Another year, another conference title for Richards.
On October 9 in Palos Heights, the Bulldogs beat South Suburban Red rival Shepard 35-14 to capture the 37th league championship in program history.
“We’re very proud of that,” Richards coach Tony Sheehan said. “There aren’t many schools around that can say they’ve won 37 (titles). At the beginning of the year, that’s obviously a goal to win the conference.
“We always feel the conference runs through us and we have that expectation that year in and year out, we’re playing for the conference championship. To secure another one feels very good. The last few weeks we’ve been battling and grinding.
“We’ve had guys out for this and that and guys hurt and we’ve asked guys to step up who haven’t played some positions and they’ve done a great job. I’m very proud of these kids for dealing with adversity the way they have the last few weeks.”
One of the players making the biggest contributions for Richards (6-2, 5-0) against Shepard (4-4, 2-3) was junior receiver/safety Isaiah Flowers. All the 5-foot-9. 165-pound Flowers did was catch an 18-yard TD pass from quarterback Eric Jacobs (9 of 16, 142 yards), recover a fumble and return an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
“Isaiah is a football junkie,” Sheehan said. “His football IQ is off the charts. He’s always watching film and getting guys lined up. He knows what he’s doing and the last few weeks with some guys getting hurt, we’ve asked some guys to do a lot more.
“Isaiah came over to the offensive side to play receiver and he’s on every special (team). Our holder got hurt last week and we asked Isaiah to hold and he had to learn how to hold in three days. He did a great job with that and he’s just a very good football player. We’re excited that he’s only a junior and we get another year with him.”
Jordan Lewis also chipped in for the Bulldogs with 28 carries for 152 yards and touchdown runs of 3, 1 and 29 yards. Jacobs added 41 yards on eight carries.
For the Astros, Ashton Hite passed for 254 yards and two TDs with Maalik Wright (five catches, 159 yards, TD) and Brendin Thomas (six catches, 66 yards, TD) his primary receivers.
“Ashton continued the streak he’s been on since about Week 4,” Shepard coach John Rone said. “The young man is growing into the quarterback position at the varsity level to where his talents are able to take over.
“He’s continued now to this point to take what the defense is giving him and utilize both of our outstanding outside receivers in Brendin Thomas and Maalik Wright. … Ashton was just taking what the defense gave him and he wasn’t forcing it to any particular receiver. He has the ability to be accurate while hanging in the pocket.”