Surprise pass attack, mistakes doom Nashville in 2A title loss to Newman Catholic
On the second play from scrimmage of Friday’s 2A state championship football game, Newman Central Catholic running back Kyle O’Brien’s fumble was recovered by the Nashville Hornets’s defense.
But even in those two plays prior to the turnover, Comets first-year head coach Brandon Kreczmer saw something that would be a key to the game’s outcome.
“We had seen it on film and on our first two running plays. Then when we got the ball back again, we noticed how Nashville was loading up in the box to take the run away,’’ Kreczmer said. “It was something we thought we could exploit if we got the right situation.’’
The Comets did just that — twice.
Quarterback Jacob Ackman threw touchdown passes of 60 and 39 yards to Connor McBride and the Comets defense forced five Hornets turnovers as Newman Catholic claimed its third Class 2A state title of the decade with a 35-14 win at Huskie Stadium.
Nashville, whose only previous state title appearance came in 1998 when it lost the Class 3A championship game, got a 9-yard touchdown run from Jullian Metcalf, who also collected a 13-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Cole Malawy. Nashville finishes its season at 12-2.
The Comets (13-1) cashed in on three of the Hornets turnovers. Nashville’s Malawy, a first-team Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state selection, completed 23-of-43 for 235 yards, but was intercepted three times.
The first came early in the first quarter which ended up with O’Brien putting the finishing touch on a 12-play 64 yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run.first quarter which ended up with O’Brien putting the finishing touch on a 12-play 64 yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run.
On the Comets next series, they struck through the air.
Ackman, who was 3-of-5 for 130 yards, found McBride open on the left side of the field. After breaking one tackle at the 45-yard line, McBride outran the Hornets secondary to the end zone for 60-yard scoring play and a 14-0 Comets lead.
“Jacob did a nice job of looking off and made a heck of a throw,’’ Kreczmer said. “We hadn’t used that play maybe once or twice all season. We use it twice today and score both times.
“But it comes down to execution and the kids did that. The credit goes to them.’’
Nashville then went 73 yards on 14 plays to close to within 14-7. Keyed by a brilliant one-handed catch by Gavin Baldwin, the Hornets scored with just over four minutes left when Metcalf sprinted in from 9 yards out.
The Hornets’ momentum didn’t last long.
On the first play following the Hornets kickoff, O’Brien sprinted into Nashville territory on a 36-yard run. Five plays later, Ackman hooked up with McBride on a 39-yard strike to give the Comets a two touchdown advantage once again.
“The touchdown before the end of the half was a big one. We had a little momentum following our touchdown and they took it right back, Nashville coach Stephen Kozuszek said. ‘The first touchdown pass was a defensive breakdown. The second one was just good execution by Newman.’’
Things got even worse for Nashville when McBride scored again, this time on a 24-yard run to give the Comets a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter.
“We just couldn’t sustain any momentum. We would move the football and then we would make a mistake or turn the football over,’’ Kozuszek said. “That was frustrating because we haven’t done that all year.
“Nevertheless, I’m very proud of this football team and this group of football players. What we’ve been able to accomplish is something they can take great pride and something years from now they can look back with wonderful memories.’’
Metcalf, who finished with 107 yards on the ground, scored on a 13-yard pass from Malawy to cut the Comets lead to 28-14. But Nashville could get no closer.
