Sports
Shepard Overcomes Shaky Start to Win Football Opener
Senior quarterback Dontae McCoy helps Astros rally for a 41-14 romp over Payton.
Missing a valuable player and dealing with opening-night jitters, Shepard stumbled out of the gate in its 2010 football opener in Palos Heights on Friday night.
But after falling behind Payton College Prep 14-0 in the first quarter, the Astros found their stride and never looked back in a 41-14 romp over the Grizzlies.
Senior quarterback Dontae McCoy threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another, and running back Randall Taylor scored two TDs to lead Shepard in the nonconference game.
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"We were all excited to get out there. I think that's why we got off to a shaky start — we were just excited," said McCoy, an all-conference selection last season.
McCoy (8-of-16 passing for 159 yards) threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Robert Cole. He also connected with Taylor for an 18-yard TD and ran for a 4-yard score. Taylor rushed for 51 yards and added a 34-yard run to his TD catch.
Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Cortez Miller rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown, and Marcus Owens added a 15-yard TD for the Astros.
Meanwhile, Shepard senior running back Jeff Brewer had to watch the game from the sidelines. He was suspended from the first two games because of an incident over the summer involving a paintball gun.
"It kills me because I feel like I let my team down, my family down and basically the whole school down," Brewer said. "I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
McCoy said the team is feeling the absence of Brewer.
"We miss him out there," he said. "He's family, and we can't wait for him to get back on the field."
Brewer won't be eligible to make his return to game action until Week 3 in the South Suburban Red Conference opener at Oak Lawn on Sept. 10.
Shepard coach Dominic Passolano, who last season guided the Astros to their first playoff appearance since 2001, isn't looking that far ahead yet. The Astros host Hubbard next Friday night.
"They (the Greyhounds) are going to be very good. They're a strong, fast and physical football team," Passolano said. "This is a good chance to see a good team early before we get into our conference play. It's going to be a tough game."
