Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Dunbar Mighty Men at it Again

Cedric Hawkins(sr) and Dunbar are looking for a 2nd straight state championship in the 4x200 meter and maybe the 4x100.

The talk of last year's state meet was Dunbar. A Darvell Harris(class of 2012) led team led the Mighty Men to a 4th place state finish in the biggest class in the state.

But with heavy losses to graduation, not too much was expected out of Dunbar this year. But then again, the Mighty Men have never put together their best team in the 4x100 or 4x200 this year. That is, until sectionals. At sectionals we found out what they could do. They qualified to state in both relays.

The 4x200 "upset" Oak Park and had the 3rd best state qualifying time in the state out of all sectionals with a time of 1:28.70. I'm not making any predictions yet. But I do like the Dunbar outlook in the 4x200. This is a Dunbar program that has proven it over the past few years they can do it in the 200 and 4x200.

The Mighty Men have two bonafide stud sprinters in Cedric Hawkins(sr) and Demoria Harris(so). Hawkins has emerged nicely this year for Dunbar and took second at the CPS meet in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.20. Demoria Harris- the brother of Darvell and Travon- seems destined for something big. He broke 22 seconds in the 200 by running a time of 21.99 to win sectionals. He will be a major player in the 200 at the state meet. This big time talent is only a sophmore.

 

Dogfight at CPS Soph Meet

Dunbar, Lane, Northside all in position for team title


Northside Prep and distance runner Adrian Black(so-above) seem to have the edge going into the finals with the most number of individual qualifiers (15 - not including the 3200 meter) and 11 marks that finished in the top 3 at trials. But Lane and Dunbar are very close behind and are hot on their tails.

Dunbar
# Individual quliafiers for the finals= 12
# of qualifiers with top 3 marks at trials = 6
#of relay qualifiers= 3

Northside
# Individual quliafiers for the finals= 15
# of qualifiers with top 3 marks at trials = 11
#of relay qualifiers= 1

Lane Tech
# Individual quliafiers for the finals= 13
# of qualifiers with top 3 marks at trials = 8
#of relay qualifiers= 4

CPS Soph Trials Results

Mighty Men Early Favorites

Neilski's CPS Sophomore Meet Team Outlook

I'm picking the Dunbar, a close 2nd last year, to win the CPS Sophmore Meet this year.

When Dunbar decided to run 200 meter phenom Demoria Harris(so) down at the sophomore level instead of the varsity level, I knew Dunbar would be good. But after looking closer at the 2013 CPS Meet Performance List, the Mighty Men look even stronger.

Based on some early number crunching on my part I have Dunbar the early projected favorite to win the CPS sophomore meet with about 85-90 points. Of course, I projected that without Whitney Young absent from the Performance list.  Dunbar will do it with their star power led by Harris. Harris is the top seed in the 200 with an amazing seed time of 22.20 and will likely run in the pre-meet favorite 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Dunbar also has hurdler Cariel Jones(so) seeded #1 in the 110HH and 300IH.

Also in the mix for team trophy (top 2) will be a good Northside Prep team that also decided to run their top sophomores down, surprising Kenwood, Whitney Young (if they are in it) and defending champion Lane Tech. The wild card in all of this is Whitney Young. My sources tell me that Whitney Young will be running in it- despite not being in the initial performance list. I do know Whitney Young has a really good frosh-soph team and can not be counted out.

The CPS 2013 Sophomore Trials is this Saturday at Hanson.

111-7 Discus for Dunbar sophomore Nevell Floyd at Dunbar Relays #2

Results

40-3 shot put for Anderson Potts of Corliss at Dunbar Relays 1

Results

22.20! for Dunbar Sophomore Demoria Harris

Demoria Harris(so) of Dunbar won the 200 meter dash at the North Lawndale Invitational in a speedy time of 22.20 FAT.

That is the fastest time for a CPS sophomore since Jamal McNeeley of Kelvyn Park ran a 21.95 in the state finals in 2011. That year, McNeeley finished 2nd in the state.

I'm not saying that Demoria Harris is an all state contender just yet. However, that is the 8th fastest 200 meter time run in the state this year according to ILmilesplit and the fastest for a sophomore.

Here are some CPS sophomore best times since 2009 and where Demoria Harris ranks (almost all of these runners have finished all state in some event). Notice everyone who broke 23 seconds as a sophomore finished all-state in some event by senior year.

Fastest CPS sophomore 200 meter times since 2009

Time	Name/School	Year	Finished all-state in an event by senior year?
21.95	Jamal McNeely(so), Kelvyn Park	2011	Yes
21.95	Brian Carter(so), Kelvyn Park	2010	Yes
22.20	Demoria Harris(so), Dunbar	2013	?
22.72	Christopher Dolton(so), Morgan Park	2009	Yes
23.04	Matt Rowe(so), Lane Tech	2010	No
23.12	Dion Williams(so), Dunbar	2010	Yes
23.21	Shavell Lucas(so), Fenger	2010	Yes
23.28	Brandon Riley(so), Morgan Park	2012	?
23.29	Tyshaun Bean(so), Fenger	2009	No

 

DeLaSalle Meteors 2 Invite

Claudis Dawson(sr) of Dunbar. Check the results for one of Dunbar's first meet results of the indoor season.

Full Results

Week 6 Friday- Schedule/Line

Lane Tech(2-2) vs Dunbar(1-3). Both teams won conference games last week as Lane manhandled CVS and Dunbar beat Whitney Young. Both are looking for a 2nd conference win that keeps them alive for conference hopes. Both are also looking for wins to make the state playoffs. The situation is dire for Dunbar as they already have 3 non-conference losses with a game against Simeon still to come. Lane has played well of late, but their wins have come against Bogan and CVS. Beating Dunbar is another story. Do not be deceived by Dunbar's 1-3 record. They played well in 3 tough non conference opponents in Vernon Hills. Moline, and Harper. I'm looking for the punishing Dunbar running game led by runners like Stephon Porch to wear out the Lane defense. But if the Lane defense, with players like sophomore Neil Malloy can slow down the Dunbar running game, Lane could keep it close. Dunbar by 11

Chicago Public, Chicago (Big Shoulders)

Chicago (Amundsen) vs. Chicago (Lincoln Park) at Winnemac Stadium-Amundsen by 40
Chicago (Steinmetz) vs. Chicago (Foreman) at Hanson Stadium-Foreman by 9

Chicago Public, Chicago (Windy City)

Chicago (Kelly) vs. Chicago (Washington) at Eckersall Stadium-Toss up

Chicago Public, Illini (Heartland)

Chicago (Brooks) vs. Chicago (Hope) at Stagg Stadium-Brooks by 40
Chicago (Carver Military Academy) vs. Chicago (Marshall) at Rockne Stadium-Marshall by 40
Chicago (Harper) vs. Chicago (Collins Academy) at Orr Stadium-Harper by 40

Chicago Public, Illini (Land of Lincoln)

Chicago (Fenger) vs. Chicago (Julian) at Gately Stadium-Toss up

Chicago Public, Illini (Red Bird)

Chicago (Dunbar) vs. Chicago (Lane) at Lane Stadium-Dunbar by 11
Chicago (Whitney Young) vs. Chicago (Curie) at Lane Stadium-Curie by 13

Chicago Public, Inter-City 3

Chicago (Noble Street Charter/Pritzker) vs. Chicago (Noble Street Charter/Comer) at Univ. of Chicago-Pritzker by 28

Inter-City 1

Gage Park at Kelvyn Park

Whitney Young/Dunbar Brawl Leads to Suspensions

During the Whitney Young vs Dunbar game last Sunday a brawl occured that marred the game. Here is an account of what happened according to a fan:

"At the end of the 1st half, a brawl erupted after a dunbar player threw a Whitney Young gunner to the ground, and stomped on his head. A player from the whitney young sideline tackled the dunbar player, and a massive fight erupted, leading to 7 total ejections, 5 from dunbar, and 2 from whitney. Additionally, whitney young has at least a dozen players suspended for their next game against curie, including 2 starting offensive linemen, the starting QB, the starting FB, and the starting MLB and TE, for stepping onto the field to break up the fight and defend their teammate. "

With at least a dozen players suspended this puts Whitney Young at a severe disadvantage for their game against Curie this week. I am not sure how many Dunbar players will be suspended, but any number will hurt Dunbar in their next game against Lane Tech. I'm hearing reports that 6 Dunbar players will be suspended.

For Whitney Young, the consequences of a suspension could not be any greater. This is a team that started 3-0 and now could be in an 0-2 hole in the Illini-Red Bird Conference if they lose to Curie this week. Whitney Young must now switch gears. They went from trying to win conference to now trying to avoid the dreaded last place spot in the Illini conference.

Dunbar is trying to make the state playoffs and keep their conference hopes alive. The Mighty Men are 1-3 and must finish with a minimum of 5 wins to be even considered for the state playoffs. They face a Lane Tech team that is on a high after winning two straight games. The game is this Friday at Lane.

Dunbar Mighty Men Football Team Preview

Look out for rising sophomore Demoria Harris(6-2, 165lbs), younger brother of Travon and Darvell Harris.

Last Year: 7-5-0 overall; 4-1 2nd place in the Illini-Red Bird Conference; 50-0 CPS playoff win vs Collins; 40-14 CPS playoff loss to Harper; 66-26 1st round state playoff win vs Taft; 29-0 2nd round state playoff loss to Loyola Academy.

This year:
Illlini-Red Bird Conference with Simeon, Whitney Young, Lane Tech, Curie, and CVS.

Quick Take:
Despite the graduation of two of one of Dunbar's all time athletes in QB Darvell Harris  and WR Travon Harris, Darvell should still be a very solid team. The sting of last year's unexpected 40-14 loss to Harper in the CPS playoffs still reverberates.

The first task for redemption will be to find a replacement for Darvell Harris at the QB slot. One strong candidate for the starting QB position will be junior Kyler Dawson. He's got the Harris like build. Dawson was 6-2 176lbs last year as as sophomore. He will probably be bigger and taller this year. Although he is not as athletic as Harris. Dawson is just one possibilty at the QB position, there are more potential candidates.

The Mighty Men have plenty of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. One name you will hear a lot this year is Jayton Doresey. Doresey played a lot of receiver last year. He caught a lot of balls last year from his cousin Darvell Harris. Doresey can also play running back, but I feel his future is receiver as he can really catch balls.

Jayton will have help from another Harris brother in Demoria Harris. Coach Glen Johnson usually likes to break in young players at the right pace, so last year we did not see all what Damoria Harris can do. This year, as a sophomore we may see more of Damoria Harris. From what I've seen Damoria from track, he is a beast. He has the size, look, and build of a senior.  He was officially listed as 6-0, 150lbs on the official Dunbar roster. But I have personally seen him and he seems more in the 6-2, 165lbs range with a chiseled build.

Dunbar also has a plethore of up and coming players in #20 Claudis Johnson(5-7,130lbs, sr. RB/DB), #52 Jason Dawson(5-11, 195lbs, so, LB), #55 Norman McKissack(6-0, 203lbs, jr, LB),  and #62 Elijah McCoy(5-11, 250lbs, jr. OL/DL).

Neilski's Outlook
I have Dunbar ranked #6 in my CPS pre-season football rankings.  They could be ranked higher as the season progresses depending on how much their young players develop. I really like the overall team speed and young talent that this team has. Coach Glenn Johnson is a proven winner and is capable of developing the team into much more.

I see Dunbar to contend for the Illini Red Bird conference home of #1 Simeon and #2 Curie. They have the players and coaching to play with them

Players to Watch:
#7 Jayton Doresey(5-11,170lbs, jr, WB/DB)
#42 Kyler Dawson (6-2,176lbs, jr, QB/LB)(Candidate for starting QB)
#20 Claudis Johnson(5-7,130lbs, sr. RB/DB)
#52 Jason Dawson(5-11, 195lbs, so, LB)
#55 Norman McKissack(6-0, 203lbs, jr, LB)
#10 Demoria Harris(6-1,165lbs, so, DB)(brother of Darvell and Travon Harris)
#62 Elijah McCoy(5-11, 250lbs, jr. OL/DL)

Football Team Previews Page