The Editor Speaks

The Best "Best of 2010s" of 2010

A fond look back on the stories that fondly look back on Tinley Park in 2010.

The end of the year is a time of reflection, relaxation and end-of-the-year wrap-up stories we editorial types use to pad out our publications because there's not much news going on in a week where half the people are on vacation and the other half are eating turkey sandwiches two meals a day. So let's take a fond look back at the stories that captured the stories of 2010. Rule of thumb: People aren't checking news sites on Christmas. So, maybe that wasn't the best placement for this photo gallery of the best, most exciting, coolest and prettiest photos of the year. From shattered pool records to the Titans' amazing football season, here's our list of the best high school sports moments from TPHS, Andrew and Lincoln-Way North. Speaking of …

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Tinley Park High School's Top Fall Athlete: Hassan Abdullah

For senior Hassan Abdullah, his time at Tinley Park saw him blossom from a rookie football player to an all-state running back.

Hassan Abdullah first put on a football uniform during his freshman year at Tinley Park High School. Since that first year, he has matured both on the field and off to become one of the top five running backs in Illinois. Abdullah said he viewed football as a good way to ease the stress of high school. "I wanted to play because I wanted to get some aggression off," he said. "I just love the adrenaline and just being able to hit people." But Abdullah does more than just hit people, he recently capped off his senior season with almost 1,500 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Abdullah ranks second inTPHS's history for most touchdowns scored in a season. He was also one of the top five leading rushers in the area as well as being an all-state …

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Titans Can't Stop Vernon Hills' Dynamic Duo

Tinley Park rallies from big deficit but falls 37-22 in second-round play of the Class 5A football playoffs.

Vernon Hills' Cougars brought a small army of fans from nearly 40 miles away to Tinley Park High School for Saturday night's Class 5A playoff game against the host Titans. The Cougars also brought with them their two Division I recruits, and it was that tandem led the visitors to a 37-22 victory, advancing Vernon Hills (10-1) into the state quarterfinals. DaVaris Daniels, who has committed to Notre Dame and was playing in front of Irish coach Brian Kelly, led the Cougars with 16 carries for 148 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three receptions for 48 yards. And, for good measure, he caught the game-ending interception. The other D-I recruit, Evan Spencer — son of Chicago Bears running backs coach Tim Spencer — is headed to Ohio …

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Spencer for Hire? Not if Tinley Park Can Help It

Titans' defense will focus on Vernon Hills wide receiver Evan Spencer in second round of 5A football; Sports Editor Ron Kremer breaks down a few select matchups and picks his winners.

Class 8A Waubonsie Valley (8-2) at Homewood-Flossmoor (8-2) When: 7 p.m. Friday. What to watch: For an explosion? Senior Eric Josupait returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in Waubonsie Valley's 33-7 victory over Brother Rice. Sophomore Austin Guido ripped off a 96-yard scoring run. He finished with a career-best total of 203 yards on 21 carries. The win was the first in the playoffs for Warriors coach Paul Murphy. H-F's Malik Norman was dynamite in the Vikings' 41-14 victory over Curie. He rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Kremer's pick: Homewood-Flossmoor. Sandburg (8-2) at Lyons Township (9-1) When: 7:30 p.m. Friday. What to watch: Late-game heroics? Sandburg's Jermell Harris rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the …

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Tinley Park Back in the Fold for First Time Since 2000

Titans take on Chicago Orr in opening round of Class 5A football playoffs; Sports Editor Ron Kremer takes a look at some first-round matchups and picks his winners.

Class 8A Naperville North (6-3) at Chicago Marist (6-3) When: 7:30 p.m. Friday. What to watch: The two quarterbacks. Naperville North's Matt LaCosse is headed to Minnesota. Marist's Luke Oosterbaan lights up the scoreboard nearly every week. He completed 18-of-28 for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-38 victory over St. Patrick. McKinley Moore went out with an ankle injury but later returned in the Redhawks' win over the Shamrocks. His health remains a concern. Kremer's pick: Marist. Brother Rice (5-4) at Waubonsie Valley (7-2) When: 7 p.m. Friday. What to watch:  Pace of play. Waubonsie Valley boasts an explosive offense led by Tom Kolzow, Austin Guido and Eric Josupait. The Warriors outscored East Aurora and South Elgin by a combined …

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Titans Fall to Rebels, But Say They Are Ready For Playoffs

7-3 loss to Thornton Fractional South won't deter Tinley Park from gearing up for postseason party.

Not all seasons have a happy ending. The Tinley Park Titans (6-3, 3-3) weren't able to get past the Thornton Fractional South Rebels (8-1, 5-1) on Friday night as they fell 7-3 in the South Suburban Blue finale for both teams. "It was a grinding game," Tinley Park coach Nick Johnston said. "They were grinding us, and we were trying to grind them." The two sides were locked in a scoreless deadlock until the middle of the second quarter. Then, Rebels senior quarterback Kevin Hallberg threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Allante' Nelson.  The Titans ended the first half with a 22-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Trevor Rolette. But the momentum didn't carry over into the second half for Tinley Park. Hassan Abdullah, a …

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Turnaround Titans Want to Own 'Park' Avenue

Tinley Park faces Evergreen Park; running back Hassan Abdullah has No. 9-rated Titans working their magic.

1.    Lincoln-Way East (6-1, 5-0): Tonight vs. Lincoln-Way Central. After regularly putting the ball in the air for three weeks in a row, the Griffins turned to their ground game in a 43-7 victory over Bolingbrook. Tyler Starke, Max Bayer and Kevin Bayer each rushed for two touchdowns. Starke finished with 80 yards on eight carries. Expect more of the same as the Griffins look to retain the Dave McKay Gridiron Grail, a trophy given to the winner of this district rivalry game. McKay played on the 1997 Lincoln-Way state championship team. He died in an auto accident in 2000. Last week: Lincoln-Way East No. 1. 2. Marist (5-2, 3-1): Tonight vs. Joliet Catholic Academy, Memorial Stadium, Joliet. Classic matchup of run vs. pass. JCA features a …

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Football Titans Taking Their Show on the Road

Tinley Park looks to move to 5-0 when it travels to Oak Forest for a South Suburban Blue Conference clash on Friday night.

The Tinley Park Titans (4-0, 2-0 South Suburban Blue) look to remain perfect on the football season when they travel to Oak Forest (3-1, 1-1) Friday night for a conference matchup with the Bengals.  Tinley Park's 4-0 start has the Titans fired up and focused, not satisfied. "We preach to the kids, 'Don't be satisfied with where you're at,' "  coach Nick Johnston said.  "Always strive to get better.  After watching the film, they see where they can improve, and that's motivation enough, because we're not there yet.  We're not undefeated. We're not in the playoffs. We're 4-0 and that's it. And we're going to need to work hard to be 5-0." For Johnston, the hard work begins with coming up with a plan to stop the Bengals' option attack.  "They …

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Homecoming Win Moves Tinley Park to 4-0

Quarterback Kyle Sheridan guides the Titans to a 34-13 win over Hillcrest's Hawks.

The Tinley Park Titans moved to 4-0 on the football season after a 34-13 homecoming win over Hillcrest on Friday night. The Titans were led offensively by junior quarterback Kyle Sheridan, who went 13-of-21 for 237 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing TD. The Titans mixed the run and the pass effectively all night. Senior running back Hassan Abdullah rushed for 194 yards on 22 carries and scored twice, on runs of 6 and 30 yards.  "Hassan (Abdullah) ran hard as usual," Tinley Park head coach Nick Johnston said.  "He's a load when he goes north and south, and that's what we preach: Run north and south. "When the line blocks and hold their blocks, it opens up holes for Hassan," Johnston added. "Then Kyle (Sheridan) makes plays on his…

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