Tahmir Ellis of Plainfield is one of several 2021 senior Cardinals’ to be playing in college this year. Ellis says last year felt like the start of something good for Plainfield football. (submitted photo)
It’s been a decade since Plainfield won more than two games in a season, and as long since they last beat Westfield in their annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry.
They didn’t beat the Blue Devils last year, but they did something else big, going .500 for the first time since 2005.
James Williams, now in his second year as head coach, didn’t reinvent the wheel. he worked with what he had. A bunch of kids who don’t get enough credit for their grades, or skill on the field. He put them in different positions to give them the best chance to succeed.
The result was a 5-5 season that has the Cardinals who didn’t graduate believing in themselves heading into 2022. And believe, they should.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Plainfield head coach James Williams about the Cardinals’ success in 2021, and their goals for 2022: