The Morgan Park Mustangs make no secret about what they want to do offensively: pound the ball with Terry Atkins.
Simeon knew this entering their Public Illini South battle Thursday yet was unable to slow Atkins, as the senior running back led the Mustangs to a 16-14 victory in a steady downpour at Gately Stadium. The win gives Morgan Park (5-2, 3-1) sole possession of second place in the Illini South.
Atkins finished with 108 yards in 16 carries–all coming in the first half. He was forced to leave the game with a shoulder and back injury that is not considered serious.
“He said he was ready but he was running very gingerly,” said Morgan Park coach Lexie Spurlock, who earned his first win over Simeon in seven seasons. “We think he’ll be all right.”
Atkins gained most of his yards over the left side, behind sophomore tackle Marcus Thompson, junior guard Brandon Shelby, and junior center Langston Askew.
“That’s the young side of our line,” said Morgan Park offensive coordinator Keith Brookshire. “It wasn’t really a game plan. We just seemed to be popping it over there so we stuck with it.”
Simeon (3-4, 2-2) struck first, with Andre Morris capping a seven-play, 75-yard opening drive with a 12-yard scoring run. Atkins answered midway through the second quarter, galloping in from 17 yards out after a botched Simeon punt and adding the two-point conversion for an 8-6 Morgan Park lead. A safety on another misplayed Simeon punt and a one-yard run by quarterback Jerohn Fields gave the Mustangs a 16-6 lead at the half.
The Wolverines tried to mount a comeback after Mario Wright stripped Morgan Park running back Cinque Chapman and sprinted 30 yards to cut the Mustangs’ lead to two late in the third. But a pair of costly penalties thwarted Simeon’s next drive, while Morgan Park’s Corey Brewer recorded his second interception of the game to end the Wolverines’ final chance.
Pat Rooney.
Carver 12, Bogan 6: In the Public Chicago South, Carver improved to 6-1, 5-0. Shaun Jaudon had a 22-yard touchdown run for Bogan (3-4, 2-3) in a losing cause.
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Crane 52, Juarez 0: Melvin Woodward rushed for 216 yards in 11 carries, scoring four touchdowns on runs covering 59, 35, 32 and 18 yards, as Crane (7-0, 6-0) rolled in the Chicago Public West. David Blair scored twice on runs of 3 and 4 yards for Crane.
Julian 12, Corliss 0: Shamaree Siller rushed for 154 yards in 31 attempts and scored a touchdown as the Jaguars (5-2, 4-0) earned the shutout in the Public Chicago South. Michael Gilbert added a 12-yard touchdown reception and 11 solo tackles.
Kelvyn Park 34, Amundsen 14: Lamario Duncan threw three touchdown passes for Kelvyn Park (5-1, 5-0) in the Public North. Duncan’s scoring passes were to three different receivers–Isiah Neuman, Richie Varela and Rocky Cruz. Henry Patty scored a rushing touchdown and returned a kickoff for another score for Amundsen (2-5, 2-3).
Washington 28, Kennedy 8: Michael Vargas rushed for 100 yards in 15 carries and scored the first touchdown as Washington (5-2, 4-1) rolled in the Chicago Central. Quarterback Adam Poindexter added two touchdown passes–a 15-yarder to Willie Kelly and a 65-yard TD to George Acala–while Andre Cobb rounded out the scoring with a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Boys soccer
Lincoln-Way 2, Andrew 0: Despite playing without its top player–Ned Grabavoy was visiting the University of Virginia–top-ranked Lincoln-Way (14-0-2, 6-0) remained unbeaten as Joe Ducci and Nick Bowden scored a goal apiece in the SICA West victory.
“With the conditions I thought the kids played fine,” Lincoln-Way coach Brian Papa said. “We haven’t played since last Friday, so I’m pleased.”
Evanston 3, Waukegan 0: Tyrone Pennant, Kenny Nightingale and Sergio Lira scored as the No. 2 Wildkits (14-1-2, 5-0) rolled in the Central Suburban South.
Benet 5, Glenbard East 0: Luke Rojo and Nick Aguliar scored two goals apiece for the No. 3 Redwings (11-0-3, 6-0).
Buffalo Grove 10, Elk Grove 0: Mike Kurgan scored three goals and Mike Flanagan added three assists for No. 5 Buffalo Grove (16-3, 3-1) in the Mid-Suburban East.
Conant 4, Palatine 1: Mark Determann scored two goals as the No. 8 Cougars (12-4-3, 4-0) rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit in the Mid-Suburban West.
Jeff Cohen scored for Palatine (8-7-3, 1-3).
Wheaton Academy 11, Chicago Christian 0: Nick Fichera scored three goals and Andy Howard and Scott Mathews added two goals apiece for the No. 9 Warriors (17-2, 7-0) in the Private School League.
Barrington 3, Hoffman Estates 1: Kyle Patterson, Steve Lannefeld and Colin Beazley scored for the No. 10 Broncos (11-2-3, 2-1) in the Mid-Suburban West.
Amundsen 2, Kennedy 0: Goalkeeper Edson Tobar notched his first shutout of the season, stopping six shots, while Jeff Dzambegovic and Jose Venegas scored a goal apiece for Amundsen (8-7-1, 5-2) in the Public Premier League.
Bartlett 7, Streamwood 2: Alex Figueroa knocked in two goals for Bartlett (15-3-1, 8-1) in the Upstate Eight.
Maine South 2, Glenbrook South 0: John Jacobsen and Craig Mollenkamp scored for Maine South (10-3-5, 5-0-1) in the Central Suburban crossover. Goalkeeper John Dwyer recorded his seventh shutout with six saves.
Libertyville 3, Lake Forest 1: Nemanja Bulic scored twice and John Micksch added a goal for Libertyville (10-4-3, 4-1-1) in the North Suburban.
Lemont 4, Sycamore 3: Kevin Earnest scored three goals for Lemont (11-3-1, 8-1) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Marian Central Catholic 3, St. Edward 1: Keith Peterson scored twice for the Hurricanes (10-4-4, 7-0-1) in the Suburban Catholic.
Naperville Central 2, Naperville North 1: Dustin Fuller and John Arneth scored for the Redhawks (8-4-4, 4-0-1) in the DuPage Valley. Adam Rahmal scored for Naperville North (8-5-2, 5-1).
Oak Park 2, Hinsdale South 0: Goalkeeper Chad Goldberg turned back 13 shots and Kyle Michael and Bob Moeller scored a goal apiece for Oak Park (11-3-1) in a West Suburban crossover.
Sandburg 3, Lockport 1: Russ Pleskunas accounted for all three goals for the Eagles (12-4-1, 6-1) in the SICA West.
Girls volleyball
Mother McAuley d. Queen of Peace 15-9, 12-15, 15-13: Trailing 13-8 in the third game, No. 2 Mother McAuley (19-4, 3-0) rolled off the final seven points, concluding with a kill by Megan Griffin in the GCAC Red. Griffin finished with seven kills and three blocks, while Maddie Barron and Ellen Hayes added 10 kills apiece.
“Volleyball is a game of momentum and you saw that all night long,” Mother McAuley coach Nancy Pedersen said. “During the time out [trailing 12-8], I told the kids not to play to lose and not to back down and we came through.”
The first game saw Mother McAuley rally from an 8-3 deficit with a 12-1 run.
“The match was so close, we knew that we had to come together and take the match away from Peace,” said Mother McAuley’s Katie Kozak, who finished with 36 assists. “Queen of Peace was ready to play and they are always a tough team to play against in their building.”
Queen of Peace (12-11, 2-1) was led by Lauren Joyce’s 11 kills and Julie Popp’s 10 kills.
Prairie Ridge d. Grayslake 15-6, 15-7: In the Fox Valley, The No. 4 Wolves (22-0, 10-0) cruised behind Maggie Haen’s seven kills and Katie O’Riordan’s 12 assists.
St. Charles East d. Bartlett 15-5, 15-7: Lauren Harkes had 15 assists and four aces as No. 6 St. Charles East (19-2, 9-0) captured it’s 38th consecutive Upstate Eight victory, despite trailing 5-1 in Game 2.
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Naperville North d. Glenbard North 15-3, 15-2: Kathleen Bazzetta tallied five kills and nine digs to lead the No. 7 Huskies (19-1-1, 9-1).
Barrington d. Hoffman Estates 15-3, 15-3: Victoria Zimmerman had five aces and 13 assists for Barrington (23-5, 9-0) in the Mid-Suburban West.
Batavia d. Glenbard South 11-15, 15-3, 15-11: Megan Hoffman had 10 kills, seven digs, three blocks and two aces as Batavia (19-6-1, 9-1) remained in first place of the Suburban Prairie Red. It’s the first time Batavia has beaten Glenbard South twice in a season.
Cary-Grove d. Jacobs 9-15, 15-12, 15-6: Jamie Hastings had 15 kills and Dana Matenaer added seven kills and 14 digs as Cary-Grove (16-4, 6-1) prevailed in the Fox Valley.
Kristie Cowen led Jacobs (16-6, 6-4) with nine kills and three aces..
Huntley d. Richmond-Burton 15-5, 15-3: Erin Borhart had 10 kills as Huntley (16-5, 7-0) remained on top of the Big Northern.
Naperville Central d. West Aurora 15-3, 15-8: Candace Parker’s seven kills and Susan Lannon’s five kills for the Redhawks (16-4-1, 8-2) in the DuPage Valley.
Sandburg d. Andrew 15-13, 14-16, 15-10: Sandburg (17-8, 5-2) tied Andrew for the SICA West lead as Colleen Byrne had 20 kills.
Wheaton Warrenville South d. Glenbard East 15-11,15-7: Nicole Link’s 11 kills led the Tigers (15-6, 6-4) in the DuPage Valley.