By Mike Walsh
Correspondent
Among are public schools, Richards has arguably the richest tradition when it comes to football.
The Bulldogs have won two state titles (1988, 1989), 34 league championships and qualified for the playoffs 37 of the past 38 seasons.
That includes this year, in which Richards enters the postseason on a seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs defeated South Suburban Red rival Reavis 49-11 to close the regular season on Oct. 20.
Richards (7-2, 6-0 SSC Red) have continually improved after an 0-2 start.
“That’s always a goal of ours, to win the conference,” Bulldogs coach Tony Sheehan said. “The kids bought in, they worked hard and they got better every week. It’s important to the kids to win the conference.”
Junior running back Myles Mitchell finished with 195 yards rushing and two touchdowns. His longest run of the night covered 80 yards.
“Myles is the best player on the field for every game,” Sheehan said. “He does a lot of for us. “Myles is a smooth runner, his vision has gotten better and he’s gotten stronger and faster. He’s really playing at a high level right now.”
Laddarius Foster chipped in with 85 yards and two scores. His longest run of the night was for 23 yards.
Quarterback Dijon Newman was an efficient 5-for-7 passing for 82 yards and threw touchdown passes to Demarion Johnson and Shaun Reynolds.
Since 2001, Richards has authored 22 consecutive wins over Reavis, outscoring the Rams an aggregate 939-182 during that timeframe for an average margin of victory of 34 points.
Sandburg 31, Stagg 28
Anthony Shelton passed for three touchdowns, including one to Quinn Durkin, for Sandburg (6-3) in the District 230 rivalry game in Orland Park. Durkin added 31 yards on five rushes.
Sandburg is the 18th seed in the Class 8A playoffs and will travel to 15th-seeded Minooka (7-2) for a first-round matchup.
Lebarion Gilmore passed for 250 yards for the Chargers, who opened the season 3-0 but dropped their final six games. Gilmore ran for a touchdown and hooked up with Anas Ahmed (40 yards), Trey Washington (30 yards) and Anthony Sukalo (15 yards) on scoring tosses.
Aurora Christian 36, Chicago Christian 7
Christian Fluteman (13-of-26 passing, 145 yards) threw a 70-yard TD pass to Caden Boersma (5 receptions, 100 yards) for host Chicago Christian in the Chicagoland Christian Conference encounter.
Boersma (6 tackles) and Brock Sperling (6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss) led the Knights defense.
Chicago Christian (5-4) will open the Class 2A playoffs on the road against Maroa-Forsyth (9-0).
Montini 24, St. Laurence 17
Harley Rizzs (7 carries, 56 yards) scored on a 5-yard run and Evan Les (7 carries, 49 yards) found the end zone on a 3-yard jaunt for host St. Laurence (6-3, 2-1) in a CCL-ESCC White matchup in Burbank. Aaron Ball (12 carries, 95 yards) and Les (9-of-13 passing, 96 yards) added to the Vikings’ offense as did Colin Bagley (24-yard field goal) and Connor Engstrom (5 receptions, 64 yards).
R.J. Beacham (10 tackles), Nolan Ryan (9 tackles), Jacob Bylina (7 tackles), Kyle Richardson (7 tackles) and Jace Chamberlain (6 tackles, ½ sack) led the St. Laurence defense.
St. Laurence will open the Class 4A playoffs at Chicago Vocational.
St. Francis 35, Nazareth Academy 17
Logan Malachuk was 11-of-24 passing for 96 yards and a touchdown for host Nazareth Academy (4-5, 1-2) in a CCL/ESCC Orange matchup.
Despite finishing 4-5, the Roadrunners earned a spot in the Class 5A playoffs. They will travel to Crystal Lake for a first-round battle with Prairie Ridge (9-0).
Loyola Academy 23, Mount Carmel 21
Jack Elliott was 20-of-30 in the air for 250 yards and three scores for visiting Mount Carmel (8-1, 2-1) in the CCL/ESCC Blue. Elliott connected with Maurice Densmore on TD passes of 72 and 28 yards and with Darrion Gilliam on a 10-yard scoring strike for the Caravan, which trailed 17-7 at halftime.
The Caravan will begin their defense of the Class 7A championship at home against St. Rita.
Shepard 23, Evergreen Park 20
Shepard (3-6) was victorious in South Suburban Red action in Palos Heights. Anthony Loughran ran for 163 yards) and three touchdowns and Jimmy LaScola was 8-of-10 passing for 110 yards.
KeSean Fulton had 10 tackles.
Aidan Bench (221 yards passing) connected with Jed Adjayi (96 yards receiving) on a 36-yard TD toss for Evergreen Park (6-3). Bench also threw a 6-yard TD pass to Markell Johnson and David Johnson chipped in a 1-yard rushing TD.
Evergreen Park earned one of two 12 seeds in the 5A playoffs and will play at No. 5 seed Sycamore (8-1) in the first round.
Marist 35, Notre Dame 26
Marist (4-5, 1-2) prevailed in the CCL/ESCC Green matchup in Niles as John McAuliffe (18 carries, 149 yards, 2 TDs) starred while Owen Winters (11-of-19 passing, 204 yards) threw TD passes to McAuliffe and Brendan Doran (2 catches, 49 yards). Winters (10 carries, 37 yards) added a rushing TD.
Marist failed to qualify for the IHSA playoffs for the first time in eight seasons and the second time in the past 15 campaigns.
Argo 17, TF South 14
Argo (5-4) rallied from a 14-0 deficit to earn a win that got them into the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Kacper Lobas kicked what proved to a game-winning 22-yard field goal with 2:59 to play.
Javoris Cotton ran for 75 yards and two scores and while Steven Holmes rushed for 152 yards for the Argonauts.
Argo will open the Class 7A playoffs at top-seeded Normal (9-0).
Lyons 63, Proviso East 7
Lyons (6-3, 4-2) jumped out to a 56-0 lead at intermission of the West Suburban Silver contest in Maywood.
The Lions will open the Class 8A playoffs and Stevenson (7-2).
Riverside-Brookfield 35, Rich Township 20
Riverside-Brookfield (7-2) earned a nonconference win in Olympia Fields.
The Bulldogs open the 6A playoffs at home against Kaneland (6-3).
Eisenhower 49, Oak Lawn 26
Oak Lawn (1-8, 0-6) concluded its season with a South Suburban Red setback in Blue Island. Hayden Davis scored on a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs, Kyle Bader had a 1-yard touchdown run and TJ Vrabel had an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD for the Spartans.
Hinsdale South 42, Morton 16
Morton (1-8, 1-5) traveled to Darien and fell in West Suburban Gold season-ending action.
De La Salle 34, DePaul Prep 20
Kenyonte Louis (19 rushes, 232 yards) scored on runs of 60, 40 and 43 yards for host De La Salle (4-5, 2-1) in its CCL-ESCC Red victory. Louis also threw a 36-yard TD pass to Myles Green (4 catches, 70 yards). Louis was 8-of-16 passing for 113 yards. David Coffey tallied on a 50-yard run for the Meteors.
Jaxson Brown (12 tackles), Tristyn Hynes (11 tackles), Alex Luevanos (9 tackles) and Green (2 pass breakups, 1 interception) led the Meteor defense.
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