Face Rock Island Alleman in state semifinals Saturday
From the East Side:
By Maurice Scott Jr.
Cahokia freshman quarterback Darien Donald ran down the right sideline in front of the Triad Knights bench with five seconds remaining, not knowing he was about to put the Comanches in front and propel him and his young teammates into the semi-final round of the Illinois Class 5A State Football playoffs.
That is exactly what happened on Donald’s 34-yard touchdown run on third down and 13 which gave Cahokia a 12-7 quarterfinal victory and a date with Rock Island Alleman on Saturday at O’Brien Field in Cahokia. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
It will be the first time in Cahokia’s history that it will compete in the state semifinals, and it took a precocious freshman to help the Comanches make history with his spectacular run..
Cahokia head coach Antwyne Golliday was all smiles after receiving a cold Gatorade shower in the wind and cold after the historic victory.
“The young men really stepped up in the second half,” said Golliday. “That’s a good football team over there (Triad) and we are fortunate to get out of here with a win. But I’ll take it because these kids are tremendous.”
Traid took the lead early on a touchdown run by fullback Adam Weeks, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season. His 45-yard run put the Knights up 7-0. Cahokia’s leading rusher Martavis Hines was limited to 67 yards by a tough Triad defense.
But the balanced attack of Hines, Thomas, Donald broke through in the second quarter when Thomas rushed through the Triad line cut a crossed the grain, hit the sideline took it 45 yards to draw the Cahokia within a point. The extra point attempt was missed and Cahokia trailed 7-6 at halftime..
Both teams traded possessions in the third quarter when Comanche defensive back Myron Washington Jr. intercepted at Troy Schardan pass at the Cahokia 37-yard line appeared headed for the end zone when the officials ruled him out of bounds at the Knights’ 47-yardd line.
“I felt I definitely was in bounds,” said Washington. “Our coaches just told us to stay focused and we will be fine.”
After both teams traded punts, Cahokia got the ball back with less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter down 7-6. Not knowing what might happen and with his outstanding runner back Hines pretty much held in check, Golliday looked to his freshman quarterback to lead him to the end zone.
On third and 13 from the Triad 44-yard line, Donald attempted to roll to his right and suddenly had no place to go as the Triad defenders cut off his path.
“I didn’t see anyone open so I looked for daylight,” Donald said.
“Coach gives me the freedom to improvise if I have to. I saw Thomas and Martavis make blocks downfield for me. I just picked up my blocks and took it into the end zone. Once I turned it up, I knew they weren’t going to catch me.”
Triad gained possession, but failed to score after driving to the Cahokia 20-yard line. But a Schardan pass fell in the back of the end zone on fourth down, and Cahokia prevailed 12-7 in one of the most exciting games in recent Metro East history.
Cahokia’s defense limited Triad’s Schardan to 5 of 17 passing and shut down one of the top receivers on the Illinois side in Jeff Gustafson.
Scott’s notes
Rock Island Allmen is a storied football tradition But Cahokia again is playing with house money and riding high in to the semi-finals. Cahokia 17- Rock Island 10
Former East St. Louis standout Montez Murphy had a great game against the Missouri Tigers. Murphy originally, if you remember, throught he was going to become a Tiger.
Edwardsville (12-0) visits Gately Stadium to take on storied program Chicago Mt. Carmel in the IHSA Class 7A state semifinals. Mt. Carmel is the alma mater of current professional sports stars such as current NFL Donavan McNabb, Simeon Rice, and NBA player Antoine Walker were teammates at Mt. Carmel in both football and basketball. The Tigers will be led by the sensational running back E.J. Jones, who comes into the game with nearly 1,400 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns.
Scott’s Pick: Edwardsville in the upset, 27- 23.
Did you see all the black fans in the stands on opening night when the Billikens played? What a difference a year makes.
