Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Senn 36 - Taft 0! - 1st Quarter Score

Senn is That Good!

Senn's Joshua Thomas (#32-DE/RB, sr), Jermaine Baker (#19- 6-3, 175, WR/DB), and Quinell Johnson (#9, 6-1, 180, so, QB) hold their helmets high in triumph!

I just got back from the Senn-Taft game. I was expecting a good game. After all, both teams came into the game undefeated at 5-0. A lot was at stake. The winner will most surely go undefeated the rest of the season, have a #1 or #2 playoff seed, come in first in conference, and get promoted to the big boys in the Illini conference.

Instead, it was a complete one sided affair:

• Senn's Joshua Thomas (above #32) blocked a Taft punt attempt, scooped up the loose ball and scored a touchdown to give Senn a quick 8-0 lead,
• With 1 :06 left in the first quarter Senn was up 36-0.
• Senn made it 42-0 in the 2nd quarter.
• Taft could not stop running back Cody Gilliard (sr0 or quarterback Quinell Johnson (so). In one play, Taft must have missed tackling Gillard on 7 different occasions as he rumbled for a TD.
• Taft QB Mike Shewchuk got Taft on the board after three long passes to put Senn up 42-8, but by then it was way too late.

I left before halftime, it was an embarrassing game to watch.


On the plus side for Taft was quarterback Mike Shewchuk (#12). Shewchuk showed me a very strong and accurate arm. He knew when to zip the ball and when to give it  alight touch. He also made very smart decisions, was rarely if anytime sacked, and had zero turnovers. I think on a team with a stronger receiving corp he could really shine.

I was pleasantly surprised at the school spirit shown at Taft. For a Thursday night game they brought a big crowd, had cheerleaders, marching band, and a very boisterous crowd cheering their team no matter the score.


I was even more impressed with the play of Senn. People criticized me for ranking them at #5 in the city. After today, I'm even more firm on that ranking and feel they can even run with Robeson. At the least, this is a team capable of pulling out a first round state playoff win against a suburban opponent.

Simeon has at least 6 DI prospects playing offense

  

#2 Demarius Reed, #37 Horatio Banks, #58 Christian Bryant, and #75 Felix Ebbele are part of a Simeon offense that to me is #1 in the state.

It's no wonder Simeon averages, 49.6 points per game, this team has the most impressive display of offensive talent that I have ever seen in my 20+ years of watching high school football in the Chicago area. This offense is better than the Demetrius Jones (Notre Dame and Cincinnati QB) led Morgan Park teams in the 2000's that beat Mt. Carmel and Richards. Better than the Juice Williams (University of Illinois QB) CVS team. Better even than the Couri Benz led record setting Lane Tech city championship team in 2004. Better than the 1996 Rocky Harvey (Sun-Times player of the year) led Dunbar team that won the Prep Bowl and beat Loyola Academy in the state playoffs.

What sets this Simeon team apart is not one or two individual talents. This team, while very talented may not end up having a super star all-state type player like a Jones, Juice, Couri, or Rocky. What makes this team special is the collective talent, which has at least 6 Division One college prospects on the offensive side alone.

They are:

Robert Gregory (jr, QB)
Horatio Banks (sr, RB)
Darius Scott (sr, WR/RB)
Demarius Reed (sr. WR)
Christian Bryant (sr. OL)
Jordan Diamond (jr, OL)

Other offensive players are not exactly slouches.

Simeon has kicker in Robert Taylor, who is not only one of the top kickers in the city, but also a Division I basketball prospects.

Offensive lineman Felix Ebbele is one of the top offensive linemen in the city and will be looked by colleges. He is 6'3" 300lbs. His brother Fabbians graduated from Simeon last year and received a football scholarship for Arizona of the PAC 10.

Darren Monroe (6-3, 350lb, OL) is a prospect many colleges are looking at (USC, Michigan State). They love his size at 6-3, 350lb. But he still has work to do and is considered a project at this point.

Other Simeon offensive players to look out for waiting in the wings: Cywettnie Brown (6-1", jr, WR), Aaron Banks (6-3, 185lbs, so, WR), Willie Jones (6-1, 220lbs, fr, OL).

Week 6 Thursday Talking Thread

Yusef Mohammed (sr, 6-2, 235lbs; LB) leads a Senn defense that has given up an average of 3.2 points per game. The big game of the day is Senn vs Taft. The winner will be in the drivers seat to go undefeated and be a number one playoff seed and a promotion to an Illini conference next year. I like Senn in this game. Senn is not the biggest team. Their line probably averages only a bit over 200 lbs. What they make up in size they more than make up in muscle, athleticism, a great weightlifting program, and most importantly heart. I've spoken to some of their players. This is a hardworking, confident, and hungry group. One drive-bye media publication actually predicted them 4th in conference. Their coach and players are out to prove them wrong.

Julian vs Kenwood - Are the Julian Jaguars back? Well they are undefeated in conference play and leading the Chicago Windy City Conference. A win here over Kenwood will put Julian in the drivers seat to win conference and a state playoff berth. Long time CVS coach Chuck Chambers is the new coach at Julian and seems to be heading Julian in the right direction. Look out for Julian sophomore quarterback Robyn Pondexter. He's smallish but got an arm and is very elusive. See him in action at the 1:17 mark in the following video.

Julian has some players as seen in the following video highlights from their game earlier this year against Robeson:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Senn vs. Taft at Lane, 7 - Senn by 10
Steinmetz vs. Lake View at Lane, 3:30 - Pickem

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Julian vs. Kenwood at Eckersall, 3:30 - Julian by 6
Kelly vs. Corliss at Gately, 3:30 - Kelly by 3

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
King vs. Robeson at Stagg, 3:30 - Robeson by 10

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Bogan vs. Vocational at Gately, 7 - Bogan by 9

ILLINI RED BIRD
Lincoln Park vs. Curie at Rockne, 3:30 - Curie by 49

Pictures Now - Mather Invite #3

Mather Invite #3 ShutterFly Photo Album

Carlo Zamora (sr) is part of a Lane Tech squad that had 21 runners run below 11:23!

Elin Erickson (sr) of Von Steuben 3rd in 11:47! A state meet potential qualifier, also on Von Steuben's girls soccer team.

Rising sophomore Erik Diaz of Curie runs a 10:44! He led a Curie team that ran 5 runners under 11:22.

Whitney Young took the girls team title!

Week 6 Line

Senn vs Taft - The Chicago Conference game of the week is Taft vs Senn. Pictured above is senior running back Cody Gillard of Senn. Both teams go into this Chicago Big Shoulders conference game with undefeated records at 5-0. Both are also 3-0 in conference play. The winner will likely run the table and take a number one seed into the state playoffs and move up to an Illini-conference next year. Senn is a very balanced team strong on the offensive side with sophomore quarterback Quinell Johnson and running back Cody Gillard. Yusef Mohammed (6-2, 230lbs) leads a strong defense that has had 3 shutouts and given up only 16 points in 5 games. Taft counters with one of the city's top quarterbacks in Mike Shechuk and shifty running back Omar Rodriguez.


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Senn vs. Taft at Lane, 7 - Senn by 10
Steinmetz vs. Lake View at Lane, 3:30 - Pickem

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Julian vs. Kenwood at Eckersall, 3:30 - Julian by 6
Kelly vs. Corliss at Gately, 3:30 - Kelly by 3

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
King vs. Robeson at Stagg, 3:30 - Robeson by 10

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Bogan vs. Vocational at Gately, 7 - Bogan by 9

ILLINI RED BIRD
Lincoln Park vs. Curie at Rockne, 3:30 - Curie by 49

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 1
Little Village vs. Sullivan at Winnemac, 3:30 - Little Village by 10
Marine vs. Wells at Hanson, 3:30 -Marine by forfeit

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 3
Golder vs. Noble Street at Hanson, 7 - pickem

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1

ILLINI HEARTLAND
Orr vs. Harper at Stagg, 4:15 - Orr by 10

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Marshall vs. Fenger at Eckersall, 3:30 - Pickem

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Hubbard vs. Amundsen at Winnemac, 3:30 - Hubbard by 42
Mather vs. Morgan Park at Gately, 3:30 - Morgan Park by 49

ILLINI RED BIRD
Dunbar vs. Simeon at Gately, 7 - Simeon by 43
Lane vs. Young at Rockne, 3:30 - Whitney Young by 7


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

CHICAGO GREAT LAKES
Ag. Science vs. Phillips at Eckersall, 1:15 - Pickem
Perspectives-Calumet vs. Bowen at Eckersall, 4:15 - Pickem
Tilden vs. Carver at Gately, 1:15 - Pickem

CHICAGO SECOND CITY
Collins vs. Manley at Rockne, 3  - Pickem
Douglass vs. Crane at Rockne, 11 a.m. - Pickem
Phoenix at Chicago Academy, 2 - Pickem

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Gage Park vs. Hyde Park at Eckersall, 10 a.m. - Pickem
South Shore vs. Urban Prep at Stagg, 3 - Urban Prep by 3

ILLINI HEARTLAND
Dyett vs. Hope at Stagg, 11 a.m. - Dyett by 6
Raby vs. Brooks at Gately - Raby by 6

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Clark vs. Harlan at Gately, 4:15 - Harlan by 10

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 1
Kelvyn Park vs. Farragut at Lane, 7 - Kelvyn Park by 20
Roosevelt vs. Woodlawn at Hanson, 11 a.m. - Pickem

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 2
Englewood vs. Bronzeville at Lane, 3 Pickem
Juarez vs. Hirsch at Hanson, 3Pickem
Kennedy vs. North Lawndale at Hanson, 7Pickem
Lindblom vs. Washington at Lane, 11 a.m.Pickem

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 3
Rowe-Clark vs. Comer at Gately, 10 a.m. - pick em
UIC vs. Rauner at Winnemac, 11 a.m. - pickem
Westinghouse vs. Pritzker at Winnemac, 3 - Westinghouse by 3

If the playoffs started today.....

Thanks to Catch 22 for the following example. CPS Teams in Red.

If the PLAYOFFS started today.....

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8A

Upper Bracket

#16 Warren at #1 York
#9 Glenbrook South at #8 St. Patrick
#13 New Trier at #4 South Elgin
#12 Evanston at #5 Barrington

#15 Bartlett at #2 Glenbard North
#10 Palatine at #7 Schaumburg
#14 Notre Dame at #3 Stevenson
#11 Maine South at #6 Loyola


Lower Bracket

#16 Downers Grove South at #1 Belleville East
#9 Naperville Central at #8 Sandburg
#13 Homewood-Flossmoor at #4 Mount Carmel
#12 Glenbard East at #5 Brother Rice

#15 Neuqua Valley at #2 Lyons
#10 Marist at #7 Waubonsie Valley
#14 Proviso West at #3 Simeon
#11 Naperville North at #6 Bolingbrook
__________________________________________________________________________

7A

Upper Bracket

#16 Jacobs at #1 Wheaton South
#9 Elk Grove at #8 Wheaton North
#13 Benet at #4 Crystal Lake South
#12 Glenbrook North at #5 Hononegah

#15 Harlem at #2 Glenbard West
#10 Prospect at #7 Lake Zurich
#14 St. Ignatius at #3 Carmel
#11 Guilford at #6 Taft


Lower Bracket
This bracket was seeded in two halves to reduce travel times.

#8 Thornwood at #1 St. Rita
#5 Lincoln-Way East at #4 Thornton
#7 Minooka at #2 Plainfield South
#6 Plainfield North at #3 T.F. South

#8 O'Fallon at #1 East St. Louis
#5 Granite City at #4 Quincy
#7 Collinsville at #2 Marian Catholic
#6 Belleville West at #3 Bradley-Bourbannais
__________________________________________________________________________

6A

Upper Bracket

#16 Batavia at #1 Marmion
#9 DeKalb at #8 Argo
#13 Kenwood at #4 Hubbard
#12 Rolling Meadows at #5 St. Viator

#15 Hersey at #2 Boylan
#10 Geneva at #7 Lake Forest
#14 Crystal Lake Central at #3 Robeson
#11 Addison Trail at #6 Prairie Ridge


Lower Bracket
This bracket was NOT seeded in halves because there is only one trip of 150 miles or more.

#16 Normal West at #1 Lemont
#9 Morgan Park at #8 Lincoln-Way North
#13 Shepard at #4 Danville
#12 Oswego at #5 T.F. North

#15 Bloomington at #2 Rock Island
#10 Crete-Monee at #7 Springfield
#14 Rich Central at #3 Normal
#11 Richards at #6 Oak Forest
__________________________________________________________________________

5A

Upper Bracket

#16 Freeport at #1 Sycamore
#9 Orr at #8 Lakes
#13 Rochelle at #4 Senn
#12 St. Francis at #5 Antioch

#15 King at #2 Kaneland
#10 Montini at #7 Wheaton Academy
#14 Grayslake Central at #3 Vernon Hills
#11 Marian Central at #6 Sterling


Lower Bracket
This bracket was NOT seeded in halves because there is only one trip of 150 miles or more.

#16 Bowen at #1 Lincoln-Way West
#9 Harlan at #8 Rich South
#13 Carbondale at #4 Tinley Park
#12 Julian at #5 Joliet Catholic

#15 Jacksonville at #2 Richwoods
#10 Galesburg at #7 Washington
#14 Centenniel at #3 Marion
#11 Glenwood at #6 Sacred Heart-Griffin
_____________________________________

Videos Now - Mather Invite #3 some video coverage

Mather Invite #3- race for individual crown

Abe Haji (jr) of Mather receives his individual championship medal. He edged out a hard charging Johnny Levin of Francis Parker to win at 9:44.


Haji raises his hand to celebrate his victory


shortly there after his teammates mob him to celebrate!



With 100 yards to go, Jeffrey Rector (jr) of Roosevelt leads David Timlin (jr) of Lane Tech. Timlin ended up chasing down Rector to finish in 3rd with a personal record of 9:50. Rector also ran a season best 9:52. For Timlin to not only beat 3200 meter all state runner Rector and also teammate Lucas Beltran (6th at 10:07) is really telling me something about Timlin. Timlin amazes me every single time he runs. The sky is the limit for these two very talented juniors.

top 11 individual results

1 Haji 9:44 (Math)
2 Johnny Levin 9:44 (Parker)
3 Timlin 9:50 (Lane)
4 Rector 9:52 (Roosv)
5 Mendez 9:57 (Math)
6 Beltran 10:07 (Lane)
7 Bana 10:10 (Math)
8 Burbano 10;11 (Lane)
9 Aquino 10:12 (U-High)
10 Zimny-Schmitt 10:13 (Lane)
11 Chronis 10:22 (Lane)

George Chronis (sr) of Lane finished with a PR 10:22. The story of the day has to be the depth of Lane Tech. There was only one boys race in the day- an open 2 mile run with over 212 runners. Mather had a great day finishing 6 runners in the top 21. Their 6th runner, Victor Maldonado finished 21st with a great time of 10:40. But Lane had an even better day as they edged Mather 34-38, by only 4 points. Lane had an incredible 13 runners finish in the top 28. That means almost half of the top 28 were wearing myrtle and gold. Lane had 13 runners break 11 minutes for the 2 mile race. The following Lane Tech runners stood out to me (most if not all ran 2 mile PR's):

4. David Timlin (jr) - 9:50
8. Marcelo Burbano (so) - 10:11
11. George Chronis (sr) - 10:22
14. Dylan Allingham (sr) - 10:28
16. Max Silva (sr)- 10:33
24. Michael Morin (jr) - 10:46
25. Mansur Soleman (so) - 10:47
35. Marvin Hernandez (jr) - 11:02
38. Gabriel Mendoza (jr) - 11:09
39. Junior Quintero (fr) - 11:09

Mather Invite #3 Team Results

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Boys



Girls

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Mather Invite #3 Boys Individual Results

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