IC Catholic football player Khalil Saunders is the Athlete of the Week sponsored by Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group

Khalil Saunders

IC Catholic Prep

Football

Sophomore

What he did: Saunders had a tackle and fumble recovery on defense and a 29-yard reception on offense as the Knights topped Fenton 49-0 on Oct. 21 for their first 9-0 season.

Keeping a team off the scoreboard in football is no easy task. Khalil Saunders and his IC teammates just make it look that way. The Knights put up their sixth shutout of the season on Oct. 21 to secure their first 9-0 season, and they enter the Class 3A playoffs having allowed just one team to score more than 14 points. Saunders, the Suburban Life Athlete of the Week sponsored by Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group, spoke with sports editor Jason Rossi about the defense, the 9-0 season, and the Knights’ playoff prospects. Here’s an edited transcript:

Rossi: What makes your defense so good?

Saunders: I would just say it’s the mentality we have. We’re strong, we stick together and we help each other out, and it’s really our coaches, our defensive coordinator Roger Kelley, and our captains helping us out.

Rossi: How do you guys feel heading into the playoffs?

Saunders: We’re excited. We’re glad that we could get a 9-0 record, but that wasn’t our goal for this year. We’re looking for bigger and better things.

Rossi: Even though 9-0 wasn’t a goal, is it still a special thing?

Saunders: Yes, it is. It was an amazing feeling. We celebrated that day and over the weekend, but when we came back [to practice on Oct. 23] we got back to business for our playoff opponent.

Rossi: You and your teammates talk about each other as brothers. What is it like to line up with your actual brother, Khali Saunders?

Saunders: It is one of the greatest feelings. It’s like a dream come true. I’ve been playing with him since we were little so I kind of know what he’s going to do before he does it and he knows what I’m going to do before I do it.