University of St. Francis (III.)

When legendary head coach Gordie Gillespie established the football program at College of St. Francis back in 1986, he wanted to rely on the same offensive scheme that brought Joliet Catholic High School five state titles, that, of course, being running the football. Gillespie had to look no further than just down the street to employ such tactics using former Hilltopper all-state selection John Fay as his lead man. One of only four true freshmen that lettered at Northern Illinois University in 1984 when he was tabbed as a starter, Fay dropped out of school for two semesters only to pop back up in the spring semester of 1986 at CSF. Less than 11 months later, the offensive tackle was accorded honorable mention all-america honors from the NAIA. One season later, he played a big role in St. Francis securing a bid to the NAIA II playoffs in only the program's second year of existence as the offense rattled off an eighth-place national reading at the NAIA II level in total offense (424.7 ypg), a No. 3 finish in rushing offense (308.7 ypg) and a No. 10 ranking in scoring offense averaging 32.0 points per game. To this day, the 3,272 yards gained rushing that season and the 5.6 yards gained per carry both still stand as the top marks for a St. Francis offense. Fay followed up that campaign with another all-american year in 1988 earning second-team status, while also notching a spot on the all-District 20 team for the third straight year. The Director of Grounds Maintenance and Building Support for Plainfield School District 202, Fay, who earned a bachelor's degree in Commercial Recreation back in 1988, is married to former St. Francis volleyball player Diane Petrone.