For most of this fall, Talan White was having the time of his life at Lincoln-Way East.
The senior receiver transferred in from Marist and enjoyed being at the top of the rankings as the Griffins were just about everyone’s No. 1 team in Class 8A throughout the entire season.
“It’s a great experience to be here,” White said. “The community and everyone here at this school amazes me. The teammates. The coaches. Everything is amazing.”
White was amazing during the first half Saturday night in front of an estimated crowd of 5,500 before the Griffins lost 27-24 to nemesis Loyola in a Class 8A state semifinal game in Frankfort.
After turning a short pass from Oregon recruit Jonas Williams into a 72-yard touchdown, White caught another pass in the end zone for the Griffins (12-1), who were riding high with a 13-3 lead.
Lincoln-Way East clung to a 16-13 halftime lead before Loyola (11-2), the two-time defending state champions, roared back in the second half. The Ramblers will play at 7 p.m. Saturday against York (11-2) for the state championship at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
White, who was emotional after the game, was able to look back fondly on his two scoring plays.
“On that first one, it was a play we practiced all week,” White said. “I used my speed and agility to catch the ball and used my speed to score. On the second touchdown, it was man-on-man.
“if it’s man-on-man, I’m going to beat you all the time.”
Williams, meanwhile, completed 14 of 26 passes for 278 yards and three TDs. White finished with four catches for 99 yards and a 2-point conversion catch. Western Michigan recruit Zion Gist, who is picking up late interest from Michigan State, caught a 27-yard TD pass late in the game.
Ryan Fitzgerald — the son of former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, who starred as a linebacker at Sandburg — threw for 237 yards and two TDs and ran for 69 yards to lead Loyola.
Williams, only a junior, said he will miss throwing to White.
“He’s a great player and he’s my best friend,” Williams said of White. “He’s my brother off the field. He’s a baller on the field and is a next-level kid. This isn’t the end of his career.”
The Griffins scoring two TDs in the first quarter had the home side of the stadium rocking.
“He came out on fire,” Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said of White. “He’s an incredible player, and we were blessed to have him this year. He’s electrifying and can make you miss in a phone booth. He has incredible ball skills and is a bighearted, wonderful young man.
“He’s going to make a college coach really happy.”
There are some people who aren’t happy about the Ramblers and Griffins facing off in the playoffs four straight times. The last two years saw the same scenario play out, much to the frustration Lincoln-Way East, as the Griffins took 13-0 records into the state final only to lose both times.
And now, add to that list another loss.
White, though, said he has offers from a group of school that includes Eastern Michigan, Indiana State, Kent State, Western Illinois and Grand Valley State. He hopes to make a decision soon.
White wants to go on to college and make his family proud, especially his father, Jujuan Hatch.
“He’s my hero,” Talan said of this dad. “He was a good high school player in Buffalo and he got me into the sport when I was 5 or 6.
“I love the sport because it has really made me a better person in life, off the field and on the field.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
