Justin Pringle, No. 6, scored the first TD of the year for St. Xavier in a 31-10 loss Saturday. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pigskin Wrap: No panic for SXU after tough start to season
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Saint Xavier is off to a not-so-good start, but veteran coach Mike Feminis is not panicking.
The Cougars were ranked 11th in the nation in the NAIA coach’s poll and are 0-2 after a 31-10 home-opening loss to St. Thomas (Florida) on Sept. 10.
That followed a 57-0 loss to NCAA Division II power Indianapolis to open the season.
The Cougars have some work to do, but the program is familiar with slow starts because Feminis believes in stacking his non-conference schedule with strong teams.
“That’s the way I was brought up,” Feminis said. “I don’t believe 50-0 wins do anything for me. We play the schedule we play and sure, it hurts when you lose. But ultimately the season starts when the conference season starts.
“You win the conference, you get in the playoffs and you never know. Right now, we have to get some guys healthy and get some guys to step up in their absence.”
One of the most noticeable injuries was a preseason leg injury to running back Amari Venerable, who ran for 872 yards in 2021. In their first two games, the Cougars have netted minus-4 rushing yards.
Against St. Thomas. Stuart Ross passed for 313 yards. Receiver Justin Pringle caught eight passes for 138 yards and the first Cougars TD of the year. Former St. Rita star and Evergreen Park resident Joe Polselli grabbed nine passes for 106 yards.
SXU hosts Siena Heights (1-0) at noon Saturday in a Mid-States Football Association crossover game. Siena Heights opened the season with a come-from-behind 28-24 win over Olivet Nazarene on Sept. 3.
SouthWest Suburban Conference
Sandburg trailed 28-7 at halftime to District 230 rival Andrew Sept. 9 in Orland Park, and twice shaved the lead to one score before falling 42-27 in a non-conference battle.
The Eagles (0-3) lost starting quarterback Christian Evans to a season-ending leg injury in a 15-14 loss to Glenbrook South on Sept. 2 and sophomore Anthony Shelton stepped made his first career start against the Thunderbolts (2-1). He was 12 of 24 for 218 yards and four touchdowns, including three to sophomore Charlie Snorek in the second half.
The first TD was unique. Shelton hit Ethan Highfill, who fumbled the ball before crossing the plane; however, senior wide receiver Walter Davis recovered in the end zone for the score.
Running back Katrell Thompson also put up some big numbers with 129 yards in 22 carries.
With teams such as Bolingbrook, defending Class 8A state champions Lockport, Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor on the horizon, a repeat for a playoff bid is going to be a steep climb for the Eagles. Last year, though, they opened the season 1-4 and ran the table in the regular season to qualify for the playoffs.
“We led a good chunk of the game against Glenbrook South and we had a rivalry game against Andrew and they were not results we wanted,” said Eagles coach Troy McAllister. “We’re going to come back. We’re going to keep playing and pushing to get a win each and every week.”
Stagg’s two-game winning streak came to an end with a 49-3 loss to Lincoln-Way East, which was ranked second in the Associated Press Class 8A poll.
CCL/ESCC
Brother Rice (2-1) eked out a 13-10 victory over Benet at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Ryan Hartz threw for 149 yards and touchdowns to Ricky Taylor and Randall Nauden. Jake Dugger had a key interception for the Crusaders.
Defending Class 4A state champion Joliet Catholic Academy won its 24th straight game with a 47-0 win over host De La Salle (1-2). It was a tight game in the first half with Joliet leading 12-0. Myles Green had nine tackles for De La Salle while Tristin Hynes and Angelo Chavarria each had eight.
St. Ignatius beat St. Laurence (1-2) 19-14 in Burbank. Aaron Ball ran for 64 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings while Dominic Berchman scooped up a fumble and ran five yards for a score.
Loyola, ranked first in the state in Class 8A, beat host St. Rita (1-2) 34-14.
Mount Carmel (3-0) slammed Notre Dame, 42-0.
West Suburban Conference
Ryan Jackson’s touchdown and a Danny Montesano interception in the end zone helped Lyons (3-0, 1-0) nip Hinsdale Central, 10-7 in a Silver Division game. It was the Lions’ first win over the Red Devils since 2013.
Morton (1-2, 1-0) smoked Addison Trail 37-7 in the Gold division. Morton also announced that its game at Leyden will be played on Thursday at Triton Junior College. It was originally slated for Friday.
South Suburban Conference Red
Evergreen Park improved to 3-0, 1-0 as running back Antonio Clay-Jones scored three touchdowns in a 28-23 victory over Oak Lawn (1-2, 0-1).
Reavis (2-1, 1-0) snapped Argo’s two-game winning streak with a 35-28 victory in Summit. Before the game, Argo officials dedicated the sidelines to former head coach Jim Innis in a ceremony.
Hillcrest beat Shepard (1-2) 31-20, in a crossover game.
Metro Suburban
Riverside-Brookfield beat Chicago Christian, 28-7. Christian Flutman hit Adam Stuursma for a score in the fourth quarter for the Knights (1-2). Stuursma had two receptions for 78 yards.
Chicago Public League
Catalyst/Maria beat Noble/UIC 30-6. Solorio beat Tilden in a forfeit.
Collins beat Kelly 42-0. Curie dropped a 44-12 decision to Westinghouse. Lane beat Hubbard 35-0. Englewood STEM beat Gage Park 46-0.
Local News
Rush rips USDA over plight of black farmers
Spread the love‘House is on fire,’ congressman says From staff reports U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) recently questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about what Rush called “the dire prognosis of black farmers in the U.S. and the steps USDA is taking to help minority farmers.” “As you well know, our nation’s…
Charge man with Archer Heights carjacking
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Police say they’ve solved a carjacking that occurred in Archer Heights earlier this month. An 18-year-old Southeast Side man was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking in connection with the crime. Monte Handley, of the 9000 block of South Muskegon, was apprehended by police in the 7500 block of South Ellis…
Charge man in shooting of 2
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac A 22-year-old West Lawn man was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, after he was arrested in the 3700 block of West Marquette Road at 4:06 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Isaiah Barco allegedly shot two men in a crime that…
Many crimes down in Orland, but weapons arrests concerning
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell had mostly good news when revealing the village’s 2021 crime statistics. But one glaring area that has him bothered is the number of unlawful use of a weapon arrests that have been shooting up. Mitchell and Mayor Keith Pekau attribute it to felons from…
Former GOP allies to battle for county board race
Spread the loveGorman wants to reclaim seat from Morrison By Bob Bong A battle royale is brewing in the race for the Republican nomination for Cook County Board’s 17th District. The 17th District is one of only two county board seats held by Republicans and it has only ever had a Republican commissioner dating back…
Palos Park inches closer to gaming solution
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Signs are pointing to the fact there probably will be limited video gaming in Palos Park. Mayor John Mahoney and the village council rejiggered a few things with an ordinance and some of the village codes and the end result is that Monday they asked village attorneys to look into…
Police reports
Spread the loveShot in the head, killed on Archer A 33-year-old man was shot in the head and killed as he drove a vehicle in the 4200 block of South Archer at 5:13 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:47 a.m. Police said…
Tabares backs West Lawn Branch Library
Spread the love Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares (left) recently toured the renovated West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.,, with new branch manager Mina Duarte. Details about the renovation’s may be found in the West Lawn column in the January 28 Greater Southwest News-Herald. –Supplied photo
Neighbors
Boys Volleyball | Sandburg seeks 26th regional title
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Coming off the worst season in program history in 2023, Sandburg was not going to settle for anything less than better results this year. Past the midway point of this season, however, the Eagles had a record of 11-8. But they closed the regular season strong, winning 11 of…
Baseball | Red-hot Reavis looks to make noise in postseason
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Reavis is determined to send their head coach Don Erickson into retirement on a high note and will head into the postseason red hot and as South Suburban Red champions. The Rams defeated Oak Lawn 3-0 for the second straight day on May 15 to clinch the conference title.…
Sports Bits | Rice boats at Carlyle Lake, Hawkeye DB and Do It Stevie’s Way
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Noteworthy sports briefs from May 12-19 • Brother Rice’s No. 1 boat of Joe Hall and Joe Judeh took 31st in the state bass fishing tournament, which wrapped up on May 18 at Carlyle Lake. The Crusaders had a two-day haul of 7 pounds, 12 ounces. The Crusaders’ No.…
Nothing NU at SeatGeek
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent There was speculation that because of the renovations being done at Ryan Field, Northwestern would schedule a few football games at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this fall. The Wildcats announced their schedule and no home games are listed at SeatGeek, but the situation is still fluid. They are opting…
College Softball | Close losses at nationals end Saint Xavier’s season
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier softball team played three nailbiters in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament. But the end result was a 1-2 record to eliminate the Cougars from advancing. SXU (28-14) opened the tournament by nipping Bellevue (Nebraska), 5-4, in Sioux City, Iowa on May 13. Alexus Reese…
Red Stars’ Naeher misses loss to Gotham
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The world’s best kept secret is still a mystery. The Chicago Red Stars are not releasing information to the public about the severity of a thigh injury or the status of world-class goalie Alyssa Naeher. What is known is that she did not play in a 2-1 loss to…
Summer calendar filling up quickly
Spread the love. By Patti Tyznik Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • ptyznik@gmail.com . Summer is rapidly approaching, and the neighborhood is geared up for lots of great summer fun and activities. The Midway Chamber of Commerce’s farmer’s market will be opening on Wednesdays at the end of May through September…
Shepard’s Kyla Motley cruises to two medals at girls state track finals
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Shepard junior Kyla Motley medaled in two events in the Class 3A girls state track and field meet, the finals for which were held May 18 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Motley finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 4 inches. She finished…
Boys Tennis | Lyons’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone win sectional doubles title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The area produced a handful of boys tennis state qualifiers, but only one entry is headed to state as a sectional champion. At the Class 2A Lyons Sectional, the Lions’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone were doubles champs. The state meet opens May 23 at various sites in the…
Water Polo | Lyons boys win third state title; girls finish 3rd
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The best matchup of the IHSA boys water polo state tournament was arguably in the quarterfinals. That battle between Lyons and New Trier could have been considered the real state championship match. But no matter what, the Lions are state champions. Heading into the postseason, Lyons had just three…