A brutal opening slate

Morgan Park started the year on the road at Downers Grove North and Edwardsville, plus a game against Notre Dame. They came out 2-1.

The loss that still helps

The only blemish was a five-point defeat to ranked Downers Grove North, the kind of result that builds a playoff resume instead of wrecking it.

The new worry is boredom

Coach Chris James says the real test is not letting standards drop once Public League play starts against teams they should beat.

“We used to play bad against teams we should beat, but we are getting better at that.”

61-7 at Stagg Stadium

Morgan Park buried Payton on Saturday and moved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Red Star.

A deliberate change of plan

The Mustangs had leaned on the run for three weeks. Against Payton the point was to find out what junior quarterback Ronald Smith Jr. could do through the air.

Smith answered the question

He finished 10-for-13 for 221 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Nearly every throw found its target.

Three different targets

Smith hit Jeremiah Harvey for 42 yards, Travezz Jones for 33 and Mark Dossous Jr. for 11. Jones caught four balls for 94 yards.

The ground game still showed up

Senior William Smith Jr. opened the scoring with a 72-yard run, and Kenneth Sims broke a 57-yarder in the third quarter.

Gilbert wrecked the pocket

Junior linebacker Raymond Gilbert led the defense with a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery.

Seven turnovers decided it

Payton coughed the ball up seven times, with multiple fumbles and a run of special teams mistakes including blocked kicks.

“You aren't going to win with seven turnovers.”

Payton was 3-0 until now

The Grizzlies had beaten Corliss, Hyde Park and Amundsen. Jackson Peters found Zach Hosek for an 18-yard score late in the first half.

Clark is not panicking

Payton's coach pointed to Taft next week and a season still pointed at the state playoffs and the Prep Bowl.

“This is one game, and it does not define our season.”

No home field all year

Gately Stadium is under construction and a back-ordered gate has killed any hope of reopening. Morgan Park will play at Stagg, Rockne and Eckersall instead.

“Now [CPS] is saying there is a gate they need on back order, so we won't be able to play there.”

Bus rides as playoff prep

The long trip to Edwardsville taught the Mustangs how to play after hours on a bus, useful practice for a postseason road run.

“It is definitely different having to play after a long bus ride.”