Setting the table: Versatile linemen have been key to Prospect’s high-scoring offense

An important ingredient to Prospect's high-scoring offense has been a versatile offensive line.

All five starters play multiple sports. Left tackle Danny Simon is a three-year varsity starter on the basketball team, and is planning to play hoops at the Division III college level.

Left guard Owen Dewey is a wrestler who just missed getting downstate last season. Center Liam McDonnell, right guard Benaiah Johanson and right tackle Kevin Meyer throw the shot put or discus in track. McDonnell and Meyer are juniors, the other three are seniors.

After scoring at least 31 points in every game during the regular season, the Knights (10-1) piled up 106 in their first two Class 7A playoff victories. Running back Matthew Donnelly has rushed for more than 400 yards in the postseason alone.

“We encourage all of our boys to play multiple sports,” offensive line coach Tim Beishir said. “I think in competitive situations, that's good for them. Wrestling's hard all the time, and it’s just you. Or Danny knows the pressure of being at the free-throw line in a close game. I do think those moments matter.”

The players talk about how they've built a strong bond over the years, through preparation and friendship.

“We're all moving on one string,” Dewey said. “If someone messes up, we hold them accountable, maybe by yelling at them sometimes, but it's all love deep down. We care for each other.”

Whatever sport they play, offensive linemen usually have one trait in common — they love to eat. Part of the strong bond exists through Monday-night dinners at the home of quarterback Jackson Cacini.

Cacini, an Eastern Illinois commit, is elusive enough to escape pressure if the pass rush slips through. But when he became the starter last year, Cacini realized a quarterback should always appreciate his linemen.

“I was seeing all the stuff online about how NFL guys take care of their offensive linemen, like getting them golf carts or something,” Cacini said. “Obviously, I'm not able to do that. So I thought about having them over for dinner, then it's Monday Night Football. So we get to watch the whole first half of the game together and talk about the week.”

Golf carts have actually become a popular lineman gift among NFL quarterbacks, with Patrick Mahomes and Trevor Lawrence getting the tradition started a few years ago.

Feeding a bunch of offensive linemen can be an intimidating task, but the Cacini family got high marks from their guests for quality and variety. This year, some of the linemen's families offered to host, so now it's usually every other week at the QB's house. Cacini's father Rob explained how it gets done.

“Sometimes we would order something out, like pizza,” Rob Cacini said. “We've done pulled pork, lasagna. I work from home, so I have some flexibility to be able to prep some stuff.

“On the pulled pork, I did it in a slow-cooker. For the lasagna, I made it all on Sunday, so all I had to do was put it in the oven on Monday.”

This past Monday was taco night, ordered from a local restaurant.

“Sitting in the basement, joking around with each other, is the best part,” Simon said. “I have a lot of fun doing that. They feed us well.”

Prospect has the privilege of practicing under the lights, which means they've had a good playoff run. This week brings something different — an overnight trip with a hotel stay when the Knights travel to play a quarterfinal game against powerful East St. Louis (10-1).

The plan is to keep doing what got Prospect this far — work hard and play as a team.

“I think our preparation this year will be put to work on Saturday afternoon,” Meyer said. “I think if we play as a team, we can go in there and take care of business.”