Comer wins but DuSable impresses with grit, determination

The grass was far too high for football. DuSable dressed just 13 players, had to start without its head coach in attendance and played a stretch of the game with just 10 players. In the end, all those difficulties stacked up to make the game Thursday at Stagg Stadium entertaining and even a little inspiring.

Comer, one of the top teams in the Noble League, knocked off the Panthers 38-22.

Catamounts quarterback Tevin Lewis-Johnson, a returning starter, engineered the win.

“He’s just a lot more confident,” Comer coach Gavin Lamb said. “He’s an exceptionally hard worker and a really good leader. The kids respect him, and he sets a really good tone, along with a couple other guys.”

Lewis-Johnson had seven carries for 69 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run. He was 3-for-8 passing and connected with Dante Knight-Little for a 21-yard score to seal the win with 1:27 left in the game.

Junior Chad Clark was the other offensive star for the Catamounts (2-0). He had touchdown runs of 15 and 18 yards.

DuSable coach Andrew Frierson didn’t arrive until the four-minute mark of the first quarter with his team trailing 16-0. Frierson teaches at another school and had to finish the school day before driving to the stadium.

“According to CPS rules, you cannot take any personal or sick days the first or last week of the school year,” Frierson said. “So we had some distractions.”

With nine players injured, the Panthers (1-1) dressed only 13. When two players went down in the second quarter, it left the team with only 10, but DuSable never considered forfeiting the game. Junior Mylik Walker scored on a 69-yard run on the first play with only 10 men.

“I’m just impressed with the kids on [DuSable],” Lamb said. “They really had a lot of heart and a lot of discipline. It was inspiring to see them and their coaches fight like that. I’ve played a lot of teams that really crumble and fold. Those kids really deserve some credit.”

Comer’s Chad Clark (18) scores a touchdown against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Caleb Butler (20) scores a touchdown during against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Tevin Lewis-Johnson (4) prepares to throw the ball against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer coach Gavin Lamb during the game against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable’s Mylik Walker (2) fires a pass against Comer. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Chad Clark (18) returns to his team after scoring a touchdown against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable’s Jaborn Washington (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Dante Knight-Little (81) breaks away to score a touchdown against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Dante Knight-Little (81) scores a touchdown against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable Coach Andrew Frierson calls a play against Comer. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable Coach Andrew Frierson reacts against Comer. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable’s Jaborn Washington (5) runs the ball against DuSable. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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DuSable’s Mylik Walker (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Comer. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Comer’s Caleb Butler (20) runs against DuSable’s Ryan Hutchinson (11). | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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The Panthers ended up playing the last eight minutes of the second quarter with 10 men. Both injured players returned in the second half.

“At halftime, I was able to tell the guys we were just one play away from making a big play,” Frierson said. “We just needed to make sure we progressed and finished the game out strong and hard.”

DuSable continued to threaten in the third quarter. Jaborn Washington’s two-yard run with 3:55 left in the game pulled the Panthers within eight points.

“I was surprised when they kept playing with 10, but they really wanted it,” Lewis-Johnson said. “I have a lot of respect for them.”

Frierson, who previously coached at Chicago Tech and Douglass, is in his first year at DuSable.

“I know the toughness in these kids,” Frierson said. “We said we were not going to give up. We aren’t quitters, we weren’t built to do that. I’m here as the head coach trying to change this program. It has been a battle. We’ve scored 30 points in two games this season. They scored a total of 30 points just last season total. That’s a tremendous turnaround, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”