Aerial partnership helps Hersey soar into postseason

The quarterback-receiver combination of Jack Warner-to-Eddie Miklasz has taken Hersey to new heights.

The pair has combined 52 times this season for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns. And that air show has helped lead Hersey into the state playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Huskies meet Fenwick at 7 p.m. Friday at Elmhurst College in a Class 7A matchup.

“They have been phenomenal,” Hersey coach Dragan Teonic said. “Waner has got better and better with each game. And with a guy like Miklasz to throw to, it really helps.”

Warner, who has 135 completions for 1,922 yards and 19 touchdowns, has shown great poise in his first year as varsity quarterback. He has leaned on Miklasz for many of his big plays, but Tyndale Dahnweih as well as Matt Polinski and Cole Monckton have also stepped up for the Huskies when called on.

“We have Miklasz and Tyndale (Dahnweih) making some pretty good catches and running really good routes,” Warner said. “The O-line has done a great job of pass blocking, especially the past few week. I think the play calling has helped as well.”

Warner credits his offensive line of Chris Collins, Joey Bellafiore, George Vladimirov, Pat Flynn, Tyler Masini and sophomore Spencer Krueger for the time he needs to throw the ball.

“They have really had my back all year,” said Warner, who has thrown just 6 interceptions all season. “With that extra time I have I can make better decisions They are the reason I am completing all those passes.”

One of those decisions is to find Miklasz, who didn’t play youth football but honed his skills when he reached Hersey. He met Miklasz the first week of practice and the two have been together since.

“It is just a combination that we have been working on together since freshman year,” Miklasz said. “We didn’t go to the same grammar school, but we have become good friends.”

That friendship has translated even more to the football field.

“We just execute,” Miklasz said. “We just know when we come up to the line if it will work or not. When you get up to the line, you know you are going to get a touchdown on that play.”

Warner says that confidence comes from good preparation.

“We are prepared,” Warner said. “We know when to throw it and where to throw it. It comes a lot from the coaching staff preparing us.”

“It has all been like that,” Miklasz said. “It just has shown even more the last few weeks.”

Those past few weeks have been rock solid for Hersey, Warner and Miklasz. During that span, the Huskies threw for 830 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Miklasz was on the receiving end of most of those passes, hauling in 25 receptions for 551 yards and 7 touchdowns.

“He is the go-to guy,” Warner said. “Not a lot of DB’s can cover him. I trust him that when I throw him the ball he will go and get it. He runs great routes and he is fast. I trust him.”

Warner and Miklasz will need to be at their best Friday. It is a challenge they both of been looking forward to.

“The whole school is excited,” Miklaz said. “We have put a lot of hard work into this season and we don’t want it to end.”

“I am proud of what we are doing,” Warner said. “It has been going great so far. “

Teonic says that the excitement has been building for the past few years.

“We have been on this trek for the past couple of years,” Teonic said. “We have come close the past years. But this group dedicated themselves and their hard work has paid off. This year’s team wants to take that next step.”