JACKSONVILLE, Illinois - The Knox Prairie Fire football team lost a heartbreaker to the Illinois College Blueboys this Saturday in Jacksonville, with a fourth quarter near-comeback pushing the final score to 27-20. The loss is Knox's 4th of the season, and it also snaps their two game winning streak.
Knox got off to a disastrous start, fumbling on the first play of their first possession. Illinois College took advantage, marching down the field and punching the ball into the endzone to put the score at 7-0. After punting the ball away, the Prairie Fire forced a fumble of their own, giving the team some momentum until another Blueboy touchdown put Knox in a 14-0 hole. Not ready to give up, the Prairie Fire intercepted the ball, showing that their defense was willing to tough it out all four quarters. Knox's offense, on the other hand, struggled to rush the ball as effectively as they normally would, and another Illinois College touchdown threatened to put them out of the game entirely. Needing an answer, they found one when Hunter Anderson scored on a 1-yard run towards the end of the second quarter. As a result, Knox entered the half only down by two possessions.
The third quarter saw very little action for either side. Multiple 4th down stops, punts, and another fumble forced by Knox were the main action. Just as time for any potential comeback was running out, another 4th down stop by the Prairie Fire defense put Knox in excellent field position to score, and another Hunter Anderson touchdown put the Prairie Fire within striking distance. Unfortunately, a brutal 59 yard pass by Illinois College gave an immediate answer back, and despite a late Kaile Williams touchdown pass to Trevor Geggie, Knox didn't have enough time, and fell to the Blueboys.
"I am proud of the way our team played for 60 minutes," said head coach Aaron Willits. "Our defense was fast and physical today. Offensively we battled, scored in the two minute drill, and had a chance to recover the onside at the end. No different than any other week, we have to learn from today and go back to work."
Knox looks to take lessons from this game into their next match against Lawrence University next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
