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Raiders returning to playoffs for third straight year
Chicago, 10/06/12--North Shore Country Day's Kendrick Hales runs throught the tackle of Chicago Hope's Chris Triplett with help from Andrew Segal. Chicago Hope Academy hosted North Shore Country Day in football on Saturday afternoon. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 6, 2012 10:12PM
CHICAGO — The North Shore Country Day football team clinched a program first Saturday.
North Shore Country Day beat Hope Academy 33-8 to earn a playoff berth for the third season in a row — a feat never before accomplished.
“That’s really big,” North Shore Country Day co-coach Fred Miller said. “Every year you want to be battling for the ultimate prize. Only one team in our class is going to end up the winner and hopefully that team is us. We made it to the playoffs and now it’s time to see what we can do the rest of the season.”
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in attendance before the game to dedicate the new field at Altgeld Park, which just received an artificial surface. The Jesse White Tumblers also performed.
But it was North Shore (6-1) that put on another impressive performance.
Senior quarterback Elias Butler rushed for two touchdowns and had an interception and forced fumble as a defensive back.
“It’s exciting,” said Butler, a fourth-year varsity player. “Historically, North Shore is not known for its football but now we’re trying to turn it around. I think we’ve done that.”
Six wins guarantees a playoff berth.
Junior Manny Gonzalez, senior Ayo Okesanya and sophomore Cameron Czerwinski also had rushing touchdowns in the win.
Hope Academy (3-4) spoiled the shutout bid when senior Jeremiah Westbrooks scored on a 2-yard run with six seconds remaining.
