Overtime Thriller: TF North Stuns Hillcrest 19-18

By David Moses II

Friday night in Country Club Hills had all the makings of a rivalry classic, with packed stands, buses of traveling TF North fans, high school cheerleaders facing off with the Little Hawks, and two teams trading big plays under the lights.

From the opening kick, the game had drama. TF North struck first when quarterback Jermaine Henley (#10) connected on a pair of deep passes, including a strike to wide receiver Eliontae Ramseur (#1) that put the Meteors ahead 6-0 late in the first quarter after a missed two-point conversion. Hillcrest answered with a tough 15-yard touchdown run by Jacob Johnson (#0), tying the game 6-6 after their own missed two-point attempt.

The second quarter was a grind. Both offenses showed flashes, but penalties and negative plays kept drives stalling. TF North threatened just before halftime, but Hillcrest’s two-way standout Andres Bowers (#22) came up with his second interception of the night, keeping the score deadlocked at 6-6 heading into the break.

Momentum swung again in the third. TF North’s gamble on a fake punt paid off, and moments later, Shawn Jones (#9) hauled in a circus catch to set up a one-yard quarterback keeper by Henley. The Meteors pulled back in front 12-6 with just under four minutes left in the third.

Hillcrest’s offense finally found a rhythm in the fourth. Quarterback Micah Robinson (#16) scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown, tying the game 12-12 as the home crowd roared back to life. Momentum continued to build for the Hawks as a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage turned into an interception by Maurice Garrett (#1), sending the crowd into a frenzy and giving Hillcrest prime field position. Still, the offense failed to capitalize keeping the score locked at 12-12 late in the game. No team was able to pull free in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. This led to extra time being put on the clock and fans on the edges of their seats anticipating a hair raising finish. 

Overtime turned into pure drama. Hillcrest struck first when Johnson powered in for his second touchdown of the game, making it 18-12. A crucial missed two point conversion would allow TF North to have a chance to go for the win. TF North immediately answered, with Henley driving the Meteors inside the 5-yard line before sneaking it in himself to tie it 18-18.

That set up the moment of the night: a walk-off field goal that split the uprights and sent TF North’s sideline charging the field. Final score: Meteors 19, Hawks 18.

After the game, TF North head coach Anthony Pignatiello praised his team’s resilience in the clutch.

“I wouldn’t really say there was a momentum shift, rather than when it was time to make a play our guys stepped up,” Pignatiello said. “Every time our defense went out there and forced a punt, it was huge for us.”

He also pointed to the performance of his quarterback, who did more than just throw the ball.

“Jermaine was tremendous for us tonight. Not only did he make plays on offense, but his punting gave us chances to flip the field and control the game.”

Henley, who faced constant pressure in the pocket for much of the night, proved he could still make big-time plays when it mattered. When asked how he kept his composure in the line of fire, he said, “I just relied on my teammates, kept trusting my offensive line and quickly scanned my reads on the field.”

He was also asked about his approach heading into such an intense rivalry matchup, and pointed to his confidence as the difference. “Confidence is everything,” Henley said. “I never doubt myself or my abilities.”