Each soccer participant desires of constructing a giant play within the greatest recreation of their life, and Batavia’s Henry Hahn isn’t any completely different. His response within the second quarter Saturday was priceless.
After reaching the tip zone on a 9-yard run, all of these feelings got here flooding out for him.
“That was possibly probably the most amped up I’ve ever been in my life,” Hahn stated. “I used to be extraordinarily fired up. I had as a lot confidence as I’ll ever have in my life after that landing.
“I used to be able to win the sport after that.”
That pulled the Bulldogs inside 4 factors, however an important cease on fourth down late within the first half sparked host St. Rita to a 54-34 victory in a Class 7A state semifinal recreation in Chicago.
Hahn was turned away on the purpose line on a fourth down with 1:14 left within the second quarter. It gave the momentum to the Mustangs (9-4), who led by as many as 37 factors within the second half.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Hahn completed with 78 yards on 9 carries for Batavia (10-3), which was trying to return to Hancock Stadium in Regular for a second straight season.
Michael Vander Luitgaren accomplished 25 of 42 passes for 308 yards and three TDs. Brett Berggren tallied 9 catches for 156 yards and a TD. Darin Ashiru and Brennon Zeng additionally had TD catches.
Steven Armbruster led the way in which for St. Rita (9-4), finishing 12 of 18 passes for 229 yards and 4 TDs and in addition including a speeding TD. Walter Jones caught two of these TD passes.
Hahn fashioned a potent one-two punch with senior fullback Preston Brummel this fall. They’d almost an an identical quantity of carries, getting assist from Charlie Rosengren and Vander Luitgaren.
Afterward, Hahn mirrored on how particular that dynamic was.
“This season was superb,” Hahn stated. “I’ve by no means felt so shut with a bunch of men. The working again group particularly, I like that we have been all in a position to run and block for one another.
“Nobody was forward. I like that. That is probably the most particular couple months of my life.”
Batavia coach Dennis Piron believes each Brummel and Hahn stepped up after barely carrying the ball final 12 months. He identified they mixed for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 TDs this season.
“Henry was very unheralded,” Piron stated. “These guys between them had like 100 yards final season. Simply nice soccer gamers for us. It was phenomenal what they did.”
The Bulldogs relied on the bottom recreation to get them again within the combine proper earlier than halftime.
Down 21-10, Batavia marched 9 performs and 88 yards to arrange first-and-goal on the 2. Hahn was stopped for no achieve on the primary carry, then picked up a yard. Vander Luitgaren tried to sneak it in.
After Vander Luitgaren was stacked up contained in the one, Hahn acquired the decision once more. He took it exterior, however sophomore linebacker Jack Schapendonk wrapped up Hahn for a 1-yard loss.
As a substitute of slicing the result in 4, St. Rita nonetheless held a 21-10 lead earlier than occurring a scoring spree.
“We thought we may beat them exterior,” Hahn stated. “They have been powerful up entrance within the center. It actually harm. I actually thought we had it.”
St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins praised Schapendonk for the cease.
“That was large,” Hopkins stated. “We bend, don’t break. In the event that they get all the way down to the tip zone, they don’t should get in. Our guys didn’t hand over.”
Batavia scored three late TDs, however the injury was already accomplished.
“I actually appreciated that we stored preventing,” Piron stated. “I need to go down swinging.”
Upset by the ultimate rating, Hahn walked off the sector with feelings on his sleeve.
“It’s unhappy that it ended,” he stated. “However I’m glad I acquired to do it with this group of men.”
Paul Johnson is a contract reporter for The Beacon-Information.
