Myles Ellis Delivers Historic Performance as Homewood-Flossmoor Edges Lockport in IHSA Football Thriller!

In a night that will be etched into the annals of Illinois high school football, Myles Ellis, the dynamic senior quarterback for Homewood-Flossmoor, orchestrated a masterful comeback, leading his team to a nail-biting 28-21 victory over a formidable Lockport squad. The IHSA clash, held under Friday night lights on September 13, 2025, at Homewood-Flossmoor’s packed stadium, was a spectacle of grit, strategy, and pure athletic brilliance.

From the opening kick-off, it was clear this would be no ordinary contest.

Lockport, known for its tenacious defense and relentless ground game, jumped out to an early lead, silencing the home crowd with two quick touchdowns in the first quarter. Their running back, a powerhouse senior, consistently broke tackles, putting the Vikings on their heels. Homewood-Flossmoor struggled to find their rhythm, with several promising drives stalling due to Lockport's suffocating pressure.

But champions are forged in adversity, and the Vikings, spurred on by the unwavering leadership of Ellis, began to claw their way back.

Just before halftime, Ellis, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities, broke free for a spectacular 60-yard touchdown run, weaving through defenders and igniting a spark in his teammates and the raucous crowd. The score stood at 14-7 Lockport at the break, but the momentum had visibly shifted.

The second half was a breathtaking display of back-and-forth action.

Homewood-Flossmoor's defense, revitalized, tightened its grip, forcing key turnovers and giving Ellis more opportunities. Ellis, in turn, delivered. He connected on a crucial deep pass to wide receiver Jamal Banks, setting up another touchdown run, this time a powerful plunge from two yards out, tying the game at 14-14 in the third quarter.

Lockport, however, refused to yield, responding with another methodical drive that culminated in a short touchdown run, reclaiming the lead 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.

The tension was palpable; every play felt like it could decide the game. With under five minutes left and trailing by seven, Myles Ellis took the field for what would be the defining drive of his season.

Starting from their own 20-yard line, Ellis was a maestro, calmly dissecting Lockport's defense.

He mixed precise short passes with daring scrambles, converting multiple crucial third downs. With just over a minute left, facing a fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Ellis dropped back, evaded a blitzing linebacker, and threaded a perfect pass to tight end Marcus Reed in the corner of the end zone.

The stadium erupted! With the extra point, the game was tied at 21-21.

But Ellis wasn't finished. On the ensuing kickoff, Homewood-Flossmoor executed a perfectly placed onside kick, which was recovered by an alert special teams player. With less than a minute on the clock, Ellis sprinted out of bounds to stop the clock, then, on the very next play, launched a deep Hail Mary from midfield.

The ball sailed through the night sky, finding the hands of a leaping Jamal Banks in the end zone as time expired. The crowd exploded into pandemonium, rushing the field to celebrate an improbable 28-21 victory.

Myles Ellis finished the night with three rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and over 350 total yards, cementing his legacy as a true game-changer.

This thrilling win not only boosts Homewood-Flossmoor's IHSA standing but also serves as a testament to the team's resilience and their star quarterback's extraordinary ability to perform under immense pressure.