SUMMIT – It’s been a long time since Argo’s football team has been relevant on the state scene, but this year, the Argonauts are one of the state’s pleasant surprises.
In Coach Jim Innis’ 25 seasons as the head coach, Argo has reached the postseason twice, the last coming in 2001. The program has never won a playoff game. Heading into Saturday’s showdown with Evergreen Park, the Argonauts have already qualified for the postseason with their 5-0 record. Evergreen Park arrives for the suddenly key South Suburban Red contest also at 5-0 and 2-0 in the conference.
One of the biggest games in recent memory on the Summit campus will be broadcast by CN100, The Comcast Network at Noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. You can also find the game throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity On Demand.
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“We were 2-7 last year, but we had seven sophomores starting,” Innis said. “We only lost two starters. We had a lineman who was 210 pounds last year as a sophomore who is now 270.”
Innis has clearly been pointing to this group being the one to break through for Argo, and they have not disappointed. The games have been close and high scoring throughout, making for an entertaining brand of football as well.
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Three-year starter Jason Noel leads the way at quarterback. He has thrown for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards and three more scores. His lone interception this season came on a Hail Mary pass at the end of a half.
He has a balanced group of weapons to work with. D’Ken Jones is the workhorse in the backfield, rushing for 400 yards and seven touchdowns. Hector Vazquez might be the team’s most versatile player. He has rushed for 236 yards, caught two touchdown passes and leads the team with 29 tackles from his linebacker position. He has 5 ½ tackles for loss, as well.
In the receiving game, the Argonauts have been a big-play unit. Noel only has 45 completions to account for his 865 yards. Diamonte Mallory has 13 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Corde O’Neal has 10 catches for 214 yards and four touchdowns. Both have gotten it done defensively as well with four interceptions apiece. Drake Walker also figures into the passing game. Cosmo Halwix has six tackles for loss defensively.
The best player on the field, however, belongs to Evergreen Park. Running back Keyshawn Carpenter has kept defensive coordinators up at night this season. He has rushed for 636 yards and six touchdowns thus far.
“He’s the best player in the conference,” Innis said. “They’re really good on offense. We just can’t let Carpenter beat us.”
Quarterback John O’Brien has thrown for 688 yards and six touchdowns, but has also thrown five interceptions. Jacquet McClendon gets most of the action in the passing game, catching 32 passes for 437 yards and four scores. Defensively, Tim Walsh has five interceptions, Dan Oresky leads with 43 tackles and James Jackson has four sacks.
The Mustangs, who have also played a bunch of close, high-scoring games, hadn’t reached the postseason since 2006 until Dan Hartman came to town. They are 17-8 in two seasons under his watch, making deep postseason runs each season.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
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