After beating the Huskies for the first time in three years earlier this season in week seven, the Knights will have the tall task of repeating their success in the first week of the IHSA 7A Playoffs. An iconic rivalry known all over Illinois. A battle within two towns. Will this faceoff match the drama of their week seven matchup?
When they met earlier this year, a last-second stop propelled by a Parker Ray sack halted the driving Huskies in their tracks, sealing the 30-27 victory. While Prospect took the victory, Hersey lit up the stat sheets. Junior running back Brandon Jenkins recorded 252 yards with a touchdown on the ground joined by senior quarterback Colton Gumino with 139 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground as well and he also added 144 through the air.
The Knights may be entering Friday night with a bit of a banged up offensive line. Senior J.J Tsagalis went down last friday against Buffalo Grove with an ankle injury and was seen on crutches later in the game on the sideline. Junior Joe Morales is also dealing with an ankle injury sustained against Elk Grove. From what I am hearing from the team, it seems as though he will be a go for this week. The O-line has certainly made leaps since the start of the season, and I believe that, thanks to the rotation by Offensive Line Coach Tim Beishir, junior Shea Lewis will be able to fill in for the injured Tsagalis just fine.
Prospect is going to need to figure it out on the defensive side of the ball if they want a repeat victory. Hersey’s offensive line knifed apart the first level of the PHS defense allowing playmakers like Jenkins to evade the linebackers and kick on the jets. There is no doubt Defensive Coordinator Brock Collins is watching film on the Hersey offense as I write this, and I am confident that he will be able to build a front to limit the Husky onslaught. The PHS defensive unit is going to need to be the aggressor and I believe it is going to be senior backers Declan Lawlor and JT Zei at the front of the charge.
Part of me can’t stop thinking about how hard it can be to beat a team for a second time. Hersey will be able to see exactly what they did wrong that led towards the loss and no doubt Head Coach Tom Nelson will not cut any corners there. That being said, the Knights will have the same opportunity. These two teams know each other very well from their battles throughout the years and this is going to show for week one of the playoffs. The play calling and reactions on the field are going to be what seals the victory, and I have full confidence in our Knights.
