Speed demons: State champs Joshua Franklin, Lynel Billups-Williams and Edward Clark can fly for Crete-Monee. ‘We’re just having fun.’

Quarterback Joshua Franklin, receiver Lynel Billups-Williams and defensive back Edward Clark bring state championship speed to Crete-Monee.

During the spring track season, the senior trio made up three-quarters of the team that won the Class 3A state championship in the 800-meter relay for the Warriors.

Good luck trying to catch them or run away from them on the football field.

“We utilize our speed a lot,” Clark said. “I feel like that’s one of the things that can set us apart from other teams.

“The track championship was a great experience. It really grew a bond within all of us that helps us connect on the football field and makes us better teammates to each other and better leaders.”

Crete-Monee (9-4), which comes in at No. 8 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings, reached the Class 6A state semifinals last season.

The Warriors bring back a good portion of the core of that team, including the duo of Franklin and Billups-Williams that was virtually unstoppable in the passing game.

Franklin, a Western Michigan recruit, threw for 2,165 yards and 23 touchdowns in his first season at quarterback after moving from receiver. He added 869 yards and nine TDs rushing.

Billups-Williams, who is set to be a future Mid-American Conference rival of Franklin’s at Miami of Ohio, hauled in 82 passes for 1,433 yards and 14 TDs.

“We’ve got a good amount of confidence going into this,” Billups-Williams said. “Last year, with it being Josh’s first year at quarterback and us able to do what we did, that just makes me more excited knowing this is our senior year and we’ve still got big things to come.”

Billups-Williams and Franklin had not run track before the shortened 2021 season, so the spring brought their first chance to compete at state. They joined a track veteran in Clark.

With all the teamwork required to make a relay run smoothly — practicing for months on baton exchanges — the trio grew even closer together.

“Pushing each other in track, in those conditions, that helps us come back this summer and be already locked in before the football season even starts,” Franklin said. “We’re already on the same page.

“Those guys are my brothers. We’ve been playing together our whole lives, so right now we’re just having fun and making the best of our high school careers.”

Franklin and Billups-Williams, in particular, have been close their whole lives.

“Me and Lynel have been best friends since we were 2 years old,” Franklin said. “We started playing baseball, basketball, football all together so when we got on the field, we already had that connection.

“We do everything together off the field. Our moms, we basically have the same mom. We’re always at each other’s house.”

Crete-Monee coach John Konecki sees that bond play out on the field.

“The part that is nice about guys who have spent a lot of time together is there are a lot of unspoken things — a look or a glance or a gesture — and they’re on the same page,” Konecki said. “When that happens, you’re in a great spot.”

After getting a taste of going deep into the playoffs last season, the Warriors hope to run all the way to state this year.

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“I know we have a lot to accomplish,” Franklin said. “Me being a four-time starter on varsity, now it’s like I have to run the show. Everybody can count on me and I know what I can do.

“Last year was my first year at quarterback so I was figuring things out, but now I’m locked in and I’m ready.”

Team: Crete-Monee.

2021 record: 9-4.

Offensive leaders: Lynel Billups-Williams, senior, receiver; Joshua Franklin, senior, quarterback; Tyrell Hester, senior, receiver; Vincent Vargas, junior, lineman.

Defensive leaders: Edward Clark, senior, defensive back; Logen Malmgren, senior, lineman; Jamier Miller, senior, defensive back; Kendall Taggart, senior, defensive end.

X-factor: Elijah Grayer, senior, running back/special teams.