Comer sophomore Jaydin Edmondson helps lead Catamounts back to state playoffs

Comer is returning to the state football playoffs for the first time since 2022, with sophomore Jaydin Edmondson contributing on both sides of the ball. The Greater Grand Crossing charter school will host Prairie Ridge in a Class 5A opening-round game at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Eckersall.

Edmondson finished the nine-game regular season with eight interceptions. That puts him alongside Wauconda senior Luke Sickmeir at the top of the Illinois totals reported on MaxPreps, though the rankings do not include statistics from every school. Comer coach DeMarien Hampton has used Edmondson at cornerback, free safety and nickel, crediting his ability to track the football across those assignments.

His contributions extend to the offense. Edmondson leads Comer's receivers with 30 catches for 478 yards and nine touchdowns. Playing receiver and defensive back is familiar territory for him: He began playing football at age 8 with the Chicago Bengals and has continued handling both roles since his youth football years.

The Catamounts bring a 5-4 record and five consecutive victories into the postseason, while Prairie Ridge enters at 2-7. Comer's opening four opponents, Goode, Curie, Agricultural Science and Corliss, all qualified for the playoffs with winning records. Agricultural Science and Corliss also won their respective conference titles. Hampton said his young team began executing more consistently around the middle of the season.

For Hampton, the berth marks another milestone in a coaching career rooted in Chicago schools. He guided Bowen to its only IHSA playoff appearance in 2015 and spent five seasons as an assistant at Morgan Park before taking over at Comer two years ago. He also works as a dean at Comer and has continued the practice of scheduling challenging nonconference opponents.

Comer's affiliated middle school has helped establish continuity within the program. Its flag football team uses the same offensive and defensive systems as the high school, giving players an early introduction to what they will run later. Hampton first noticed Edmondson through that middle school connection and has made retaining those students a priority.

For the school community, the playoff return reflects the progress of players who have developed together across those programs. Edmondson described the postseason opportunity as an important moment for the team and said the players were approaching the opening matchup with championship-level focus.