Highland High School, Class of 1990

Billy Greenwald graduated from Highland High School in 1990. He attended Northwestern University and graduated in 1994. Billy alto attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis, receiving a degree in 1997.

It would be almost impossible to talk about Highland High School football history and not have Billy Greenwald’s name begin the conversation. The 1990 grad set the bar for football players, particularly running backs, for all future Bulldogs to measure themselves. As a Junior, Billy led the Bulldogs to their first ever playoff game and as a senior, led the team to within one game of the Class 3A football championship. Highland won 12 games in 1989, setting a school record. Along the way, Billy put together a season that when finished dominated the IHSA record book. His name appeared in 17 different offensive categories.

The Bulldogs were very dominant in 1989, leading many games by three or four touchdowns by halftime. That fact led the Illinois Hall of Fame coach Mike Hooker to rest Greenwald and many of his starters in the second half. Despite playing about half of half of the games in 1989, Greenwald set records that will stand at HHS for decades and rank among the best ever in Illinois High School football. His 45 touchdowns in the 1989 season was the best in IHSA history. He rushed the football 100 yards in a game 12 times in 1989, also a state record that season. Also in 1989, his 272 points scored was second most in Illinois as was his 60 career rushing touchdowns. Greenwald rushed for 2256 yards in 1989, which was fourth best ever in Illinois, as was four 200-yard rushing games. He finished his career with 4010 rushing yards and twenty 100-yard rushing games, ranking him fourth in the IHSA history books at the time.

Other records Billy owned include 414 career points (ranked 6th best); six rushing touchdowns in one game (6th); most rushing attempts (308 and 6th bet) in a season; average rushing yards per game (173.5 and 7th); total offensive yards in a season (4246and 11th); and seven touchdowns in a game (11th). He is the Highland High School leader in these categories.

Greenwald, who took his talents to Northwestern University on a football scholarship, was a first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference player in both 1988 and 1989. He was named to the Chicago Tribune All-State team in 1989, and was the Bigger, Faster, Stronger Magazine All-American in 1989. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch names Billy to the All-Metro first team in 1989, and the Belleville News Democrat named him to the All-Area first team in both 1988 and 1989.