Young has played without its top running back, Max Warner, and without starting quarterback Von Konrad in several games this season.
The Dolphins’ experienced offensive line has held things down during the injury ups and downs, and was rock solid in a 47-0 -victory against Clark on Thursday at Rockne Stadium.
“It’s been amazing forming a bond with these guys,” Young lineman Nikola Dale said. “We are all best friends.”
Konrad and Warner are now healthy and everything is clicking for Young. Things are going the opposite way for Clark, which played without seven injured starters (who play both ways). Four of the injured players were All-City last season.
“We don’t have a lot of depth so I need my guys,” Eagles coach Kevin Simmons said.
Clark dressed about 30 players. Young (5-0, 3-0 Public Red) expected a major challenge from the Eagles. Clark was competitive in an earlier 16-6 loss to Simeon and has beaten King and Johnson.
“They beat Johnson by eight and we only beat them by one,” Dolphins coach Dan Finger said. “We saw in warmups that something was off. Clark is always tough.”
Young led 33-0 at halftime and there was a running clock after Luke Yolich scored on a 12-yard run with 9:03 remaining in the third quarter to make it 40-0.
Yolich had 10 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. The senior also plays safety and was a key factor on that side of the ball as Clark (2-3, 2-2) completed none of its eight pass attempts.
“We made sure we didn’t let up or underestimate them,” Yolich said. “They have some injuries but we had to keep our pedal to the metal. Our defense played great, everyone stayed focused.”
Warner had six carries for 64 yards including touchdown runs of 45 and 17 yards. Konrad was 6-for-11 for 50 yards and rushed for a two-yard touchdown.
Next up for Young is a showdown against Kenwood. The Dolphins are a program on the rise and a win against the Broncos would be a major statement.
“I’m really looking forward to that,” Dale said. “We lost by one TD last year, and I think we can beat them by a lot this year.”
Clark is a three-school co-op with Austin and Douglass. Simmons says there are about 400 students at Clark. Austin has fewer than 200 students and Douglass has 34. Simmons says the team has no players from Douglass and one from Austin.
“I’m trying to stop the co-op because adding those schools moved us up a class in the state playoffs,” Simmons said. “This should be the last year for it.”
Young has nearly 2,000 students. CPS’ decision to have Clark and Young in the same conference does make sense based on the football history of the schools. But while the Dolphins can survive through a few key injuries, Clark cannot.
“Short-handed isn’t the word,” Simmons said. “But football is football, you still have to play.”