Junior quarterback Leo Slepski thrives on mastering the emotional volatility of his position. He has learned to play out and imagine every scenario that he could face for Providence.
In his second year as a starter for the Celtics, he has figured out how to adapt to the moment.
”The biggest part of being a quarterback is the mentality and being in control of your feelings,” Slepski said, standing under the Friday night lights. “You never get too high or too low.
“You learn to go with the flow of the game.”
Slepski rolled with the flow against Lincoln-Way Central, thwarting a furious rally by the Knights,
In the fourth quarter, Slepski orchestrated a nine-play, 70-yard drive for host Providence, with a huge 5-yard touchdown pass cementing a 23-14 nonconference victory in New Lenox.
Junior receiver Xavier Coleman grabbed the pass by Slepski on the opening play of the fourth quarter for the Celtics (1-1) that ended up stopping a 14-point surge by Lincoln-Way Central (1-1).
Again, timing is everything.
”It’s all about making plays when they present themselves and never getting too overwhelmed in the moment,” Slepski said. “You’re either going to make the play or not. It comes down to you.”
In the first meeting between the two schools since 1981, Providence scored 17 points in the second quarter to take the momentum.
Slepski connected with senior receiver Jayden Mikulski on a 19-yard TD pass and sophomore kicker Bryce Vlasak drilled a 35-yard field goal. Senior defensive tackle Jonathan Fotsis, who added an interception in the fourth quarter, also recovered a fumble in the end zone.
Junior quarterback Drew Woodburn ignited the comeback for the Knights with a 40-yard TD pass to junior receiver Lucas Andresen and a 1-yard TD plunge.
A trademark play for Slepski came Friday night when he got the Celtics out of a second-and-28 situation, showcasing his versatility, poise and confidence in the pocket and spontaneity and improvisational flourish in making plays on the run.
“He’s an upperclassman now, and he has improved a lot with his leadership,” Providence coach Tyler Plantz said of Slepski. “Obviously, the whole unit stepped up on that drive.
“But for him to show composure and step up and make the plays was very exciting.”
Mikulski sees a more refined and confident player.
“He’s a great guy, a great teammate,” Mikulski said. “He keeps the team up no matter what. If something goes wrong or bad, he steps up. He runs the ball a lot and just keeps us going.”
A hurdler and sprinter in track, Slepski possesses explosive speed. His TD pass to Coleman was preceded by a crucial 7-yard scramble.
”I love touching the ball on every play,” he said. “You’ve got a big role, and the whole team is depending on you.
“After the penalty and the long second down we had, the whole team could have folded on that drive. We did what we had to do.”
Slepski’s bond with his receivers and playmakers opens up the offensive possibilities.
The team feeds off his resilience
“He’s been my quarterback for a couple of years, and I trust him,” Coleman said. “He’s a confident guy, a smart guy, and a great guy to have around
“On the touchdown, he knew I was there and he got me the ball. We run track together and we’ve got that connection. It’s all second nature.”
Slepski started playing quarterback in the second grade. As a freshman two years ago, he dressed for the Celtics in the Class 4A state championship game.
He never saw any action during that state playoff run, but the mold was cast. Slepski knew the moment eventually would belong to him.
He attended camps at Northwestern and Miami of Ohio to develop his timing and quickness and to make smarter decisions with the ball.
The player and outsized value of the position have all come together.
“Everything has really slowed down compared with last year,” he said. “It was going 100 miles an hour. The game is getting easier, and I hope it continues like that as I get older.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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