During the first quarter of Maine South’s 49-42 win against Naperville North in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs, the talk on the sideline was how well Hawks quarterback Jameson Purcell was playing for a sophomore.
After three quarters that was out the window and the question was, is Purcell already one of the five best quarterbacks in the state? By the fourth quarter, it didn’t seem crazy to wonder if Maine South would lose again over the next month or for the next two seasons.
Purcell was 37 for 50 for 465 yards with six TDs and one interception, which came on the 50th pass. And the numbers don’t come close to telling the story.
Purcell checked off multiple receivers, scrambled to make space and hit receivers in stride. It was an eye-opening performance.
“My trainers and coaches have really prepared me for these moments,” Purcell said. “Every single week I keep getting better and getting better chemistry with the guys. I can see the field great and find my guys when they are open.”
Purcell has scholarship offers from Auburn, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Nebraska, Mississippi, UCLA, Washington and several other schools. He’s one of the top prospects in the country. But it’s still surprising to watch a sophomore with just a handful of high school starts dominating a high-level Class 8A playoff game.
The 6-2, 181-pound Purcell took over the starting job in Week 4 against Barrington.
“I wasn’t expecting to be in this situation but I was ready for it,” Purcell said. “All my teammates have supported me and trusted me.”
Constantine Coines, who lost the starting quarterback spot, has become a dangerous receiver. He had six catches for 46 yards against Naperville North. Everything has turned out well for Maine South, which now appears poised to make a run at the Class 8A state title.
Sycamore AD withdraws proposal to end Prep Bowl
Sycamore athletic director Chauncey Carrick decided on Sunday to withdraw his controversial Illinois High School Association bylaw proposal to end the Prep Bowl.
“We have decided to pull [the proposal], even though [St. Rita coach Marty Hopkins’] statement is why we made the proposal. However, due to the great respect we have for [CPS interim sports director] Mickey Pruitt and the work he does for CPS, we are withdrawing the bylaw proposal.”
St. Rita won the Prep Bowl last season. After the bylaw proposal was announced on Friday, Hopkins expressed his dismay that anyone would try and end the historic game and also mentioned that it was “so beneficial for us to make the Prep Bowl run last season.”
Public League struggles
Chicago Public Schools football teams went 1-17 in the first round against non-CPS opponents and were outscored 764-110. Eight Public League teams were shut out.
The only win was Morgan Park’s 34-0 shutout of Tinley Park.
Four other Public League teams advanced: Young, Westinghouse, Ag. Science and King. All four beat Public League opponents. It’s the first state playoff victory for the Cyclones and for Westinghouse.
History makers
Woodstock North beat Freeport in the first round of Class 5A to win its first playoff game since 2012. Burlington Central defeated Grant in Class 6A to pick up its first playoff win in 18 years.
And West Aurora, which defeated Huntley in Class 8A, is 10-0 for the first time in 77 years.