Jonas Williams is the biggest high school football star in Illinois. Lincoln-Way East’s USC-bound quarterback is a four-year sensation and has an excellent chance to finish his career with the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in state history.
The Griffins, ranked No. 3 in the preseason Super 25, also return defensive end Jacob Alexander, an Illinois recruit. And they picked up two major transfers, receivers Blaise LaVista (Washington) and Jayden Cawthorn.
Star power is a big deal, but great high school football teams are built with depth. That’s where Lincoln-Way East has always excelled.
Williams and Alexander each referred to their team’s secret strength at practice on Thursday. Williams said, “we have a lot of weapons after the weapons” and Alexander mentioned “our undercover pieces.”
And they have plenty of names ready to go: wide receivers Matt Orban, Jack Murphy and Will Schlinger and defensive linemen Chance Turner and Gage Ladere.
“We are very confident in what we have and how we are building,” Williams said. “There is still a lot more work to be done, but I’m pretty confident in our defense and our offense.”
Griffins coach Rob Zvonar headed into summer camp wondering if it was even possible for Williams to play better than he did last season.
“He’s been so good that I just didn’t know,” Zvonar said. “But he’s bigger, stronger and faster. It’s because he is the opposite of the trend out there. A lot of these kids are older. He just turned 17 in June.”
Williams is currently No. 5 on the Illinois High School Association’s career list with 8,859 passing yards. He’s No. 6 on the passing TDs list with 112.
“His character and his work ethic on and off the field are exceptional, and that comes from his parents,” Zvonar said. “Let’s just face facts. He’s our Michael Jordan. Sometimes Michael willed his team not to lose.”
Lincoln-Way East hasn’t lost a regular season game since Oct. 1, 2021. The Griffins finished second in Class 8A in 2022 and 2023. Loyola, the three-time defending Class 8A state champions, ended Lincoln-Way East’s season the past four years.
After the defeat last year, Zvonar pointed out that the Rambler’s punt team hadn’t taken the field in two entire games against the Griffins.
“And I’m the defensive coach,” Zvonar said. “That is painful. Their plan last year was ball control to keep Jonas off the field and they executed it to a T. They wore us down again.”
The state playoffs are months away, and Lincoln-Way East’s senior leaders appear less Loyola-obsessed than last year’s. But winning a state championship is on their minds.
“The feeling of losing has been eating at me,” Williams said. “That’s the only goal for me this year—to win that state championship for the guys around me.”
@michaelsobriensports Jonas Williams and No. 3 Lincoln-Way East open the season on Aug. 29 at Maine South. #ihsa #football #lincolnwayeast ♬ original sound – michaelsobriensports