Farlow Puts Kits Back On Winning Track

Kendale Farlow was among the alums in the stands Friday night at Lazier Field for Evanston's homecoming football game.

And the former ETHS linebacker certainly recognizes talent when he sees it. That's why he bought his son Kamryn those bright orange football cleats a couple of weeks ago.

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Kamryn Farlow's outstanding do-it-all performance gave the Wildkits the boost they needed to end a two-game losing skid, as he ran for a score --- caught a touchdown pass --- and even completed a pass in Evanston's 31-14 triumph over Glenbrook North in a Central Suburban League crossover game.

Those new orange cleats never shined brighter as the junior helped the Wildkits improve to 4-2 overall and take a step closer to a possible Illinois High School Association state playoff berth. Glenbrook North fell to 1-5 on the season.

"They're a gift from my Dad. I guess he felt a player of my stature needed them," said the 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior linebacker. "The inscription on them says it's a tweak party, and you can't get in. To me, it means nobody can mess with you if you're the best player on the field."

Farlow ran for a 41-yard score out of the Wildcat formation in the first quarter, part of a 21-0 onslaught by the hosts in the period, and then gave the winners some breathing room when he snagged a 69-yard pass from T.J. Gant early in the fourth quarter.

He also contributed a handful of tackles from his linebacker position, just like Dad used to do.

ETHS head coach Miles Osei opted to open up the playbook at the mid-point of the season but his choice for a "Wildcat" quarterback wasn't standout Justin Johnson, who took some direct snaps last season.

Instead he turned to the hard-running Farlow because the junior offers a passing threat, too. He completed his only pass attempt of the night --- for 35 yards to Johnson --- while carrying 5 times for 76 yards.

He also led the Kits in receiving with 6 catches for 157 yards, a career-high.

"Kamryn's a competitor. He really wants to win," Osei praised. "Our philosophy is that we want to play guys who give great effort, and will play for each other, regardless of position. That's what he does. He's an outstanding player who plays linebacker, wide receiver and on every special team. He does whatever we need."

Farlow was a little surprised when the ETHS coaching staff approached him early in the week and suggested he take some snaps at quarterback.

"We practiced it (the Wildcat formation) a lot this week. They asked me how I felt about playing quarterback, and I just said whatever the team needs from me, I'll do," Farlow said.

"I really do prefer offense. I trusted the offensive line 100 percent tonight. Every time I lined up back there I felt safe and sound. I'm glad the coaches had the trust in me and in my ability to score. And all praise to my teammates and receivers who did the blocking for me."

Evanston hit the visiting Spartans with a 1-2-3 punch consisting of touchdown runs by Sean Hopson Jr. (11 yards) and Farlow (41 yards), plus a 38-yard punt return for a score by Johnson, all in the first period.

But the Kits couldn't finish off any drives after that. It took another big play from Farlow, along with a 31-yard field goal by Juan Gomez, to keep the hosts on a winning track.

Gant connected with his classmate on a 3rd-and -15 strike that broke the game open at the 10:13 mark of the fourth quarter.

"I saw the safety going for a blitz and I knew I was open then," Farlow recalled. T.J. saw it, too, one thing led to another and we had a 60-yard touchdown."

Also providing a lift for Evanston was sophomore tackle Brooks Tyler, who was promoted this week and earned his first varsity start. Tyler more than held his own in his debut and the Kits racked up 187 yards on the ground led by Hopson's 14 tries for 96 yards.

"He gives that room more competition and he did a great job tonight," said Osei. "But I didn't feel we put the game away tonight like we should have. We can't relax at any point. Honestly, we still have to get way better. We have to increase and improve on our practice habits.

"We have to play more consistent and not be on such a roller coaster all the time."

Two runs by scrambling GBN quarterback Madden Williams --- for 23 and 38 yards --- accounted for much of the losers' 134 yards on the ground. Williams, a sophomore, completed 10 of 28 passing attempts for 104 yards.