UPDATE: Oak Lawn's Becky Bradshaw is Patch MVP

Oak Lawn's Becky Bradshaw came up big for the Spartans at the Tinley Park tournament. And she also came up big in voting for Patch's MVP, Sept. 24-30. Bradshaw is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Football: Fuessel, L-W East Pass Test in Win Over Homewood-Flossmoor

Lincoln-Way East 35, Homewood-Flossmoor 20: Senior quarterback Tom Fuessel showed he can get the job done with his arm as well as his legs in the Griffins' big victory Friday night in Frankfort.

Breaking It Down: Senior quarterback Tom Fuessel played on sore legs and ankles in the second half of Lincoln-Way East’s 35-20 football victory over Homewood-Flossmoor in a Southwest Suburban Blue showdown on Friday night in Frankfort. His arm was fine. Fuessel threw a 38-yard pass to Justin Corbett to highlight a six-play, 64-yard knockout scoring drive. The Griffins (4-0, 2-0) punched the ball in on a 1-yard run by Brian Casey and extended their lead to 28-14. The Fuessel-to-Corbett connection came on a third-and-12 play from the East 34. H-F (3-1, 1-1) closed to within 28-20 on 4-yard TD pass from Ronald Johnson to Taje Smith. But the Vikings’ point-after kick was blocked. And East closed the scoring on a 10-yard TD run by Casey with 35…

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Michael Hrymak

5:06 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012

Shut the hell up. Coach Buzea has turned that program into one of the strongest in the area and is one of the classiest coaches in the south suburbs. I annoucned this game live and saw nothing like this. Shut up idiot   more ›

UPDATE: Bloom Township's Kendall McGinnis is Patch MVP

Kendall McGinnis connected on a Hail Mary pass to lift Bloom past Thornwood 20-14 in the Trojans' football opener. Then, he outpolled 10 others in fan balloting for Patch MVP, Aug. 20-26. McGinnis now is eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Chronicles of Bob

11:02 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Yes mary, and they can read... you got something to say there?   more ›

The Sports Report

High School Football's Finest: Winkler, Malec Recognized as Patch Player, Coach of the Year

Lincoln-Way East quarterback Blake Winkler and Andrew coach Jim Malec enjoyed remarkable high school football seasons. The two are my Patch picks for Player and Coach of the Year honors.

An old friend of mine, Edgy Tim O’Halloran, noted recently in his column for the Chicago Tribune how impossible it is to select a high school football Player of the Year and a Coach of the Year. To be sure, this is a task that falls under the category of inexact science. Do you side with the best player? Or the best player on the most successful team? And do you automatically pick the winningest coach? Or do you like the coach who turned a sleeping giant into a winner? Tough questions. No right or wrong answers, either. After boiling my list of candidates down to five, I picked Lincoln-Way East quarterback Blake Winkler as the winner of my Southland Patch Player of the Year sweepstakes. He earned the nod over Oak Forest running back Tevin …

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IHSA Quarterfinals: Kremer's High School Football Playoff Hot Picks

Sports Editor Ron Kremer looks into his magic crystal ball and picks the winners of five-quarterfinal round football playoff games. See what he thinks of the chances for Evergreen Park and Homewood-Flossmoor to advance on the Road to Champaign.

No. 12 Homewood-Flossmoor (8-3) at No. 9 Naperville Central (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday Quick Take: H-F’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Tim Williams and running back Anfernee Roberts, will be pitted against Naperville Central’s vaunted defensive wall. Central limited 1,400-yard rusher ReShawn Bean to 50 yards in a 43-3 victory over Belleville East. Williams accounted for five TDs (3 in the air, 2 on the ground) in H-F’s 48-7 victory over Lockport. The Vikings’ defense registered seven quarterback sacks and helped trigger a running clock with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter. They’ll need a similar effort against Naperville Central quarterback Ian Lewandowski and running back Matt Randolph. Lewandowski threw for 123 yards and one …

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UPDATE: Fans Select Patch Athlete of the Week Winner

Jeremy Esparza's 28-yard field goal turned Evergreen Park into a winner in a second-round Class 4A football game vs. Rock Island Alleman. Fans voted him a winner in balloting for Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 5.

Jeremy Esparza defeated five others in balloting for Patch Athlete of the Week. He is now eligible for November Athlete of the Month recognition. The nominees for Southland Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 5, were: Amber Clay, sophomore, volleyball outside hitter, Marian Catholic. Clay totaled 17 kills in two matches as Marian Catholic defeated Illiana Christian (25-21, 25-23) and Chicago Payton (25-18, 25-13) to advance to the Class 3A state semifinals. Jeremy Esparza, junior, football placekicker, Evergreen Park. Esparza kicked two field goals, including a 28-yarder with 7.5 seconds left to cap Evergreen Park’s 19-18 victory over Rock Island Alleman in the second round of the Class 4A football playoffs. Pat McMahon, junior, boys …

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Ron Kremer

9:08 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Do you think Salis will lead Marist to the Class 4A state championship?   more ›

Pride of Southland Football: H-F and Evergreen Park Look to Move One Step Closer

Dates and times have been set for IHSA quarterfinal football playoff games, including two involving Southland teams. Homewood-Flossmoor will play at Naperville Central on Friday night. Evergreen Park plays host to Richmond-Burton on Saturday night.

#12 Homewood-Flossmoor (8-3) at #9 Naperville Central (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday. First word: Tim Williams and Sean Jones hooked up on two long touchdown passes in the Vikings' 48-7 victory over Lockport. Will they find similar success going up against the Naperville Central secondary? #1 Richmond-Burton (10-1) at #13 Evergreen Park (8-3), 6 p.m. Saturday. First word: First-year coach Dan Hartman has the Mustangs riding on a high after a 19-18 victory over Rock Island Alleman. Jeremy Esparza emerged as the hero after kicking two field goals for Evergreen Park, including a 28-yarder with 7.5 seconds left. For the full schedule of games, visit IHSA.org.

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Playoff Primer: High School Football Hot Picks for Round 2

Subbing in for Sports Editor Ron Kremer, Chuck Ingwersen predicts the winners in the eight second-round playoff games involving Southland Patch teams.

No. 13 Lockport (7-3) at No. 11 Homewood-Flossmoor (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday Quick take: H-F’s offense, led by quarterback Tim Williams and running back Anfernee Roberts, looked unstoppable during much of last week's 48-28 thrashing of Marist. Lockport barely survived an 18-15 scare against Simeon last week. H-F dominated Lockport 35-0 on Sept. 30 at Lockport. Pick: Homewood-Flossmoor No. 6 Brother Rice (7-3) at No 3 Downers Grove South (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday Quick take: Brother Rice running backs Andrew Walker and Martez Walker rushed for a combined 330 yards and four touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 35-14 rout of Sandburg last week, and they will surely test the DGS defense. Downers Grove South has a monster back of its own in Josh Williams (over 2…

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High School Football: Dates, Times Set for First-Round Playoff Matchups

On Monday, the Illinois High School Association released the dates and times for first-round football playoff matchups.

Following is a rundown of the schedule of first-round games for Southland Patch high school football playoff qualifiers: #12 Homewood-Flossmoor (6-3) at #5 Marist (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday. #11 Sandburg (6-3) at #6 Brother Rice (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday. #16 Plainfield South (5-4) at #1 Lincoln-Way East (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday. #9 Providence Catholic (6-3) at #8 Wheaton Warrenville South (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday. #14 Shepard (5-4) at #3 St. Rita (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday. #11 Andrew (6-3) at #6 Eisenhower (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday. #5 Oak Forest (6-3) at #4 Thornton Fractional North (6-3), 6:30 p.m. Friday. #7 Richards (5-4) vs. #2 Hyde Park (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Eckersall Stadium, Chicago. #5 Lincoln-Way West (7-2) vs. #4 Joliet Catholic Academy (7-2), 7 p.m. …

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Kremer's 5 Hot Picks: Lemont Football Defense Too Tough for Oak Forest

Oak Forest will try to crack a Lemont defense that has pitched five shutouts in its regular-season finale. Bloom faces Marian Catholic in a battle for bragging rights in The Heights.

1. Oak Forest (6-2) at Lemont (8-0), 7. Quick Take: Lemont has pitched five shutouts and allowed 32 points in eight games. Oak Forest will need trio of Tom Zale, Matt Barry and Tevin Coleman to hit on all cylinders. Pick: Lemont. 2. Joliet Catholic Academy (7-1) at Marist (6-2), 7:30. Quick Take: It’s JCA’s powerful run game vs. Marist’s light-up-the-scoreboard passing attack. Pick: Joliet Catholic Academy. 3. Homewood-Flossmoor (6-2) at Sandburg (5-3), 7:30. Quick Take: Homewood-Flossmoor quarterback Tim Williams will be challenged by a Sandburg defense that has been steady. Pick: Homewood-Flossmoor. 4. Bloom (2-6) at Marian Catholic (3-5), 6. Quick Take: Pride at stake in The Heights. Bloom dropped a 12-7 heart-breaker to Rich East. …

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