Week 7 of high school football in the Southland was highlighted by good news on the injury front.
Senior quarterback Jack Elliott returned after missing Mount Carmel’s 16-13 loss to Brother Rice and led the Caravan to a 35-21 comeback victory over Joliet Catholic.
Elliott, a Vanderbilt recruit, threw the ball well. We’ll see how much running he does in the near future as Mount Carmel tries to protect him.
Meanwhile, senior running back Zion Gist, who had been out since the first quarter of the season opener, returned for Lincoln-Way East in Week 6 but appears to fully be back in top form after a two-touchdown performance in Friday’s 47-14 win over Lockport.
Speaking of comebacks, the weekend also was a showcase for some programs who have made big turnarounds after disappointing seasons in 2023.
Here are my takeaways from Week 7.
Thunderbolts strike
The performance of the week was undoubtedly turned in by the Andrew Thunderbolts, who stunned district rival Sandburg 42-27 and snapped the Eagles’ five-game winning streak.
Andrew (5-2) has now won four in a row. The Thunderbolts host Lincoln-Way East on Friday night, but even if they can’t pull off an even bigger shocker in that one, they should be able to get to 6-3 with a Week 9 game against Neuqua Valley (1-6).
That could mean a first-round home playoff game for Andrew. Either way, the Thunderbolts are postseason-bound after going 3-6 last season.
Andrew has remained committed to a triple-option offense under coach Adam Lewandowski.
The thing about running a specialized offense is when it works, you look like a genius. When it doesn’t, like during a five-game losing streak to end 2023, it becomes ripe for criticism.
But credit the Thunderbolts for staying true to their ground-based attack while sprinkling in some more passing from senior quarterback Drew Silvia.
Andrew ran for over 350 yards Friday, led by the dynamic duo of seniors Jordan Wandick — who scored three TDs — and Brady Tanquilut, who added two TDs.
This is now a confident Thunderbolts team and is not the opponent I would want to draw in the playoffs. Not only is Andrew’s offense tough to prepare for, but this is a hard-nosed group that will make it a long night for any opponent.
More turnaround tales
Andrew is far from the only comeback story in 2024.
Shepard, which went 3-6 last season, and Oak Forest, which finished 2-7 in 2023, both are playoff-bound after Friday night wins.
The Astros (5-2) shook off a Week 6 setback against Richards and took care of business with a 49-16 win over Oak Lawn. Senior running back Anthony Loughran ran for 106 yards and three TDs, while senior receiver Cameren Tyron had six catches for 152 yards and a TD and added a 40-yard TD run.
The Bengals (5-2) shut down T.F. South 22-8 for their fifth win in a row.
Also, it’s easy to forget that Marist went 4-5 and missed the playoffs last season. The RedHawks (6-1) kept rolling with a 37-19 win over St. Ignatius.
Marist has overcome injuries to several key players, and if I were giving out a Coach of the Year award, first-year RedHawks coach Mike Fitzgerald would definitely be one of the leading candidates.
Most eye-opening score
Chicago Christian 56, Bishop McNamara 13.
Another convincing victory for the Knights (6-1), who have won four in a row and are looking like a force to be reckoned with in Class 2A.
Chicago Christian’s only loss is to Wheaton Academy (6-1), a Class 4A semifinalist last season that also is having another strong year.
In Friday night’s win, senior quarterback/defensive back Christian Flutman threw for two TDs, ran for two more and added an interception on defense for Chicago Christian.
Senior running back Kenny Jager ran for 156 yards and three TDs on just 11 carries, while senior receiver Edward Van Dellen added two TD catches.
On defense, the Knights’ top seven tacklers on the season are all seniors, led by linebacker Niko Griggs and lineman Brock Sperling.
This team is loaded with senior leadership and has a talented, multidimensional quarterback and a workhorse running back.
That’s a recipe for postseason success.
