Macomb High amassed over 300 yards of total offense, but needed some late defensive heroics in subduing Hillcrest 21-6 in Illinois High School Association Class 4A first-round playoff action last Saturday at MHS Stadium.
With the win, MHS improved to 9-1 overall while Hillcrest saw its season come to a close with a 5-5 record.
The Bombers took the opening kickoff, but were stopped near midfield. Hayden Katz pinned Hillcrest back at its own 22 following a 33-yard punt.
The MHS defense came up with its first big play of the game when a bad snap by the Hawks was recovered by linebacker Drake Taber at the Hillcrest 41.
The Bombers could not capitalize however, and following a 24-yard punt by Katz, the Hawks took over at their own 17 with 7:42 left in the first quarter.
Hillcrest would put together an eight-play, 83-yard drive and take the early lead when quarterback Anthony Bradley found Derrick Streeter in the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown with 4:43 to go.
The two-point attempt failed to leave the Hawks up 6-0.
MHS responded quickly as the Bombers marched 69 yards in just five plays, keyed by a 38-yard pass from quarterback Kaden Knupp to receiver Kyler Norton.
Running back Drake May capped the drive with a 19-yard touchdown gallop at the 2:57 mark of the opening quarter.
Katz added the point-after- touchdown kick to put MHS on top 7-6.
Both teams would threaten in the second quarter, but could not put points on the scoreboard.
Hillcrest put together an impressive 11-play drive early in the period to reach the MHS four-yard line. But the Bombers’ Drew Watson broke up a Bradley pass in the endzone on fourth down to end the threat.
The best scoring opportunity for MHS came right before halftime when the Bombers marched down to the Hillcrest 13. But Katz pulled his 30-yard field goal attempt to the left and the first half ended with MHS clinging to its one-point lead.
The Bombers dominated the third quarter.
They held the Hawks to just five offensive plays, the last being an interception by Watson of a Streeter pass in MHS territory with six minutes remaining.
Starting from their own 37, the Bombers moved the ball downfield to the Hillcrest 23.
A Carter Havens pass to Watson was picked off in the Hawks’ secondary, but a pass interference call against Hillcrest negated the play and MHS quickly took advantage.
Knupp found Havens for a 13-yard touchdown toss with 11:49 to go.
Katz added the PAT to give the Bombers a 14-6 lead.
MHS got another fortunate break on the ensuing kickoff when an onside kick was recovered by the Bombers’ Johnathan Powell at the Hillcrest 47. But the Hawks’ defense stiffened and forced MHS to punt the ball away.
Both teams would exchange possessions until the Bombers’ defense came up with another big play to regain the momentum.
With the ball at the Hillcrest 29 and facing a third-and-10, a Bradley pass deflected off the hands of a Hawks’ receiver and Nolan Hoge intercepted to give MHS the ball at the Hawks’ 37 with 4:41 remaining.
Facing a fourth-and-10, Knupp hit Watson on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 3:39 left.
Katz added the PAT to give MHS a 21-6 advantage.
Hillcrest managed one last drive and moved the ball down to the MHS 21. But May sacked Bradley on fourth down to turn the ball over.
The Bombers would run out the clock to seal the opening round victory.
“Our defense deserves a ton of credit,” said MHS head coach Tanner Horrell. “Coach (Dave) Wilson had a great game plan coming in. It was to stop the run and contain their quarterback from running. Coach Wilson and his defense were flying around today.”
MHS outgained Hillcrest 314-312 in total offense, but turnovers proved to be the difference.
The Hawks officially committed three (two interceptions, one fumble) while the Bombers had none.
May led the MHS offense as the junior rushed for a game-high 84 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Knupp completed 15-of-27 pass attempts for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Watson led all receivers with nine catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.
Jamari Thomas led Hillcrest with 68 yards rushing on 12 carries while Bradley completed 8-of-23 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown along with an interception.
“Outstanding football game,” said Horrell. “(Hillcrest) went up 6-0, but our kids didn’t flinch. Our defense stepped up huge all day long. It was just a great football game.”
MHS now advances to the second-round of the Class 4A playoffs this Saturday afternoon as Geneseo (8-2) travels to MHS Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. “I can’t wait until next Saturday,” added Horrell. “We’re going to have a real tough Geneseo team coming in. A hard-nosed, running football team. We’ve got to stop the run again.”
