Rockton, IL — September 5, 2025
Jefferson football showed resilience on the road Friday night, but ultimately fell to defending NIC-10 champion Hononegah, 28–12.
The Indians built a 21–0 first-quarter lead, capitalizing on short fields and a pair of rushing touchdowns from running back Banker. But the J-Hawks refused to fold. Late in the second quarter, Jefferson’s defense delivered back-to-back takeaways — Anthony Hernandez snagging a red zone interception and Alejandro Almonaci following with another pick to set up prime field position.
The biggest spark came midway through the second when quarterback Jaden Williams connected with Mike Townsend on a wide receiver screen. Townsend broke free down the sideline for a dazzling 65-yard touchdown, electrifying the Jefferson sideline.
After a scoreless third quarter, Jefferson put together a determined late drive in the fourth. Williams found Janardie Turner on a big gain to the 15, then set up De’Anglos Roby for a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Though the 2-point try came up short, Jefferson closed the gap to 28–12 in the final minute.
Despite the loss, the J-Hawks (1–1) showed progress on both sides of the ball. Townsend shined as the offensive playmaker, Roby ran hard between the tackles, and the defense forced two critical turnovers against one of the league’s top teams.
Jefferson returns home next Thursday for Senior Night vs. Boylan at Swanson Stadium . Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.
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