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player ready...On the first play of Glenbrook South’s sixth offensive series against visiting Barrington, Daniel Jenkins completed a pass to Jack Healy for a 20-yard gain.
On paper, it was of little significance during the game on Friday, Aug. 28.
But Jenkins, a senior and first-year varsity starting quarterback, showed a lot with his 11th throw of the game, a fade route toward the home sideline. Not only was the ball perfectly spiraled, but it fell to where nobody other than Healy, a 6-foot-4 senior receiver, could catch it.
“That’s what I wanted to do,” said the 6-3, 162-pound Jenkins. “I knew he had the height advantage, so I just put it to where he could run under it.”
Later on during the second-quarter drive, Jenkins connected with junior receiver Noah Acocella for a 12-yard touchdown to the right side of the end zone. It came on a play-action pass. On the Titans’ next possession, Jenkins hooked up with Healy again, this time for a 55-yard touchdown down the right sideline.
Although Glenbrook South (0-1) lost to the Broncos 50-23 in Glenview, Jenkins proved to be a worthy successor to two-year starter Fitz Stadler, a 2015 graduate. Jenkins went 14-for-24 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“I thought I had a pretty good game,” said Jenkins, who started on the JV team as a junior. “I missed some easy passes that I need to hit later in the season.”
Senior running back and two-year varsity veteran Calvin Sailer said Jenkins played how the Titans expected him to in the opener.
“He looked great all summer, and I thought he did really well [Friday],” who Sailer, who caught one pass. “He seemed comfortable back there, and he delivered some good balls that were on time.”
Jenkins completed passes to four receivers, but Healy was the biggest beneficiary. He had six receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown. Jenkins said the two are good friends off the field, which helps with the chemistry on it. He said the 55-yard touchdown probably was the best throw of his high school career.
“It’s one we worked on all summer, and we are confident with it,” Jenkins said. “I thought it was a little underthrown, but I don’t think he broke his stride.”
Healy said that catch was the highlight in his time at Glenbrook South, but he included a caveat.
“So far,” Healy said. “He was putting every ball in a perfect place every time. We’re only going to get better.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps