend, Aurora Christian

Oct. 19: Aurora Christian finished off a perfect 9-0 regular season and Friend had a lot to do with it.

In the Eagles' 54-6 victory over Wheaton Academy, Friend should've been wearing teammate Eric Anderson's No. 33 jersey because Friend caught 3 touchdown passes from Jordan Roberts on offense and then did just as well on defense by intercepting 3 passes.

Since he had 3 interceptions and 3 touchdown receptions, it seemed almost poetic for Friend to order a Triple Stack from Wendy's after the game. He didn't do that, but he found himself with some of his other teammates hanging out in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot after their victory.

While their stomachs might've been calling for Baconators, Frostys and items from the Super Value Menu, Friend and some of his teammates tired to soak everything else in. Another victory. A perfect regular season. The upcoming playoffs. Perhaps a state championship. The celebrating continued the next night at coach Don Beebe's where the team ate pizza and learned of their playoff seeding.

Jordan Boser, Geneva

Nov. 2: The 6-foot, 205-pound senior linebacker was part of the Vikings' sack attack as they tossed St. Charles East quarterback Sam Gunther to the turf on 7 occasions in a 35-14 victory in a Class 7A second round playoff game.

"I went out for dinner with Mr. Villarreal," Boser said. "He said if you win I'm buying you pizza."

It was Villarreal's son Dustin, a freshman football player, who tragically passed away in 2006. Dustin's No. 66 remains dear to the entire Geneva program and one has to wonder how much he had to do with Boser's two huge plays, the first, a sack, and the second a 25-yard reception on a 4th-and-4 play that culminated with a Michael Ratay 2-yard run which gave the Vikings the lead for good.