Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez.

Chicago Heights – It was a hot one when Rich Township (3-2, 3-0 Southland) faced Bloom Township (3-2, 1-1 Southland) in their annual rivalry game. The 82-degree heat on Saturday, September 27, set the tone early in this key Southland Conference matchup.

Dry near the end of the first quarter, Rich Township’s Christian McCollum threw a short pass to junior running back Marlon Erves to get the ball near the 3-yard line, setting up junior running back Ortez Johnson for a rushing touchdown two plays later.

In the second, Johnson took the handoff again. He was initially stopped, but bounced off and cut to his left for his second score of the game.

At halftime, it was 16-0, Rich.

In the third, the Raptors scored again when senior running back Kai Williams cut to his right and stiff-armed a defender at the goal line.

The next scoring play came when McCollum then threw a screen pass to senior wide receiver A’Zarian Harris, whose O-line blocked big for him, making the score look easy.

Later, Bloom was stopped on fourth down, and the Raptors made three big plays to get into the end zone.

Off the punt, junior Rashad Boyd got the ball down near the 32-yard line. Then Harris made a first-down catch on the next play between the hash marks. Finally, McCollum flicked a pass to senior wide receiver Cam Collins for a score.

To close it out, Marlon Erves took the ball up the gut, in the fourth quarter, and raced to the end zone.

FINAL: Rich Township 42, Bloom Township 0.

The WCCN Player of the Game was senior quarterback Christian McCollum who had two passing touchdowns.

He has been playing football since he was six years old, and his chemistry with his wide receivers and running backs shows on the field.

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Rich Township will face Kankakee at home on Friday, October 3.

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