Dave Eminian
Peoria Journal Star
PEKIN — The head coach has been at the helm for 16 seasons, his senior linebacker on the sideline with him for more than a decade. Doug Nutter and his son, Hudson, play out the finale to their prep football journey together this season as the Pekin High School father-son duo goes through the 2024 campaign. "This is it, our last year together," said Doug, the longtime Dragons head coach. "Hudson moves on after this season. It's going to be a sad day for us when it's all over." But we'll have so many memories to look back on." One of those was how Hudson, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound outside linebacker, helped his father and teammates to a 28-14 win Friday over Rolling Meadows on opening night at Memorial Stadium.
How it all started
Hudson has been around the Pekin Dragons since he was 6 years old, serving as a ball boy at the games for his father's team. "I wanted to be like the players," Hudson said. "I had so much fun doing that, and they were awesome to be around. I really looked up to them and that whole time was just a great experience for me. I fell in love with Dragons football before I ever played it. "Walking out on the field now as a player on game night, it's a special feeling every time. I'm going to really miss it." He might even miss film sessions at home and those rides that are different for any coach's kid after the team loses. "My dad doesn't treat me any differently than any players on the team," Hudson said. "He expects the same from me that he asks from everyone else. I have to work hard and get the job done." Nutter said he wants to continue playing after high school, and he has an offer from Loras College (Iowa). He's also visited Monmouth College and Aurora University programs. His NFL dream? "To tackle Christian McCaffrey," he said, laughing. "If I did that, I'd have some great bragging rights."
From JFL to IHSA Friday night lights
Doug is 78-66 and in his 16th season at Pekin's helm, with eight trips to the playoffs included. His Dragons went 11-1 in the 2022-23 season, a school record for most wins in a single-season in program history. He's helped guide and build a lot of good football players at Pekin, and one at home. "Sometimes my wife reminds me we don't always need to talk about football at home," Doug said, laughing. "But it's been great seeing Hudson play at the high school level. It's easier for me to watch him at this level because he's with me. "When he was young and playing flag football and later JFL, I didn't get to see him play a lot because I was coaching. He's always been advanced as a player, played up against older kids, and that's helped him compete. And he was our ball boy, so he's been part of this high school program ever since. He is a great leader and captain, and I can't ask him for anything else."
Getting the last word
Hudson knows and respects the Pekin football tradition and its history. And he knows his family football history as well, which led to a big play and a teasing shot last season. His father played at Limestone and now leads Pekin as its coach. "Hudson got a pick-6 at Limestone last year, where I played," Doug said, grinning. "He ran down the sideline right past me. "Afterward he came up to me and said, 'I did something at Limestone you never did — score a touchdown.' "Loved it."
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.