Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez.

Richton Park – The Richton Park Sectional finals were held on October 14, where the #3 Hillcrest Hawks were ready to battle the #1 Perspectives Warriors.

Roughly an hour and a half before kickoff, the Warriors’ bus was involved in a car accident.

According to Perspectives head coach Casey Connelly, the steering wheel gave out, causing the bus to crash into a fence and nearly fall onto a Chicago expressway. No one was injured in the incident, though a few players chose not to participate in the game.

They switched buses and headed to Rich Township High School to fight in the sectional final.

Once the game began, both teams kept each other out of the end zone until the second quarter, when Rayne Lumpkin opened the scoring by hitting Jasmine Turner for a 44-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, Hillcrest answered.

Dajha Johnson connected with Angel Taylor, who caught a short pass, found her bearings, and sprinted 82 yards untouched into the end zone.

Lumpkin responded, leading the Warriors into the red zone. She kept the ball herself and ran it in from 16 yards out, reclaiming the lead at 13-6.

In the fourth quarter, Lumpkin had the ball again.

She ran to get the first down, then broke loose for a total 39-yard run down the left side of the field, extending the lead to 19-6.

Hillcrest came back with a 6-play drive that ended with Johnson finding Mia Rodriguez on a 5-yard pass, cutting the lead to 19-12.

With time winding down, Perspectives looked to run out the clock. Instead, Lumpkin threw a screen pass to Pierrah Lee, who juked a defender and took it to the house; for 85-yards.

FINAL: Perspectives 25, Hillcrest 12.

This victory marked Perspectives’ second consecutive sectional championship.

This marks the first season under new head coach Casey Connelly, who served as an assistant coach for the past two years

Lumpkin, named WCCN Player of the Game, had four touchdowns, bringing her season total to 54. She reflected on her scoring plays and what drove her during the game.

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The Warriors now head to the state quarterfinals and will face Edwardsville on Friday, October 17.

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