Morgan Park’s Jovan Clark spent a long time anticipating his first playoff game.
Clark started as a freshman last year but missed the second half of the season and the postseason after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee.
“It was tough, but I had my guys with me,” Clark said. “They built me up. I just worked myself back up, got my legs strong and got better over the offseason.
“I had nine months of the rehab process. When I came back, there weren’t no doubts. I just wanted to come back even better. I want to show that I’m way better.”
Clark couldn’t have been much better Saturday, wreaking havoc all night on the offense of defending state champion Fenwick at Gately Stadium in Chicago.
The sophomore linebacker had an interception, a forced fumble and two sacks to lead the second-seeded Mustangs to a 14-6 victory in a Class 5A first-round game.
Marcus Thaxton completed 18 of 34 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, while Chris Durr had eight catches for 160 yards and two TDs for Morgan Park (9-1).
Luke D’Alise finished with 181 yards and a TD on 23 carries for 15th-seeded Fenwick (5-5).
For the most part, though, the Friars — who beat Morgan Park 35-12 in the 2021 season opener — struggled against Clark and the Mustangs’ defense.
“This is a huge game for our program,” Clark said. “We lost to them last season. This was a get-back game. At the end of the day, as long as we had more points, it didn’t matter.
“We came out with a game plan on defense to shut them out. We only let up six points. We’re just balling.”
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Clark, who set the tone with an interception and a forced fumble in the first half, has turned into a player his teammates look to for guidance despite his age.
“I think I’m a big leader,” he said. “I’m one of the youngest, but I’m like the voice of the team. The guys respect me and I respect them.”
Star junior running back Tysean Griffin, who has several major Division I offers, played sparingly for the Mustangs after suffering an apparent leg injury on the opening drive.
Orlando James stepped in, running for 60 yards on 15 carries.
“It was my time to step up,” James said. “Hold the ball and keep running no matter what.”
Thaxton hit Durr for a 26-yard TD in the first quarter, but Morgan Park stalled inside the Fenwick 25-yard line on four possessions in the first half.
The Friars then pulled within 8-6 on D’Alise’s 9-yard TD run with 5:38 left in the third. The Mustangs responded as Thaxton and Durr connected again for a 21-yard TD in the final minute of the quarter.
“At the beginning of the year, we were missing sometimes,” Durr said his connection with Thaxton. “It’s developed and we’re hitting every time.
“We came out and executed in the first round of the state playoffs.”
The defense did the rest. The fact that Clark, who has 10 Division I offers and recently visited Notre Dame, led the way did not surprise Morgan Park coach Chris James.
“I think that’s the high expectation he has for himself,” James said. “He was a kid who was expected to be this person. You just see it come out every game.”
Clark felt like the Mustangs proved something against the defending champions and a Catholic League school.
“They called us undisciplined,” Clark said. “We just showed them that we’re CPS but we’re a disciplined team just like them. We want the same respect as Catholic schools and all schools at the end of the day.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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