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(This story was updated to add photos.)
PEKIN — A.J. Jones delivered a knockout shot with one hand tied behind his back Friday in a heavyweight battle between two Mid-Illini Conference teams trying to establish themselves as elite contenders.
Washington got off the ropes from a halftime deficit and ground out a 19-9 comeback victory over Pekin at Memorial Stadium in a game of big plays, big mistakes and big numbers of penalties.
The Panthers put it away with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Humphrey to receiver Jones with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter.
The third-and-11 pass arced down the middle of the field off play action, and Jones made a spectacular catch. His right arm pinned by a defender draped on his back, he reached up with his left arm and made-a one-handed grab just inside the goal line as he hit the turf.
Week 4 IHSA football: Peoria-area scores | Peoria highlights | Top performers
“They put all their trust in me,” Jones said of his teammates. “He said, ‘I’m going to throw it up to you and let you make a play, be the player you are. The ball came in … I went up … but the DB actually took my right arm behind my back, and I went up with one and made a helluva catch.
“I’m just so proud of us right now.”
Washington climbed out of an 0-2 start to its season and leveled off at 2-2 overall and 2-0 in Mid-Illini Conference play. Pekin, a week after a big road upset of Dunlap, is 2-2 overall and 1-1 in Mid-Illini Conference play.
Washington’s A.J. Jones (1) snags a pass over Pekin’s Alex Holmes in the second half of their Week 4 high school football game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at Memorial Stadium in Pekin. The touchdown sealed the Panthers’ 19-9 win over the Dragons.
Big plays and flag football
The game saw 18 penalties called, including 11 against Pekin, which also managed to get two sideline warnings in the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ihsa-football-scores-big-plays-052704886.html
Author : Journal Star
Publish date : 2024-09-21 05:27:04
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