Chicago Public League Sports Blog

CHANGE was the Word for this year's CPS Golf Season.

Jenna Greco (Sophomore/Taft), Coach Wilson, and Deanna Pirpiris (Junior/Taft) appearing at last weekends CPS Sports Edition TV Show.

There were changes in who oversaw the sport in CPS Sports Administration. This change resulted in a few changes in the schedule along the way but, Kevin McCray from CPS amazingly stayed one step ahead of this very astute bunch of CPS athletes and coaches.

There were changes in schools that participated in CPS Girls Golf. Gone were Kennedy & Morgan Park whose girls and coaches were seasoned veterans.  In came new teams, eager to learn the ins and outs of the game like Lane, Dunbar, & Kenwood.

There were changes in coaches. The biggest impact being the loss of Coach Jim Kurotsuchi  of Payton who is now guiding the boys golf team at Elmhurst College.

There were changes due to graduation.  Some of the most seasoned players from last year were Seniors that graduated - most notably Kelsey Iwaoka of Payton who was last year's City Champion and an incredible golfer!

After all of those changes during the season, many had predicted that when we came to this year's City Championship there would be changes there too but, other than the sunny weather forecasted versus last year's monsoon it does not look many changes will be in store.This Saturday, October 1st when the girls tee off at 11 am at Jackson Park there will be the four best teams in CPS Girls Golf - who were there last year: Payton, Taft, Northside & Young.  Based upon conference play it looks like the results should be a little tighter than last year (when the wind and the rain led to higher scores) but, the results will probably be the same with Payton earning their fifth straight Girls Golf City Championship and Taft earning Second Place for the third time in four years.

As for Individual City Champion, with Kelsey gone it looks like the conference play results favor Jenna Greco (Sophomore/Taft) who tied last year for number two with Cecile Franke (Senior/Northside).  The big question is whether Cecile will earn the Second Place honors again? Or will Deanna Pirpiris (Junior/Taft) who medaled ahead of both Jenna and Cecile during the Taft and Northside match earlier this week be the one change in this year's City Championship results?

- Golf Girl

Homecoming Horrendous!

Whitney Young 7 Lane Tech 6

A near capacity crowd of about 6,000 fans at Lane's Homecoming SAW A GAME. A horrendous result for Lane and a tremendous victory for Whitney Young. Whitney Young running back Barrett Morissete(sr) scored about a 15 yard touchdown run with about 27 seconds left in the game to give Whitney Young the stunning victory. This is one of those games that you remember for a lifetime.

The first half was not a well played game for both sides. At the half, I told a friend of mine that the whoever wins this game does not deserve the win and but whoever loses the game deserves to lose.

The first quarter was almost entire played between each other teams 40 yard line. Whitney Young got the ball first and was 3 and out. Lane got it next and was 3 and out. Whitney Young got it next and fumbled. Lane got it next and shafted a punt. Lane then muffed a punt. It was a sloppy game on both sides the entire first half. Each team had a serious scoring opportunity came  at the end of the 2nd quarter. Whitney Young drove to the Lane 10 but turned the ball on downs. Lane then drove to the Whitney Young 15 but Lane fumbled the ball.

Lane finally scored in the 3rd quarter on their best long drive of the day. But I feel that is when they made the mistake of the game. As you can see from the picture above, Lane attempted an extra point in a driving rain storm. At the time of the extra point attempt, there was a sudden down pour. In those conditions, I felt it was best for Lane to go for a 2 point conversion. But they chose not to and Whitney Young blocked the extra point.

After Lane scored, I felt the entire Lane scheme was to prevent Whitney Young from scoring. The strategy almost paid off. A couple times Whitney Young drove the ball and was close to scoring, but either Lane stopped them on downs or Whitney Young fumbled the ball.

Finally with about 3 minutes to play, Whitney Young got the ball on their own 30 yard line down 6-0. That is when Lane collapsed and Whitney Young stepped up it's game. Lane had a late hit that gave Whitney Young the ball on the 50. Then a bunch of short passes and quarterback scrambles by Whitney Young quarterback Casey Ford brought the ball to the Lane 15 with only about 30 seconds left. Lane lost a golden opportunity to win the game when defensive back Scott Olivares(#4, RB/DB) dropped what looked like was an easy interception (easy for me to say in the stands).

The winning play came when Whitney Young made a gutsy call to run the ball. They handed it off to star running back Barrett Morissett(sr) at the 15. He ran into the end zone practically untouched against the surprised Lane Tech defense.

Whitney Young fans then erupted in joy, as they knew Whitney Young just stunned Lane Tech.

Prior to this game, the one most stunning Lane Tech lost that I witnessed was Whitney Young's win over Lane in 2007 during Lane Tech's Homecoming which I dubbed Homecoming Horror. I was thinking of calling this game Homecoming Horror. But I felt a more fitting name was Homecoming Horrendous, because of Lane's horrendous play and play calling.

Week 6 - Friday Results

updated 10:38pm

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Prosser 26 Clemente 6
Taft 14 Mather 7

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Manley 34 LIttle Village 0

ILLINI HEARTLAND
Collins 46 Hope 0

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Julian 28 King 16

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Morgan Park 26 Robeson 20

ILLINI RED BIRD
Simeon 40 Dunbar 12
Whitney Young 7 Lane Tech 6

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 2
Washington 38 Kennedy 6

NONCONFERENCE
Prizker 42 Tilden 26

Hurley Ruled Eligible to Play

In a bizarre turn of events, the CPS has officially ruled Dae Shaun Hurley(sr) of Julian eligible to play. The Hurley family presented documents that showed Hurley's father was now in custody of him. Apparently, this was enough evidence to state that the transfer from Morgan Park to Julian was not football related.

Hurley is scheduled to play with his Julian teammates today, 3:30pm vs King.

King is undefeated and still a big favorite even with Hurley.

Week 6 Friday - Schedule

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Clemente vs. Prosser at Hanson, 3:30-  Prosser by 10
Taft vs. Mather at Winnemac, 3:30 -Taft by 2

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Little Village vs. Manley at Rockne, 3:30 - Manley by 10

ILLINI HEARTLAND
Hope vs. Collins at Orr, 4 -  Collins by 14

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Julian vs. King at Gately, 3:30- King by 14

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Morgan Park vs. Robeson at Stagg, 3:30 - Robeson by 18

ILLINI RED BIRD
Simeon vs. Dunbar at Gately, 7- Simeon by 12
Young at Lane Tech, 7 -Lane Tech by 6

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 2
Washington vs. Kennedy at Eckersall, 3:30- Toss Up

NONCONFERENCE
Tilden vs. Pritzker at Lane, 3:30 - Pritzker by 9

Golf City Championship tomorrow (Saturday)

Taft Fall 2011 Girls Golf Team.(left to right) Marina Castillo, Jenna Greco, Kyra Vidas, Deanna Pirpiris, Patrice Pirpiris, Amanda Bernacchi

More info on the golf city championship coming soon...

Week 6 Thursday - Results

updated 6:23am

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Steinmetz 33 Lincoln Park 8
Foreman 13 Schurz 0

CHICAGO SECOND CITY
Austin vs. Uplift at Winnemac, 3:30

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
South Shore vs. Englewood at Stagg, 3:30

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Fenger 14 Raby 12 (OT)

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Hubbard 48 Amundsen 0

ILLINI RED BIRD
Curie 34 CVS 14

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 1
Lake View 34 Kelvyn Park 21

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 3
Noble Street 12 Golder 6 (OT)

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 4
Farragut vs. Juarez at Rockne, 3:30

Pictures Now- Mather Cross Country Invite #3

Photo Album

#1 runner Sintayehu Regassa(jr) of Rickover Naval Academy ran a 10:59 to finish 30th overall.

 

Week 6 - Thursday Schedule

Game of the day is Kelvyn Park and running back Brian Carter(sr,RB) vs Lake View. The Kelvyn Park offense is completely humming averaging 45 points in their last 4 games (all wins). I cannot see the Lake View defense stop Carter, who is averaging over 12 yards a carry.

Neilski's picks

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Lincoln Park vs. Steinmetz at Hanson, 3:30 - Lincoln Park by 4
Schurz vs. Foreman at Hanson, 7 - Foreman by 6

CHICAGO SECOND CITY
Austin vs. Uplift at Winnemac, 3:30 - Austin by 10

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
South Shore vs. Englewood at Stagg, 3:30-  Toss Up

ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Raby vs. Fenger at Eckersall, 3:30 -  Fenger by 7

ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Amundsen vs. Hubbard at Gately, 3:30 -  Hubbard by 18

ILLINI RED BIRD
Curie vs. Vocational at Gately, 7 -Curie by 24

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 1
Kelvyn Park vs. Lake View at Lane, 3:30 -  Kelvyn Park by 20

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 3
Noble Street vs. Golder at Lane, 7 - Toss Up

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 4
Farragut vs. Juarez at Rockne, 3:30 -  Toss Up

Homecoming Horror Part 2?

Lane Tech vs Whitney Young

 

Whitney Young and Lane Tech played a classic game in 2007, which I dubbed "Homecoming Horror". Out of all the high school football games I've watched that game is the one I remember the most. There were so many storylines. For one it was Lane's Homecoming, so the crowd was huge on both sides. It seemed like the entire Lane student body of 4,000 students were there. Whitney Young also brought the largest number fans that I have ever seen them bring.

They witnessed a classic game in which Whitney Young won 22-14 in overtime. The key play came when Lane threw an ill advised pass that Whitney Young returned for a 70 yard touchdown return for a touchdown that tied the score. That score had a "Bartman" effect on Lane. After that, the momentum shift was all on Whitney Young and Lane ended up losing in overtime when a normally sure handed receiver dropped what would have been the game tying touchdown catch.

That win was Whitney Young's first win over Lane in about 15 years, preserved their undefeated 7-0 record, and propelled them to a conference championship.

The two rivals in practically every sport (baketball being the most noticeable exception), play this Friday night at Lane. It is Lane's homecoming. Needless to say, the stakes are high for both teams but are particularly dire for Whitney Young. Whitney Young is winless in conference play after losses to Simeon and Dunbar. The Dolphins desparately need a win to avoid staying in the Illini-Prairie Bird cellar. Lane is coming off a big win over CVS. A win over Whitney Young assures them that they will not be in last place and keeps their city and dare I say state playoff chances alive.

Whitney Young is not a gimme game for Lane. Whitney Young matches up well with Lane in the trenches. They also have a good balanced offense that can move the ball. Key for Whitney Young is not turning the ball over and a defense that can stop the Lane option offense.