Sophomore Chase Sennett has taken on a big role for the 5-2 Wildcat football team, contributing to the team having a successful season and leading them into the 2025 IHSA State playoffs.
Sennett recently had four very successful wins, including an average of 200 passing yards per game.
At the September 26 Peoria High game, Sennett had 5 touchdown passes, leading the team to a big win.
Although Sennett has stepped into this role, he is able to pull his weight on the team with the advice from coaches and other players.
“All the coaches have been by my side. To help guide me through the change, Fincham definitely made the biggest impact. He made the adjustment way easier than I could have thought,” Sennett said.
“The main thing I told him is to just come out and play like himself,” said Head Varsity Football Coach Nathan Fincham.
His teammates have also been very supportive through this change, creating a sense of trust in the past few weeks.
Specifically, Sennett looks to the injured Senior Quarterback Jrue Mangrum for advice and guidance.
“Jrue definitely helps out a lot… He has been at practices and explaining everything in full detail, and during games. He’d help me look over film and see what could be better,” Sennett noted.
Its the advice and confidence from his teammates that have led him to 43 completions on 72 attempts (60% completion rate) for 785 yards and 12 touchdown passes in the four games he has started.
Sennett was also named Week 5 offensive player of the week and Clutch Sports Media player of the week.
And with he success, he truly feels like he’s just getting started. The bar is set, but he’s reaching higher for the remainder of the season.
“A goal for the rest of the season … to keep throwing over 200 yards per game,” Sennett said.
He also hopes to continue to grow in consistency in his passing game throughout the season.
Fincham is ecstatic with the way that Sennett has stepped up.
His expectations for Chase include “to continue developing his footwork and technique as a quarterback.”
Both Fincham and Sennett have similar goals of reading the defense better to understand what the opponent is doing.
This competitive environment is nothing too unusual for Sennett as he was a varsity starter as just a freshman on last year’s Normal West basketball team. There’s no doubt he’ll take his success on the football field on to the court this winter.
But he has business to finish and more of an impact to make first.
Since Sennett’s Peoria High performance, the Wildcats (5-2 overall) have been unbeaten. Tomorrow (October 24), they take on Urbana High School in the final regular season matchup of the 2025 season at 7 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.
On Saturday (October 25), they’ll learn where they land in the 2025 playoffs, which is their 15th-straight playoff berth.
