Missing some of his normal players on special teams due to injuries and other issues, Richards coach Tony Sheehan has turned to senior quarterback Eric Jacobs to return kicks over the last two weeks.
Jacobs was a kick returner last season when he played defensive back. But now that he’s the starter behind center for the Bulldogs, he received some special instructions to stay safe.
He didn’t quite take that advice to heart, however.
“I kind of feel like if I get the ball, I’m looking to score,” Jacobs said. “The coaches will be like, ‘Eric, you’re our quarterback, you need to get down. Once you get to contact, slide.’
More Top Picks Best Electric Wax Melters
“I don’t do that. I try to find an open gap, try to get yards and if I get to score, I get to score.”
That’s exactly what Jacobs did to ignite Richards in the fourth quarter Friday night. His 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown started a late comeback for the host Bulldogs, who ended up rallying for a 28-25 South Suburban Red win over crosstown rival Oak Lawn.
Jacobs also ran for 75 yards and a TD on seven carries and threw a 55-yard TD pass to Naquan Griffin, who also blocked a field goal for Richards (5-2, 4-0). Jordan Lewis ran for 185 yards on 17 carries, including the go-ahead 69-yard TD with 3:13 to go.
Senior Josh Valenzuela, who typically is only an offensive lineman but played both ways on the line, recovered a fumble at the Richards 1-yard line in the final minute to seal the win.
“This is my first time playing defense since JV my freshman year.,” Valenzuela said. “It was all about effort. I pushed through the hurt. Once I saw him slipping, I just dove on it.
“I got the ball and I knew we were winning.”
Danny Strelow threw a 79-yard TD pass to Kamari Polk and a 39-yard TD pass to Blake Hovanes and ran for a 3-yard score for the Spartans (6-1, 4-1). Jayden Schlosser ran for 162 yards on 33 carries, while Isaiah Perez had an interception.
Oak Lawn, looking for just its second win in the last 30 meetings against the Bulldogs, led 25-14 after Polk’s long TD before Jacobs turned the game around on the ensuing kickoff.
The Spartans had kept the ball away from Jacobs — who also returned a kickoff for a TD last week against Eisenhower — on kickoffs all night, but the quarterback got his hands on this one and made the opportunity count by dashing 65 yards to the end zone.
It was exactly the kind of big play Sheehan knows Jacobs can make at any time.
“He wants to return kicks and he’s the fastest guy on the field, so that doesn’t hurt,” Sheehan said. “He wants the ball in his hands, which is how you want your quarterback to be.
“He’s a big-time player who has stepped up the last few weeks. He’s gotten better every week.”
More Top Picks Best Winter Boots For Plantar Fasciitis
Jacobs has some football pedigree, too. His cousin is Antwaan Randle El, the former Thornton star quarterback and current Chicago Bears assistant coach.
“My family is actually going to the Bears game on Sunday,” Jacobs said. “It’s cool that he’s coaching here. We’re probably going to go to more games now.”
Lewis was confident that Jacobs would be a star when they first met. Lewis was a freshman and Jacobs was a sophomore.
“We were coming off the bench together, playing behind people and getting our snaps in together when we got in,” Lewis said. “We were just waiting for this year. We knew we were going to make it work.”
Now, Jacobs is finally getting his shot to play quarterback. And thriving.
“Last year, I played defense because I didn’t want to sit on the bench,” Jacobs said. “I’ll play anywhere, but my heart’s at quarterback.”