By Tashara Parker
CSNChicago.com Contributor
It almost felt as if you were watching a chess match tonight. Benet Academy took on the Hilltoppers of Joliet Catholic in a fight-to-the-finish showdown.
At the beginning, it seemed as if JCA wasnt missing a beat without star running back Ty Isaac. The Hilltoppers started out on top in the first quarter with a 14-0 lead over the Redwings. Mike Ivlow owned both Joliet touchdowns.
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The momentum shifted back-and-forth throughout the entire game.
After twelve minutes into the first half, Benets Jack Euritt puts the Redwings on the scoreboard with a touchdown. Benet ended the first half in the hole, 21-14 behind JCA.
They needed to return during the second half with hopes of turning around a game that would prove that they deserved their first East Suburban Catholic Championship in the schools history.
After a tough first half for both teams, we could only predict that the second half would be just as interesting. Both teams needed to make adjustments, but only one would come out with the win.
The Redwings came back during the second half and dominated a tough Hilltopper defense. And although the Benet offense struggled tonight, the Redwings erased the memory of trailing the Hilltoppers for the entire game.
In the 3rd, Benet tied JCA 21-21 with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jack Euritt from Jack Beneventi.
JCA only had one good drive in the second half and allowed 17 unanswered Redwing points. Benet closed out the game over the Hilltoppers 31-21.
Benet took home their first ever East Suburban Conference Championship and both teams will advance to the IHSA playoffs next weekend.