Roadrunners rally from two TDs down, hold on 34-27 to advance to Class 7A semifinal
CHICAGO – Nazareth found itself in a fairly unfamiliar situation Saturday.
Trailing Simeon by two touchdowns early in a Class 7A quarterfinal, the Roadrunners had to find a spark. Often this season, they have turned to Michael Love.
This was no different.
Love’s three touchdowns ignited Nazareth and it stormed back and held off Simeon 34-27 at Gately Stadium to advance to the 7A semifinals.
After Diamond Evans’ interception set up a Derrick Strongs, Jr. touchdown for Nazareth (11-1), Love once again made a big play in the special teams game. He fielded a punt at his own 25-yard line, and broke a few tackles before finding his way into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown.
It was the second straight week in which Love found the end zone via punt return.
“When you have [a lot] of playmakers like we do that can create a spark at any moment, you need someone to step up,” Nazareth coach Tim Racki said. “It’s been Michael Love, a lot, and it was Michael Love again today…He just knows how to ball. The thing that a lot of people don’t know is that he has such a high football IQ. He’s a very smart player and really a coach out there on the field.”
After colliding with Simeon’s Rashaan Palmer in the end zone on a Wolverines touchdown, Love left the game, dealing with cramps in both of his calves. He missed some time in the second half, on both sides of the football, including the game’s most crucial drive.
Nazareth quarterback J.J. McCarthy found Love in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:45 left to give the Roadrunners a 34-27 lead over Simeon (11-1). After the extra point was missed by Nazareth, Simeon and play-making quarterback Alante Brown, a Michigan State recruit, were given a chance to tie the game.
After driving all the way down to the Nazareth 2-yard line, running back Deangelo Hudson was stuffed for a two-yard loss with 20.5 seconds to go. The Wolverines were out of timeouts and unable to get back to the line of scrimmage before the clock ran out, allowing Nazareth a date with Batavia next weekend in La Grange Park.
“I was a little nervous, but I always have confidence in my team,” Love said. “I wasn’t able to be in there because I was hurting, but I knew my team could pull in out for sure.”
“We knew it was going to come down to that when they got the ball back,” said Evans, who was in a game-long battle with the 6-foot-4 Palmer.“We had to come together as a family and get it done. That’s what we did.”
Evans scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:20 to go on a 31-yard pass from McCarthy, who threw only four incompletions Saturday (20-for-24, 224 yards, 3 touchdowns) and has just five over the last two games. McCarthy also found Love on a 25-yard strike with 3:54 left in the first half.
Love finished with five catches for 65 yards and those two receiving touchdowns. He also added a 61-yard punt return right before halftime to set up Nazareth with strong starting field position. “He’s a special player for us,” Evans said of Love. “He’s so athletic and we know that any time he gets the ball in his hands, it’s got a chance to be a big play.”
Evans also added five catches for 68 yards, while freshman Tyler Morris had a team-high six receptions for 61 yards in the win. Palmer finished with a game-high 155 yards and two touchdowns on four catches for Simeon.
Nazareth will host Batavia (12-0), a 34-27 overtime winner over Willowbrook, in the 7A semifinals with the date and time to be determined. St. Charles North and Mount Carmel will meet in the other 7A semifinal.
Nazareth Academy's Louis Stec (51) and Jermaine Baker (7) hit Simeon's Alante Brown (3) in the backfield for a loss in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Marcus Griffin (45) applies pressure on Simeon quarterback Alante Brown (3) in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's J.J. McCarthy (2) throws a pass against Simeon in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Michael Love (20) returns a punt for a touchdown against Simeon in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Michael Love (20) returns a punt for a touchdown against Simeon in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Breven Reifsteck (9) intercepts a pass intended for Simeon's Dakari Waight (6) in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Breven Reifsteck (9) intercepts a pass intended for Simeon's Dakari Waight (6) in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's J.J. McCarthy (2) throws a pass against Simeon in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy fans cheer on their team against Simeon in a 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.
Nazareth Academy's Tyler Morris (8), Riley Theobald (28) and Jermaine Baker (7) hit Simeon's DeAngelo Hudson (22) in backfield for a loss to secure the win in their 7A quarterfinal state playoff game in Chicago Nov. 10.