By Bill Figel 

With its first road victory for new Leo Catholic High School football coach Theo Hopkins in the rear view mirror, the Lions and their faithful alumni travel to their new home field Saturday against Amundsen at St. Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd Street in Chicago for a 4:30 kickoff.

While the anticipation of playing on a university field has been building with coaches, players, students and alums for some time, one administrator at Leo will be more energized than most.

Jim Prunty, vice president of athletics, negotiated with the St. Xavier administration to play Leo’s home games on the Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field, a picturesque outdoor facility, which features FieldTurf’s most updated, state-of-the art playing surface. St. Xavier administration credits its former football alums and its major donors for the financial commitments required to bring enhancements to the facility, including a new running track and a new entranceway.

“We at Leo are honored to be St. Xavier’s guest,” said Prunty. “ We have Leo alums currently attending as students at this historic Chicago university and hope to see more student athletes in uniform in years to come.”

Prunty went on to thank St. Rita High School for hosting many Leo home games over the last several years and working around the Mustang home schedule to do so. Even Mount Carmel — during the Frank Lenti coaching era — accommodated Leo with a few home games while the Caravan wore their road uniforms.

“The Catholic League takes care of its own, and we think every coach and player will relish playing on a college football field in a beautiful South side neighborhood,” said Prunty. “With a surplus of parking on site, it’s a college football atmosphere and sprawling campus for our fellow Catholic Leaguers.”

With Leo’s Centennial celebration looming in 2026, Leo’s alumni are expected to fill the university field stands along with students, friends to Leo and every opponent’s fan base.

“We had a great relationship with St. Rita for those years they accommodated our players and many fans, and we expect the same going forward at St. Xavier,” said Dan McGrath, Leo president.  “We think it’ll be a great atmosphere and hope area grade school players will bike over to watch us play.”

Leo’s victory last Saturday — a striking 46-2 victory over Dunbar — has early bandwagon implications.

Leo’s last state playoff appearance was in the 2013 Class 1A state semifinal, a connection Hopkins knows too well. The two-way star was a senior on that Leo team that advanced all the way to a Class 1A semifinal.

Players credit their new coach with instilling “chemistry” while Hopkins points to “discipline” as the other intangible.

“It’s all on them – the players,” said Hopkins, returning the praise to his young team. “They came out (against Dunbar) locked in and played hard.”

Leo (1-0) will need much of the same as the schedule picks up steam with another non-conference opponent, Amundsen High School, Saturday. Amundsen won by forfeit last week.

Leo is in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference-Red with Marmion, De La Salle and Marian Catholic. After its second nonconference game Saturday, the Lions will have conference crossovers with St. Patrick, St. Laurence, St. Rita and Notre Dame.

The Lions are led on offense by Chase Jordan and sophomore quarterback Trent Watson.

Jordan, a senior track star, finished with 107 yards on seven carries and three touchdowns in the Dunbar opener.
Watson showed composure beyond his years throughout the Dunbar win, running a discipline offense and turning quarterback draw into for a 22-yard TD.

The Lions return from last year’s squad senior defensive back/ wide receiver Jaivon Dale, sophomore linebacker/running back Rob Cunningham III, senior quarterback/wide receiver Derrick Davis, junior defensive lineman Daquan Brumfield and junior linebacker/running back Jubril Kannike.

Sophomore running back Ellison Cox showed promise gaining 53 yards on six carries against Dunbar.

Hopkins will continue on his path of “conditioning and sound fundamentals” and making sure anything his players witness on the field, “they’ve seen before in practice.”

Leo hosts non-conference opponent, Amundsen High School, Saturday, September 6^th with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at St. Xavier.

 All home games will be at St. Xavier University – 3700 W. 103rd Street, Chicago.