Hersey Runs 310 Yards: Travis Leads Huskies to 48-35 Victory Over Prospect
Jackson Travis’ physical rushing and Jake Nawrot’s efficient passing secured Hersey’s second consecutive East division title, ending Prospect’s undefeated streak.
By Jabari Long ·
Hersey fans left the chilly Mount Prospect stadium with a new conference trophy and a 48-35 victory over Prospect. The win gives the Huskies a second straight Mid-Suburban (East) title and keeps their regular-season record at 9-0. Prospect now stands at 8-1.
Junior running back Jackson Travis dominated the stat sheet with 310 rushing yards. He turned the tide when Prospect cut the lead to 41-28 with 9:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Travis gained 19, 14, and 11 yards on consecutive carries to stall the Knights. His next run for 11 yards crossed the goal line, extending Hersey’s lead by three scores.
Senior quarterback Jake Nawrot provided the passing threat. The Kentucky recruit completed 21 of 25 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a rushing score. His play kept the defense honest and opened lanes for Travis. Wide receiver Josh Riggs contributed 107 yards on six catches, while Dom Wentink returned a pass for a 49-yard score.
Hersey established an early lead through the air. Nawrot connected with Riggs on a 54-yard pass to set the tone. The Huskies held a halftime advantage before Travis added a 59-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter. That score started a 21-point run for Hersey.
Prospect fought back with energy. Quarterback Jackson Cacini completed 25 of 39 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Matthew Donnelly rushed for a short score, and Gordon Kemo caught a 15-yard pass. These plays reduced the deficit to 13 points. However, Hersey recovered the onside kick after Prospect’s final score to secure the win.
Coach Tom Nelson described the offense as balanced. "They want to play the pass, we’re gonna run the ball. We’ll do either. We don’t care," Nelson said. Travis credited the offensive line for creating holes. "If I can get contact, I’ll take it. I like hitting," Travis said.
Nawrot emphasized maintaining pressure once the lead extended. "When you have that momentum, you have that lead, you cannot give anything back," Nawrot said. "You got to just keep your foot on the gas, all game."
The Illinois High School Association will release region and statewide pairings at 9 p.m. on Saturday. That announcement will determine the first-round matchups and travel schedules for both teams in the postseason.
