Highland Senior Jace Harris Shines in Victory Against Whiting

Highland senior defensive end Jace Harris made a significant impact during the game against Whiting on Friday. He quickly entered the backfield and tackled for a loss during the initial series. On the same possession, the 6-foot, 280-pound Harris demonstrated his defensive skills by pressuring the quarterback, forcing an incomplete pass. ‘I feel like I was doing really well getting off the ball on defense, closing my gap, making those tackles,’ he remarked. ‘I like how my O-line gave it their all, how my D-line gave it their all. It all starts with the line. It all starts in the trenches. It starts with us and ended with us. I’m just trying to do as much as I can for my team.’

Harris’s contributions helped the Trojans secure their first win under interim coach Jimmy McCormack, defeating Whiting with a score of 50-7. Harris, who moved to Highland from Crete-Monee in Illinois, recorded 54 tackles with 12 for loss during his initial season at Highland (1-1) in 2025, earning a spot on the Class 4A junior all-state team. In the game against Whiting (1-1), Harris achieved three tackles for loss. ‘Jace is a great player,’ coach Jimmy McCormack stated. ‘He’s an incredible ballplayer for us. He had a rough start last week against Griffith, as our whole team did. So seeing him come out and be his usual self, come out and bounce back, it’s really nice to see.’

Starting as a backup at Crete-Monee, Harris emerged as an all-conference defensive lineman and added offensive responsibilities last year. ‘It was hard, but it wasn’t too hard to get back into it,’ Harris shared. ‘I had to go into it slow. Coming here, it basically felt like a new life—a good beginning. Transferring last year, coach Mac and coach (Ben) Geffert did a great job helping me adjust. My teammates did a great job too.’

Junior quarterback Aaron McCormack, who scored a touchdown and assisted senior wide receiver Justin Slaven with a touchdown pass, quickly recognized Harris’s contributions. ‘Jace is a great athlete,’ Aaron stated. ‘He’s contributed so much to this program since he joined last year. He’s a big contributor on both sides of the ball. He brings a lot of energy no matter what—practice, weight room. He’s a big part of this program.’

Freshman wide receiver Jonathon Lee made an immediate mark by returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Despite initially mishandling the ball on the left sideline, he maneuvered across the field to score. Lee also caught two passes for 33 yards and turned a short catch into a 31-yard gain.

Whiting managed to score in the fourth quarter through junior quarterback/running back Julian Madrueno’s 76-yard touchdown run, preventing Highland from achieving the shutout. Highland has won all encounters against Whiting since the series resumed in 2021.

Coach Jimmy McCormack, a 2010 Morton graduate and seasoned assistant, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. ‘Honestly, the kids met my expectations,’ he noted. ‘I wanted them to come out and compete for four quarters and do their best to wear our opponent down. The scoreboard indicates we did a nice job. I’m just proud of our guys and the effort they gave for my first win tonight—consistency from start to finish with our physicality up front.’ Harris agreed, concluding, ‘It just feels great. I believed in my team, and they believed in me. When we come together, we do great.’