ALGONQUIN – Jacobs kept Normal Community out of the end zone in the second half as the Golden Eagles claimed a 17-7 win on Friday night in a Class 7A second-round playoff game.
Third-seeded NCHS finished 10-1, while No.19 Jacobs improved to 8-3 and advanced to the quarter-finals next week.
“It’s hard to end like this,” said NCHS head coach Jason Drengwitz. “I’m sure we’ll be feeling better in a few weeks, but it’s going to hurt for a long time.”
Jacobs dominated the first half, running 39 games against 16 for the NCHS, taking a 14-7 lead.
Nasir Canty’s 15- and 9-yard runs put Jacobs 14-0 up early in the second quarter. The NCHS closed the lead to 14-7 as Chase Mackey connected on a 71-yard touchdown pass to Terance Washington and Ryan Millmore did the extra kick.
NCHS’s Hunter Redman blocked a Jacobs punt with 3:49 left in the third quarter. The Ironmen recovered at the Golden Eagles’ 19-yard line, but a hit penalty pushed them back to 34. Three games later, pushed back to 41, the NCHS kicked.
Javon Smith of the Ironmen recovered a fumble in Jacobs’ 37th early in the fourth quarter. The NCHS came down to 12, helped by Smith’s 7-yard run on the fourth and third, but lost the ball on a fumble two games later.
Dominik Rocha of Jacobs had a 27-yard field goal with 2:56 left to close the scoring.
This story will be updated.
Photos: Normal community advancing in first round victory over Blue Island
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Normal Community lineman Mark Horton flies off to make a tackle from a Blue Island running back during their IHSA First Round Championship game at Dick Tharp Field on Friday, October 29, 2021 .
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal Community quarterback Chase Mackey gains momentum as he is chased by a Blue Island defenseman during the second quarter of their IHSA First Round Championship game at Dick Tharp Field on Friday 29 October 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) escapes the grip of a Blue Island defender as he heads to the end zone for his second touchdown in the second quarter of their playoff game Class 7A playoffs at Dick Tharp Field, Friday.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community defensive lineman Javon Smith, left, tackles Blue Island Eisenhower running back Jaden Barnes in the Class 7A first round playoff game last Friday at Dick Tharp Field. The Ironmen will face Jacobs at 7 p.m. Friday in a second round game at Algonquin.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community linemen are covered in mud as they face Blue Island in their IHSA First Round Championship match on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Michael Coleman (21) escapes the grip of a Blue Island defender in their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community quarterback Chase Mackey is gaining ground as he is shot down by a Blue Island defenseman during their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) escapes the grip of a Blue Island defender in their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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A normal community football player was covered in mud as the Ironmen faced Blue Island in their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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A regular community fumble floats in the mud as the Ironmen take on Blue Island in their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) looks for a running room against Blue Island in a match that looked like a mud wrestling match in their IHSA First Round Championship match, the Friday 29 October 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Fans of the normal community huddle in the rain as the Ironmen played on Blue Island in the IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) receives a handshake from a teammate after running into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter of their IHSA First Round Championship game against Blue Island, Friday October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) lets a Blue Island defender grab press clippings as he runs to his first touchdown in the second quarter of their IHSA First Round Championship game, on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Normal community running back Tommy Davis (29) tries to escape the stranglehold of a Blue Island defender as he runs for a few yards in the second quarter of their Premier League first round championship game. ‘IHSA, Friday October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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A Blue Island running back tries to reclaim his fumble won as they played normal community in their IHSA First Round Championship game on Friday, October 29, 2021.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
Contact Jim Benson at (309) 820-3404. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_benson