Three games in, three games won. So far, the OPRF football team has been unstoppable in the run game. Defensively, the Huskies are loaded with speed and toughness. As we enter the first turn of a hopefully very long, successful season, here’s the latest news and notes heading into Week 4 at Downers Grove North. Enjoy the notebook!
Cannon ball: I know it’s early but that doesn’t mean it can’t be true. Antonio Cannon looks like one of the best running backs in the Chicagoland area, if not the state. As a sophomore last year, he showed glimpses of his considerable ability on special teams and a handful of touches offensively. But with Lloyd Yates, Michael Hayden, Jamal Baggett and Simmie Cobbs handling the bulk of offensive responsibilities, Cannon simply lacked playing time in 2013.
As the Huskies’ featured back this year, Cannon has taken full advantage of the spotlight. He’s rushed for 468 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. Cannon has also elicited more than his share of “Oohs” and “Aahs” in the stands and press box due to his entertaining running style. Averaging 156 yards per game, as Cannon goes so go the Huskies.
Eight is enough for Watson: Tied at 13-all late in the second quarter of Friday’s game against Proviso West, OPRF running back Jamarri Watson put the Huskies ahead for good on a 3-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion run at the 2:25 mark of the third quarter. While neither score was spectacular, it showed Watson’s ability to bang out the hard yards and triggered a run of 22 unanswered points. Look for more timely “team” plays from Watson moving forward.
Middle man: OPRF has often gone with a three-man front defensively this season. Sure, the team’s athletic cadre of linebackers may crowd the line of scrimmage but it essentially belongs to three players. Defensive ends Allen Stallings and Jelani Onigbinde, founding members of the Oak Park Sack Exchange (three sacks combined this season, countless pressures) have been outstanding.
However, nose tackle James Cousin also deserves praise for the Huskies’ exemplary work up front. Cousin has been credited with only one tackle this season, but his willingness to continually clog the middle affords the Huskies’ playmakers to roam free for big tackles.
Go Cats (& Hoosiers): Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald stopped by Friday’s 35-13 win over Proviso West to watch commits Lloyd Yates and Adam Lemke-Bell. Former OPRF football star Tommy Odell is a 5-11, 185-pound safety already on the NU roster. While three players hardly constitutes a recruiting pipeline, it’s encouraging to see OPRF football players playing close to home. And don’t forget Simmie Cobbs, an Class 8A all-state wide receiver for OPRF last season, is also playing in the Big 10 at Indiana. Throw in the fact that OPRF head coach John Hoerster has a good relationship with Fitzgerald and a color scheme of blue, orange mixed with purple bodes well for the local football scene.
The coolest guy in the room: Anybody who has watched OPRF football games over the past three seasons knows how poised Yates is in the pocket. He’s a cool, smooth signal-caller who makes excellent decisions about when to throw the football or take off for a big gain.
On Saturday afternoon, however, Yates pulled off arguably his most stealth move to date. The senior quarterback attended the Fenwick-De La Salle game at Concordia University in River Forest. Talk about entering enemy territory. It reminded me of the old American Express commericial when former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry walks into a saloon full of Washington Redskins.
In truth, the OPRF-Fenwick rivalry seems highly respectful on both ends but that doesn’t mean either football team wouldn’t love to get it on between the lines. Kudos to Yates for checking out the Friars and showing his obvious passion for the game of football.
Hitters, Huskies take early control of the West Suburban Silver: Three games into the season, OPRF and Glenbard West look like the class of the West Suburban Conference Silver Division. Hinsdale Central, Lyons Township and York are all dangerous teams more than capable of pulling off an upset. While it’s fun for fans and the media to look ahead to the inevitable Huskies-Hilltoppers showdown on Saturday, Oct 4. (1:30 p.m.), in Glen Ellyn, looking too far ahead in the West Suburban Silver could be a costly mistake for OPRF.
Jay-Z sighting in the press box: No, not that Jay-Z Huskie fans. Calm down. Just the same, I’d like to give props to OPRF statistician Jim Zaino. JZ is an absolute wizard with numbers and provides comprehensive OPRF football stats on a weekly basis. Watching JZ work his magic on the new application he’s using was really cool. It’s certainly a far cry from the old days of keeping stats with a pencil and that oversized football stats book.
Orange crush: OPRF record when team videographer/filmmaker Cosmo Coffey wears his signature orange pants, 3-0. ‘Nuff said.
Happy Belated Birthday, Maisie: During the game Friday, OPRF public address announcer Michael Lefevre wished a Happy Birthday to Maisie Hoerster, the seven-year-old daughter of OPRF head coach John Hoerster. Since John has taken over the program, it’s common that Maisie runs on the field after a game to get a hug from her dad. And she’s a true Huskie fan, mind you. She sought out hugs even during the rough-and-tumble 3-6 campaign when John first took over the program. It’s a fun relationship to observe, especially in light of the all the disturbing news around the NFL.
Marty the Greek?: Finally, my predictions vs. actual game scores the past two weeks
Week 2 My prediction: OPRF 42, Leyden 10; Actual game score: OPRF 48, Leyden 13
Week 3 My prediction: OPRF 34, Proviso West 14; Actual game score: OPRF 35, Proviso West 13
(I’m available for flights to Vegas)