Nawrot, Hersey take care of business in first-round blowout of Yorkville

Hersey controlled proceedings against Yorkville for all four quarters in a comfortable 49-7 home Class 7A playoff victory on Friday night.

Led by senior quarterback Jake Nawrot and junior wide receiver Dom Wentink, the Huskies (10-0) scored the game’s first 28 points to build a 35-7 halftime lead over the Foxes (5-6) that was more than enough to punch a ticket to the round of 16.

Nawrot, a Kentucky commit and 247Sports’ No. 5-ranked senior quarterback in the country, was lights out in front of a packed home crowd that included his college head coach, Will Stein. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was in attendance as well, presumably getting an early jump on scouting for Caleb Williams' successor.

The future Wildcat nearly broke the Hersey record for passing yards in the first half, completing 18-of-25 attempts for 315 yards and two touchdowns in the first two quarters. He finished with 357 passing yards and five total touchdowns.

“I’ve said it a lot this season, and I’ll just keep saying it. The way we prepare is going to show up on tape,” Nawrot said. “I’m just proud of these guys, how they worked, and there’s no surprise as to what’s been going on.”

Senior running back Jackson Travis was Hersey’s motor in the second half, racking up 91 of his 126 rushing yards in the third quarter to help the Huskies put the game on ice.

Junior Dom Wentink was Nawrot’s go-to wideout, catching nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown while adding an interception on defense. Behind Wentink, Josh Riggs, Zel Walton and Jaxon Saint Paul each caught four passes for more than 50 yards.

Saint Paul was Nawrot’s favorite target in the red zone, coming down with the other three of Nawrot’s four touchdown passes.

“What’s interesting about us and what we do really well is we use all five eligible (receiver slots),” said Hersey coach Tom Nelson. “All our wide receivers are viable at all times. It’s a problem.”

Yorkville hit Hersey in the mouth to start the game, recovering an onside kick on the game’s opening kickoff to briefly silence a raucous crowd at Roland R. Goins Stadium. Yet the upstart Foxes were unable to convert a 35-yard field-goal attempt.

“Our offense is a poised, explosive group that knows, at the end of the day, that there’s only three minutes gone in the game, and they’re going to have to defend us for the next 45,” Nelson said of Hersey’s mindset after the opening onside kick.

It was smooth sailing from then on for the Huskies.

Nawrot threw for 72 yards in his first series of the game, and Travis punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to give the favorites a 7-0 lead that it would never be in danger of relinquishing.

Hersey will play the winner of Moline at Glenbard West, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.