If you’re looking for that mission statement, Brother Rice’s Jovan Green Jr. sets a dominant tone.
Green, a senior wide receiver, showed off his superb individual talent and proved gracious enough afterward to share the spotlight with his brother Jaylin, a senior running back for the Crusaders.
“I really feel like I’ve grown and my game has evolved, especially since I got here,” said Jovan, who is in his third varsity season. “Even though I didn’t play a lot as a sophomore, it was still a great experience.
“Everything is about having these moments.”
Those moments belonged to the Green brothers Friday night. Jovan scored his first career touchdown on a 17-yard catch and set up Jaylin’s rushing TD in a 35-0 victory over host Marist.
Senior quarterback CJ Gray threw for 158 yards, ran for a TD and also threw a TD pass to junior receiver Lucas Strang to pace Brother Rice (2-0).
Senior receiver Marty Donahue came through with seven catches for 82 yards to lead the RedHawks (0-2), including Marist’s longest play from scrimmage on a 38-yard catch.
Jovan Green, meanwhile, caught three passes for 76 yards on his team’s opening drive. He finished with seven catches for 112 yards — leaving quite an impression on the Chicago audience.
“As an offensive staff, we talked about who we wanted to get going early,” Brother Rice coach Casey Quedenfeld said. “We have two great backs, but we knew he was the one.
“Jovan’s matured so much — in the classroom, with getting his body right and getting his college commitment done — so he can be free out there.”
Jovan, a South Dakota State recruit, made a spectacular 17-yard TD catch to start the third quarter. It was his first career varsity TD.
“I’ve always felt like my whole life I’ve always been able to do those things,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time. We just came out ready to go. This was our rivalry game.”
Jovan also had a private score to settle with his Jaylin, who entered with two career TDs.
Typical of their intense bond, Jovan helped set up his brother’s 2-yard TD run in the second quarter with a 14-yard catch.
“It was really good seeing him score because the spotlight is normally on me,” Jovan said. “I’m more outgoing and he’s typically a little shy. Sometimes, I have to provoke him out there.”
Jovan is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, fast and explosive. Jaylin is 5-8 and 185.
“It was a great opportunity seeing him score,” Jaylin said. “It just fired me up the way he came out to start the game, making those catches and getting into the box.
“When I had a chance to score, I just told myself I had to do it. There’s always been a fire between us. When we were younger, our dad had us flipping tires and racing.”
The two brothers radiate confidence around each other.
“I’m a bit of an undersized running back, so everybody looks at my size and thinks I can’t do damage,” Jaylin said. “When I have the opportunity, I show everybody what I can do.”
While Jovan is brash and plays with flair, Jaylin is quietly effective and understated.
“He’s so patient,” Quedenfeld said of Jaylin, who ran for 34 yards on six carries. “We often say he’s the toughest inside runner we have, which seems odd given his stature.
“He’s got great balance, and he could work inside a phone booth. He’s just so dangerous every time he gets the ball.”
And together, they powered the Crusaders to their first win in the Battle of Pulaski since 2012.
“We’ve been at it for a long time and (Friday night) we both had that opportunity,” Javon said of teaming up with Jaylin for TDs. ”We were both able to show what we can do.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Originally Published:
