The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The IW Charger Football team lost to the Mendon-Unity Mustangs in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday by a score of 48 - 22.
However, the final score was not an accurate depiction of how close the game really was.
The Chargers found themselves down 14 - 0 at the end of the first quarter after having to play into a very stiff wind. The Chargers would get on the board quickly in the second period, however, when Quarterback Jackson Porter hit Connor Artman in stride for a 43 yard touchdown pass. Fullback Nick Vorhies would run in the two point conversion to cut the Mendon lead down to 14 - 8.
The Chargers would waste very little time scoring again when Quarterback Jackson Porter threw another touchdown pass. This time it was to Split End Jace Norman for a 38 yard strike. The Chargers would fail to complete the two point conversion leaving the score tied 14 - 14 at halftime.
Mendon-Unity would score twice in the third period before IW Fullback Nick Vorhies would run the ball in from the 1 yard line for a Chargers touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Again, Quarterback Jackson Porter would connect with Jace Norman for the two point conversion to make the score 28 - 22 in favor of the Mustangs.
The Chargers had the ball deep in Unity territory late in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie the game but a turnover would prove costly. The Mustangs would go on to score two more times before the game ended.
Nick Vorhies would finish with 56 rushing yards on 18 carries for the Chargers behind the quality blocking of senior offensive linemen like Ross Neff & DeVante Jackson.
Defensively, Illini West was led by the 7 tackles of Linebacker Drake Huss. Jace Norman would add four of his own.
The Chargers finished their season with a final record of 5 wins and 5 losses and they qualified for the IHSA 2A Playoffs for the first time in two years.