Down 27-6 at half, Hersey rallies to stun Prospect behind Nawrot’s 5 TDs
Once was not enough for Hersey football coach Tom Nelson on Friday night.
"Man, is he special," he said of Huskies junior quarterback Jake Nawrot after Hersey --- down 27-6 at the half and 34-12 after three quarters against visiting Prospect --- recorded a stunning 38-34 victory in an Mid-Suburban League East showdown for first place.
"Man, is he special," Nelson repeated.
Nawrot (27 of 41 passing, 317 yards) passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for 2 more, including the game-winning 1-yard keeper with 18 seconds left.
Hersey (6-2, 4-0) won its sixth straight game by outscoring the reigning MSL East champion 26-0 in the fourth quarter at Roland R. Goins Stadium in Arlington Heights.
The penultimate play on the clinching drive was Nawrot's 8-yard completion to junior wideout Josh Riggs (6 receptions, 98 yards).
"Jake called those last two plays," an impressed Nelson said. "I was thinking, 'Let's kick a field goal and tie this.'"
With his team trailing Prospect (6-2, 3-1) 34-31 with 3:37 remaining in regulation, Nawrot went 5 for 7 on the clinching scoring trip, with his biggest connection landing in Riggs' hands for 19 yards that put the ball at the Knights' 18-yard line.
"We were already hyped up because we were making our comeback," said Nawrot of the Huskies' mindset late before a packed stadium on a balmy fall night. "I told my huddle, 'Stay calm and channel your energy.'"
Hersey did just that and overcame a magnificent night from Prospect junior running back Matthew Donnelly, who rushed 25 times for 232 yards and a pair of TDs (33, 3 yards).
Donnelly totaled 170 of those yards on 18 carries in the first half, when the visitors appeared well on their way to a comfy triumph.
Knights junior QB Jackson Cacini completed 13 of 23 passes for 118 yards and finished with 92 yards on 7 carries. He passed for a TD and rushed for 2 more.
"We executed our game plan well in the first half," said Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf. "Late in the fourth quarter, we needed either a first down or a stop to secure a win.
"Credit Hersey," he added. "Hersey found a way to win. We'll learn from this and it'll prepare us well for the postseason."
Hersey senior RB Brandon Jenkins (18-82) ran for a 6-yard TD to open the scoring in the final quarter, narrowing Prospect's lead to 34-18.
Two other Huskies joined Riggs in amassing more that 90 yards receiving and helping the hosts snap Prospect's winning streak at 5 games: senior wideout Tyler Wentink (94 yards on 8 grabs) and senior tight end Jackson Wilder (92 yards on 7 receptions).
Prospect edged Hersey 30-27 in last year's meeting.
Prospect entered Friday's game averaging 48.4 points per game to Hersey's 47.
In Week 9, Hersey visits Rolling Meadows, and Prospect hosts Elk Grove.