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Shepard coach John Rone saw this coming.
Even though the Astros won just three games in 2023, there was a noticeable level of resiliency and heart that Rone really liked.
“It started last year,” Rone said. “We were pretty young and we only started four seniors. But the kids hung through the tough times, they won their last two games last year and that carried over from last season.
“The kids took their lumps, hung in there, and now we’re getting a little payoff.”
Indeed, Shepard is.
In Week 8 in Burbank, the Astros rolled to a 57-0 victory over Reavis in a South Suburban Red matchup. Shepard led 50-0 at halftime.
“I’m very confident in this group and where they are at,” Rone said. “The younger players have grown up, and they’re full varsity players now.
“The kids are a little more hungry.”
Senior quarterback Noah Vaughn was the leading performer for Shepard (6-2, 4-1), throwing touchdown passes of 13 and 18 yards to Cameron Tryon and scoring on runs of 65 and 3 yards. Vaughn finished with four carries for 97 yards while completing six of 13 passes for 96 yards.
“This kid has come a long way,” Rone said of Vaughn. “He learned a lot from the Richards game (a 21-0 loss at home on Oct. 4). He’s done a great job of getting the ball out quickly, using his legs when available and making good decisions.
“It’s just the overall character of the kid. He’s a really, really good kid. From the coaches and the kids, we all like him and respect him as a kid and not just as a quarterback.”
Tryon added a 49-yard touchdown run, while Anthony Loughran chipped in a 6-yard scoring run for the Astros.
In its final tuneup for the IHSA playoffs, Shepard will travel to Eisenhower. Reavis (4-4, 2-3), on the brink of postseason eligibility, travels to Richards.
