Rockford, IL — August 28, 2025
The Jefferson J-Hawks opened their 2025 football season in dramatic fashion Thursday night, earning a hard-fought 3–0 overtime victory over the East E-Rabs at Swanson Stadium.
It was a night dominated by defense and field position. Both teams traded stops and turnovers throughout regulation, with Jefferson’s defense forcing a pair of key penalties and recovering a fumble to keep the game deadlocked. Senior kicker Anthony Marquez (#24) helped swing momentum with a perfect punt inside the 10-yard line in the first quarter and later delivered the game’s only points in overtime.
After a scoreless four quarters, Jefferson got the ball first in the extra period. The J-Hawks’ drive stalled inside the 10, but Marquez calmly split the uprights with a clutch 24-yard field goal to put Jefferson on top, 3–0.
East’s chance to answer ended in heartbreak for the E-Rabs. Pushed back by penalties to 2nd-and-24, their final attempt was cut short when senior quarterback/defensive back Jaden Williams (#12) came down with a game-clinching interception in the end zone, sealing the win for the J-Hawks.
The victory gives Jefferson a 1–0 start to the season and marks a statement win in what promises to be a competitive NIC-10 campaign.
The J-Hawks return to action Friday, September 5, when they travel to face Hononegah at 7:00 PM .
Final Score: Jefferson 3, East 0 (OT)