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What a Difference: Shepard Turns Football Fortunes Around
After a stunning defeat to Thornton Fractional South, Shepard rebounded with a rousing 38-20 win over playoff-bound Evergreen Park.
With its playoff hopes in limbo, the Shepard football team had the worst start to a game possible–a fumble deep in its own territory on the first play from scrimmage.
But after a defensive stop, it was all Astros as they took apart Evergreen Park 38-20 on the Mustangs' home turf Friday night. The win boosted Shepard to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the South Suburban Red.
“We teach our kids in football, just like in life, you have to learn to battle back from adversity and we did that,” Shepard coach Dominic Passolano said.
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The Astros looked lost only one week earlier, getting blown out by a struggling Thornton Fractional South team. But, on Friday night, they were hitting on all cylinders and the win kept their playoff hopes alive.
“We needed our guys to step up and they did,” Passolano said.
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None played a bigger role for the Astros than quarterback Jimmy McClinton. He accounted for four touchdowns, three via the airwaves and one on the ground.
“I wanted to contribute enough so that our defense didn’t need to carries us again,” McClinton said. “We knew it was either win our or season was over.”
Now, the stage is set for the Astros to clinch their third consecutive trip to the postseason Friday with a win when they play host to Oak Lawn.
“If we come out and play like we did after that opening fumble, we will be in good shape,” McClinton said.
What a difference a week can make for a team. Last week, it looked like gloom and doom for the Astros. This week the sun is shining. After all, the Astros looked like a playoff-worthy team, beating a quality opponent on their home turf in convincing fashion.
