Fejedelem can do it all

Interceptions. Punt returns. Kick returns. Lemont senior Clayton Fejedelem, a former running back, reacts to these increasingly frequent situations like a child frantically running down the stairs on a quiet Christmas morning.

Through five games this season, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound free safety/strong safety has brought back three interceptions for 69 yards, returned four punts for 92 yards and 4 kicks for 133 yards. He also has scored on both kickoff and punt returns.

Happy returns, no less.

The reason why can be found in Fejedelem's formative years with the Lemont Hornets. He always was a safety who played running back, and while high school has removed the offensive backfield from his resume, the mindset remains.

"I love punt returns and kick returns," Fejedelem said, smiling. "I don't get the ball too much playing on defense, so when I do, I want to make something happen. That's what I think is the difference about offense and defense.

"Because when a defensive boy gets the football," Fejedelem nodded, that million-dollar smile widening for effect, "they want to make something happen a whole lot more."

Much has happened during the Indians' 5-0 start to the 2010 season, but Lemont coach Eric Michaelsen acknowledged more could not be asked of Fejedelem - especially marking 37 tackles on 26 solos and 11 assists, plus forcing a fumble and recovering another fumble.

Interceptions. Punt returns. Kickoff returns. Again, with Fejedelem in the fold, that trifecta must be factored into the equation when South Suburban Blue leader Lemont (5-0, 2-0) travels to resurgent Tinley Park (4-1, 2-1) for Friday night's conference showdown.

Just ask Riverside-Brookfield. During a 42-8 rout in Week 2, Fejedelem intercepted a pass and scored a touchdown on a 74-yard kickoff return. During a 30-20 win over Richards in Week 3, he scored a TD on a 75-yard punt return. And that sounds like Pete Houlihan.

The Herald-News' Gamebreaker of the Year, Houlihan helped Providence Catholic reach the Class 6A state title game in 2009. For his part, Fejedelem delivered a huge, for-Pete's-sake interception in the fourth quarter last week to seal a 23-17 win over T.F. South.

"It seems like whatever type of play we need the most, ‘Fej' has done it," said Michaelsen, who guided the Indians to back-to-back 6A state finals in 2007 and 2008. "He's an outstanding player who's having a tremendous senior season, and he has been everything we could have wanted and more."

"He's a very talented player," Lemont defensive coordinator John Howell said. "He has speed, he's strong and he loves contact, which might be his biggest asset. And he's a competitor. The kid just does not want to lose. Football really means a lot to Clayton."

Football means a lot to the Fejedelem family. His older brother Ryan started as an outside linebacker on Lemont's state runnerups before heading to NAIA national powerhouse Saint Xavier, and Howell pointed out that a younger brother is already on the way.

Tradition counts.

"Playing here is living up to what Lemont has done in football," Fejedelem said. "My brother was the captain of the team here, and I'm just trying to follow him as a leader and do well for my teammates."

"I think Ryan set a good example for Clayton on what it means to compete out on the football field, and Clayton has followed in his footsteps very well," Howell said. "We've been blessed to have both Fejedelem boys play here and there's a third one coming up, too."

As a general rule, Fejedelem splits up his duties into thirds, with one part defense, one part punt returns, one part kick returns. According to Michaelsen, Fejedelem has become the master of many.

"He is a jack of all trades, but he has several that he does really well," Michaelsen said. "Sometimes you'll hear, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none,' but that's not him at all. The several things he does, he does all of them very, very well."

"It's his leadership - he does everything for the team," said senior running back Mike Anzalone, who rushed for two TDs against T.F. South. "Every shot he gets at the ball, special teams or on defense, he's great. And he's amazing on returns, breaking tackles left and right. It's a thrill to watch Clayton."

Depending on the formation, Fejedelem either thrills or sends chills through the opposing offense, switching between free safety and strong safety. It's why he ranks first in interceptions for Lemont, but also second in total tackles.

"I like strong safety the most because I like making tackles," Fejedelem said. "But get me on the pass and I'll be happy to get an interception, too. I would say I like strong safety more because I would rather tackle somebody than sit back there and watch."

"He has to be mentally ready," Howell said. "He's the safety we call our quick corner, so he has to come up and support the run, and everybody thinks his No. 1 job is to stop the pass. In our scheme, it's double tough for Clayton because he has to stop the pass but stop the run right now."

To Fejedelem, right now means getting ready to play Tinley Park, with Kenny Chesney's football anthem "The Boys of Fall" playing loudly in the background. He's in high honors classes at Lemont, with a 3.8 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and the desire to play college football.

"It's my dream," he said. "Defense has been my strong point, but I've always done punt returns. It really gets your adrenaline going to touch the ball and make things happen. I like getting my body in a place where I can make the play and help out my teammates, and that's what it's all about."

Eat your heart out, Chesney.

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