“Hall” of Fame: Justin Hall Exceeds in Talent, But Receives Stunning Upset Loss

Viking Player in Action at the Field

Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

As fall edges closer to the season, the talk about football keeps getting popular. Homewood-Flossmoor senior, Justin Hall, has just been recruited as a defensive back for Northern Illinois. Though, the Huskies might also consider a temporary position change for Hall according to his coach, after a surprising defeat by Bolingbrook. Hall totaled 332 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead his team to a 48-20 South-West Suburban victory. The 190-pound 5-foot-11 backer carried the ball 19 times for 171 yards, and scored three touchdowns. He also had six catches for 161 yards and followed with a fourth touchdown.

“I’m naturally good at running back.” Hall said. “I had to wait for my turn the last two years. Senior year, I’m going to show I can play at running back at any level.”

Hall has scored an impressive 14 touchdowns in just 4 games, and because of his outstanding performance, many of his peers have look up to him like linebacker Justin Whiteside. Who had this to say in an interview with a Chicago Tribune reporter, “They should play him everywhere,” Whiteside said. “He can do it all. We see what he does every day in practice and in the games. He’s special.”

Trailing with a close score of 20-13 at halftime, the Vikings gained momentum and swept the Huskies by scoring 35 more points in the second half at the 14-minute mark. Hall managed to lead the onslaught, scoring on runs of 1, 18, and 11 yards. Adding also an 81-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dominique Jones. This gave the Vikings their first lead of 27-20 with 6:20 in the third quarter.

“I knew I was going to be open,” Hall said. The pass was there and I waited to catch it.”

Coach Craig Buzea referred to Hall as the “best football player in the state.”

“There may be better running backs and there may be better defensive backs, but there isn’t a better football player,” Buzea said. “His versatility is something I’ve never seen before.”

Hall hopes to win his next conference coming up in a few weeks in October, and send a strong victory message to other schools.