ROCKFORD - The Jefferson J-Hawks exploded for 22 third-quarter points to beat Rockford East and improve to 2-0.
East used its powerful running game to build a 16-0 halftime lead behind a 58-yard touchdown run from quarter Mason Burgan and a one-yard run from Jarrid Quist.
The third quarter, though, was all J-Hawks. Running back Leslie Thomas started things off with a 38-yard run. About four minutes later, wide receiver turned a short pass from Alejandro Almonaci into an 85-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 16-14.
The J-Hawks then executed a pooch kick to perfection with Shawn Foltz recovering the short kick off. Almonaci hit Turner again with a 33-yard pass to put the J-Hawks deep into East territory and Almonaci put Jefferson in front with a three-yard TD run on fourth down.
Almonaci was a perfect 7-for-7 in the second half for 146 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with 10 completions on 15 passes with one interception for 180 yards.
East used its powerful running game to build a 16-0 halftime lead behind a 58-yard touchdown run from quarter Mason Burgan and a one-yard run from Jarrid Quist.
The third quarter, though, was all J-Hawks. Running back Leslie Thomas started things off with a 38-yard run. About four minutes later, wide receiver turned a short pass from Alejandro Almonaci into an 85-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 16-14.
The J-Hawks then executed a pooch kick to perfection with Shawn Foltz recovering the short kick off. Almonaci hit Turner again with a 33-yard pass to put the J-Hawks deep into East territory and Almonaci put Jefferson in front with a three-yard TD run on fourth down.
Almonaci was a perfect 7-for-7 in the second half for 146 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with 10 completions on 15 passes with one interception for 180 yards.
Nine of the passes were caught by Turner for 177 yards. The J-Hawks have now won five straight NIC-10 games after coming out on top of their final three last season to clinch the school's first trip to the IHSA playoffs since 1993.
Quist led East with 106 yards rushing on 18 carries and Delanio Dickens-Benford added 83 yards on nine carries.
The Jefferson rally helped the J-Hawks split a football-flag football doubleheader. East topped Jefferson, 12-6, in overtime on senior night for all of the fall sports programs.
Marlasia Harris was the star for the E-Rabs in the flag contest. She turned a short pass from Kiara Bryant in the first half into a 39-yard touchdown and then scored the winning touchdown on an 11-yard run on the first possession of overtime.
Jefferson's touchdown came from Saraya Foreman on a 56-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Quist led East with 106 yards rushing on 18 carries and Delanio Dickens-Benford added 83 yards on nine carries.
The Jefferson rally helped the J-Hawks split a football-flag football doubleheader. East topped Jefferson, 12-6, in overtime on senior night for all of the fall sports programs.
Marlasia Harris was the star for the E-Rabs in the flag contest. She turned a short pass from Kiara Bryant in the first half into a 39-yard touchdown and then scored the winning touchdown on an 11-yard run on the first possession of overtime.
Jefferson's touchdown came from Saraya Foreman on a 56-yard run in the fourth quarter.