SXU coach Mike Feminis is two wins away from No. 300. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pigskin Wrap: St. Xavier wins, moves Feminis within two of milestone
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Saint Xavier lost its first two games by a combined score of 88-10.
The last thing the Cougars needed was for Siena Heights to come into Chicago and make itself at home.
But the Saints tried, scoring on their first drive and putting the Cougars in a hole.
This time, however, Saint Xavier responded quickly with a score and went on to win, 24-21, at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field on Sept. 17 in a Mid-State Football Association crossover.
The win gives veteran coach Mike Feminis his 298th career triumph.
“I’ve been surrounded by a lot of good coaches and really good players,” Feminis said in a postgame video recorded by the school. “It also means I’m getting older.”
Some of those players helped make the comeback for the Cougars (1-2) a reality. That included Defensive standout Kevin Countryman, who had two interceptions including a 69-yard pickoff return for a touchdown with 1:16 left in the first half.
Stuart Ross threw for 191 yards with Justin Pringle nabbed nine passes for 61 yards. Evergreen Park native and St. Rita grad Joe Polselli had four catches including a touchdown.
The Cougars are still looking for their running game. Last year’s leading rusher, Amari Venerable, is injured and might return in October. In three games, the Cougars have 72 rushing attempts for 1 yard.
There were blemishes against Siena Heights, but Feminis is happy with the win.
“A win’s a win and we needed that really bad,” he said. “We have a lot of guys hurt and a lot of guys stepped up. We’re still a work in progress.”
The Cougars have another crossover game at St. Francis (Indiana) at 5 p.m. Saturday. St. Francis (2-0) is ranked 20th in the nation in NAIA play by the coaches and beat its first two opponents by a combined score of 103-33.
Chicago Catholic League
St. Laurence topped Montini 20-14 in an Orange battle as Aaron Ball had 183 yards rushing, including a 20-yard scoring run. Rob Francis added five carries for 70 yards as the Vikings (2-2, 1-0) racked up 337 yards on the ground. Matty Diaz kicked a pair of field goals.
St. Rita (2-2, 1-0) dominated in a 41-12 victory over Benet in the Green.
Since beating 2021 Class 5A runner-up Kankakee in the season opener, Nazareth has lost three straight, the latest a 22-17 setback to Notre Dame in the Green. Quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 48 yards. Jimmy Pemley caught seven passes for 119 yards.
De La Salle opened the White season with a 33-15 loss to Fenwick at Triton College. Josue Hernandez had 76 yards and a 15-yard run while Evan Smith recovered a fumble and ran it 22 yards for a core. Trystan Hynes racked up 11 tackles for the Meteors (1-3, 0-1).
Loyola, ranked first in the state by the Associated Press in Class 8A, put up huge offensive numbers as the Ramblers beat Brother Rice (2-2, 0-1) in a Blue showdown. Crusaders quarterback Ryan Hartz threw three TD passes, including two to Owen Gorman.
Mount Carmel, ranked first in the state by the Associated Press in Class 7A, flexed its muscles with a 42-7 win over Marist in the Blue. Blainey Dowling threw for 231 yards for the Caravan.
SouthWest Suburban
Sandburg fell to 0-4, 0-1 with a 41-14 Blue loss at Bolingbrook. The Eagles kept it close, leading 7-6 after the first period and trailing 12-7 at halftime but the Raiders ran away with the game in the second half. Sophomore quarterback Anthony Shelton ran for two touchdowns for the Eagles.
Stagg is finding the competition in the SWSC to be a bit tougher than what it faced in its non-conference schedule. The Chargers suffered their second consecutive blowout loss, this one 41-0, to Lincoln-Way Central on Sept. 16 in the SouthWest Suburban Red opener for both teams. Stagg had zero net yards in the first half and midway through the third quarter had yet to pick up a first down.
The Chargers opened the season 2-0 with victories over South Suburban Red teams Reavis (14-8) and Oak Lawn (42-20), then fell to SouthWest Suburban Blue powerhouse Lincoln-Way East, 49-3, in Week 3.
West Suburban
Down 7-0 early, Lyons (4-0, 2-0) came back for a 38-13 Silver victory over Oak Park-River Forest to set up a huge Saturday showdown hosting York (4-0, 2-0).
Morton knocked off Leyden, 30-29, at Triton College in the Gold to improve to 2-2, 2-0.
South Suburban Red
Argo improved to 3-1 with an 18-7 victory over Tinley Park in a crossover.
Reavis (3-1, 2-0) beat Shepard, 45-32. Quran McClellan threw for 183 yards and Elijah Tyson ran for 102 for Shepard (1-3, 0-1).
Metro Suburban
Riverside-Brookfield (3-1, 2-0) dominated in a 35-7 triumph over Aurora Christian in a Red contest.
Wheaton St. Francis, ranked third in the state in Class 4A by the Associated Press, beat Chicago Christian, 56-0. The Knights fell to 1-3, 0-2.
Chicago Public League
Goode came up with a 19-8 victory over Noble/Comer.
Catalyst Maria won a 2-0 forfeit over UCCS/Woodlawn.
Curie lost, 40-0, to power Morgan Park. Hubbard lost, 50-0, to Kenwood and faces Morgan Park on Saturday.
Bogan dropped a 35-12 decision to Agricultural Science.
Raby beat Kennedy 36-30.
Local News
Walker teacher Eva Manzke honored by farm bureau
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan School District 104 teacher Eva Manzke was recently honored by the Cook County Farm Bureau for her work with teaching students about agriculture. Students at Walker Elementary in Bedford Park, and Manzke herself were surprised when Principal Amanda Venegonia said they were gathered to honor Manzke, as she had been…
Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Tom Diaz is a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College, and is making big strides with their cross country team. Diaz is also a 2021 graduate of Argo Community High School, and is the first Argonaut to earn All Region honors while pursuing his cross country career. MVCC’s Men’s an&…
Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Saul White Jr., better known as Flip White to basketball fans, has been with the famed Harlem Globetrotters for just over 10 years, and has no intention of stopping the entertainment he provides for his fans. White, who grew up in Summit, attended Wharton School and Graves Junior High (now…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn senior basketball player Davion Lawrence is 45 pounds lighter than he was last season, but insists his eating habits are the same. He has, however, changed up his training habits. Heading into football last fall, Lawrence and a few fellow seniors wanted to get in the…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Corrspondent Argo’s Davonte Evans and Will Adams both knew it was just a matter of time before the Argonauts would find a way to beat Shepard. That time came in the third quarter of a South Suburban Red matchup, when Argo outscored Shepard en rout to a 61-52 on Jan.…
Cruz booted from SD 229 school board in Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Dermot Connolly There is a vacancy on the Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 School Board, after members voted 6-1 last week to remove Robert Cruz for allegedly violating his oath of office, school board policy and state statutes. Cruz, a property developer, was elected to the District 229 board in…
Neighbors
Rainbow Cone adds 4 new flavors
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Chicago’s iconic Original Rainbow Cone has been evolving over the past few years. First, it joined forces with the folks at Buono Beef and expanded its presence from its original location in Beverly to offer cones at Buono Beef locations and a few stand-alone stores as well as food trucks.…
Park Lawn opens day program in Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Promoting inclusion and individuality, Park Lawn provides services that promote choice and access to community living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The mission behind the organization focuses on encouraging people with disabilities to discover their passion, to take pride in their accomplishments, to live more independently and to…
EPCHS adds Emmy-winning actor Gary Sievers to Hall of Fame
Spread the loveEvergreen Park Community High School has added a name to its list of Hall of Famers. Gary Sievers, a 1968 EPCHS graduate who became well-known for his acting, public speaking, work in radio and television, community service, civic leadership and teaching, was posthumously inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame during the Honors…
Worth vehicle sticker applications ‘lost’ in the mail
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Worth Village Clerk Bonnie Price said that even though application forms for village vehicle stickers were sent out to the post office last month residents were still waiting to receive those applications. “We have been doing this for 15 years,” Price said during the Worth Village Board meeting May 7. “This…
Hunt killer in ‘drifting’ slaying
Spread the love. Police seek witnesses, video of 59/Western . By Tim Hadac Police are appealing to the public to help find those responsible for the slaying of a 20-year-old West Englewood man during a takeover of the intersection at 59th and Western at 3:21 a.m. Sunday, May 5. The victim–identified as Guillermo “Memito” Caballero…
Mom gets 20 years in babies’ murder
Spread the love. Stuffed her newborn twin boys in an alley garbage cart . By Tim Hadac The books closed this month on a double murder that shocked and sickened many in the Garfield Ridge area more than 20 years ago. Antoinette Briley, 44, pled guilty on May 7 to murdering her twin baby boys…
Ladies lead the way to stylish Kentucky Derby fun
Spread the love As a tip of the cap–so to speak–to the Kentucky Derby, acclaimed chef Gloria Hafer (second from right) visited the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center last week to cook a burgoo (a thick stew traditionally popular in the South). For an added bit of fun, the center had a derby contest. Among…
Seek donations for charity at Two Holy Martyrs
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac The Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter at Two Holy Martyrs Parish will host a bundle weekend on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. Volunteers will staff two trailers at the St. Rene Goupil Church parking lot, 64th and New England, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday…
Palos Park finance director heading to Westmont
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Palos Park was in good hands with Altic. Finance director/treasurer Allen Altic is leaving the village later this month to take a similar position in Westmont, just a few miles from his home in Downers Grove. Altic was an assistant finance director in Bloomingdale from 2012 to 2020, when he…