Young Richards to be tested early

Updated: June 23, 2011 7:26PM

Circle your calendar, Richards football fans. It will be 1989 all over again the second week of the season.

After the opener against Harlan, Richards will play Morris for the first time since the Bulldogs won the ’89 Class 4A title in a 12-6 overtime victory that completed a 14-0 season with a second straight championship.

“It’s Morris, it’s history,” Richards coach Tony Sheehan said. “They’ve got a lot of starters coming back. We’re going to find out real quick what we’re made of. That’s a good thing.”

Since ’89, Morris has played in three state championship games, taking second in Class 5A in 2004 and ’07 and winning the Class 6A title in ’05.

To help get ready for Morris and the entire season, Richards hosted its 7-on-7 passing camp Saturday with 12 schools each playing three scrimmages. Richards went up against Marist, T.F. South and Leo as coaches looked for talent and intangibles.

“What kind of speed a guy has, a little bit of what’s inside, if he’s going to compete,” Sheehan said of the camp. “If he drops a ball, if he’s going to bounce right back and go catch the next one or put his head down.

“Sometimes these get a little physical. It’s good to see what a guy has inside, if a guy is going to come out here and compete and win a position.”

With just three returning starters — wide receiver Davonta Corner, defensive back/receiver Desmond Gallion and offensive lineman Frank Bell — a lot of positions are up for grabs. One spot also being filled by Corner is team leader and spokesman.

“I’m looking to step up, take my leadership and lead my team far in the playoffs,” Corner said. “The expectation is to go undefeated, 14-0, and win it all.”

The athletic 6-foot senior is sure to be a threat to whatever secondary he maneuvers his way through.

“I want to be the No. 1 option, I want to be the home run play,” Corner said. “I want to bring excitement to the game.”

The quarterback job is expected to go to sophomore Tommy Mister, described as “a dynamic athlete” by Sheehan. Corner said he liked the way the ball was being thrown to him, Gallion and Danny Gardner.

“No matter if a receiver is open or not, you’ve just got to put it up and let someone make a play out there,” Corner said. “I like that.”

Defending South Suburban Red champion Richards was 8-3 in 2010, losing in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Sheehan will be counting on juniors from a 7-2 sophomore team to help the Bulldogs get back to the postseason.

“We’re going to be young and inexperienced, but we’re going to have talent,’’ he said. That includes sophomore linebacker Ramel Hill, whom Sheehan said is “going to be a good one for us. He’s not afraid to stick his nose in there.”

Richards will play at Lemont in the third week before starting its Red Division season at Shepard.

“We’re going to find out real quick in the first four games what these young guys are made of,” Sheehan said.

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