Kenwood & Morgan Park Set to Battle for Public League Supremacy
Broncos are unpredictable horses who are known for their strength, speed, and propensity to buck. On the other hand, Mustangs are horses with agility, muscle, and smarts that enable them to be quick on their feet. Fun fact, both of…
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Continue ReadingBroncos are unpredictable horses who are known for their strength, speed, and propensity to buck. On the other hand, Mustangs are horses with agility, muscle, and smarts that enable them to be quick on their feet.
Fun fact, both of these horses have been known to top speeds of 45 mph—which is very fast if you were wondering.
So, if you’re looking for an up-tempo game that features a ton of speed on both sides, then this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Gately stadium is this place to be as the Kenwood Broncos faceoff against the Morgan Park Mustangs in a battle for Public League supremacy.
Kenwood Broncos: #HorsePower
I’ve had the privilege of seeing Kenwood’s quarterback Lucien Henson in person multiple times, and I’ll be the first to tell you this kid can flat out sling it. He plays with a ton of confidence and is deadly accurate in his delivery. Henson completed 66% of his passes while throwing for 177 yards with a total of 4 touchdowns (3 pass,1 rush) in Kenwood’s 36-2 week 1 defeat of Perspectives. With the weapons he has at his disposal, he’s more than capable of outdoing his week 1 performance.
The Weapons
You won’t find a better receiving duo than Jalil Martin Jalil Martin 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Kenwood | 2022 State IL and Logan Lester. Both receivers have that rare combination of size and athleticism, which can pose matchup problems for opposing secondary’s. They both bring big-play potential to the field and are equally effective in the short, intermediate, and deep passing attacks; simply put, these two have to be accounted for whenever they step between the lines. Lavar Lindsey is another prospect who I expect to have a big game. Lindsey is a versatile athlete that can hurt you as a running back taking a handoff or a receiver beating you deep—pick your poison. When you thought you had enough of Lindsey on offense, let’s not forget that he also plays a little linebacker which adds speed and versatility to an already talented Bronco defense.
Coming off the edge of that talented defense is defensive end David Horton. He can beat you with speed or power and has exceptional get-off, which puts a ton of pressure on opposing offensive tackles. Mario Grayer, who lines up as the other defensive end can also wreak havoc in the trenches. Kevin Thunderbird and K’vion Thunderbird hold down the linebacker positions for the Broncos and are also two prospects to keep an eye on, along with Kahlil Tate, one of the more talented all-around athletes in Illinois’ heralded C/O ’23.
Morgan Park: #PlayFast
Morgan Park and their youth movement played extremely well in week 1 as they went on to pitch a 26-0 shutout against Curie. There’s a new face under center as Cam Fulton makes the switch from quarterback to defensive back to prepare him for his projected position at the next level, but don’t be surprised if we see Fulton under center as Morgan Park occasionally utilizes a two-quarterback system. Set to take most of the snaps is junior Aaron Warren. He’s a dynamic dual-threat who has the ability to take over a game letting it rip from the pocket or escaping with his legs. In week 1, he accumulated 120 total yards and two touchdowns (1 pass, 1 rush).
The Weapons
Ivory Dyson is one of the more intriguing prospects on this squad. He’s a 6’1″ 219lb athlete that plays the slot, Z, FB, and TE–basically everywhere. Chris Durr Jr. and Tysean Griffin are two freshmen who immediately impacted their first game on varsity last week. Durr caught a 14-yard touchdown and Griffin was highly productive with the ball in his hands as he was able to show just how explosive he is and will be for the next few years. Receiver Kendall Sprouts is another weapon to keep an eye on who I consider a playmaking possession-receiver who is vastly underrated. Running back Jacobi Beard who scored on a short run last week has tremendous upside and is a physical back that can wear a defense down throughout a game; Beards’ head coach Chris James believes the back can be one of the best in the state. Rounding it out is Devan King, the anchor of Morgan Park’s stout offensive line.
The Verdict
Although both teams have a talented defense, I think each team’s offense will dictate who comes out of this Public League battle with the “W.”
This matchup has the makings of an old-fashioned shootout; there’s just too much offensive firepower on both sides of the ball for it not to be a high-scoring game. Turnovers and capitalizing on special teams opportunities will be the keys to victory for both teams. I also believe that the advantage will go to the team that can establish the run and play keep away from the opposing offense. Nonetheless, this should be an exciting and intense battle as we kick off week 2 in the Public League.
Follow @dclay1889 on Twitter for live coverage of Kenwood vs. Morgan Park this Saturday at 3:00 p.m.