After missing the bulk of last season due to an illness, Oswego East’s Jasiah Watson wanted to make up for lost time.
The senior running back, who’s in his third year on the varsity, has done just that this fall. And that’s not all.
“I’m trying to shock everybody,” Watson said. “I wanted a breakout season, and it looks like it’s coming together.”
Watson’s preseason goal of putting together a 1,000-yard rushing performance is certainly on target for Oswego East (5-1, 1-1), which travels to Yorkville (6-0, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday for a Southwest Prairie West showdown.
So far, Watson has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns on only 110 carries.
“He’s just a complete back,” Oswego East coach Tyson LeBlanc said. “He can run physical, between the tackles. He has good vision and enough speed on the edge to turn the corner.”
Oswego East’s Jasiah Watson (2) breaks off a big run against Romeoville during a Southwest Prairie Conference crossover game in Oswego on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Senior quarterback Niko Villacci has been on the varsity all three seasons with Watson. While this breakout may be surprising to outsiders, it’s not to him in the least.
“He’s had a monster year,” Villacci said of Watson. “I definitely saw it coming.”
Watson’s effectiveness has cut down on Villacci’s chances to throw the ball, but with the way it has been working and the way the team is playing, that’s just fine by him.
“Obviously, I want to throw the ball,” Villacci said. “When he’s running that well, it’s hard not to do it. When you can win a game on the ground, it’s hard to shy away from that.
Oswego East’s Jasiah Watson pushes past Waubonsie Valley’s Stefan Popov (77) for a short gain during a nonconference game in Aurora on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)
“The ultimate goal is to win games.”
Theoretically, having a back like Watson should open up the playbook even more. It can also have the adverse effect when Watson is breaking off 10 yards a carry, however.
“Having a guy that’s as dynamic as he has been for us makes things easier as a play-caller and our quarterback,” LeBlanc said of Watson’s effort. “It opens it up, but it also closes it.
“You know (Southwest Prairie Conference) football. You have to be able to run the ball.”
Oswego East’s Jasiah Watson (13) reacts after scoring a TD against Waubonsie Valley during a nonconference game in Aurora on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)
That’s not to say the Wolves won’t spring a surprise in the passing game from time to time. When it works, it makes them even more explosive.
“A few times, we ran it 10 yards a pop,” Villacci said. “They’ll stack the box, we’ll get play-action and we’ll get 40 yards off that.”
Watson is pretty much on his own in the backfield, though. The Wolves aren’t deep at his position, so Watson has to be ready to handle that workload every week.
“I would say I’m the most conditioned player on the team,” Watson said. “We don’t really have depth and we don’t even need it. I just work hard. I make sure I stay in shape.”
Watson is going to be put to the test in the final three weeks of the regular season, starting Friday against undefeated Yorkville. Crosstown rival Oswego follows and Minooka looms in Week 9.
All four teams are playoff contenders, so the battle for a conference title and potential home postseason games will likely come down to the wire.
“It’s the heat of our schedule,” Villacci said. “Last year was all good games against them. These are the games you train all summer for. This is where conference is won.”
Oswego East’s Jasiah Watson (2) grinds out a run against Romeoville during a Southwest Prairie Conference crossover game in Oswego on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
That road starts this week against Yorkville.
“I get that they’re 6-0, but they haven’t played us yet,” Watson said. “I have faith in my guys.”
Being a late bloomer, Watson is getting a late start on his dream of playing college football. He’s confident that, if he keeps this up, he’s going to wind up on somebody’s radar.
“I’ve been sending my film out,” Watson said. “So far, I’ve had no luck, but I have faith there will be a coach that sees my talents and will take a chance on me.
“A lot of times people don’t look at Oswego East. That’s been changing this year, and it’s going to continue to change.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/08/jasiah-watson-oswego-east-ihsa-football/