Mustangs breeze past Robeson

Morgan Park’s Jajuan Lewis drags a Robeson defender for a few extra yards.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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With a quick turnaround after Saturday’s 21-7 loss to Lemont in the Class 6A state playoffs, Morgan Park returned to the field Wednesday.

Playing Robeson at Gately Stadium in the Public League playoffs, the Mustangs wasted little time putting the Lemont loss behind them as they broke open a close game at the half to claim a 54-13 win.

“We couldn’t just take a loss and sit back down,” Morgan Park quarterback DaRon Brown said. “With the loss, we had to bounce back, because we can at least make it to the Prep Bowl. Coach (Lexie Spurlock) said we can protect what we want and still get the city championship.”

Brown finished with two rushing touchdowns and 166 yards on 12 carries, and two scores via the air and 97 passing yards. Running back Dominque Bell rushed 18 times for 135 yards and two scores for the Mustangs (8-4).

Free safety Brian Jones led the defense with two interceptions of Robeson quarterback Juwane Pipkins. Jones was playing with a cast on his left hand after breaking his thumb in the Mustangs’ 6A playoff opener against Crystal Lake Central.

“We’ve got to show everybody that we can actually play,” Jones said. “(On the interceptions), I saw the end zone, but I guess it wasn’t happening.”

Morgan Park went up 18-6 in the first half with Brown, Bell and Jajuan Lewis all finding the end zone.

Robeson (9-2) responded with its own touchdown, leaving 1:09 on the clock.

Brown proceeded to march his team down the field, getting all the way to Robeson’s 35 following a 21-yard scamper. With 15 seconds left, Brown connected with a streaking Calvin Brookins for a touchdown to help put Morgan Park up 24-13 at halftime.

“We run two-minute drills for the last minute of the game, last minute of the half in practice all summer,” Brown said. “It’s kind of fun, so that’s all that was, rushing the plays.”

The momentum carried into the second half for the Mustangs, who had a three-touchdown third quarter and one TD in the fourth. Brown started things with his second rushing TD, a 1-yard keeper, before Bell added his second score, a 12-yard run up the middle. Jones’ second pick set up Brown’s second passing touchdown, a 62-yard bomb to Brookins on play-action.

Devontre Spears (14 carries, 86 yards) got into the action with a 12-yard TD run midway through the fourth.

“We just did what we do best, and we try to stay with that,” Spurlock said. “(Robeson) battled us for a half, and I won’t take anything away from them. Our defense was sort of sleeping early to give up those points, and in the second half the kids said, ‘Let’s hurry up and get this over with.’”