Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Harper...Forced Respect

Sandillo Wright(jr, 6-1, 170lbs, CB/P) played multiple roles for Harper last season including corner back, punter, and rushed the ball for 579 yards.

There are only two teams that can say they have made the final 4 in the CPS football playoffs for the last two years. One of them is Simeon. The other is Harper. Harper made it to the finals 2 years ago and to the semi-finals last year.

If they are to make another run in a CPS final 4, they will have to do it without 2 graduated standout players in Antonyio Barton and Lorenzo Herbert. The pair rushed for over 1,000 yards each and were defensive studs.

Harper does return a couple key players. Earl Taylor(5-11, 220lbs, DL/OL/LB)  and Sandillo Wright(jr, 6-1, 170lbs, CB/P. Taylor is an agressive defensive player for Harper. He is Harper's top returning tackler and had 10 pancake blocks, 10 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks last season. Wright is listed as a corner back but also punts and can rush the ball.

Taylor and Wright will keep the Harper defense strong. Harper gave up only 20 points to offensive powerhouse Simeon last year, held Lane Tech to 14 points in a 46-14 CPS playoff win, and gave up only 6 points to Dunbar in a 26-6 Harper win over Dunbar.

The biggest question mark will be on the offensive side of the ball. It will be hard to replace Barton and Herbert, who both averaged over 100 yards rushing last year. Harper will need to see continued development from returning starting quarterback David Harvey(6-0, 175lbs, jr, QB). Harvey did managed to throw for over 1,000 yards last season despite having 2 stud running backs.

Harper's defense led by Wright and Taylor should keep them in games. If they develop enough of an offense, you could see Harper as a strong contender to win conference along with Brooks and have another deep run in the CPS playoffs.

Harper opens with TEAM Englewood to start the season.

King Class 2A Sectional Will Be Sprint Heavy

Sandillo Wright(jr) of Harper

King Class 2A Boys Track Sectional
Friday, May 17,2013

Teams:
Chicago (Bowen)
Chicago (C. Vocational)
Chicago (CICS/Ellison)
Chicago (Corliss)
Chicago (DuSable)
Chicago (Harlan)
Chicago (Harper)
Chicago (Hope)
Chicago (Julian)
Chicago (King)
Chicago (Lindblom)
Chicago (Noble Street Charter/Comer)
Chicago (Noble Street Charter/Johnson)
Chicago (Perspectives Charter/Leadership) [Coop]
Chicago (Phillips)
Chicago (Robeson)
*Chicago (Urban Prep Charter/Englewood)

Watch Out For:

• Victor Talyor(sr) of King. The CPS long jump champion was also 3rd in the 100 at the CPS meet with a time of 11.21
• Sharvon Johnson(so) of Phillips. Johnson was 4th in the CPS meet in the 100. Has run a season best 10.93 FAT in the 100.
• Robeson the Relay School. Robeson will qualify in at least 1-2 sprint relays. The Raiders finished in the top 4 in the city meet in the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400. They won the 4x200 with a time of 1:30.49.
• Phillips relays- Phillips is coming off its best performance at the CPS meet in decades. They will battle with Robeson in almost every sprint relay.
• Other Individuals: sprinter Sandillo Wright(jr) of Harper, distance runnerWalmer Saavedra(fr) of Lindblom, hurdler/jumper Quincie Johnson(jr)of Dusable, hurdler Rhasia Kehpra(sr)  of King, distance runner Scandalace Frivits(sr)  of Robeson, jumper Tyron Jordan(jr) of Dusable, and sprinter Toure Wallace(so) of CVS.

Improved But Not There Yet

Harper 46 Lane 14- CPS Playoffs

Lane is better this year, but still has work to do.

I learned to never overract on a good win or on a bad loss. Lane's 46-14 loss to Harper in the CPS playoffs was a bad loss. Lane is a much bigger class 8A school. Harper is a 4A school in Englewood. Harper simply outclassed and exposed Lane for what it is.

Lane was good enough to take 2nd in conference and make the CPS playoffs. But, when it comes to playing some of the elite teams in the CPS they are not there yet. Yes, I am calling Harper a CPS elite team. People forget Harper made it to the CPS finals last year and returned almost all of their talent this year. I had Harper ranked 3rd in my pre-season rankings.

Antoryio Barton of Harper making a case for player of the year

Harper is my #2 ranked CPS team. The man leading the Cardinals from the South Side is Antoryio Barton(5-11, 215lbs). He is doing it on both sides of the ball. In 4 games as running back he has averaged 119 yards rushing. Playing as linebacker he has led Harper with 10 tackles per game on a Harper team that has 4 shutouts and has given up only 6 points in it's first 4 games.

If you haven't seen Barton play yet, check out his highlight video:

Harper Cardinals Football Preview

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)

 

Harper,Simeon advance to CPS Football Finals

Great special teams play by Paris Ratcliffe(sr, RB/ATH) of Simeon helped in the Simeon win.

Harper 40 Dunbar 12
Simeon 33 Fenger 28

After Harper came up with a big upset, Fenger nearly came up with the upset of the year.

Harper avenged a 40-24 loss to Dunbar in the regular season. Harper was powered on two touchdown passes by Kweane Pipkins, and touchdown runs by Pipkins, Lorenzo Herbert, and Antoryio Barton. Darvell Harris threw two touchdown passes in the first half for Dunbar, who did not play it's best game. Maybe a shutout loss to Loyola in the first round of the state playoffs had something to do with it.

In the 2nd game, Simeon playing without starting QB Robert Gregory, who was sitting out on a team rules violation, escaped to win over Fenger. Fenger was down 21-6 in this game before playmaking quarterback Darien Boone(jr) led Fenger to several quick scores that gave Fenger a 28-21 3rd quarter lead. But a good Simeon defense combined with big special teams play by Simeon's Paris Ratcliffe (punt return for a TD, and fake punt play) led to Simeon retaking and keeping the lead.

Hats off to Harper and Fenger. Both of those teams have surpassed my expectations and will be higher on the radar for next year.

Meanwhile Harper and Simeon play this Saturday for the city championship.

 

4A - Football State Playoff Pairings for CPS

#13 Chicago (Harper) (6-3) at #4 Sandwich (8-1)
#12 Chicago (Collins Academy) (6-3) at #5 Geneseo (8-1)
#11 Chicago (CICS/Longwood) (6-3) at #6 Chicago (Carver Military Academy) (7-2)
#9 Elgin (St. Edward) (7-2) at #8 Chicago (Uplift) (7-2)

Neilski's first initial reactions:

• Harper at Sandwhich - Don't know anything about Sandwhich. OK no Sandwhich jokes.
• Collins at Geneseo- Collins will have no chance against this football crazy school and town. The whole town watches thier games.
• Longwood at Carver - I don't think Longwood is a CPS school. I know they are in the city. Winnable game for Carver.
• St. Edward at Uplift - Uplift should have a chance as St. Edward will travel to the city.