Senior Ali Issa ready for expanded role

Downers Grove South senior Ali Issa is known for his abundant energy on the football field.

“Whenever I’m with my friends, I’m always trying to have fun,” Issa said. “Then when I bring it out here, [my teammates] all feed off of that, then they all get hyped and all have fun.”

This season, Issa is ready to tap his reserve supply to fulfill an expanded role. Besides being a third-year starting speed rusher at defensive end, Issa will be on special teams and play tight end for the first time since freshman year.

“It’s a challenge. I’m not going to lie, but I think it’ll be fun. I can finally touch the ball, maybe get a touchdown, some receptions,” Issa said. “I’ve been doing a lot more conditioning. I go on runs the morning before practice because I know I’m literally on the field all of the time.”

Issa is among 11 returning starters for the Mustangs, who finished 4-5 in 2017 and would have shared the West Suburban Gold title with a victory over champion Willowbrook in Week 9. The defensive line is arguably the Mustangs’ greatest strength with Issa and two interior linemen – senior Kendall Burrow and junior Shawn Lee, another third-year starter – receiving Division I interest.

“There’s three big boys up front that are going to be a handful,” Downers South coach Mark Molinari said. “We have some kids returning that are going to stretch the field. At certain skill positions, we’re a little bit better than average and a lot better than we’ve been in the past few years.”

Issa earned all-conference recognition in 2017 and also started for the boys basketball team.

This season, Issa is a team captain with Burrow, quarterback George Ross and third-year starting receiver Kyle Heavey.

“Last year I was the follower. [Captain is] a big role. I make sure all of these guys are still in shape, doing what they have to do,” Issa said.

“What separates [Issa] is he doesn’t get tired mentally. He’s just got a great motor,” Molinari said. “I’ll bet he’ll be in the game about 70 percent.”

The past two seasons, injuries have limited the Mustangs’ top quarterback to starting just seven of 18 games. With 52 players this season, it’s the Mustangs’ smallest roster in years.

“But it’s the right 52. That’s what I tell everybody,” Molinari said.

After Ross was injured, junior Jayden Lambert was promoted to varsity quarterback in 2017.

Now Lambert could join a group of threatening rushers and receivers. Another weapon is senior Tyler Bachara, who converted multiple field goals beyond 40 yards last season.

Issa hopes to motivate the Mustangs by example like graduated all-conference player Sergio Villalobos, now wrestling at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, did. Issa played alongside Villalobos defensively the past two seasons.

“He’s the reason why I love this sport,” Issa said. “When I wanted to quit [during practices], he’s the one that told me not to. He kept pushing me and I’m very grateful because I built off of that.”

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH MUSTANGS

Coach: Mark Molinari

2017 record: 4-5

Top players

Tyler Bachara sr. K-P

Jaelynn Blecke sr. FS-WR

Kendall Burrow sr. DL-OL

Max Foster sr. OL

Keegan Garland sr. OLB

Kyle Heavey sr. WR

Ali Issa sr. DE

Vinny Provenzano sr. WR

Kenton Johnson sr. RB

George Ross sr. QB

Nick Sostak sr. OL

Jayden Lambert jr. QB-RB-WR

Shawn Lee jr. DL-OL

Devean Washington so. DB-RB

2018 schedule

Aug. 24 at Bolingbrook 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 Oak Park-River Forest 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Proviso East 1 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Hinsdale South 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Addison Trail 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Morton 7:30 p.m

Oct. 5 Leyden 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Downers Grove North 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 Willowbrook 7:30 p.m.