Earl Taylor(5-11, 220lbs, jr, LB) and Harper hope to repeat as conference champions and move up the rankings in the CPS.
Last Year: 10-3 overall, 5-0 and first place finish in the Illini-Heartland conference. First Round State playoff win over Payton. CPS playoff wins over Harlan and Dunbar.
Quick Take:
Harper is one of the more underrated CPS football programs. All they do is win every year and finish high in conference most years. Last year was a really good year for Harper. Not only did they win conference with an undefeated conference record, but they also won 2 CPS playoff games. The first was against Harlan which was expected. The second win was a 40-14 upset of a very good Dunbar team which Harper lost to 40-24 earlier in the year.
Hopes are high in Harperland this year due to their returning talent.
It starts with stud Antoryio Barton(5-11, 215lbs, sr, RB/LB). Barton is one of the better players in the city and returns as the top rusher and top tackler for Harper. At 5-11, 215lbs he is hard to bring down as a running back. Barton also plays linebacker where he is a force on the defensive side.
Barton has lot's of help on both sides of the ball. Malik Harris(5-10, 265lbs, sr, OL/DL)(pre-season all-city OL candidate) and Mario Williams(5-8, 250lbs, sr, OL/DL) will help on the line. Lorenzo Herbert(5-10, 175lbs, sr, RB/CB) and Sandillo Wright(6-1, 170lbs, jr, CB) will help as corner backs. Wright got some quality play time last year as a sophomore and will contribute more this year. At 6-1, 170lbs, he is one of the bigger corners in the city.
Harper has one of the best linebacker corps in the city. Look out for Devin Davis(6-0, 205lbs, DE/FB/LB)(top returning sacker, one of top freshman DE's in city), Kevin Whitehead(5-10, 185lbs sr, LB/FB)(2nd in team in tackles last year), and Earl Taylor(5-11, 220lbs, jr, LB). Davis got some good playing time last year as a freshman and will surely get more as a sophomore. At 6-0, 205lbs, he mainly plays DE but can also play linebacker. Whitehead was the 2nd leading tackler last year. Taylor is an upcoming young player who has good size at 5-11, 220lbs.
Harper is one of those teams to look out for this year.
Players to look out for:
Antoryio Barton(5-11, 215lbs, sr, RB/LB)(pre-season all-city RB candidate; top returning tackler)
Malik Harris(5-10, 265lbs, sr, OL/DL)(pre-season all-city OL candidate)
Mario Williams(5-8, 250lbs, sr, OL/DL)
Lorenzo Herbert(5-10, 175lbs, sr, RB/CB)
Sandillo Wright(6-1, 170lbs, jr, CB)
Dennis Barnes(6-1, 190lbs, sr, S/WR)
Devin Davis(6-0, 205lbs, DE/FB/LB)(to returning sacker, one of top freshman DE's in city)
Kevin Whitehead(5-10, 185lbs sr, LB/FB)(2nd in team in tackles last year)
Earl Taylor(5-11, 220lbs, jr, LB)
Lookout for Bogan they play in the toughest sophomore conference in the city and they're lower levels have been beating the cps powerhouses the last couple seasons and now they are all on the varsity together led by a new hc.
Posted by: Fbdad | June 27, 2012 at 12:53 AM
@fbdad
so, all that means is the previous coach was doing a great job building a program, from the ground up. This new coach will win with the old coaches players. This is so much about coaches stealing jobs, backstabbing each other and not about the kids? with so many teams losing why was the previous coach fired, if his lower level program was doing so well, because somebody else wanted that job. I'm not saying the new coach was the one who backstabbed but it's funny. THIS MESSAGE IS FOR THOSE WHO KNOW
Posted by: WHO GONE STOP EM HUH | June 27, 2012 at 06:17 AM
@who gone stop em huh
The new coach didnt backstab nobody to get the job. the fired coach couldn't win on the varsity level. that is the most important thing winning on the varsity level.
Posted by: BOLD PREDICTIONS | June 27, 2012 at 08:24 AM
Something to think about...
Last Year Results
Simeon 10-4
Harper 10-3
Hubbard 9-3
King 9-3
Fenger 7-5
Dunbar 7-5
Robeson 6-4
Julian 6-5
Tell me who had a good team
Posted by: BOLD PREDICTIONS | June 27, 2012 at 08:53 AM
@ bold
reread didnt say the new coach backstabbed that's why this message was not for you because you dont know. Bogan went to the state playoffs and moved up to the Illini. very few if any teams have moved up to the top conference and was successful right away. Teams and coaches need to grow into their new conference. thats what they were doing you said it yourself the lower level has been winning in a tough conference
Posted by: WHO GONE STOP EM HUH | June 27, 2012 at 10:58 PM
@who gone stop em huh,
winning is everything. we live in a fast world, if you cant bring that sophomore success to the varsity level. you will lose your job and that what happen.
Posted by: truth over lies | June 28, 2012 at 08:33 AM
hey its just prep football these kids are not getting paid. were just spectators, let them play win or lose. teams out of state will destroy most cps teams including simeon and other powers real talk.
Posted by: g-money | July 30, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Gagepark shut harper down in a 7on7 harper did not score ..14 to 0 Gage park lost every game last yeat...Gage could of had 35 plus but I'm sure coach gone has his QB ready for the season n watch out for Gage park this season
Posted by: cps fan | August 09, 2012 at 12:54 PM
football is not 7on7 those guys up front make the difference, besides harper runs the ball. wish gage well
Posted by: @cps fan | August 09, 2012 at 01:20 PM
harper beat payton in first round state playoffs. give them a proven state team first round. like u gave hyde park richards 2 straight years then we can evaluate them as a team. real talk payton lol lol come on now...
Posted by: g-money | August 09, 2012 at 05:46 PM
when harper cant run the ball they will surely try to thru we play them almost every year. a strong defense will force them to throw. good defense will always beat them trust me.
Posted by: g-money | August 11, 2012 at 03:04 PM
i meant to say throw the ball. orry for the mispelled word blog nation. any cps can be beat if u have good coaching and kids that can execute . real talk .
Posted by: g-money | August 11, 2012 at 03:07 PM
Real talk who your sorry ass beat to be talkin shit on here. We made a big time move last year who did you beat. Talk shit we you beat somebody.
Posted by: How may playoffs you play in | August 11, 2012 at 04:54 PM
you still aint shit with your sorry ass u buster u aint gonna bust a nut partner. u probably the towel girl bring that talk to the field partner we gonna get that ass son . u already know . dont go away mad punk ass just go away . are u pissed? good i win .
Posted by: g-money | August 11, 2012 at 07:41 PM
to answer u about 3 to b exact.its all talk but its real peace bring your a game big time move lol lol. c u on the 31st. partner.
Posted by: g-money | August 11, 2012 at 08:10 PM
harper needs to play more powerhouses like hubbard morgan park so they will be ready come playoff time
Posted by: kl | August 21, 2012 at 07:15 AM
that will never happen
Posted by: THANKS | August 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM