Building a successful Public League football program might be the most challenging task in Illinois high school sports. South Shore is on its way.
The Tars have improved steadily every season. They’ve built up to 58 players in the program and now have a JV team. There are even college coaches around: Northern Illinois and Central Michigan have shown an interest in running back Reggie Craig.
South Shore coach Robert Miller says he’s a player’s coach and his philosophy works. The mood on the sideline is energetic and positive. The Tars are off to an undefeated start to the season after beating CMA-Bronzeville 36-6 on Thursday at Eckersall Stadium.
“We actually have a commitment to football that a lot of teams don’t,” Craig said. “We will come to school in the morning to go over some plays, maybe go to eat together. We want to make sure we are ready to perform.”
Craig had 16 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns. His 40-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter gave South Shore (4-0, 1-0 White-South Central) a 14-0 lead.
“That’s one of his lower yardage games of the season,” Miller said. “He’s playing really well.”
The Tars have allowed just 14 points all season. Brandon Diming played well on both lines and held CMA-Bronzeville to minus-47 rushing yards.
“[Diming] surprised me today,” Miller said. “He showed up. He’s been playing football since elementary school so he’s been around forever.”
South Shore quarterback Justen Norris (11 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns), a power runner, completed one pass. It was a 20-yard touchdown strike to Dairrion Hamilton in the third quarter.
“We throw the ball more normally but I wouldn’t allow it today,” Miller said. “I thought it was best to pound the ball.”
“I just love the game of football,” Norris said. “It brings me joy. And being physical is just part of it.”
Reginald Craig with a short TD run and South Shore leads CMA-Bronzeville 22-6 in the 2Q.
Craig already has 92 rushing yards and 2 TDs. pic.twitter.com/nRZJWNFH2h
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) September 19, 2024
The Eagles (1-3, 0-1) scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Denziel Adjei to Zaid Shine in the first quarter. That cut the Tars’ lead to 14-6 but South Shore scored the next 22 points.
The Tars’ core group has been starting on varsity since sophomore year. They are seniors now and expectations are high.
“We haven’t been to the state playoffs since 2017, before I was the coach,” Miller said. “This could be the team to get us back there. Honestly, we feel we are one of the better teams in the city, even though we are in the White Division.”
South Shore’s play on Thursday backed up Miller’s statement. Several White Division teams struggle with how to line up properly at the line of scrimmage and tend to want to pull players down instead of tackling them. There was none of that from the Tars.
“Everybody looks down on us,” Hamilton said. “But we are working and we are a family. It’s very important for us to get into the playoffs and prove ourselves.”