For openers, this was about as good as it gets.
First game of the season. Soldier Field. An early test. Quality opponent. When Juwan Martin saw the date of the game, he could hardly contain himself.
“August 28th,” Martin said. “My birthday.”
What a 16th birthday it was.
The first game of the 2009 season was Martin’s debut as De La Salle’s starting quarterback. If it was a sign of things to come, we’ll be hearing a lot more from the Meteors and their new field general. The 5-foot-8-inch, 175-pound junior gave Lane fits with his arm and his legs Friday afternoon, leading the Meteors to a 28-7 victory in the first game of the tripleheader Preseason Prep Bowl.
Mt. Carmel outslugged Simeon 53-27 in the second game, and No. 20 Morgan Park topped No. 19 Brother Rice 32-10 in the nightcap.
Martin put De La Salle ahead for good in the opener, calling his own number on the option and sprinting 63 yards early in the first quarter. He threw for 165 yards on 11-for-15 passing and gave De La Salle’s future opponents plenty to worry about.
“It’s always exciting to win,” he said. “But to win at Soldier Field, on my birthday … how much better can it get?”
For openers, Troy Torrence might have opened some eyes. At 6-3, 205 pounds, the De La Salle senior has size that attracts the attention of college coaches. His two interceptions in a showcase game could be the break he needs.
“This was the experience of a lifetime,” Torrence said.
For openers, the middle game was a wild one.
Simeon proved it belonged on the same field as mighty Mt. Carmel, at times running up and down the field at will.
The game seemed winnable when Horatio Banks’ 8-yard touchdown run brought Simeon within 39-27 with 7:29 left in the third quarter. But the Caravan offense was too powerful, and the Wolverines weren’t having any notion of a moral victory.
“We should have won,” said Simeon quarterback Robert Gregory, who threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jasper Golden. “You could say they are the best team on our schedule, but I think we are the best team.
“We’ll see them again in the 8A playoffs and give them a better run for their money.”
For openers, this one was even more emotional than usual for Mt. Carmel.
Friday morning, Mt. Carmel senior Steve Bajenski, a second baseman on the school’s baseball team, succumbed to his battle with a heart condition. He had been in a coma since having surgery July 31. He died Friday morning at Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.
“Steve was a good friend, a good teammate, one of the best baseball players I’ve ever seen,” said Mt. Carmel’s Milton Greer, who played baseball with Bajenski.
Greer, a Division I football prospect, gave the Caravan the lead for good on an 86-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.
“I came out and scored a couple touchdowns for him,” Greer said. “Rest in peace, Steve.”
For openers, Morgan Park appears to be the class of the Public League. Quarterback DaRon Brown scored three first-half touchdowns.
Asked if this sends a signal to the rest of the Public League, Brown responded: “It sends a signal to the state. State champions.”
– – –
De La Salle 28, Lane 7
Player of the game: Juwan Martin, De La Salle, 11-for-15, 165 yards, TD; 63-yard TD run.
Mt. Carmel 53, Simeon 27
Players of the game: Denzel Thompson, Mt. Carmel, 3 TD runs (5, 3 and 41 yards); Milton Greer, Mt. Carmel, 2 TDs (86-yard kickoff return, 47-yard run)
No. 20 Morgan Park 32, No. 19 Brother Rice 10
Player of the game: DaRon Brown, Morgan Park, 4 TD passes
