Sandburg Breaks in New Turf Field in Style

Big plays by Jermell Harris and Javonte Keys turned into a big victory for Sandburg.

The Eagles, playing for the first time on their new turf field, rolled to a 48-21 victory over Joliet West on Friday night.

The win pushed Sandburg to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Southwest Suburban Blue. Joliet West fell to 0-4 and 0-2.

The Eagles started fast. On their first possession, senior fullback Chris Lopez scored on a 15-yard touchdown run. Then, senior quarterback Cody Miller connected with Keys, a senior wide receiver, on a 61-yard touchdown pass.

Miller later added a 12-yard touchdown run. And the Eagles' defense stood strong in the first quarter, allowing just two Joliet West first downs. One came on a penalty, the other on a fake punt play.

Tigers junior slot receiver Eric Cooper took a direct snap for a 13-yard gain and a first down, setting up West to control much of the second quarter.

After an Eagles defensive pass interference call, Malcolm Allen led a 66-yard touchdown drive for Joliet West, capping it with a 19-yard pass to senior wide receiver Jon Smith.

"Going into the locker room, we addressed what we did wrong in the first half, made our adjustments and came out fired up," the Eagles' Miller said.

The third quarter started much like the first. Harris picked up another touchdown, this time on an 11-yard run. It was set up by a 43-yard run by Brandon Lopez.

The Eagles forced three turnovers in the second half, all by way of the interception. Ryan Parker's interception set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Brandon Lopez.

For the Tigers, Allen would hook up with Smith for 11 yards for a touchdown. But Harris answered for the Eagles with a 47-yard TD burst.

In the fourth quarter, Sandburg backup quarterback Issak Erkapic added a 5-yard touchdown run. Joliet West's Korey Rogers went 55 yards for a TD.

"We knew the big play potential Joliet West brings to the game, and we sat back in the second quarter," Eagles coach Dave Wierzal said. "It's a coach's nightmare seeing just how explosive they can be.

"But, we knew going into the second half, we had to score on the first possession. We did, and that got us our momentum back."

Sandburg goes on the road next Friday to play Lincoln-Way Central.