Harper’s players had Robeson, not Curie, on their minds Thursday.
“We looked past this game,” coach Terry Lewis said after his Cardinals’ pulled out a 48-23 come-from-behind victory over Curie (1-5, 0-3) in a Public League Illini Southwest meeting at Rockne Stadium.
“We have a big game next week against Robeson, and the kids just weren’t in the game. Defensively we played terribly. We missed a lot of tackles. . . . Offensively, I can’t complain.”
The Cardinals amassed 323 yards of offense. Eduardo Hicks did most of the damage, rushing for 142 and three touchdowns to ignite Harper (6-0, 3-0).
But his biggest play came after a 62-yard run by Montez Smith (139 yards, 27 carries, one touchdown) gave Curie a 15-12 lead. Hicks then returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards down the left sideline for his fourth TD to give Harper a lead it would never relinquish.
“Eduardo showed why he is one of the most versatile backs in the city,” Lewis said. “His kickoff return got us going.”
The Harper defense, on the other hand, allowed the Condors (1-5, 0-3) almost twice as many points as it had allowed its first five opponents (12) but did contribute in the scoring column when outside linebacker Kwane Topps returned a Smith fumble 80 yards for a TD.
Julian 26, Simeon 16: After an 0-4 start, Julian (2-4, 2-1) made it two straight, grabbing a 26-2 lead en route to the victory. James Johnson led the offense, rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Simeon (4-2, 1-2), which was without QB Dante Culbreath, suffered its second loss in a row.
DeLeon Mitchell scored Julian’s other TD. Since moving from quarterback to tailback last week, Johnson has rushed for 355 yards. “If I’m so smart,” said Julian coach Pete Thanos of Mitchell’s switch, “I should’ve done that at the beginning of the season.”
Collins 22, Senn 8: Raheem Lamb rushed for 167 yards and a pair of 10-yard TDs and Al Chaires added an 85-yard fumble recovery as Collins (4-2, 2-1) downed Senn (4-2, 1-2) in the Public Illini Northwest. Greg McGee and Derrick Gould led the Collins defense with seven tackles apiece.
Farragut 48, Roosevelt 27: Steve Conley was 9 for 13 for 206 yards and four TDs in leading the Admirals (3-2, 3-0) to the Public Intra-City North victory. All four TD strikes went to Jose Melindez, who had six catches for 163 yards. Roosevelt is 2-4, 1-1.
Kelly 39, Wells 0: Stanley Peat (10 carries, 179 yards, two TDs) and Jesus Muniz (12 carries, 113 yards) led Kelly (6-0, 3-0) past Wells (0-6, 0-3) in the Public North-Central.
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Sullivan 26, Orr 14: Montell Howard ran 80 yards for a TD and threw 10 yards for another as Sullivan (1-5, 1-2 Public Northeast) won its first. Orr fell to 0-6, 0-3.
Tilden 36, Hirsch 6: Shawn Guice rushed for two touchdowns and Brent McGee tossed two TDs to Donald Berryhill as Tilden (2-4, 1-1) rolled past Hirsch (0-5, 0-2) in the Public Intra-City South.