Red Devils' Linebacking Trio Keeps Foes in Line

Keith Hahn, Jake Knowles and Pat Foley have known each other since they were teammates on the Hinsdale Falcons' travel team in the eighth grade.

Here's a timeline as to how they met:

"I moved here in the seventh grade (from St. Louis)," Knowles recalls, "and they were both on my eighth-grade team (the Falcons)."

"I met Jake in seventh grade during basketball," Hahn says, "and I met Pat in eighth grade during football."

"Yeah, eighth-grade football," Foley laughs. "We had a dynasty. Knowles is a stud. Hahn and me were small, but we got better and our team was awesome!"

Fast-forward five years. They're now seniors at Hinsdale Central. They're still together, playing football. They're all linebackers. And they make life difficult for opposing ballcarriers.

Granted, Wheaton Warrenville South, which knocked off Hinsdale Central in the season's opener, looks to pass first with University of Illinois-bound quarterback Reilly O'Toole. But there's something to be said for holding the defending Class 7A state champions to 33 yards rushing.

"Wheaton threw a lot, but we shut down the run," Knowles says.

The Red Devils are 1-2 heading into Friday's West Suburban Silver game at Lyons Township. After shutting out Proviso East 28-0 in Week 2, Hinsdale Central's usually potent run defense had a tough evening against powerful Glenbard West last Friday. The Hilltoppers rushed for over 200 yards in their 28-7 victory.

However, there remains reason for optimism since Hinsdale Central's losses came at the hands of two state-ranked teams. Wheaton South and Glenbard West are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the Associated Press Class 7A state poll.

"We've got some good linebackers, and some big boys up front," says Foley, who intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown versus Proviso East.

Hahn, Knowles and Foley also serve as co-captains for head coach Mike DiMatteo's Red Devils. It's a responsibility they take seriously.

Part of their duties, Hahn notes, is to keep the team focused at practice.

"If the team is having a down day at practice, making them stay focused," he says, "and make sure they don't take it easy."

"Everyone looks up to you," Foley add. "I remember kids (on the team) from last year, and I looked up to them. I respected what they said and did. I followed them, and I expect the same (this year)—for us to lead them."

Off the field, the trio hangs out together, doing what most teenage guys do.

"We watch movies; we watch Entourage a lot, and we play some pickup games (in various sports)," Hahn says.

"We play video games—Madden, Tiger Woods. We hang out on the weekends. We call each other some names … maybe (I better) not bring (those names) up in public," Knowles says, laughing. "But we've got some names."

"We chill out on the weekends," Foley says, "so it's awesome getting to know each other even more."

Their tight-knit bond serves them well on the gridiron, too.

"We know how we play," says Knowles, who also is a key player on the offensive side as the team's leading rusher. "We know what we do best and how to react to each other."

Knowles has been on the varsity since his sophomore year. He saw action as a reserve running back in 2008 when the Red Devils marched all the way to the Class 8A state title game. Knowles rejoined forces with Hahn and Foley last fall after each secured a starting spot at linebacker.

The Red Devils finished second in the West Suburban Silver and qualified for the playoffs for the 10th straight season. But Sandburg knocked Hinsdale Central (7-3) out of the playoffs in the first round with a 35-10 victory.

It was the earliest postseason exit for the Red Devils since 1999. And that doesn't sit well with any of the three linebackers, who are bound and determined to make the playoffs and not to allow history to repeat itself in 2010.

"Our goal is to get to the playoffs, and once we get there, win the first game, and then the next game," Knowles says. "But first we've got to get to the playoffs."

"I think last year we were overlooking everyone," Foley says. "We didn't take it week by week, but this year we've got a whole different approach. We've got to make the playoffs first, and then get through the first round, second round and so on.

"I'm motivated to make the playoffs, and then go make it a long run."