This is a preview of my article that will appear in Wednesday’s Inside Publications.
By Jack Lydon
This COVID delayed and shortened season came to a merciful but satisfying end Saturday afternoon for the Walter Payton College Prep football team against a junior varsity squad put together by CPS powerhouse Phillips. The Grizzlies came up with a 21-14 win against a very talented Phillips squad.
Short and unpredictable though it was, this season showed me one can play simply for the love of the game. It showed me how enjoyable the simply chance to play can be.
Payton was scheduled to play Solorio Academy on Saturday afternoon. Solorio had to cancel the game for none COVID related reasons. Injuries depleted its team to a point where the coach did not feel it was safe to play a game with so few players.
“We were not supposed to play Phillips,” Payton coach Craig Knocke said.
“Monday Solorio informed us that they would not be able to play this weekend. So CPS sports [administration staff] did a great job finding us an opponent that we could [play].
“This is not Phillips’ number 1 squad. They played last night.”
Phillips first team played Taft on Friday (April 23). Rebounding from a 30-0 defeat at Loyola the preceding Friday, the Wildcats defeated at tough and talented Taft team 26-21.
“This [Phillips] team that’s got, I don’t know how many, but has it 2-1 varsity players [as we do]. So the kids that didn’t play in the Taft game, played us,” said Knocke.
“Phillips is a great program. The kids who are not starters on this team, will be next year. They have some really good players.”
Everybody rips CPS. But these coaches, staff and administration found a way for the young men to play a football game when it could so easily have just called it a season.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Grizzlies punted the ball back to Phillips. Payton senior linebacker and running back Joe Savaiano, who will play college football next year at Washington University, picked off at quick slant from Phillips junior quarterback Avante Savage and returned the ball into Phillips’ territory.
After a clunch third down catch by sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton, senior running back Jack Dawson took the handoff at the five yard-line and ran it up the middle into the end zone for the games’ first score. Senior kicker Thomas Melecio added the point after.
On the first play of the second quarter, Payton added to its lead with a 60ish yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Eamon Glascott to senior wide receiver Danny O’Connell to push the Payton lead to 14-0.
There was no quit in Phillips talented junior varsity. Quarterback Avante Savage took a keeper up the middle and down the left sideline with 1:49 remaining the in second quarter to keep it close. Phillips added the two-point conversion making the score 14-8.
But the half was not done, Payton received the kickoff. On the second play, Glascott dropped back to pass.
“Basically, it was a slugo—slant go. I was able to get past the defender, it was a perfect throw. That’s what we work on in practice. It clearly paid off,” Payton sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton said after the game.
He has a gift for understatement.
Newton bolted past the cornerback and got a few steps on him. Glascott’s pass was indeed perfect, dropping right into Newton outstretched arms on a dead sprint. Newton dodged the free safety coming over in coverage and raced toward the goal posts, adding a little flip into the endzone at the goal line which could not have made his coaches too happy.
Payton 21-8 at the half.
Phillips came out of the half a different team. The found energy they did not have in the first have. With this new found energy, the moved the ball up and down the field on Payton but could not punch it in.
Late in the third quarter, Payton fumbled a handoff to the running back. Phillips linebacker Jason Cannon Jr., picked up the ball and raced it into the endzone drawing the Wildcats to within a touchdown.
The teams traded long drives throughout the fourth quarter as the time ticked away.
Inside the last minute, Phillips marched the ball down to the Payton three-yard line. On third-down at the three, Phillips quarterback Savage fumbled the handoff to running back Rayshaun Thompson but recovered the ball.
On fourth and goal from the four, with the game on the line, Payton linebacker Joey Savaiano broke up Savage’s pass to Phillips wide-out Cohen Waters Jr.
Payton went on to win 21-14.
“It’s awesome to go out with a win. Not many seniors can say that. It’s either a state playoff loss or something of that nature. To end the season on a win is really special to me. [This] was a makeshift year. We only had three games,” said Payton quarterback Eamon Glascott.
“But I love coming out and playing football. High school football is the best. This is a great group of guys that might not be the biggest, fastest, strongest guys but these kids have a lot of heart.”
Both teams, their coaches and even CPS sports administration just wanted the play. No championships. Nothing really to play for except for the fun of it.
It was fun. This COVID season showed us the love of the game. Win or lose. Let’s just play.
Refreshing.
