Randall McDonald to Myles Ellis connection sparkles as Homewood-Flossmoor shuts out Marian Catholic
It's not hard to figure out why Homewood-Flossmoor teammates Randall McDonald and Myles Ellis are usually on the same page.
McDonald, the Vikings' senior quarterback, and Ellis, the junior leader of a deep receiver group, spend plenty of time building chemistry all year round.
That showed on Saturday afternoon, when McDonald passed for 306 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-0 shutout of Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights.
Ellis caught six passes for 158 yards and a TD, while Jayden Banks had four receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Arthur McKnight had the other TD catch for H-F (2-0).
"Our receiver corps is very strong," McDonald said. "So when we are all getting it together, everybody's getting a piece of it.
"Myles Ellis, he's definitely a hard worker. We're both [state-qualifying] hurdlers in track, so we're on the same page as far as everything even in the offseason."
Ellis has the same comfort level because of the time he puts in wth McDonald.
"It's just working with each other outside of practice," Ellis said. "It's just trusting our team and the process and thinking it's going to work."
Not being the sole focus of the H-F offense is fine with Ellis. The Vikings also have a capable running back in Michael Terrell, who had 12 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown on Saturday, along with multiple options in the passing game.
"It does make it a lot easier on me," Ellis said. "Knowing that even if I'm getting [double-teamed] we still have Arthur, we have Banks, we have [Caden] Levy still. And any day, any one of them can also be getting doubled. So it doesn't really matter [who's open]. It makes it harder on defenses to guard us."
H-F coach Terrell Alexander likes the development of his passing game.
"It just gives us a threat downfield," he said. "[Opponents] have to keep their safeties high, they can't get them in the run game as much as they would want to. And we try to make sure we're keeping our eyes on that and taking advantage when we can."
Ellis has three state medals in track, including a Class 3A runner-up finish in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles last spring. That speed translates well to football, especially after McDonald gets him the ball in space.
"We always take pride in yards after the catch," Ellis said. "We make it easier on Randall, actually. If he can get it out to us quick, we just handle the rest."
The Vikings have a Big Ten recruit on defense in lineman Cameron Brooks, an Illinois commit. Ellis and McDonald also are on recruiters' radar. Ellis has three Division I offers and is talking to such Power Four programs as Michigan State, Purdue and West Virginia. McDonald has a Valparaiso offer and is in contact with Illinois State and Western Michigan, among others.
But both Vikings currently are focusing on taking the next step after finishing 5-5 and losing their Class 8A postseason opener last year.
"Going far in the playoffs ... is our goal right now," McDonald said. "Everybody's working inside and [outside] of football as far as being in the weight room, being in the classroom, handling yourself the right way."