“Five-and-oh is like a dream, but this is reality. It feels really good.” INSIDE – Kansas City Chiefs standout Dexter McCluster, Condi joins the ranking frolics on his team’s surprising 5-0 start Sports ~ See ‘Claib’s Call’ page B4 ~ B3 OCTOBER 10 – 16, 2013 IN THE CLUTCH PREP FOOTBALL With Ishmael H. Sistrunk NOTEBOOK With Earl Austin Jr. Small schools, big players This week’s report is devoted to some tal- ented small-school teams and players who have been making it happen in recent weeks. Miller Career Academy continued it win- ning ways with a 47-12 victory over Vashon. The Phoenix is currently 6-0 on the season, running its regular-season winning streak to 15 games. Career Academy finished the 2012 regular sea- son with a 9-0 record. Tailback Marquis Stewart has been a huge part of the offense with 1,063 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Jaylen Jones has passed for 693 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing Earl for 244 yards. Receivers Austin Jr. Javon Collard and Mark Frazier have more than 300 yards each and have combined for nine touchdowns. The defense is led by Ra-Sheen Bolden, who has a team-high 64 tackles and four Photo by Lawrence Bryant sacks. The Phoenix will visit Soldan in a big The pro-Bulls crowd at Scottrade Center got glimpses of Derrick Rose’s relentless, attack-the-basket style but overall he played Public High League contest on Saturday a subdued and safe game, finishing with 13 points. afternoon at 1 p.m. Bell leads Bulldogs McCluer South-Berkeley is also having a big year with a 5-1 record. The Bulldogs defeated Jennings 46-20 last week behind six NBA excites STL touchdown passes from quarterback LaMarko Bell. Bell found four different receivers for touchdowns, including three to athletic junior receiver Ryan Stokes. Bell has Plus, Klitschko bores the boxing world thrown for more than 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns this season with Stokes being his main target. The Bulldogs have an excel- The NBA returned to St. The Bulls were rewarded by years ago. Rose looked OK. The crowd got lent pair of running backs in Shawn Conway Louis with some exciting pre- droves of fans decked out in glimpses of his relentless, attack-the-basket and Andre Crump. season action Monday night at style but overall he played a subdued and safe Scottrade Center. For many Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and game, finishing with 13 points on 3-of-8 shoot- hardwood aficionados, it was a Derrick Rose jerseys and cheering ing in 23 minutes. Rose reached down to fiddle Staunch defensive effort welcome return for the NBA. St. on the Windy City ball club. with his knee braces several times, leading me Louis was the host of an annual to believe that he’s still thinking about his prior Christian-O’Fallon’s Frank Davis stepped preseason game back in the day, injuries. Give him a month or two to regain his into the spotlight in the Eagles’ 14-12 victory but as interest and/or profits confidence and get adjusted to his new hard- over Duchesne in a battle of undefeated dwindled in the Gateway City, The Bulls were rewarded by droves of fans ware and we should see the D-Rose of old. teams. With Christian-O’Fallon’s powerful Ishmael H. the league packed up and left decked out in Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen There was no Marc Gasol or Joakim Noah, offense literally shut down by the Pioneers, it Sistrunk the city high and dry in terms of and Derrick Rose jerseys and cheering on the but no problem. The big star of the show was was Davis who led a staunch defensive effort NBA action. Kudos to the Windy City ball club. Speaking of Rose, the Benny the Bull. One area where the NBA with 17 solo tackles and one sack. Davis also Chicago Bulls for hosting a “home” game here former MVP saw just his second game action in the city. since tearing his ACL nearly one-and-a-half See FOOTBALL, B5 See RAMS, B5 RAMS ROUNDUP With Palmer Alexander III Rams win ‘must’ game Next: stiff road test in Texas Rarely during the first the score at 7-7. pass. On several third and weekend of October do you Then the Rams settled short situations, the Rams say “must-win game,” but in down. They executed a bal- seemed content just to make this particular instance the St. anced attack with 36 run plays plays in front of first down Louis Rams’ 34-20 win over and 34 pass plays. Zac Stacy marker instead of pushing the the Jacksonville led the rushing attack with 14 ball past the marker. Jaguars was carries for 78 yards. As a That’s why it was so impor- indeed that. tant for Zac Stacy to have the And despite No team fears the game he had leading the Rams the final score Rams when they pass. rush attack. Jeff Fisher wants a the football more balanced attack. You contest was can’t blame him. Should Stacy way closer than continue at this pace and stake it should have whole the Rams had over 140 claim as the starter, maybe Palmer L. been. The rushing yards at a clip of four then this young running back Alexander Jaguars got out yards per carry – more than a corps will take shape, with front with a gift stark contrast to what we’ve Daryl Richardson and Isaiah touchdown to Justin Blackmon seen in the first four games. Pead finding their respective that covered 67 yards. But, just Sam Bradford threw three roles. as the Rams gave the Jaguars a touchdowns while completing The defense made some big gift, Blaine Gabbert returned fewer than 60 percent of his plays. Defensive end Chris the favor, getting intercepted throws. Bradford averaged 5.5 Long had five tackles, a sack, by Matt Giordano and having yards a throw as the bland a forced fumble and a fumble Photo by Lawrence Bryant the pick returned for a defen- passing game crept along. No Lance Kendricks awaits a pass from quarterback Sam Bradford during the Rams vic- sive touchdown 82 yards, tying team fears the Rams when they See CLUTCH, B4 tory over the Jacksonville Jaquars on Sunday in St. Louis. Page designed by Mike Terhaar.