IHSA football playoff quarterfinals: University High advances to Class 4A semifinals

University High School continued its march through the Class 4A football playoffs Saturday with a 31-12 quarterfinal decision over Cahokia at Cahokia.

The seventh-ranked Pioneers improved to 10-2 and will host Mount Zion in the semifinals at Hancock Stadium next Saturday at 7 p.m.

"I knew this would be a slugfest," U High coach Brody Walworth said. "They are so explosive and talented on their defensive front. They gave us some fits offensively.

"We needed our defense to play great and get this game into the third and fourth quarter and hopefully our tempo would wear on them a little bit. That's how it turned out."

Cole Matejka had seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks for the Pioneers' defense. Max Dameron and Drew Rader also has seven tackles and Calvin Jones recovered a fumble as U High turned the Comanches away on six fourth-down plays.

"We got great play at linebacker from Drew Rader and Griffin Meyer and several other guys," said Walworth. "It was a phenomenal team win."

The Pioneers led 17-6 at the half.

"They made it hard on us to run. It was tough sledding the first half run or throw because of their pressure," Walworth said. "When it counted at the end of the game at the goal line a couple times, we were able to ice the game with some runs."

U High quarterback Alek Weiland completed 17 of 27 passes for 263 yards and tossed touchdowns to Carson Stevens and AJ Holden.

Stevens caught six passes for 88 yards and Holden three for 58.

Pioneers kicker Demir Spaulding converted field goals of 28, 30 and 31 yards.

"We turned them over early and got some short fields, but we weren't able to punch the ball in," said Walworth. "But we were able to win in the kicking game. All those points mattered."

NCHS falls to No. 1 team

Normal Community doggedly pursued Chicago Mount Carmel most of the game but came up short in a 49-42 thriller in 7A action in Chicago.

"Sad, disappointed it comes to an end, but there's an overwhelming sense of pride in our seniors, our players, our captains and coaching staff," NCHS coach Jason Drengwitz said. "We kept putting our head down and going back to work and responding. We left it all on the field and came up a possession short."

The No. 1-ranked and two-time defending 7A state champion Caravan moved to 9-3 and will play at Chicago St. Rita in the semifinals. The No. 7 Ironmen bowed out at 10-2.

NCHS quarterback Kyle Beaty tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Reed Hoover with 3:56 to play to bring the Ironmen within seven.

Beaty also threw touchdown passes of 5 and 53 yards to Calen Taylor and 35 yards to Mar'Quan Gary. Taylor ran for scores of 62 and 8 yards.

"Defensively, we were so close so many times to stopping them and getting off the field," said Drengwitz. "Jack Elliott was everything as advertised throwing the football. We couldn't get that one or two plays to get us there."