K.J. Morris kick-starts Brother Rice in romp past St. Patrick
As beginnings go, it’s tough to top the one that K.J. Morris provided his Brother Rice teammates. On the opening kickoff of the Crusaders’ 48-0 CCL/ESCC crossover victory over St. Patrick at Triton College in Week 5, Morris sprinted 95 yards for a touchdown. For an encore, Morris returned a punt 45 yards for a…
North Dakota State commit Myles Mitchell, Richards race past Argo
Fans at Friday night’s South Suburban Red matchup between Richards and Argo hoping to see running back Myles Mitchell at his best were not disappointed. Mitchell powered the Bulldogs to an impressive 41-0 victory in Summit, carrying 29 times for 191 yards and five touchdowns. The North Dakota State commit found the end zone on…
Vanderbilt commit Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel cruise by Benet
Through the first five games of the season, Mount Carmel has piled up 215 points for an average of 43 points per game. One of the primary reasons why the Caravan have been so successful thus far is the play of senior quarterback Jack Elliott. In guiding Mount Carmel to a 48-13 Week 5 CCL/ESCC…
Cornell commit John McAuliffe, Marist get past IC Catholic
Scoring points hasn’t been a problem this season for Marist. That trend continued in Week 5 as the Redhawks traveled to Elmhurst and defeated IC Catholic 34-26 in a CCL/ESCC crossover. Through the first five games of the season, Marist, which improved to 4-1 overall, tallied 148 points, good enough for an average of 29.6…
‘Pinky’ power: Jonathan Castro leads Kennedy past Carver
When Jonathan Castro first went out for football at Kennedy, no one knew who he was. So his new teammates gave him a nickname. “Honestly, I just love the color pink,” the Crusaders senior said. “So I came in sophomore year and no one really knew my name. They saw I had a pink mouthguard, pink…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 6
1. MOUNT CARMEL (4-1) Last week: Beat Benet 48-13 This week: at Brother Rice Comment: QB Jack Elliott continues to excel with four total TDs vs. Redwings. 2. MARIST (4-1) Last week: Beat IC Catholic 34-26 This week: vs. Providence Comment: John McAuliffe rushes for 211 yards and four TDs in impressive road win. 3.…
Led by Justin Buckner and James Kingsbury, St. Rita defense stingy again vs. Notre Dame
If St. Rita is to achieve its goals this season of winning the CCL/ESCC Green and making a deep run into the state playoffs, its defense will need to play well. In a Week 5 42-0 CCL/ESCC crossover victory over visiting Notre Dame, the Mustangs did just that, limiting the Dons to just 53 yards…
Cam Tryon, Noah Vaughn and Anthony Loughran each score 2 TDs as Shepard tops Evergreen Park for fourth straight win
Whether playing on offense or defense, Shepard senior Cam Tryon’s objective is to make game-changing plays. Tryon made the most of his opportunities and did exactly that in the Astros’ battle against Evergreen Park in Week 5, parlaying three touches into two touchdowns in a 40-0 win over the host Mustangs in South Suburban Red…
Twin Bond Never Dies: Darius Townsel Plays Every Down for His Slain Brother
Darius Townsel, a junior at Curie High School, grew up playing football in the backyard with his twin brother, Demetrius Jr. Those carefree days, filled with laughter and competition, remain some of Darius’s fondest memories. “I remember this one time, he made me cry,” Darius said with a grin after the Condors’ 52-8 win against…
Joliet Catholic forces tie on final play of regulation, beats Marist in 2 OT
There were a lot of bowed heads in Marist’s post-game huddle after its Week 4 loss to Joliet Catholic. A few of them were shaking, trying to comprehend a stunning reversal of fortune. A few of them, unbowed, were looking skyward — perhaps for the answer to how the RedHawks could surrender a 10-point fourth-quarter…
Sandburg scores early, ‘D’ hangs tough to top Lincoln-Way West for third straight victory
Sandburg junior running back Luke Basiorka took the handoff off the right side and saw a lot of green in front of him. He burst through the hole and past a confused defensive back, and 89 yards later he was in the end zone celebrating with his teammates as the Eagles stretched their lead over…
Nazareth bounces back from first loss of season with shutout of IC Catholic
Nazareth has gotten off to slow starts each of the past two seasons, but in both years went on to win IHSA Class 5A state championships. Roadrunners coach Tim Racki challenged his Roadrunners to start the year strong by winning games earlier in the year. “Making history for being one of the worst teams in…
College Football | Saint Xavier triumphs after traumatic week
The Saint Xavier football team capped off a horrific week with a huge victory. Mason Santiago, a Cougars sophomore linebacker, was one of two men who died Sept. 15 in an early-morning crash on Interstate 80 in Tinley Park. Dealing with the grief of the loss of Santiago, a New Lenox resident and Providence graduate,…
St. Laurence makes history with title at Spartan Classic
Maeve McNamara was so excited. She couldn’t wait to shout it out to the world. “We made history!” she yelled. The St. Laurence senior opposite hitters and her teammates were pumped up after winning the Spartan Classic on Sept. 21 by beating Lincoln-Way West 25-23, 25-14 in Oak Lawn. The Vikings have won regional and…
A whole new ballgame | Area well-represented in inaugural girls flag football season
The inaugural Illinois High School Association girls flag football season is in full swing and is providing a new avenue for female athletes across the state. With flag football becoming an Olympic sport in 2028, there is speculation its popularity will soar over the next several years. Girls flag football has drawn enough interest from…
Richards runs for 478 yards in win over rival Oak Lawn
Both the present and the future of Richards’ offensive backfield were on full display in Week 4 as neighborhood rival Oak Lawn came across town. The Bulldogs ran for 478 yards and five touchdowns in a 68-12 victory over the Spartans in a South Suburban Red matchup Sept. 20 at Gary Korhonen Field. Senior Myles…
Collin Bagley’s boot lifts St. Laurence over Carmel
St. Laurence senior kicker Collin Bagley doesn’t lack confidence, according to Vikings coach Adam Nissen. Nor should he, if he continues performing as he did in St. Laurence’s 17-14 win over Carmel in Week 4. Bagley drilled a game-winning 29-yard field goal for the Vikings (4-0, 1-0) with 31 seconds to play in the CCL/ESCC…
Lyons overcomes Hilltoppers for first win in series since 2016
Lyons came into its annual matchup with Glenbard West winless in the conference rivals’ past six meetings. On a warm fall Saturday afternoon in Western Springs, the Lions ended that streak, employing a stingy defense and an opportunistic offense to beat the Hilltoppers, 24-7, in a West Suburban Silver game on Sept. 21. Lyons had…
Mount Carmel QB Jack Elliot runs for 198 yards, 4 TDs in win over St. Ignatius
Watching Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott play, two noticeable aspects of his game are his arm and his heart. Elliot, a senior from Orland Park, can throw the ball with the best of them; he’s also tough, durable and not afraid to accept a punishing hit from an opposing defender. In a 45-24 CCL/ESCC Blue…
Loyola sends Brother Rice to third straight loss
If Brother Rice head coach Casey Quedenfeld was looking for something positive to derive from the Crusaders’ Week 4 loss to Loyola, it would be the play of quarterback C.J. Gray. Gray, who is in his first year as the starting signal-caller, threw two touchdown passes and added another on a 76-yard run in the…
Nick Herman, Justin Buckner combine for 4 TDs as St. Rita tops St. Francis
Get off to a good start and achieve a good result. That’s what St. Rita head coach Martin Hopkins wanted from the Mustangs in their CCL/ESCC Green opener against St. Francis. His wish was granted as St. Rita delivered a 31-13 victory on Sept. 20 in Wheaton. The Mustangs had a 17-0 advantage at halftime…
Shepard knocks Argo from unbeaten ranks
Shepard coach John Rone was effusive with his praise of Anthony Loughran after the senior’s play on both sides of the ball helped the Astros upend previously unbeaten Argo in Week 4. Loughran, who plays running back and safety, ran for two touchdowns and intercepted a pass as Shepard (3-1, 1-0 South Suburban Red) beat…
Football | Evergreen Park gallops past Oak Lawn in conference opener
Within the first five-plus minutes of the Week 3 battle between Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, 27 points had been scored. The host Mustangs sustained their offensive momentum throughout the contest en route to a 49-31 victory over the Spartans in the South Suburban Red opener for both teams. Leading the way for the Mustangs…
Football | Mount Carmel’s Jack Elliott and Cooper Lehman set records in defeat of Nazareth
A rare matchup between back-to-back state champions saw two of the state’s top quarterbacks combine for 11 touchdown passes and ended as an historic night for a program familiar with making history. The quarterback duel and the game both went to Mount Carmel, which rode the arm of senior signal-caller Jack Elliot to a 56-33…
Sandburg girls volleyball players bond via Smurfs and zombie brides
Sandburg junior middle hitter Ayah Kashkeesh and her volleyball teammates did not have a normal Thursday night on Sept. 12. Rather than playing a match in the school’s main gym, the Eagles had the night away from volleyball and held a fashion show and raffle. The players were not, however, modeling the hottest designs by…
2 killed in Worth bar shooting
By Bob Bong Worth Mayor Mary Werner confirmed Monday afternoon that two people were shot and killed and a third wounded in a shooting early this morning at the Crossing Bar and Grill, 6959 W. 111th St. in Worth. Werner said the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force was assisting Worth police with the investigation.…
Argo Wrestling busy over winter break
By Carol McGowan While many students enjoyed time off during the school’s winter break, Argo wrestlers were hard at work competing in an all level tri meet. They beat both DeLaSalle High School and Riverside-Brookfield teams and it came down to the last match to decide the winner. The Argonauts battled to the end and…
Argo Alumni Night returns
By Carol McGowan The tradition of Alumni Night at Argo Community High School returns on Friday, January 14. The Alumni Dinner, at which the school provides a free buffet dinner to alumni, will take place from 5-8 p.m. in the Bulow Auditorium. Many of all ages have gathered in the past for great food and…
Palos 118 hosting Community Feedback Forums Monday, Tuesday
Palos School District 118 will host a series of community forums for the public on Monday and Tuesday, January 10 and 11, as part of its first phase of strategic planning. The Palos 118 school board is engaging the entire school community in discussions that will lead to identifying the attributes and skills all Palos…
Bobby Rush to retire after 15 terms
From staff reports U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, the state’s longest serving member of Congress, announced Tuesday he would not seek re-election this year, stepping down after almost 30 years of representing Chicago’s South Side and southwest suburbs. Rush, 75, formally announced that he will not run for a 16th term in Congress, but vowed to…
Stagg health team earns fourth straight Blue Ribbon award
By Jeff Vorva District 230 Supt. Robert Nolting likened the Stagg Health Education department to the New England Patriots. For the fourth straight year, Stagg won the Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in Education from the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Staff members said Stagg was the first school in Illinois…
Palos Heights: Business owners must choose whether to comply with mandates
By Jeff Vorva Palos Heights is not cracking down on businesses that violate Cook County COVID-19 mandates regarding proof of vaccinations. But the city will help if asked. Among the mandates, which started Monday, businesses including restaurants and gyms must have patrons show proof of vaccinations, which is a controversial topic for some. The Village…
Mayor reads hate mail before diving into COVID and crime issues
By Jeff Vorva Before Tuesday’s village board meeting, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said he received a disturbing email. The mayor, who shoots from the hip when it comes to his beliefs is a controversial public figure and figures to get hate mail. This one was especially nasty. “I figured that since I got this…
Stepson charged in Evergreen Park murder
By Bob Bong A 24-year-old Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder in the New Year’s Eve shooting of his stepfather in Evergreen Park. Brandon K. Kizer, 24, of the 8100 block of South Loomis in Chicago, was charged Sunday with first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Young, 52, on the morning of…
Honored for service to business
Fabis earns UBAM award By Dermot Connolly The United Business Association of Midway recently honored founding member Mary Fabis with a Lifetime Membership Award for Outstanding Service for her 35 years of work with the business organization she continues to serve as a board member. Fabis, now 92, has owned and operated Archer Travel agency…
She was a ‘Munchkin by marriage’
Mary Ellen St. Aubin dies at age 101 By Joan Hadac Mary Ellen St. Aubin once said that if her life could be summed up in a movie title, it might be It’s a Wonderful Life. That life came to a conclusion late last month. Mrs. St. Aubin was 101 years old. “I’ve enjoyed my…
Fire and ice
December was unseasonably dry and warm, but it was cold enough late in the month to form icicles on a Bedford Park Fire Department truck– even after it returned from a blaze that gutted a warehouse in the 6500 block of South Lavergne, just steps south of Clearing. The weather forecast for this weekend calls…
