Not long ago, Simeon was the dominant force in Public League football.
The Wolverines had a serious winning streak to show for it — 49 straight victories against Public League opponents before Phillips rose up, beat Simeon in Week 3 last season. Then Phillips beat the Wolverines to the punch by becoming the first CPS team to win a state championship.
Curie suddenly found Simeon beatable too, taking down the Wolverines in last season’s city championship game and again for the Illini Red Bird title in Week 8.
This Simeon team, after all, is young. And the Wolverines are once again city champs after a 36-14 win against Curie on Friday night at Gately Stadium.
Arkalius Howard scored three touchdowns, sophomore Alante Brown passed for another and Simeon shut down the two-time defending city champion Condors’ explosive offense.
Simeon (8-5) will meet another familiar foe, Catholic League champion Mount Carmel (7-5), in the Prep Bowl final next Friday at Gately.
“We battled a lot throughout the season,” Howard, a senior, said. “We came up short a lot of games, but we kept fighting, kept working hard and never gave up on each other.
“I took it as my responsibility to lead the team back to where the program used to be. I wanted to take charge and show the younger guys the way, the way I was led.”
The Wolverines scored touchdowns on all three first-half possessions, but their biggest series of plays came on defense.
Curie (10-3) had the ball at Simeon’s 1-yard line in the closing seconds of the half, but birthday boy Rashawn Smith stuffed a run as time elapsed to help the Wolverines go into halftime with a 20-7 lead.
Smith also denied a Curie run on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, and the Wolverines held Curie’s dynamic runners, senior Anthony Watson and sophomore AJ Sanya, in check most of the night.
“This game means so much for me,” Smith said. “I love my team. I love being a Wolverine. These four years were the greatest experience of my life.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Arkalius Howard, Simeon, 11 carries, 124 yards, 3 TDs.
Key performers: Simeon — Alante Brown, 89 rushing yards, 15-yard TD pass. Curie — Anthony Watson, 32-yard TD run.
Prep Bowl: Simeon (8-5) vs. Mount Carmel (7-5), noon Friday at Gately Stadium
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