Hopkins steps up for Wolverines
Simeon is at the top of the Public League football world, and Kenwood desperately wants to be there. Both teams are extremely young, and only a handful of seniors played when the squads matched up Saturday at Gately.
But a senior made the crucial play. The Wolverines’ Kaliub Hopkins grabbed an interception with 51 seconds left to seal a 23-18 victory for No. 23 Simeon (3-0, 3-0 Illini Red Bird).
“I read the quarterback,” Hopkins said. “I saw him look, and I put my trust in it, ran over there and got over the top.”
Kenwood (1-2, 1-2) was driving with a chance to win. The Broncos led most of the way, until sophomore Andre Crews ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run with 8:55 to play.
Crews finished with 11 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Simeon, which sat out last week, was rusty. The Wolverines had six fumbles.
“We had two days of practice and 12 days off,” Simeon coach Dante Culbreath said. “It says a lot about these guys. It says a lot about the program to pull this out. We are so young. Starting two freshmen and a sophomore on the offensive line. The whole defense is sophomores and juniors. We have a quarterback who’s never played quarterback in his life. Our running back is just a sophomore.”
Simeon quarterback Korey Flowers was 3-for-13 with two interceptions but had a knack for coming up with big plays when the Wolverines needed them. He connected with senior George Gumbs on a 52-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
“These young kids work hard every day,” Gumbs said. “I love them. We were down, but they didn’t get their heads down and kept the same energy. They are ready and eager to learn. I just want to give my knowledge to them so they will lock it down when I’m gone.”
Kenwood had multiple college-bound players transfer in the fall. Broncos coach Sinque Turner, a Simeon graduate, believes that hanging with and leading the Wolverines for most of the game will have a significant effect on his talented young group.
“The brand of Simeon will strike fear in a lot of Public League teams’ hearts,” Turner said. “Now our guys gained confidence. They battled, and that is good momentum going into the fall. The element of the unknown is gone now. We don’t have to worry about the Simeon legend or whatever. This is good momentum.”
Junior running back Lavor Lindsey had 15 carries for 56 yards for the Broncos. Quarterback Lou Henson, a junior, was 9-for-15 for 106 yards with one interception and one touchdown. He also ran for two scores.
Kenwood’s highly regarded junior wide receiver/defensive back Jalil Martin had two receptions for 19 yards and two interceptions. Sophomore receiver Logan Lester had four catches for 66 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown.
Chicago Public Schools didn’t allow contact days for football teams over the summer or fall, and the teams aren’t allowed in their weight rooms. It’s clear the pandemic has severely affected Public League football.
But there is a startling amount of talented young players on Kenwood and Simeon. The handful of games they will manage to play this spring should help give them a footing next fall.
“It’s been so unfortunate,” Culbreath said. “It’s emotional for me because of what is going on with the pandemic. I’ve never played kids this young in my life and kids that just haven’t had the practice time. But it is something to build on. I’m proud of them.”