The Chicago Bears are honoring East St. Louis head coach Darren Sunkett as their first High School Coach of the Week and Warren Township running back Aaron Stewart as their initial All-Star Award winner. The awards are presented by Athletico Physical Therapy.
As part of the award programs, the Bears will make a $2,000 donation to the East St. Louis football program and a $500 donation to the youth football program of Stewart’s choice.
Below is what the Bears are saying about the honorees
Darren Sunkett
This past Saturday, Aug. 31, Head Coach Darren Sunkett led his team, the East St. Louis Flyers,
to a decisive 34-7 victory in their home season opener, defeating the two-time defending 8A
state champion Loyola Academy Ramblers from Wilmette. During the game, the Flyers’ defense
took control, holding the Ramblers to under 100 total yards of offense. With this win, the
Flyers snapped the Ramblers’ 16-game winning streak and handed them their first loss since
the 2022 season. Coach Sunkett joined East St. Louis High School as a physical education
teacher and head coach of the Flyers football program in the early 2000s. Over his 24-year
coaching career with the Flyers, Coach Sunkett has amassed more than 218 wins and four state
championships, making him one of the winningest high school coaches in Illinois. Earlier this
year, he was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame
for his outstanding coaching career. The Flyers are scheduled to host the Newton Rams from
Covington, Georgia, in a non-regional home game this upcoming Saturday, Sep. 7.
Editor’s Note: East St. Louis is currently ranked No. 28 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football
Aaron Stewart
This past Friday night, Aug. 30, junior running back Aaron Stewart led the Warren Township
Blue Devils to a hard-fought 55-26 non-conference victory over the Hersey Huskies from
Arlington Heights. Stewart rushed for 361 yards on 30 carries and scored five touchdowns,
including an 83-yard touchdown run. The Blue Devils, who were trailing 20-6 in the second
quarter, scored 43 unanswered points going into the fourth quarter to secure the win.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times high school football preseason rankings, the Warren
Township Blue Devils are ranked 7th overall in the Illinois Power 25. This strong preseason
ranking gives the football program a solid start to the season as they look to build on their
early success. The Blue Devils are scheduled to play at Maine-South High School in Park Ridge
this upcoming Friday night, Sept. 6.
About Boys High School Coach of the Week & High School All-Star
The Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week program was launched in 1996 and High School All-Star program in 2011. The High School Coach of the Week program honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline and teamwork abilities. The nomination criteria for the High School All-Star program includes on-field performance, community involvement and good sportsmanship. Exceptional high school coaches and players who go beyond expectations are nominated by a panel of local high school sports journalists. The winning candidates are chosen each week for the 2024 IHSA football season. Since the program’s inception, the Chicago Bears have donated more than $391,500 to Illinois high schools in support of their football programs. For more information, please visit ChicagoBears.com/Community/High-School-Football.
