Joy of Limited Jurisdiction

Today, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed a federal district judge’s appointment of a special master to review documents seized by the FBI in a raid on former President Trump’s Florida residence.

I have this nerdy interest in the U. S. Constitution. As every first-year law student and even the occasional eighth grader studying for the constitution test knows, the federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Basically, that means that one must provide a reason to be in the court based on the Constitution or some federal law.

Fast forward to my unhealthy habitual CNN watching for hours every evening and then again each morning. One will recall, if he or she habitually watches CNN, that our former president made off with documents and artifacts from his time in the White House and keep them in his Florida home.

The FBI and the National Archives asks for them back. The former president gave some back. They asked for the rest. He stalled. Then he gave some more back. Someone provided a false declaration, a fancy name for an affidavit, that there were no more documents.

Oh, but there were. The FBI raided Mar-a-Lago and seized the documents and is now investigating to find out what secrets were contained in the documents and who might have learned those secrets. That and who can be held criminally liable for illegally possessing secret documents.

A big story on CNN. CNN and its viewers like me, love an FBI raid.

A juicy story with an espionage angle took a turn to the truly exciting world of federal court jurisdiction.

President Trump surprisingly filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida asking the court to appoint a “special master,” a lawyer unrelated to either Trump or the Government, to examine the documents and see if the Government really needs them.

Basically, the target of an investigation asked a court to interfere in the FBI’s investigation of the target’s crimes. Hmmm. Okay then. Can one do that? Therein lies the excitement of this jurisdictional query.

District Judge Aileen Cannon said her federal court “had the power” and appointed the special master who has for month know been looking at documents. I confess I kind of lost track of the story assuming that CNN would alert me if need be.

Today, the Eleventh Circuit reversed the appointment of the special master and dismissed President Trump’s case today for want of jurisdiction. “For want of juridiction.” Can the English language be more elegant? One can read the opinion here: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202213005.pdf

The jurisdictional lesson, at least in my mind, is that the federal court’s equitable jurisdiction, a court’s inherent right to impose fairness, is limited, very limited and make no exceptions for former presidents. A former president is a citizen like any other, except with lots of security and a nice pension.

I won’t get into the four-part test based on the Richey case so let’s just skip to the end:

“In considering these arguments, we are faced with a choice: apply our usual test; drastically expand the availability of equitable jurisdiction for every subject of a search warrant; or carve out an unprecedented exception in our law for former presidents. We choose the first option. So the case must be dismissed.”

As is the case with most reversals, courts of appeal typically do not openly chastise a district judge, but one phase in part B of the opinion did stand out to me: “The district court was undeterred by this lack of information.”

Ouch. That’s pretty salty language about the Trump appointee.

So there you go. The Eleventh Circuit closes the courthouse door once again. CNN and the jurisdiction of federal courts, my two loves meet again.

I still love photography too. The Chicago Elite Classic starts tomorrow.  

DePaul Prep Defeats Niles North 71-49 to Win Battle of the Bridge

[Preview of my story to appear in Inside Publications]

The DePaul College Prep Rams defeated the Niles North Vikings 71-49 to win the 2022 Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving high school basketball tournament at DePaul Prep’s Tom Winiecki Gym on Friday evening.

The Rams first three games of the season in the Battle of the Bridge were victories over Englewood STEM (68-29), Francis Parker (65-32) and Notre Dame (35-25).

Niles North similarly came into the game 3-0 taking the Lane branch of the tournament with wins over Legal Prep (73-29), Jones (65-51) and Lane (77-62).

In marked contrast to Wednesday’s 35-25 low scoring affair against Notre Dame, the Rams ran the ball and shoot the ball well despite not having junior standout forwards Payton Kamin and Jaylan McElroy. Senior guard Maurice Thomas led the Rams with 23 points and earned himself the most valuable player award for the tournament. DePaul Prep’s impressive sophomore guard Rob Walls earned a start with the absence of DePaul’s junior standout Payton Kamin.

Trailing 17-16 at the end of the first quarter, the Rams dialed up the running game in the second quarter. After junior center Jonas Johnson had to leave the game, DePaul head coach Tom Klienschmidt went to a five-guard lineup. Not his usual formula for success but it worked. The Rams opened a 34-21 halftime lead and never looked back.

The DePaul Prep basketball program has been quite successful in recent years under the leadership of former Gordon Tech and DePaul University star Tom Kleinschmidt. The Rams had state tournament third place state finishes in 2019 and 2022. 2021 had no state tournament but the Rams finished ranked number one having won the post-season Chipolte tournament.

DePaul Prep looks to continue its success with a group of young players. Starting only one senior, Maurice Thomas, the Rams have two highly rate junior forwards, Payton Kamin and Jaylon McElroy. McElroy is recovering from an injury and is not expected to play until January. Junior P.J. Chambers and sophomores Makai Kvamme and Jonas Johnson will also start round out the starting five.

“Maurice Thomas is our lone senior in the starting lineup. He’s our lone senior that’s gonna get a lot of minutes. We expect him to be a leader. Although me may not have the experience on the floor, he has a lot of practice experience,” Kleinschmidt said of leading scorer Maurice Thomas.

This is a new DePaul team. “I’ve got Rob [Walls] with 15, [Thomas] with 23, Jonas [Johnson] with 9, Maki [Kvamme] with 11 and PJ [Chambers] with 12. That’s one senior, one junior and three sophomores. Jonas Johnson did all the dirty work. He’s a wing and he’s playing a big until Jaylon comes back. He’s going and awesome job,” Kleinschmidt continued.

It’s been sometime since DePaul scored 70 points, actually not since December 17, 2021, with the 80-37 win over Providence-St. Mel. “We’ve just got a different team now. We’ve got guys that can shoot it. We’ve got some athletes that can get to the rim. We shoot it better than we’ve ever shot it. And we guard too,” said Kleinschmidt.   

Neighboring 47th Ward high schools Lane Tech and DePaul Prep have jointly hosted the Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving tournament since 2014. Notre Dame finished in third place this year with its 63-46 victory over Jones. The DePaul Prep Rams won the tournament last year with 66-51 victory over Notre Dame High School.

The Rams move into conference play in the Chicago Catholic League next week. The Catholic League is stacked this year with No. 2 ranked St. Rita, then there is No. 8 Brother Rice, No. 9 Mount Carmel, No. 10 St. Ignatius and there is always Loyola. The only stronger conference is possibly the Chicago Public School’s Red-South-Central with No. 1 Simeon, No. 3 Kenwood, No. 6 Curie, No. 24 Hyde Park and No. 25 Perspective-Leadership.   

DePaul Prep Defeats Notre Dame 35-25

The DePaul Prep Rams defeated the Notre Dame Dons 35-25 in the Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving Tournament semi-final. It was the first test of the new young Rams. It turned out to be a test of the Dons.

The game started slowly . . . really slowly. The Dons moved the ball around well but didn’t shoot the ball. When they did shoot, they weren’t good shots. And they got no second chances.

The Rams weren’t much better. They moved the ball around well enough and got some shots up. Most did not fall. And they got no second chances either.

It was Rams 4, Dons 0 at the end of the first quarter. I don’t remember such a score in a game with two solid teams. At least not since my days coaching the 5th grade St. Benedict Bengals.

The Rams and their senior guard and playmaker Maurice Thomas started scoring in the second quarter. The Don’s finally scored with 2:21 left in the half when sophomore forward Brady Sanhorst drained a long three. 15-3 Rams at the half.

It was a pretty normal second half. Both teams were running the floor and scoring. But the damage to Notre Dame was done. Only on the rarest of occasions does a Tom Kleinschmidt team give up a large lead. Tonight was not such an occasion.

Final—Rams 35, Dons 25.

Kevin Clancy and his Dons will be better than they showed tonight. I wrote on Instagram yesterday that it’s a strange new basketball world that we find ourselves in. Tonight produced more evidence supporting such a conclusion.

DePaul Prep will face Niles North in the Battle of the Bridge championship game against Niles North at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.

As for the photos, I am not publishing as many as I have in the past. I used a new camera setup. A Canon 5D Mark IV with a 50mm, f1.8, prime lens at a lower ISO than normal in addition to my regular camera. I just wanted to see what I could get with that setup. I came up with bigger, richer files but the photos are not particularly good. A 50mm lens at a basketball game is pretty useless.

I got a great shot of Johnny “Mas” Maciaszkiewicz, DePaul Prep’s legendary scorekeeper.

It was great to see Paul Chabura and Shay Boyle. Just two great men. I just think the world of both of them.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I know I have a great deal to be thankful for this year.

DePaul Prep 65, Francis Parker 32 at Battle of the Bridge

The DePaul Prep Rams defeated the Francis W. Parker School Tuesday 65-32 at DePaul Prep’s Tom Winiecki Gym in the Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving Tournament.

This year’s Rams are young, starting only one senior, Maurice Thomas, two juniors, Payton Kamin and P.J. Chambers, and sophomores, Jonas Johnson and Makai Kvamme.

Despite limited playing time, DePaul junior forward, returning starter and 15th ranked prospect in the class of 2024, Payton Kamin scored 29 points leading all scorers.

The other DePaul Prep junior standout and 19th ranked prospect, Jaylon McElroy, is sidelined with an injury and is not expected to return until January.

Nevertheless, the Rams handled Parker jumping out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter. Parker rallied to out score the Rams in the third quarter but the Rams were simply too much for Parker. Final score 65-32.

Antioch 60, St. Viator 52

“[This win] is a testament to how much [the team] has been willing to change their approach to basketball. Tonight was not incredibly structured. It was a little sloppy but they also figured out how to win,” Antioch’s second year head coach Sean Connor told me after his Sequoits defeated the much loved St. Viator Lions 60-52 at the Fr. Patrick Cahill Gym on Monday night.

They figured out how to win—that’s what Sean Connor is bringing to Antioch high school. He is changing it from a basketball team to basketball program. That’s what Sean Connor’s former boss, Tom Kleinschmidt has done at Gordon Tech/DePaul Prep. They have taught their teams how to win.

It was a solid win for Antioch against a very good, well coached St. Viator program that has had a lot of success in recent years.

And this game was close. It could have gone either way. The Lions did not have their very good point guard who was out with an injury. They struggled early in the first quarter with some turnovers and early in the second half failing to score. Otherwise, the Lions win this game.

An excellent way to start the season. Totally left me wanting more. I am going to have to see both teams again.

As for the photos, the light in the Cahill Gym leaves a little to be desired. There are some dead spots and it’s a little yellow for my taste. I’m gonna have to have a talk with management about that. I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Opens Season with 51-25 Win Over Addison Trail

It’s great the basketball season is here. It was a pretty low key game; not a lot of people in the gym, mostly parents. Glad we could open together with a girls game.

My basketball photography has gotten pretty boring lately. Just a lot of standard low shots from the baseline. Then of course the dibble-drive down the lane. The obligatory shot of the coach yelling. The occasional lay-up shot, sometimes a dunk.

So I thought this would be a good opportunity early in the season to go off script and experiment a little. I took fewer shots and looked for different shots and places to shoot from.

I only took 459 photos, many fewer than the normal 1,200 or so. I only picked out 17 to process and only published 12.

I hope Coach Zarymbski is not to mad about the photo of her with the stern look on her face. But it’s too good not to not to publish. Good evidence though that it’s probably best not to get on her bad side.

I also really like the shot with the shiny gym floor with the girls scrambling for the ball. Hopefully, the photos are better than my usual ones and I can work on new shots for upcoming season.

Payton Falls to Morgan Park 28-0 in 5A IHSA Second Round

By Jack Lydon 

The Morgan Park Mustangs (10-1, 7-1) took care of business against the Walter Payton College Prep Grizzlies (8-3, 7-2) on Friday evening at Gately Stadium in IHSA 5A playoffs defeating the Grizzlies 28-0. The Grizzlies were able to move the ball and keep the ball away from the Mustangs high octane offence but never threatened to score.

It was an uphill battle for Payton on Friday against Morgan Park. The Mustangs came into the game 9-1 with their only loss to neighborhood powerhouse Simeon Career Academy. Morgan Park’s senior running back Orlando James opening the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.

Aided by multiple Morgan Park penalties, the Grizzlies put together a couple efficient drives. Payton senior quarterback Kyle Osterman connected on some effective flat passes for a couple first downs. Standout Payton senior wide receiver and safety Charlie Newton will be playing football at Columbia next year.

Morgan Park was efficient in the second quarter. A safety and two touchdowns on two possessions. The two-minute drive by Morgan Park at the end of the first half was the turning point of the game.  “We screwed up at the end of the half. We didn’t convert on fourth down. And they ended up scoring,” said Payton head coach Craig Knoche.

The second half was all Morgan Park. Payton couldn’t do much. Morgan Park’s pair of running backs Seth Cyrus and Orlando James ran the ball well breaking tackles up and down the field.

It was a remarkable 7-2 regular season for academically focused school northside CPS magnet school with losses only to DePaul Prep and Lincoln Park. Payton is widely considered the best high school in the State of Illinois, including U. S. News and World Report. The relatively new school, founded in 2000, with approximately 1,200 students, has an impressive football record, qualifying for the state playoffs each year since since 2011. Even so, this is the first year that the Grizzlies have and advanced to the second round with their 42-0 pounding of ITW-Speer last week.

The Grizzlies have struggled with numbers all season, dressing only 35 players for the game. The typically understated Payton head coach Craig Knoche downplayed the successful season. “We want to be able to compete and win IHSA playoff games,” Knoche said.

Morgan Park is probably the second-best football team in CPS behind Simeon. The Mustangs made the news in September. A fight broke out late in the game against Kenwood that resulted in 18-20 ejections and suspensions. CPS officials, fearing that might be trouble between fans of the two schools, moved the game to Lane Stadium on the northside. Despite the suspensions, Morgan Park had only one loss and that to neighboring 6A powerhouse Simeon Career Academy.

Morgan Park will face Nazareth next week in the 5A quarterfinals.

Lane Tech Falls to Neuqua Valley in 8A Playoff 37-0

These are my photos from Friday night’s 8A playoff game at Lane Stadium between the Lane Tech Champions and the Neuqua Valley Wildcats.

My article this week was about the Amundsen game so no full treatment.

The Champions hung touch against the Wildcats in the first quarter. The depleted Champions struggled stopping Neuqua Valley after that. The Champions’ depleted offense could not move the ball despite expanding the offensive scheme at times moving into an I-formation.

The final was 37-0.

Champions move into the CPS city playoffs now and will likely face Taft next weekend.

Amundsen Battles Harlem Coming Up Short 35-21

Preview of my piece in Inside Publications coming out Wednesday:

The Harlem high school Huskies (7-3, 6-3) defeated the Amundsen Vikings (7-3, 7-0) 35-21 at Winnemac Stadium on Saturday. Huskies’ third-year head coach, Bob Moynihan, brought his team from Machesney, Illinois, (just north of Rockford) down to Chicago, expecting to take care of business against a CPS team and get out of town.

Bob is actually a high school classmate of mine. He was a legendary defensive lineman for the St. Viator Lions a few years back—okay, a few decades back—who later played college football at Southeast Missouri State.

Speaking to Moynihan before the game, he asked me what to expect.

“Watch out for #11 [Adam Muench],” I told him. “Teams have been trying to stop him all year. And Amundsen will score. You will need to run the ball,” I added.

“That we can do,” Moynihan said. And so they did. The Huskies ran the ball effectively all day. Keeping the productive Viking offense off the field.

The Huskies opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a rushing touchdown by sophomore running back Jahmani Muhammad.

The Vikings answered on the next drive. Amundsen’s Jamarion Hemphill ran in a 15-yard touchdown at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter. The 7-7 score at the end of the first quarter was something of an anomaly for playoff games by CPS teams this year. Amundsen put up more of a fight than other similarly situated teams. Lane, Senn, Lincoln Park, Schurz, Perspectives and Bulls Prep all suffered blowouts at the hands of suburban powerhouses.

The Vikings blocked a punt early in the second quarter but could not capitalize. The also traded interceptions. Even so the Huskies rushing attack proved effective and they put up two more rushing touchdowns making the halftime score 21-7. 

Despite giving up two more touchdowns in the third quarter, the Vikings never quit. Early in the fourth, Jamarion Hemphill burst up the middle and down the west sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.

The Vikings were not done. A second interception and lengthy return by Amundsen’s sophomore safety Edwin Soto set up a 10-yard touchdown by Adam Muench on a brilliantly executed sweep. Jamariam Hemphill followed with a two-point conversion. The Vikings were within striking distance at 35-21 with plenty of time left in the fourth.

It wasn’t to be. Moynihan and his Huskies did what they intended to do—run the ball and take time off the clock. The Huskies finally took a knee down at Amundsen’s goal line as the game ended.

Amundsen’s head coach Nick Olson was emotional after the game. Taking a long time to talk to his players and take some photos with his group of seniors, he thanked his players and coaches.   

“I always tell the boys wins and losses are a dime a dozen. I can live with losing. I am going to win some more in life; I am going to lose some more in life. It’s how you handle it. It’s just so heart breaking because these seniors are never going to suit up for this level of football again. That’s the toughest part of it. It’s over. This team will never be the same. But they are leaving a legacy. Every year after we get in the playoffs, we have gotten better. We are not getting blown out anymore. Teams have to respect us,” said Amundsen head coach Nick Olson.

“I attribute a lot of our success to the support of our administration, the full support they have in me to run the program the way I see fit,” continued Olson.

“The assistant coaches have made all the difference this year. Those are the guys behind the success this year. This is not on me; this is on the team.”

This is if for the Vikings. They will be participating in the CPS city championship playoffs.

Harlem moves on to play Grayslake North at home in the second round of the 6A playoffs.

DePaul Prep Falls to IC Catholic in Regional Final

In a rematch of last year’s regional final, the DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball team fell again to IC Catholic in an exciting three set match on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

Mount Carmel Defeats Loyola 42-37

This was the premiere game of the season. #1 v. #2. Loyola’s facilities and operation are first rate, like a college game.

The play did not disappoint. Two big, athletic and well coached teams. The scoring went back and forth. No chirping. No personal fouls.

I didn’t know what was going to happen. Just high school athletics at its very best.

I didn’t have a story to write as neither team is in the coverage area. So I wanted to concentrate on the photos.

The bright midday sun made for some shadowy photos. I have wanting to work on some lineman photos. I got a few good ones. I have also wanted to get some reaction shots. I got a couple not especially good ones.

I am pleased with the photos over all. I definitely have to get more lineman photos.

Playoffs next.

IHSA Playoffs Preview—Lane Hosts Neugua Valley, Amundsen Hosts Harlem, Payton Hosts ITW Speer

By Jack Lydon

The IHSA released its football playoff pairings Saturday evening. Five area teams made the playoffs: Lane Tech, Amundsen, Payton, Lincoln Park and Senn.

In 8A, the Lane Tech Champions (7-2, 6-1) will play the Neuqua Valley Wildcats (7-2, 5-1) from Naperville at Lane Stadium on Friday night in 6A football playoffs. Neuqua Valley comes out of the DuPage Valley Conference, perhaps the top conference in the state with powerhouse programs such as Naperville North, Naperville Central, Metea Valley, Waubonsie Valley and DeKalb. Neuqua has 3522 students, a little smaller than Lane with 4273. The Wildcats last made the playoffs in 2018; Lane in 2013.

Lane’s coach Dedrick Dewalt knows his team of Champions have their work cut out for them.  “We got a tough draw. I pretty familiar with what they are and who they are. They have been a pretty stout program for years. Very well coached. They have a history of winning. They play in a very tough conference probably tougher than the Catholic League in some respects,” Dewalt said.

“It will definitely be an electric atmosphere,” Dewalt said of Friday evening’s home game. “We’ll get the student body to support us. I am so happy for these kids. A lot of these kids have endured losing seasons for so long. It kind of makes everything worth it.”

“When you are playing teams like Neugua Valley, you get the total package. You get the athletes, you get the disciplined football player, you get the strong football player, you get the special teams, the outstanding coaching. You get everything,” Dewalt added.

Maybe so, but Lane’s double wing offense requires a special discipline to stop. Lane will add in plays its been practicing but don’t appear on film. Stopping the four plays that Lane runs can be taught but Neuqua Valley will see more than those four plays Friday.

“I have plenty of things up my sleeve that we were going to use [against Simeon], but I thought we were just going to hold for for next week,” said Dewalt.

In 6A playoffs, the Amundsen Vikings (7-2, 5-1) will play the Harlem Huskies (6-3, 5-2) from the Rockford area next Saturday. The final details of when and where still needs to be worked out but the game will probably be next Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Winnemac Park.

The Harlem Huskies from Machesney Park, Illinois, are something of a mystery to Chicago coaches and fans. Located just north of Rochford, Machesney Park has 22,000 residents, 1739 of whom are in Harlem High School. The ten team Northern Illinois Conference placed five teams in the playoff. Harlem is coached by Robert Moynihan, one time star defensive lineman at St. Viator High School who went on to play at Southeast Missouri State. In his three seasons, Moynihan’s Huskies have only lost five games.  

Amundsen comes into the IHSA playoffs for only the second time. The Vikings only previous appearance was in 2018. The Vikings put together an amazing season with only two non-conference tough losses to area schools Lane and DePaul Prep. Moynihan’s Harlem Huskies better not overlook the Vikings which features top area prospect wide receiver Adam Muench and talented linebacker John Norton.  

The Payton Grizzlies (7-2, 5-1) will host Noble/ITW Speer (6-3, 5-2) in the 5A playoffs at a time and place to be determined. The Grizzlies may have the best chance of any of the area teams to advance without having to face a suburban powerhouse. Although the Payton program struggles for numbers, they have very good players lead by senior wide receiver Charlie Newton and senior quarterback Kyle Osterman. Noble/ITW Speer is a charter school located on West Grand Avenue in Chicago. Speer finished second to Maria-Catalyst in CPS’s Red-Central Conference.

In 7A, the Lincoln Park Lions (7-2, 6-1) will face Downers Grove North Trojans (6-3, 3-3) from the West Suburban Silver Conference. The Trojans only losses to top teams in their conference: #4 York, #6 Glenbard West and 8A #14 seed Lyons. The talented Lincoln Park Lions were have their paws full.

In 6A, the Senn Bulldogs (5-4, 4-3) travel to Grayslake North to take on No. 3 seed Knights (8-1, 6-1) from the Northern Lake County Conference.

Lane Tech’s double wing offense approaches the line of scrimmage.

New Orleans 2022

I went to New Orleans, Louisianna, for the annual meeting of the SHAEF Veterans and Friends Association. SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) was my dad’s army unit in World War II. My sister Pat and I became members after my father passed away some years ago.

The actual veterans are mostly all gone now and those that are still alive are in their late nineties or early hundreds and don’t come. It is an interesting group of the veteran’s children and grandchildren from different parts of the country. I feel quite isolated in my Chicago bubble. It’s good to be friends with people from other parts of the county.

Plus New Orleans is so fun. So much personality. I just love Bourbon Street.

I hope you like the photos.

Lane Falls to Phillips 38-7

Lane Tech fell to Phillips 38-7 Friday night a Lane Stadium in a dominate performance by Phillips in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams.

Lane came into Friday evening game against the Phillips Wildcats with a 6-0 record, its best record in as long as anyone could remember. It was evident from last week’s game 24-6 victory over a talented Clark football team that the Lane Tech Champions have bought into Coach Dedrick Dewalt’s double wing offence. Not only bought in but they invested a lot of work into making it work.

Then Phillips came to Rockwell and Addison. A few seasons removed from their 2017 5A state championship and having lost their head coach Troy McAllister, the Wildcats nevertheless, have had 9-3 records, won their Land of Lincoln conference and advanced deep into the state playoffs every year since.

But three straight losses to open the seasons? What’s become of the program? The first two losses were to Batavia and Mt. Carmel. Then a loss to Morgan Park. Maybe the Wildcats have fallen back to the pack.

It quickly became evident that the Champions had tough task in front of them. The Wildcats took the and methodically marched the ball from their own 25-yard line to the Lane 12-yard line, overcoming several penalties along the way. Senior running back Dwayne Williams took a handoff up the middle into the end zone for the first score of the game. Taking a page out of the Lane playbook, the Wildcats’ opening drop took 10 minutes and 50 seconds off the clock. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

The Champions struck back quickly after the ensuing kickoff. On the first play of the second quarter, Lane’s senior wingback Casey Joyce took a counter handoff from Phineas “Finn” Merrill and bolted up the middle 49 yards for a quick answering touchdown. Senior kicker Mugdim Kreho added the extra point. Lane had a 7-6 lead.

That was about as good as it would get for the Champions. After Joyce’s touchdown run, Lane struggled in moving the ball.

“We watched their film. We know we had to get push up front. A team 6-0 scares you. Their six or seven plays that they run, they are very good at it. So way have to play assignment. We watched film, we matched up. ‘This is your guy, This is your guy.’ Discipline is everything,” said Phillips head coach Joseph Winslow.

The Wildcats were ready for Lane’s double wing offense. The thing about the double wing is that it is pretty much and all or nothing defense. If the offensive line can move the defensive line off the ball and pick up four yards a carry, it is difficult to stop. If they can’t well, the double wing offense is going to struggle and better hope their defense can hold. There isn’t much quick strike, comeback potential in the double wing.

Winslow and his Wildcats were ready for the double wing. “I ran the double wing in high school. We rarely passed the ball. We knew we had to play slobber-knocker football. We’ve got to get down a hit every play,” Winslow continued.

And that they did. The Wildcats’ defensive line took over the game. Lane’s offensive line did not get any push. Not only did the Wildcat get a push of their own, they “stayed home.” Each defensive player stayed in position ready to tackle the Lane backs on the misdirection plays.  

“Everybody just assumed that we were just a terrible team. We’re young. 85% of this team is coming back. I only have twelve seniors. My receivers are all seniors which is a plus with a junior quarterback. But other than that we are young. People took us for granted. They didn’t think that we are the same team that we have always been. The kids bought in after we lost the game to Morgan Park. We feel like that was a game we should have one. We had too many mistakes,” Winslow said.

Lane did not take Phillips for granted. The coaches and commentators knew quite well what Phillips could bring. We all got to see that Phillips is an excellent team and Lane is not invincible. 

Lane Tech Throttles Clark 24-8

By Jack Lydon

Lane Tech’s double wing offense throttled Michelle Clark 24-8 at the newly dedicated Fritz Pollard Field at Lane Stadium Saturday afternoon. Lane Coach Dedrick Dewalt’s has his team of Champions totally invested in the double wing offence and the Champions did what champions do—take care of business.

 “I express to my kids everyday, we are not going to out-talent people, we are not going to out-speed people, one thing we can do is out-work people. We come with that workmanlike attitude. And it’a not just on game day. It’s during the week. It’s during practice. We work hard. This is probably the hardest working group that I have ever coached,” Dewalt said.

 “Trust me. When we first introduced this offense. [The players] were like, ‘Coach, we like to throw the ball.’ I have a bunch of great kids here. Whatever we require of them, they do it with no complaints. We asked them to learn this offence and now they are seeing the benefits of it. We are winning games. It’s keeping our defense off the field. [Our] defense is playing lights out because we are fresh. We can hold the ball nine or ten minutes in a quarter.”

The hard work has paid off.  

Lane’s double wing offense came out firing on all cylinders Saturday and by firing on all cylinders I mean, grinding on all 22 legs. Four yards and a cloud of dust turned into quite a bit more. Early in the first quarter, the Champions had an illegal procedure penalty making it first and fifteen, deep in their end of the field.

First and fifteen in the double wing offense designed to get four yards per carry is not a good situation. No worries, just run a counter on third down and Lane senior wing back Phineas “Finn” Merrill will pick 12 yards for the first down. On the next play, Lane wing Casey Joyce burst through the line for a 51-yard touchdown.

On the next possession, after a Lane interception, Lane’s Phineas “Finn” Merrill ripped off a 46-yard run up the middle. A few plays later, Lane senior running back Yiannis Katsogridakis would not be denied as he barreled up the middle into the end zone for a touchdownn. Lane’s place kicker Mugdim Kreho added his second PAT making the score 14-0 Lane with plenty of time left in the first quarter.

Lane Tech’s ball control, really “clock control,” offense keep Clark’s athletic offense off the field. Clark’s dozen or so offside penalties just gave the Champions help getting first downs all game long. Lane senior quarterback Mark Seward used a two-count to snap the ball. With Lane’s one wing moving on the first count, the Eagles repeatedly went offside. At one point in the late in the fourth quarter, one Clark player loudly admonished another after one such penalty, “you can’t do that.”

The third quarter was all Lane. Seriously, like almost all of it. The Champions took the second half kickoff and with twelve plays, aided by three Clark penalties, held the ball for 11:03 of the twelve-minute quarter.

“Our first goal is always get the four yards. The second goal is always get the first down. I challenge these guys and they take that challenge to heart. We hate punting,” said Lane offensive coordinator Elbert Revina.

The third quarter also featured a little Lane trickery—a forward pass. “The safety was way in. [Clark] really had no corners. They were playing a lot of outside linebackers. We had the wind at our backs. So I figured let’s just toss it and keep them honest. After that I opened up some more off-tackle,” Revina continued. The passed used to open the running game instead of the other way around. Who woulda thunk it?

Lane’s Mugdim Kreho added a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-0 lead in the third.

Late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, Clark sophomore quarterback Tysean Perkins took Lane’s kick at the nine-yard line. Starting to his left he cut back making his way across the whole field at what looked like half speed while waiting for his blockers to open a path. There wasn’t so much path opening but there was trailblazing by Perkin. Shedding would be tacklers the up the Clark sideline, Perkins kicked it into high gear and scored continuing to shed Champions as he cut back toward the middle of the field. A two-point conversion made the score 24-8.

Lane’s 6-0 start qualifies them for the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2005. No one could remember the last time, if ever, Lane Tech had a 6-0 record. They do this year.

Phillips is next. Then Westinghouse. Then sixth ranked 6-0 Simeon. Then the playoffs, for sure this year.

Alex Burstein’s call of the game on Lane Tech Athletic’s You Tube channel Is available here.

DePaul Prep Volleyball Photos From Resurrection and Rosary Matches

The DePaul Prep Rams varsity team had two home matches against rivals Resurrection and Rosary this week. I couldn’t pass that up. Tuesday’s Resurrection match turned out better for the Rams winning in two straight games. Not so much in today’s match against Rosary. Rams fell in two straight games.

Volleyball is hard to photograph. I am out of practice. I will keep working at it. I hope you like the photos.

Lincoln Park Comes Back to Defeat Payton 19-7

The Lincoln Park Lions (3-1) came back in the fourth quarter to defeat Payton College Prep 19-7 at Lane on Saturday afternoon. The Lions trailed 7-6 midway through the fourth quarter and were struggling. The Payton Grizzlies were struggling too without two impact players and looked to runout the clock. It wasn’t to be. The Lions blocked a punt and recovered the ball deep in Grizzles territory with a chance to take the lead.

“That was a huge play. We told the guys that someone is going to have to make a play, especially on defense the way the game was going for us. I didn’t expect it to happen there but [we] blew it up and that was huge,” said Lincoln Park’s first year head coach Rick Ludwig.

“We were coming off a down year. Early in the game, things didn’t go our way. You could see some of the guys with their heads down. After [the blocked punt], they looked like a different team. That was the most excited that I have seen them. They were very confident. That’s a huge win for our program.”  

The Lions have a lot of personality and a lot of talent but they also made a lot of mistakes.

“That’s what we are trying to fix,” Ludwig continued.

“The only ones that can really beat us are ourselves and we are doing a very good job of doing that.”

That’s actually true. The Lions only defeat this year was a forfeit loss to Von Steuben in the first game of the year. Then followed two blowout wins against Gage Park and Kennedy. With thi win against Payton, Lincoln Park sits atop the CPS Red-West conference with an excellent chance to make the IHSA Playoffs despite some tough upcoming games against Noble/Bulls and Raby.

The Payton Grizzlies came into the game with an impressive 2-1 record and even in defeat, the Grizzlies played DePaul Prep tough in the season opener. Although coach Craig Knoche’s Grizzles squad is small, it is lead by seniors Charlie Newton, an expected Ivy League player, and Kyle Osterman. This combination leads Payton’s explosive passing attack.

Despite the offensive excellence on both teams, it was a defensive struggle in the first half because of penalties and turnovers. Lincoln Park’s Gus Wentland opened the scoring late in the first half on post pattern touchdown catch.

After the kickoff, Payton answered immediately with a simple dive play up the middle to Payton senior running back Morrison Giggetts. Running through a gaping hole in the line, Giggetts took the ball up the middle and weaved his way down the field for an 80 yard touchdown run. With the PAT, the Grizzlies went into the half time break with a 7-6 lead.

That’s where it stood through the third quarter and half the fourth quarter. Neither the Lions nor the Grizzlies could get anything going on offense. Payton’s efforts were severely hampered when key two-way starters Newton and Giggetts both left the game with injuries and did not return.

The block punt and new life breathed into the Lions. Senior running back Anius Finch scored on a nine-yard run to give the Lions a 12-7 lead.

After getting the ball back, on fourth down outside the 20-yard line, Lions’ sophomore wideout Jerrell Benson caught a slang pass at the ten, broke a tackle and stretched out to score a touchdown and put the game out of reach.

Payton senior announcer Theo Geovanis-Schwartz live-streamed the game on Payton’s You Tube channel, “Payton Sports.” The game will be available to watch on that channel as some point.

DePaul Prep Rams Defeat Leo Lions 14-12

The DePaul Prep Rams edged the Leo High School 14-12 on September 16, 2022, to improve to 3-1 and win the two team CCL/ESCC Red Division. A nice win for the Rams against a very tough Leo team with a lot of heart.

Photo Gallery from DePaul Prep's Catholic Cup Cross Country Invitational

Saturday, September 10, 2022, DePaul Prep hosted its Catholic Cup cross country invitational meet. No one seemed to know how long Gordon Tech/DePaul Prep has been running this cross country meet at Horner Park. The first time I covered it was 2012. It was going on well before that.

Saturday was bigger and better than ever. And DePaul Prep’s Mac Kittrell won the boys varsity race by a wide margin.

I included a photo from the 2012 cross country meet at the end of the gallery. See if you can recognize one the runners pictured in the photo.