DANVILLE — When B.J. Luke took over the struggling Danville football program at the start of the 2005 season, there was this pesky little kid at every practice and every game. Only in sixth grade at the time, Dennis Hightower had a few years before he could suit up for the Vikings, but he was so enamored with the new coach that he wanted to be around the program and be one of the guys.
"He's been here since the first day I stepped on the practice field," Luke said. "He's a neighborhood kid, little tiny guy that was running around picking up balls and (tackling) dummies and wanting to be the ball boy. He's been to about every practice since I've been here at Danville."
No one, not Luke or Hightower himself, could have anticipated what that little ball boy would become once his turn to suit up for the Vikings came.
As the starting quarterback his junior season, Hightower passed for 1,724 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 1,263 and 21 more scores while leading the Vikings to a 9-0 mark in the regular season and to the Class 6A semifinals. This fall as a senior, Hightower led the area in rushing (1,910), rushing touchdowns (28) and passed for 613 yards with nine touchdowns, leading the Vikings to a 10-2 mark — both losses were by one point — and a berth in the Class 6A quarterfinals. The 5-foot-11 Hightower, who also excelled as a safety, is The News-Gazette's All-Area Player of the Year.
"What I like most about Dennis is he's a kid that when the game is on the line or when it's game time, he's ready to play," Luke said. "He enjoys the game, and he's not one to back away from a challenge. It's always fun for a coach to have a kid like that."
Great athletes always are looking for something to keep them motivated, and their coaches strive to do the same. When Hightower and Luke opened their News-Gazette on the day of the Vikings' season opener against Urbana, player and coach had all the incentive they needed. The Tigers' Cameron Mammen was featured as the Preseason Player of the Year, not Hightower after his sterling junior campaign.
"That was all I needed right there," Hightower said.
"It probably got me more fired up than it did him," Luke said. "Good Lord, my kid threw for 1,700 yards, rushed for 1,300, he was responsible for 40-some touchdowns. That's a pretty good kid coming back."
As the season continued, Normal West quarterback Alex Jefferson was dominating the talk in Big 12 circles, even though Hightower was posting his gaudy stats while fighting through the pain caused by a separated shoulder — he missed one game — and continuing to win games.
"I don't think he likes being put on the shelf, I'll tell you that," Luke said.
But when it was all said and done, it was Hightower who received the most votes for the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Year and his team went deepest in the playoffs. It's a ride Hightower and the folks in Danville won't soon forget.
"It's been pretty good. I was around when Danville wasn't very good, the 1-8 Danville teams," Hightower said. "When Coach Luke came around, we turned it around, and instead of being a 1-8 team, we're an 8-1 team and we were 9-0 last year. I wanted to be a part of it because I just knew his game plan was going to work, and I grew up watching him and how things were going around him and I just picked things up as I went. Now, I know exactly what to do and when to do it because of Coach Luke."
What the future holds for Hightower remains to be seen. He's currently working through some academic issues that might force him to attend a junior college to start his career, though he has generated interest from Division I programs as a defensive back.
"The first two years, it was all about sports," Hightower said. "Now, I'm focused on school and not just sports like I used to be. I've turned it around a lot. This year and last year I've been on top of (the academics)."
However things turn out, Luke is confident that given the opportunity to showcase his skills at the highest level, Hightower will come out on top.
"I like him because he's such a gamey kid. I think he can play a lot of places and do some things for folks," Luke said. "He's a kid who's been responsible for like 83 touchdowns over the past couple years, and he wants to play defense. That's just his nature. He's about as tough as they come, and he doesn't get credit for that a lot of times."
Elite company
Dennis Hightower makes it two Vikings in a row to win All-Area Player of the Year. A look:
YEAR NAME SCHOOL
2011 Dennis Hightower Danville
2010 Justin March Danville
2009 Dylan Sturgeon Unity
2008 Andrew Brewer Mahomet-Seymour
2007 Caleb Pratt Westville
2006 Mikel Leshoure Centennial
2005 Henry Deters Unity
2004 Preston Williams III Urbana
2003 Dylan Ward Prairie Central
2002 J Leman Champaign Central
2001 Marquis Johnson Centennial
2000 Morris Virgil Urbana
1999 Brian Royse St. Joseph-Ogden
1998 Dustin Ward Centennial
1997 Dusty Burk Tuscola
1996 Dusty Burk Tuscola
1995 Curtis Blanden Danville
1994 Lenny Willis Centennial
1993 Chris Jones Paxton-Buckley-Loda
1992 Juan Herrera Arcola
1991 Carl Brown Villa Grove
1990 Andy Schofield Danville
1989 Jimmy Phillips Georgetown-Ridge Farm
1988 Jeff Taylor Rantoul
1987 Adon Navarette Rantoul
N-G All-Area first team
Offense
NAME SCHOOL YR. POS. HT. WT. COACH
Dennis Hightower Danville Sr. QB 5-11 185 B.J. Luke
Philip Meyer Tuscola Sr. QB 5-10 180 Rick Reinhart
Michael Lafenhagen Unity Sr. RB 5-10 195 Scott Hamilton
Chase Diedrich Mahomet-S. Sr. RB 6-1 185 Keith Pogue
J.J. Gardner GCMS Sr. OL 6-0 260 Mike Allen
Matt Wiemelt Cerro Gordo/D-W Sr. OL 5-11 190 Andy Kerley
Marty Thomas Arcola Sr. OL 6-0 205 Gerald Temples
John Strauser St. Thomas More Jr. OL 6-2 225 Dan Hennessey
Robert Lopez Tuscola Sr. OL 5-11 210 Rick Reinhart
Kevin Carroll St. Thomas More Jr. WR 6-0 170 Dan Hennessey
Adam Baker Bismarck-H. Sr. WR 6-1 170 Mark Dodd
Pedro Leal Arcola Sr. PK 5-10 145 Gerald Temples
Ryan Donohue Monticello Jr. Spec. 6-1 210 Cully Welter
Defense
NAME SCHOOL YR. POS. HT. WT. COACH
Aaron Hardimon Danville Jr. DL 6-0 271 B.J. Luke
Zak Kaesberg Mahomet-S. Sr. DL 6-1 251 Keith Pogue
Lonnie Fourman Unity Sr. DL 6-1 175 Scott Hamilton
T.J. Onstott Tuscola Sr. LB 5-9 195 Rick Reinhart
Kyle Negangard Unity Sr. LB 6-0 205 Scott Hamilton
Reed Collins Bismarck-H. Sr. LB 6-0 190 Mark Dodd
Hans Carmien Fisher Jr. LB 6-2 220 Matt Leng
T.J. Blake Tri-County Sr. LB 6-0 225 Adam Clapp
Fletcher Evans Centennial Jr. LB 6-3 215 Mike McDonnell
David Sacre Salt Fork Sr. DB 6-1 165 Brian Plotner
Marcus Hendricks Urbana Sr. DB 6-1 160 Nathan Watson
Jesse Boma GCMS Jr. DB 5-10 170 Mike Allen
Mitchell Baker Champ. Central Sr. P 6-2 195 Ira Jefferson
N-G All-Area second team
Offense
NAME SCHOOL YR. POS. HT. WT. COACH
Terry Deaville Rantoul Sr. QB 6-1 165 Shane Carter
Taylor Black Unity Sr. QB 6-0 190 Scott Hamilton
William Morris Danville Jr. RB 5-7 180 B.J. Luke
Shane Overshiner Westville Jr. RB 5-11 160 Guy Goodlove
Conner Stewart St. Thomas More Sr. OL 6-0 220 Dan Hennessey
Danny Shroyer Unity Sr. OL 6-3 240 Scott Hamilton
Skyler Knox Tri-County Sr. OL 6-2 260 Adam Clapp
Luke Roush Mahomet-Seymour Sr. OL 6-2 255 Keith Pogue
Jacob McBride Danville Sr. OL 6-0 279 B.J. Luke
Jordan Scribner Tuscola Sr. WR 6-2 170 Rick Reinhart
Jamir Stovall Champaign Central Sr. WR 6-0 170 Ira Jefferson
Cody Payne Unity Jr. PK 5-10 155 Scott Hamilton
Ryan Strange Oakwood/A-P Sr. Spec. 5-6 165 Gary Denhart
Defense
NAME SCHOOL YR. POS. HT. WT. COACH
Morgan Supergan Bismarck-Henning Jr. DL 6-2 280 Mark Dodd
Josh Warren Monticello Sr. DL 6-4 215 Cully Welter
Derek Bunch Mahomet-Seymour Sr. DL 5-9 250 Keith Pogue
Andy Bensyl St. Joseph-Ogden Sr. LB 5-9 190 Dick Duval
Ryan Pearce Villa Grove Jr. LB 6-0 175 Chad Musselman
Austin Blair Watseka Jr. LB 5-9 175 Steve Lucas
Shane Bruning LeRoy Jr. LB 6-1 185 B.J. Zeleznik
Jacob Williams Monticello Sr. LB 5-8 175 Cully Welter
Kyle Dollahon Mahomet-Seymour Sr. LB 5-9 170 Keith Pogue
Brad Wright Champaign Central Sr. DB 5-9 175 Ira Jefferson
Cameron Mammen Urbana Jr. DB 6-1 175 Nathan Watson
Ryan Dieu Georgetown-RF/C Sr. DB 6-0 165 Josh Cavanaugh
Addison Bounds Prairie Central Jr. P 6-3 185 Brian Hassett
Special mention
ARCOLA — Clayton Johnson, Sr., WR; Zach Moutria, So., LB; Cole O’Rourke, Sr., WR; Jared Peters, Jr., OL; Quinton Risley, Jr., OL; Andres Rojas, Jr., DL; Omar Rojas, Jr., RB; Hector Salinas, Sr., DB; Jose Tamez, Jr., SB; Brook Van Gundy, Jr., LB
ARGENTA-OREANA — Ryan Barnes, Sr., RB; Cam Cripe, Sr., OL; Ryan Redpath, Jr., PK; Kyle Stinson, Sr., LB; Dylan Sunderland, Sr., P
ARTHUR-LOVINGTON — Jake LaGrou, Jr., DL; Curtis Plank, Sr., WR; Tyler Schuring, Fr., QB
BISMARCK-HENNING — Kevin Allen, Jr., LB; Josh Kessler, Sr., DL; Joey Moulton, Sr., OL; Austin Reinken, Jr., DE; Sam Shoaf, Sr., LB; Seth Talbott, Sr., PK; Chase Whorrall, Sr., DB
BLUE RIDGE — Johnny Bruden, Jr., QB; Trenor Hildreth, Sr., LB; Jordan Schrock, Sr., P; Devin Voyles, Sr., OL
CENTENNIAL — Jalen Anderson, Sr., DB; Will James, Sr., OL
CERRO GORDO/DeLAND-WELDON — Cole Blickensderfer, So., P; Jordan Crist, Jr., LB; Kyle Gideon, Jr., LB; Kaleb Krigbaum, Sr., DB; Kybric Lamb, Jr., OL; Bailey Runyen, Jr., OL; Darion Woods, So., RB; Cody Woollen, Sr., RB
CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL — Noah Lessaris, Sr., OL; Tim Turner, Jr., RB
DANVILLE — Devin Lewis, Sr., LB; Jon Lomax, Jr., OL; Dennis Rose, Sr., OL; Guy Rowell, Sr., LB; Trent Sherfield, So., DB
EAST CENTRAL — Cole Board, Jr., DL; Colin Daly, Sr., RB; D.J. Robertson, Jr., P
FISHER — Dylan Chapman, Sr., TE; Boyd Estes, Sr., DB; Carson Perrero, Sr., RB; Parker Perrero, Sr., DB; Josh Wallick, So., OL
GEORGETOWN-RIDGE FARM/CHRISMAN — Ryan Berry, Jr., WR; James Dailey, Sr., OL; Tanner Kelley, Sr., LB; Evan Oleson, Jr., DL; Derrick Shuman, Jr., DL; Korie Vire, Sr., LB
GIBSON CITY-MELVIN-SIBLEY — Lane Ferguson, Sr., OL; Jake Johnson, Sr., PK; Jordyn Schultz, Jr., RB; Trevor Smith, Sr., RB
HOOPESTON AREA — Zach Drollinger, Sr., LB; Alex Golladay, Jr., OL; Robbie Irvin, Sr., RB; Terrence Poke, Sr., QB; Matt Watson, Sr., DL
IROQUOIS WEST — DeMory Barber, Sr., OL; Tyler Clay, Sr., LB; Matt Mogged, Sr., QB
LeROY — Shane Bruning, Jr., LB; Austin Eddy, Jr., RB; Dusty Lane, Sr., OL; John Morrell, Sr., DL; Nic Stevens, Jr., PK; Tyler Woolridge, Sr., DL
MAHOMET-SEYMOUR — Austin Armetta, Sr., DB; Jacob Eckhoff, Sr., DE; Brad Izatt, Sr., QB; Clay Kibler, Sr., WR; Marshall Graham, Sr., DB; Jon Reed, Jr., OL; Garret Risley, Sr., DB; Matt Turner, Jr., TE
MILFORD/CISSNA PARK — Beau Anderson, Jr., DB; Jacob Gullquist, Sr., TE; Travis McKay, Sr., OL; Eron Marquez, Sr., RB
MONTICELLO — Drew Benson, Sr., OL; Ramsey Hoss, Sr., DB; Colton Gibson, So., TE; Scott Huisinga, Sr., WR; Brendan Menacher, So., DL; Vinny Strack, Jr., DB
OAKWOOD/ARMSTRONG-POTOMAC — Craig Ayers, Jr., LB; Hunter Tharp, Jr., DE; Cameron Lee, Sr., OL
PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA — Dylan Kingren, Sr., OL; Gauge Snider, Sr., TE; Weston Weber, So., QB; Dakota Zenner, Sr., DB
PRAIRIE CENTRAL — Lucas Diller, Sr., OL; Cole Fairley, So., LB; Tyler Keneipp, Jr., OL; Brad Moody, Sr., WR; Kyle Moody, Jr., WR; Peter Severson, Jr., DE
RANTOUL — Jackson Carver, Sr., DB; Cord Church, Jr., WR; Chris Deaville, Jr., WR; Darian Dorsey, Sr., LB; DeAndre Green, Sr., DE
RIDGEVIEW — Tyler Maxwell, Sr., DL; Bryce Powell, Sr., WR; Ben Tracy, Sr., WR; Josh Weier, Jr., P
SALT FORK — Drew Collom, Jr., OL; Adam Depratt, Sr., DL; Brandon Dixon, Sr., RB; Ryland Fluhr, Sr., DB; Grant Ford, Sr., DL; Taylor Kirby, So., DB; Clay Manning, Sr., LB; Steven Meade, So., LB; Austin Ringus, So., PK; Ryan Schonert, Sr., DE; Kaleb Weaver, Sr., WR
SCHLARMAN — Tyler Russell, Sr., RB; Maher Samawi, Jr., TE; Michael Seilhymer, Sr., OL; Lucas Spezia, Sr., WR
SOUTH PIATT — Corey Garrett, Sr., PK; Phil Irace, Sr., OL; Steve Isbell, So., WR; Andrew Maltby, Jr., DL; Ethan Morton, So., P; C.J. Somers, Jr., RB; Andy Webb, Jr., LB
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN — Corbin Hesterberg, Jr., DB; Blake Hoveln, Sr., QB; Dylan Troyer, Sr., WR
ST. THOMAS MORE — Paul Comet, Sr., RB; Travis Whitley, Sr., OL; C.J. Young, Sr., LB
SULLIVAN/OKAW VALLEY — Alex Bailey, Sr., OL; Kent Hanson, Sr., DB; Bailey Matheson, Jr., DL; Caden May, Jr., RB; Mason Ohm, Sr., OL; Jacob Vail, Jr., LB
TRI-COUNTY — Tanner Bodle, Sr., RB; Luke Clapp, Jr., QB; Doug Findley, Sr., WR; Dakota Kirchner, Sr., DB; Brandon Walsh, Sr., OL
TUSCOLA — Josh Brookins, Sr., RB; Dillon Hoel, Sr., WR; Jimmy Knight, Sr., WR; Chance Little, Sr., LB; Austin Sexson, Sr., LB; Nolan Walsh, Jr., DB
UNITY — Tyler Bialeschki, Sr., TE; Gage Bolt, Jr., OL; Austin Fender, Sr., LB; Micah Johnson, Jr., WR; Mitch Negangard, Sr., LB; Kendall Neverman, Sr., OL: Seth Tolliver, Sr., DB
URBANA — DeAngelo Johnson, Sr., RB; Mustafa Odeh, Jr., OL; Jerrod Webster, Sr., LB
VILLA GROVE — Travis Arnold, Sr., DB; Shane Frick, Jr., LB; Dillon Frost, Sr., OL
WATSEKA — Daulton DePatis, Jr., DB; Brock Myers, Jr., DL; Caleb Parsons, Sr., DB; Logan Schippert, Jr., DL; Dylan Schuler, Sr., LB; Shane Snyder, Sr., QB; Jeff Ward, Sr., OL
WESTVILLE — Kane Atwood, Sr, DE; Trae Ford, Sr., OL; Brett Hayes, Sr., DL; Dalton Hilligoss, So., DB; Jon Hoepner, Sr., LB; Ethan Novick, Sr., P; Ryan Pinter, Sr., OL; Zach Waclaw, Sr., WR
Final N-G Top 10
SCHOOL (previous) REC. COMMENT
1. Tuscola (3) 11-3 Top two rushers, two of top three receivers were seniors
2. Unity (2) 11-2 Top two rushers, two of top three receivers were seniors
3. Danville (1) 10-2 One of top two rushers, top three receivers were juniors
4. Arcola (4) 8-4 Top two rushers underclassmen, top two receivers were seniors
5. Bismarck-Henning (5) 9-2 Two of top three rushers, top three receivers were seniors
6. Monticello (6) 7-4 Two of top three rushers, two of top three receivers were underclassmen
7. GCMS (7) 8-3 Two of top three rushers, top three receivers were seniors
8. Prairie Central (8) 7-4 Top three rushers, top three receivers were underclassmen
9. Salt Fork (9) 9-1 Top three rushers, top three receivers were seniors
10. Mahomet-S. (10) 8-2 Two of top three rushers, two of top three receivers were seniors
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