Wallace, Tinley Park Football Running Full Steam Ahead

The Tinley Park football team last won a home playoff game in 1993, beating Chicago King 28-18. For a little perspective, Titans running back Gregory Wallace was yet to be birthed.

That’s why Tinley Park’s 35-22 first-round Class 5A playoff win over Grayslake on Saturday night was just a little sweeter for the speedy Wallace.

As a sophomore, Wallace was a contributor to the Titans' 4x100 track relay team that qualified for the IHSA state meet. Now a junior, Wallace helped the Titans advance to the second round of the 5A football playoffs. He rushed for 185 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, showing his signature speed on a 51-yard touchdown run off the right tackle.

“We’ve got lots of big guys on the right side; they blocked great,” Wallace said.  “I picked up some big blocks from our wide receivers, too.”

Grayslake answered with a hard-to-tackle running back of its own. The Rams' Joel Valdivia ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. The second of his two TDs put the Rams up 22-21 with 5:40 left in the third quarter. 

“The coaches asked me who was going to play better, him or me," Wallace said. "I told them it was going to be me, and I made sure it was."

Wallace carried the ball nine times for 54 yards on the Titans' last drive, setting up a Kyle Sheridan 1-yard touchdown run to help the seal the game 35-22. 

The Tinley Park offensive line, led by seniors Larry Lannen, Christopher Clarke, and Zachary Webster, continues to be a strength for the Titans, something not lost on Wallace or their coach, Nick Johnston.

“It all starts up front," Johnston said. "They did a great job when we needed them to come off the ball."

The Titans (8-2) will need their big men again if they hope to advance. Tinley Park will travel to play undefeated Woodstock Marian (10-0) next weekend in the second round of playoff football. Woodstock Marian advanced with a 42-20 victory over Chicago Robeson.

Download the movie