The Maine South Hawks held on to defeat the Evanston Wildkits 21-13 in a classic showdown the won’t soon be forgotten. The highly ranked Wildkits hadn’t beaten Central Suburban South Conference rival Hawks since 2014 and it was looking like this might be the year. It wasn’t to be.
A huge homecoming crowd greeted the Hawks and their fans. The Wildkits took the opening kick and methodically worked their way down the field to the Maine South ten-yard line on a lovely seven-minute drive behind to tough running of junior running back Quadre Nicholson. The Wildkits stalled with successive incomplete passes. Going for it on fourth down, the Kits came up empty and turned the ball over on downs.
Maine South grabbed the momentum, took the lead on their own long drive and played just well enough to hold off the no-quit Wildkits, winning the game, 21-13.
It was one of the best high school football games that I have seen in years. Good teams, good coaches, good players.
It would not surprise me if these teams meet in the 8A playoffs.
