This season’s Morgan Park vs. Kenwood showdown was about reputation, respect and bragging rights. Both schools brought sizeable crowds and bands. Tailgating fans watched through the fence behind the north and south end zones.
The atmosphere was perfect, and the action on the field lived up to expectations.
Morgan Park jumped out to a 15-point lead, and Kenwood spent the second half chipping away.
The Broncos won it with 20 seconds left when Kenyonte Louis found Kingston Watson with a short pass. Watson plowed through two defenders and scored to give Kenwood a 29-22 win against Morgan Park.
“They beat us and we were supposed to be the best team in the Public League,” Mustangs coach Chris James said. “They are the best team in the Public League.”
Watson had three catches for 48 yards. Louis, the best Public League quarterback in several seasons, was 14-for-20 for 201 yards with one TD and one interception.
“I sat there and trusted my quarterback to get it to me,” Watson said. “I’m 6-3, 215 pounds. These are little boys. I just powered my way through. I break tackles. That’s what I am known for.”
Reggie Gray’s third TD run of the game put Morgan Park (5-3, 5-1 Public Metro) ahead 22-7 with 57 seconds left int he first half.
Kenwood (7-1, 6-0) answered quickly. Lawrence Carr caught a 63-yard pass from Louis and Louis followed with a seven-yard TD run to pull the Broncos within 22-14 at halftime.
“There was a lot of adversity,” Louis said. “They had a big crowd, we had a big crowd. A lot of noise. I had to keep my composure and my team kept me cool. We had to fight. We knew it was going to be a war and we fought through it.”
Kenwood senior Jayvon Anderson punched in a one-yard TD run and the two-point conversion tied the score at 22 with 7:49 left.
“I didn’t even notice the crowd,” Anderson said. “I was so focused on the field. As a leader on this team you have to keep people out of their own heads. I was focused on that.”
Louis had 21 carries for 63 yards. The 6-1, 205-pound senior kept several drives alive with his short, powerful runs.
Carr had five catches for 95 yards and Drake Harris finished with four catches for 39 yards.
There was a lengthy delay with 11 seconds left in the first half. An ambulance was required because a Kenwood player crashed into the fence, injuring himself. Gately’s sidelines are tight.
“That’s our brother,” Louis said. “He was down bad. He was ready to risk it all. That affected us so much. We had to go out there and fight through everything.
Morgan Park quarterback Ronald Smith was 13-for-20 for 199 yards. Illinois recruit Nasir Rankin had seven catches for 132 yards. Gray had 16 carries for 64 yards.
“There are times we could have taken control of the game and we just didn’t,” James said. “I put it on me. I have to put them in the right positions to score. We had the ball inside the five three times and didn’t score. And gave up the big play right before halftime.”
@michaelsobriensports Postgame interview with Kenwood QB Kenyonte Louis. He connected with Kingston Watson for the game-winning TD with 20 seconds left. #ihsa #football #kenwoodacademy #morganparkhighschool #chicago ♬ original sound – michaelsobriensports