This is a preview of my article that will be published in Wednesday’s Inside Publications Booster, Skyline and News-Star:
The Payton College Prep opening night 44-8 victory over Orr was the perfect metaphor this weird COVID football season: started late, ended early.
The preceding Schurz victory over Mather ran long. CPS sports administration cleared everyone out of the stadium and didn’t let in the players, coaches, staff, announcer Mark Farina and this reporter until 7:00 p.m. A few parents watched from outside the stadium at the south end of the field.
Once the game was on, there was plenty of action. After Orr took the opening kickoff, quarterback 6’1” senior Maqael Henderson ran a keeper on the first play for nine yards.
The Spartans moved the ball up the field but on a fourth and short they dropped back into punt formation. The Grizzlies were not buying it and did not send back a returner. So the Spartans punted. Grizzlies took over on their own 23 yard line.
On his first ever carry as a running back, Payton 6’0”, 205 lbs, senior Joey Savaiano took a hand off around end and sprinted up the sideline 77 yards to the season’s first score on the season’s first play from scrimmage for the Payton Grizzlies. The point after failed.
After taking Payton’s kickoff, the Spartans shifted tactics and began throwing. A couple of throws to Orr’s speedy split end, senior Jamarion Collins, failed to connect. Maquel Henderson has a big arm and he was getting protection. He was just overthrowing his receivers. Again, the Spartans punted.
Again, Joey Savaiano got the ball. On the second play of the series, splitting Spartan defenders, Savaiano sprinted up the middle of the field for another touchdown. This time 79 yards and a score. PAT was good.
With that, the first quarter ended. Grizzlies led 13-0.
Orr dressed only thirteen players of the fifteen on its roster. Almost the whole team had to play both ways. Of the fifteen, ten are sophomores.
Nevertheless, the game was not out-of-hand. If Orr could connect on a couple passes and stop Savaiano’s big runs, we would have a competitive contest.
It was not to be. Payton’s approach was methodical and balanced. The Grizzlies overwhelmed the undermanned Spartans in the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Payton moved the ball into Spartan territory. Payton’s 6’1” senior quarterback Eamon Glascott connected on a short out pass to senior wide receiver Danny O’Connell who turned up the sideline. In an acrobatic move worthy of an ESPN Sports Center highlight, O’Connell alluded a tackle from Orr’s Jamarion Collins, reached the ball out to the endzone pylon and scored the Grizzlies third touchdown of the game. PAT from senior kicker Thomas Melecio was good. Grizzlies 20, Spartans 0.
After an Orr turnover deep in their own end, Joey Savaiano added his third touchdown of the half on a ten yard run up the middle. Melecio added another PAT. Just that fast, Payton had pushed the led to 27-0.
Things got worse for Orr. Henderson through an interception. Payton had the ball and with 57 seconds left in the half and quickly moved the ball down to the Orr 15 yard line. A fade into the corner from Glascott to sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton failed to connect.
Talented young kicker Melecio came on to tried to a 25 yard field goal. It was good as time expired. Grizzlies opened a 30-0 lead.
In the third period, Payton added touchdowns by junior 5’9” running back Jack Dawson on a short pass from Glascott and an impressive quick slant from Glascott to Charlie Newton. Newton ducked a tackle from Orr’s quarterback and free safety Henderson and sprinted up the middle of the field for the score.
Orr’s Henderson is just too good to be denied. With 5:00 minutes left in the third quarter, Henderson connected on a post route to Collins to get the Spartans on the board. Henderson added a two-point conversion on a keeper up the middle.
At the end of the third quarter, Payton led 44-8—then the lights went out.
Seriously. The stadium lights went off. Announcer Mark Farina suggested that the lights were on a timer and would quickly come back on.
After about 15 minutes of darkness, with the players standing around in the cold and a running clock for the fourth quarter, both coaches decided to call the game early. There would be no fourth quarter.
The first win of his head coaching career ended unceremoniously for Payton’s Craig Knoche. He wasn’t even able to get a photo of the scoreboard on his phone. But his tenure as head coach, started with two touchdowns on the first three plays.
“That’s Joey,” Knoche said, “and our offensive line. Really good players. We don’t have a lot of players but we have some really good players.”
“Joey is gonna play in college. He already knows that.”
Asked about his team’s goal, Knoche said, “We don’t really worry about that. I am just happy and excited that this group gets to play. That’s what we have tried to emphasize. I hope it came though in the game. Regardless of what would have happened in the game, the kids were excited to play. [We wanted to] make the most of the ones we have rather than focusing on the lack of nine [games].”
Grizzlies 44, Spartans 8.
