The Nashville Hornets will play for the 2a state championship for the 2nd straight playoff season after knocking off previously unbeaten Decatur St Teresa 37-35.
The Hornets got a 22-yard field goal from their sophomore exchange kicker with 3.6 seconds left capping off a comeback that saw Nashville overcome a 35-21 with 8:36 to play.
Nashville senior tailback Connor Gladson had a phenomenal day rushing 34 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns and also caught 3 balls for over 30 yards and scored another. Gladson also recovered one of the two late onside kicks recovered by the Hornets.
Gladson scored on a 29 yard touchdown run with 6:34 left in the game to cut the deficit to 35-28. Gladson then recovered Edwardo Garibay’s onside kick that led to QB Kolten Gajewski hooking up with all-state receiver Isaac Turner for a 52-yard touchdown, but St Teresa blocked the potential tying extra point keeping the game 35-34 Bulldogs.
Photo by Toby Gullion-Wilkins Studios
Nashville then recovered a 2nd onside kick but they would turn the ball over on downs. St Teresa, had a chance to ice the game, but the Hornets defense came up big on a fourth down and short to stop all-state running back Denim Cook who rushed for 220 yards and a score. Nashville would drive the ball down to the 6-yard line setting up the dramatic 22 yard FG for the win.
Nashville is 12-1 and have won 11 straight games. The will get undefeated Wilmington in the state title game at NIU in DeKalb Friday afternoon at 1pm.
