EVERGREEN PARK, IL \u2014 The Evergreen Park Community High School football team will only have three chances to play on its new state-of-the-art turf field this season, and Friday\u2019s home opener against the Oak Lawn Spartans was a rout, 49-31.<\/p>\n
Evergreen Park Mustang running back David \u201cDJ\u201d Johnson dominated the Spartans, carrying the ball 13 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns in Evergreen Park\u2019s victory over Oak Lawn. Quarterback Rowan Smyth was 8 for 15 producing two touchdowns. Receivers Caleb Keyser and Tyler Phelps each contributed a TD.<\/p>\n
It was the first time in 12 years that the football field got a turf makeover. The baseball and softball fields were refurbished in 2021 at EPCHS\u2019s gem of a sports complex, with a southern yellow pine wood infill manufactured by Brock USA designed to improve traction and reduce artificial turf heat. The manufacturer\u2019s same wood infill surface was used for the football field installed over a shock pad said to enhance player performance and safety.<\/p>\n \u201cThe band students used it all summer,\u201d EPCHS principal Matt Dugan told Patch from the sidelines. \u201cThey appreciated the benefits of non-radiating heat from the old-style turf.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the new turf, EPCHS also debuted its new Jumbotron scoreboard.<\/p>\n The rest of the evening was Friday Night Football poetry in motion. Asked which side he was cheering for, Interim D231 Supt. Mike Riordan, recently retired from Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229, diplomatically replied: \u201cThe green team.\u201d (The Spartan and Mustang colors are green.\u201d<\/p>\nFind out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n