Jacobs beats Normal Community in second round of IHSA playoffs

Posted on November 5, 2021
Normal Community finishes the season 10-1 after going undefeated in the regular season as Big 12 Conference champions. (Photo Twitter/Jacobs Athletics)

By Neil Doyle

ALGONQUIN – It was a low scoring game but Jacobs held on at home to beat Normal Community 17-7 in the second round of the IHSA football playoffs.

The Golden Eagles (8-3) scored the first two touchdowns of the game, both from running back Nasir Canty. The Ironmen (10-1) answered back in the second quarter with a 71-yard pass from senior Chase Mackey to senior Terance Washington.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. NCHS had opportunities with a blocked punt and Jacobs fumble, but couldn’t convert either opportunity into points.

A fumble from NCHS led to a late field goal for Jacobs with about 2:30 left in the game. A Mackey interception with a minute to play sealed the game for the Golden Eagles.

Fighting back tears, Ironmen head coach Jason Drengwitz spoke with WJBC’s Eric Lapan after the game.

“It’s not what we had hoped for and not what we had planed on. We wanted to be playing a lot longer but it just didn’t work out. But it doesn’t change how proud I am of all these guys. Our coaching staff and our families. We love them to death. It hurts because it’s so special and means so much to everybody.”

Second round games on Saturday:

Class 1A

Peru St. Bede vs. Ridgeview-Lexington, 1pm

Class 2A

Dee-Mack vs. Tri-Valley, 1pm

Tremont vs. Farmington, 1pm

Class 3A

Prairie Central vs. Princeton, 1pm (Can be heard on our sister station Classic Hits 98.9 WJEZ)

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…