Clemente and Taft are both having outstanding seasons, but the Wildcats showed the Eagles that to compete for conference title, they will need a combination of pitching, strong hitting and a little bit of luck to succeed. Continue reading
Taft was looking to win its second Luther North Holiday Classic title in the past three years. Maine East was looking to create school history by winning its first Luther North title in the five years the team has been in the tournament. Continue reading
In a day that saw Young win three of five titles at the Public League Individual Championships, it was Taft’s Kaitlin Ulbert whose star shone brightest. Continue reading
A year after having Taft end its five year winning streak as Public League champions, Payton took back the title, as it defeated Taft 198-204 Sunday at Indian Boundary. The Grizzlies were able to edge out the Eagles by having all its players shoot 53 or lower. Continue reading
Lane has long been a Public League power in girls soccer and if Saturday’s Public League quarterfinal playoff is any indication, the Indians aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Lane got off to a quick start, scoring nine goals in the first 26:43 and cruising to an easy 10-0 win over Taft to set up a semifinal matchup against Northside Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading
Sparked by some pressure defense and easy transition baskets, Fenwick breezed to a comfortable 82-28 win over Taft on Saturday in its second game of the Niles North Thanksgiving Tournament. Continue reading
Foreman got all it needed on a quarterback option keeper in the second quarter, as it held on to defeat Taft 7-6 and clinch the Big Shoulders title Thursday at Hanson Stadium. The conference title marks the first for the Hornets since 2008.
After a sloppy first quarter that saw interceptions on back-to-back plays and a third turnover just two plays later, the Hornets (7-1, 6-0) were able to get momentum off of a recovered Taft fumble. On a third-and-6 play, Foreman quarterback Perrin Groves kept the ball instead of optioning it to his running back and ran 64 yards down the left side to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead at halftime.
“The blocking by the team was really good,’’ Groves said. “They did all the work, I just ran for the score.’’
Midway through the third quarter the Eagles (7-1, 5-1) had first-and-goal from the Foreman 3-yard line, but a sack and two incomplete passes ruined any chance they had to score.
On the next possession for Taft, Javier Chavez’s five-yard run capped a 15-play drive that cut the deficit to 7-6. The Eagles would try a two-point conversion and fail. Chavez finished with 18 carries for 98 yards.
“We played through some adversity with the wind, high snaps, the rain,’’ Foreman coach Peter Grazzini said. “We tried to simulate that in practice but you can never do it like the real thing.’’
Dione Kidd led Foreman with 45 yards rushing on 18 carries.
The conference title clinches a playoff berth for Foreman, its second in a row. Taft now awaits its fate as its playoff bid depends on the Steinmetz result against Amundsen on Friday. If Steinmetz wins and doesn’t allow any points, the Silver Streaks will make the playoffs. A loss or win in which Amundsen scores any points sends Taft back to the state playoffs.
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BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW May 5, 2012
Young got out fast right out of the gate and didn’t let Taft get any offensive rhythm as it breezed to a 5-1 win in the Public League quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Lane. Continue reading
BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW January 24, 2012
Taft’s first conference championship since 2001 didn’t come easily. Continue reading
BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW January 10, 2012
For Sun-Times Media
Sometimes a little motivation goes a long way. Taft used that motivation, coupled with a fast start, on its way to a 67-34 Red-North victory over Senn at home on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading
Michael Wojtychiw 