Richards quarterback Joe Mayo threw for 310 yards and four TDs in a 38-point loss to Lemont. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Richards quarterback Joe Mayo threw for 310 yards and four TDs in a 38-point loss to Lemont. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pigskin Wrap: Lemont overpowers Richards in SSC crossover

Spread the love

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

Richards is in a pretty good position to get into the playoffs this year, but all of its success has come within the South Suburban Conference Red.

Outside the Red? The Bulldogs know they still have some work to do.

After a 68-30 crossover road loss to SSC Blue powerhouse Lemont on Oct. 7, they are 0-3 outside the Red and have been outscored 147-38 in those games.

On the other side of the coin, Richards is 4-0 in the Red with two games to go and have outscored their conference foes 148-84.

The Bulldogs need one more win for playoff eligibility and two more for an automatic berth. They host Oak Lawn (1-6, 0-5) on Friday and close the regular season with a home game against Reavis (4-3, 3-2).

Bulldogs quarterback Joe Mayo said he’s not thinking about the playoffs yet.

“The 6A South is stacked with Simeon, East St. Louis and Lemont,” Mayo said. “We don’t want to worry about that stuff right now. We just want to get better and make big jumps in each game.”

Losing by 38 to Lemont, which was ranked third in the state in Class 6A by the Association Press, may not sound like a big jump. But offensively speaking, the Bulldogs saw improvement compared to their two non-conference losses to Morgan Park and Marist, in which they scored a combined six points..

They opened the season losing to the Mustangs, 30-2, and the RedHawks, 49-6. Hanging 30 on nicknameless Lemont, which came into the game allowing an average of 12.5 points per contest, is a step in the right direction.

Mayo, who has picked up interest from Division I schools and recently Ball State recently, threw for 310 yards and four touchdown. He found receiver Terangie Eskridge nine times for 88 yards and a pair of scores.

RICHARDS 2 scaled

Richards senior running back Michael Maura tries to find running room against Lemont on Oct. 7. Photo by Jeff Vorva

CCL/ECC
In what could be arguably the play of the year thus far, Brother Rice’s Owen Lyons made a one-handed 26-yard catch on third down to help lead the Crusaders (4-3) to a 31-24 double overtime win over defending Class 4A state champion Joliet Catholic in a crossover.

What made that Ryan Hartz-to-Lyons catch even more special is that it was broadcast on WCIU-TV, and the catch was captured on an end zone camera for all to watch again and again.

Marist (4-3) beat Montini 37-6 as junior Marc Coy ran 15 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Dermot Smyth threw for 109 yards and ran for 86 more. Kicker Kamil Kokot not only had a field goal and four extra points, he returned a kick for 27 yards and a punt for 5 yards.

Nazareth (3-4) won its second straight game to keep its playoff hopes alive with a 42-6 win over Leo. Alexander Angulo and Braden Ferguson each ran for two touchdowns. Gabe Kaminski was dominant on defense with five tackles for loss and four sacks.

De La Salle (1-6) dropped a 40-26 decision to Marian Catholic. Evan Smith blocked a punt and return and ran it in from 15 yards out for a score. He also blocked a point-after-touchdown attempt. Amarye Howard threw a TD pass and ran another one in for a score.

St. Rita (5-2), which finished second in the state in Class 2A last year, secured playoff consideration with a 52-19 victory over Marian Central Catholic. Given the number of victories the Mustangs’ opponents will likely have after the regular season, they are almost assured of a postseason berth even if they were to lose their final two games.

St. Laurence (3-4) was blanked 42-0 by Mount Carmel. The Vikings need wins against Notre Dame (5-2) and Providence (4-3) for playoff consideration.

 

SXU wins again
Saint Xavier, ranked 18th in the nation in the NAIA in a coaches’ poll, staved off Olivet Nazarene, 17-10, in Bourbonnais in a Mid-States Football Association Midwest contest to win its fourth straight game.

Quarterback Stuart Ross threw for 241 yards and found Justin Pringle six times for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cougars (4-2, 2-0) host Missouri Baptist (2-4, 0-2) at noon on Saturday.

 

South Suburban Red

Reavis (4-3, 3-2) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 29-15 victory over Oak Lawn (1-6, 0-5).

Argo (4-3, 1-3) needs at least one win over Oak Lawn or Evergreen Park for playoff consideration and both wins over those two teams for a guaranteed playoff spot after dropping a 35-7 decision to Eisenhower.

 

Metro Suburban Blue

Chicago Christian (3-4, 1-3) hung on to its playoff hopes with its second straight win, a 44-19 triumph over Aurora Central Catholic. The Knights need wins over Phelan Leadership Academy (Indianapolis) (0-6) and Ridgewood (4-3). Zeke Goble had a pair of late TDs for the Knights.

Riverside-Brookfield’s (5-2, 4-0) four-game winning streak was snapped with a 48-12 crossover loss to Immaculate Conception, the AP’s No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A.

 

West Suburban

Lyons (6-1, 3-1) bounced back from its setback to York to beat Downers Grove North, 28-21, in the Silver division for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

Morton (3-4, 3-1) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 42-12 victory. The Mustangs must beat Downers Grove North and Willowbrook (both 4-3) for playoff consideration.

 

SouthWest Suburban

Sandburg (2-5) topped Stagg (2-5), 35-7, in a crossover battle between two District 230 schools.

 

Chicago Public League

Goode (6-1, 5-0) guaranteed itself a spot in the playoffs with a 44-0 victory over Chicago Vocational School in the Red Southwest. Goode has won five straight.

Catalyst Maria (4-3, 4-1) beat Noble/Pritzker 30-14 in the Red-Central to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Curie (3-4, 1-3) beat Hubbard (0-7, 0-4) 38-8 in the Red South and must beat Kenwood (4-3) and Clark (3-4) for playoff consideration.

Solorio (3-4, 3-2) beat Back of the Yards (1-6, 1-4), 46-0, in the Blue-Southwest.

Gage Park (1-6, 0-5) lost 34-0 to Tilden in the Blue-Southwest.

Kennedy (2-4, 0-5) lost a 40-6 decision to Noble/Bulls in the Red West.

Local News

Argo graduate Tom Diaz at junior college nationals in the final straightaway about 50 meters from the finish line. (Supplied photo)

Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors

Spread the love

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 Flip White is a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. (supplied photo)

Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters

Spread the love

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…

GSWNH_HeavenlySound_012122

A heavenly sound

Spread the love

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…

Screen Shot 2022-01-14 at 8.10.36 PM

Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park

Spread the love

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…

Oak Lawn’s Davion Lawrence (right) led his team with 14 points in a 57-52 victory at Evergreen Park on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen

Spread the love

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…

Former Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva Former  Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva

College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis

Spread the love

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…

Argo’s Evan Shelton (30) and Will Adams battle Shepard’s Robinson Hale for the ball. Photo by Steve Metsch

Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night

Spread the love

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.…

Mother McAuley’s Bella Finnegan launches a 3-point attempt over St. Laurence’s Lilliana Magana as Vikings coach George Shimko looks on in a game on Jan. 11. Finnegan scored her 1,000th career point in the game. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Stagg’s Laila Barakat and McAuley’s Bella Finnegan hit 1K career points; Richards’ Kortz gets 300th win

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Look what Laila Barakat started. The Stagg senior basketball star hit a milestone when she scored her 1,000th career point against Richards on Jan. 8. That was the first of three notable career accomplishments achieved the following week. It was followed by Mother McAuley senior Bella Finnegan scoring…

Rob Cruz

Cruz booted from SD 229 school board in Oak Lawn

Spread the love

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…

Screen Shot 2022-01-16 at 9.42.00 PM

Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…

Neighbors

Abdelnasser Rashid

Rashid calls college demonstrators ‘student heroes’

Spread the love

Spread the love. Rips Israel over “apartheid’ and ‘genocide’ .  From staff reports The crisis in Palestine is taking a terrifying turn as the Israeli military is preparing to invade Rafah where more than one million Palestinians have been forced to after their homes in northern Gaza were destroyed, State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-21st) said…

Bringing the Titanic back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak. (Photo by Kelly White)

Titanic memories haunt Worth Library

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it…

Bridgeview Trustee Gary Lewis urges residents to get rid of clutter on the May 11 spring cleanup day. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by…

Sisto Brito

Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his…

Helen Welch will perform songs from “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. (Supplied photo)

Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…

Herbs, planters and a variety of flowers were popular items at Dotson's Farm during the first Evergreen Park Farmers Market on May 2. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees…

evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force.…

John Balzhiser pins a police badge onto his son, Daniel’s, uniform in Hickory Hills. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully…

South Side community partners invested in female athletics at the high school, 3737 W. 99th St., Chicago, through the design, implementation and unveiling of lights and a scoreboard on the school's state of the art turf field with an event called, “Light Up the Field” on April 30. (Supplied photo)

Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…

The Village of Palos Park hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on May 5. (Photos by Kelly White)

Cicadas in the park in Palos Park

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas…