James Skokna waited a while for his turn at suiting up for Hinsdale Central.
The youngest of 10 siblings, all six of Skokna’s older brothers played football.
“I’ve been watching Hinsdale Central football all my life. It’s why I love football so much,” Skokna said. “Growing up I always dreamed of playing for the Red Devils. Now that I’ve got to, it’s nothing short of what I dreamed of.”
Now in his third varsity season, the senior is on track to break every Hinsdale Central receiving record.
“That would be pretty cool but I can’t say I’m too worried about it,” Skokna said. “I’m more worried if the team wins or not. But that would be cool.”
Skokna through two weeks this season has 16 catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns heading into Hinsdale Central’s West Suburban Silver opener against fellow unbeaten Downers Grove North on Friday in Hinsdale.
He had 25 catches for 431 yards and five TDs as a sophomore with 509 yards. Last season, Skokna had 53 catches for 770 yards and six TDs, with 487 return yards.
“He’s so consistent with how he takes care of himself, how he approaches the game. He’s done everything in his power to make his body as strong and physically fit as he can. He’s a workhorse,” Hinsdale Central coach Brian Griffin said. “He’s not flashy about it. He just goes out there, does the work, gets the hard yards and the big plays.”
Growing up, Skokna played running back and cornerback. He switched to receiver in eighth grade and didn’t look back. Skokna lines up split wide or in the slot, returns punts and kicks and will even jump in at cornerback when needed.
“He’s so explosive when he catches the ball,” Griffin said. “It’s the plays he makes beyond running the routes that aren’t coachable that he makes pretty routinely. You get used to it. That is what separates him.”
IC Catholic QB Nate Lang off to flying start
Nate Lang has picked up right where he left off.
IC Catholic Prep’s quarterback threw for over 2,400 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, helping lead the Knights to the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Through two games this fall, Lang has thrown for 527 yards and seven TDs with zero interceptions. IC Catholic, with a large group of returning starters led by Power Four prospect Grant Bowen, is one of nine remaining Catholic League unbeatens.
“I feel like we are really starting to catch a rhythm,” Lang said. “We have a lot of returning starters from last year on both sides of the ball. We’re starting to get back into rhythm.”
Lang completed 69.4% of his passes with just four interceptions as a junior, and is at a 70.8% completion rate so far this year.
“I have a lot of good chemistry with my receivers. They have trust in me and I have trust in them,” Lang said. “That makes my life easier, and knowing I have trust in my coaches that they will dial up the right plays.”
As good as the Knights’ offense was last year, it could be even better now.
Lang was IC Catholic’s leading rusher as a junior, but sophomore Jakobe Baldwin went over 200 yards rushing in the Knights’ season-opening win over Nazareth and is at 9.3 yards per carry through two games.
“It definitely helps a lot,” Lang said. “Jakobe burst onto the scene that first game, surprised a lot of people. I have a lot of confidence in his ability, him and our O-line.”
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