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Capable Eagles concern of top-ranked RichardsBy Joe ShrobaRichards football Coach Gary Kor-honen was an interested observer Saturday when Oak Lawn beat Sandburg for the first time since 1983 The outcome came as little sur-Qame of Wookprise to the veteran Bulldogs Coach.“It illustrates what our league is all about,” he said. “And that is, you better be ready all the time because it can happen to you.“When you look at bonafide returning starters, Oak Lawn has more than anybody, including us. So it's not that much of a surprise.”The Bulldogs (3-0, 0-0) will try to avoid the same thing happening to them Friday night, when they travel to Sandburg (2-1, 0-1) to play the Eagles.“I’m happy for Oak Lawn, but from a mental standpoint it would have been better for us if Sandburg had won the game, Korhonen said. “My old high school football coach once told me there’s nothing worse than going up against a wounded animal, and that’s the approach we’re takingthis week.The Eagles are wounded but very much alive entering this week’s clash with The Star's No. 1 team.“I can guarantee you one thing,” said Sandburg Coach Tom Seliga. “The kids will be ready to play.Seliga certainly would rather have his team unbeaten entering the game.“Richards is 3-0 and they’re holding all the aces,” he said. “We’re 2-1 and coming off a crushing loss.“It’s not the players so much. The kids have been super. But the student body, the kids walking in the halls, ask the players who’s next. When they hear Richards, there’s kind of a gasp“Hey, we’ve got a lot of respect for Richards, but we know we can’t be in awe of them.Sandburg will try to take advantage of Richards’ tendency to start slowly. Through three games, the Bulldogs have been outscored 10-6 in the first quarter. Richards has gone on to outscore opponents 57-6 the rest of the way.“I can’t explain it, said Korhonen. “With the type of stats we have, you would think teams would not be in contention against us for as long as they have. We are very concerned about our own ineptness in the first quarter. When we go into a game we should be mentally prepared.Of equal concern is the matchup between Sandburg quarterback Joe Aikens against the Richards secondary.“Sandburg runs the play-action as well as anybody, Korhonen said. “That’s a major concern because Aikens is one f the better quarterbacks I’ve seen there in years.”“He’s our leader, said Seliga “Our passing game has been decent at times Other times it’s fallen apart.“The key is going to be our offensive line Five of the seven who play there are juniors and it’s a matterof howfar they want to dig down and give the offense a chance to go.“On paper, we don’t match up at all. But they’re human, too. We just want to stay close and have a chance to beat them at the end.”Which means the Eagles need to start quickly and avoid self-destructing the way they did in the Oak Lawn gameSandburg must prepare for Richards’ running game, which has given teams fits. Darrell Sims and Jesse Jackson are two of the area’s best in the backfield The passing game has short-circuited at times, but there’s always the threat of David Kenebrew finding Marcus Ivy or Courtland Byrd on a deep pattern.Ivy’s 55-yard reception from Kenebrew was the key to a four-play, 95-yard scoring drive that started when Marvin O’Neal recovered a Lockport fumble at the Richards 5. It seemed at the time like the Porters were about to tie the game. The quick strike gave the Bulldogs a more comfortable 20-7 lead.The Eagles may also have to deal with the return of two-way tackle Anthony Jones, who missed last week with a severely bruised hand“There are some great coaching staffs in the league,” said Korhonen. “As far as preparation is concerned, Sandburg has proven it is the most consistent year-in and year-out. They’re always in the hunt.Expect both teams to come out prepared for a battle Friday night.
Newspaper Details
Orland Park Star
Orland Park, Illinois, US
Thu, Sep 26, 1991
Page 33
Full Page
Clipped by
Cody L.
USA 29 Apr 2018
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