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McHenry hands Jacobs its 1st loss

McHenry spoiled Jacobs' Homecoming Friday night by beating the Golden Eagles 20-10 in a Fox Valley Conference clash.

Relying on the sure hands of the secondary and the toes of kicker Gracie Gasmann, the Warriors handed Jacobs its first loss of the season.

Two intercepted Cole Bhardwaj passes resulted in McHenry touchdowns while Gasmann kicked two field goals.

The Warriors were also effective in neutralizing Max Stec, Bhardwaj's usual target. The senior QB (8 of 21 for 96 yards) connected with Stec five times for 50 yards.

"We knew four (Stec) was a player coming into the game but we also have a pretty good player who's number four and that is Anthony Angeles," McHenry coach Jon Niemic said. "He shut Stec down. Stec made some really nice catches but at the same time, he didn't hurt us."

Jacobs coach Bill Mitz did not mince words in explaining for his team's loss.

"It was very disappointing, our focus wasn't on football tonight," Mitz said. "They were ready to play football and we were not."

The teams opened the game by trading field goals. McHenry got on the scoreboard first after a 37-yard Gasmann kick with 3:56 left to play in the first quarter.

Jacobs (3-1, 3-1) responded on its next possession. Preston Krahl put the ball through the uprights on 23 yarder to tie the game at the end of the frame, 3-3.

On Jacobs' second possession of the second quarter, with the Golden Eagles on their own 14-yard line, Bhardwaj threw down field. McHenry's Dominic Lorenzo caught the ball at Jacobs' 40-yard line and returned it for a touchdown.

The Golden Eagles' next drive also ended with a McHenry (3-1, 3-1) interception. Kyle Kaempf picked off the throw and returned it to Jacobs' 40-yard line. Four plays later Mason Gureczny (10 carries for 56 yards) scampered three yards for the score.

"It was just the kids doing their jobs. We talk about it all of the time," Niemic said about his secondary. "We did a good job of prep all week and they stuck to the rules and did their job."

The Golden Eagles trailed 17-3 at the half.

Jacobs made it a one-score game, 17-10 in the third quarter, also on an interception. Ryan Golnick snared a Chris Zieba toss and returned it 39 yards to McHenry's 41-yard line. Two plays later Bhardwaj connected with Nasir Canty for a 29-yard TD pass.

McHenry threatened again in the fourth quarter but Jacobs' defense stopped a third down conversion attempt at its 15-yard line. Gasmann came out and kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:07 left in the game to secure the win for the Warriors.

"She's got ice in her veins," said Niemic about Gasmann who also converted two PATs. "She had one field goal last week and counted for eight of our points tonight."

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