St. Ignatius shocks Maine South as Lake County players dominate second round
Nino Capuano rushed for 271 yards in a 35-21 win over a longtime power, while other local athletes posted standout stats in the IHSA playoffs.
By Anthony Lawson ·
St. Ignatius defied expectations on Saturday, defeating longtime power Maine South 35-21 in the second round of the IHSA playoffs. The Wolfpack’s victory was driven by Nino Capuano, who rushed for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His performance anchored the team’s triple-option attack in a signature playoff win.
Other Lake County athletes delivered high-volume numbers on the same day. Jakobe Baldwin of IC Catholic Prep carried the ball 17 times for 213 yards and two scores in a 42-7 win over Johnsburg. Baldwin’s season totals now stand at 1,509 yards and 17 touchdowns. Brady Cloherty of Mount Carmel threw six touchdown passes to lead his team to a 56-0 shutout of Barrington. Cloherty completed 18 of 19 passes, extending his single-season passing touchdown record to 46.
Several teams advanced to the quarterfinals with strong offensive showings. Myles Hill of Fenwick threw four touchdown passes for 340 yards in a 38-13 road victory over Hononegah. Peter Panagiotopoulos of Niles Notre Dame caught 10 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns as the Dons beat Libertyville 48-29. This marks Notre Dame’s first quarterfinal appearance since 2022. Broden Mackert of Providence returned from a calf injury to rush for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-34 win over Morgan Park.
Defensive efforts also played a critical role in several results. Rocco Lopez of Nazareth recovered two fumbles and recorded a sack in a 49-6 win over Simeon. The Nazareth defense limited the Wolverines to 12 total rushing yards. Timmy Swanson of St. Rita had a multi-faceted game in a 17-7 loss to Downers Grove North, securing a fumble recovery, an interception, and a blocked kick.
The second round featured diverse offensive threats. Decatur Washington of Brother Rice rushed for 140 yards and two scores on 15 carries in a 49-6 win over Batavia. Tivias Caldwell Jr. of St. Francis rushed for three touchdowns in a 42-14 victory over Woodstock, bringing his season total to 11 rushing scores. Damacio Ortegon of Montini caught six passes for 116 yards in a 41-7 loss to Morris, finishing the season as the team’s leading receiver with 1,059 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The results solidify the remaining field for the next phase of the tournament. St. Ignatius, Fenwick, Niles Notre Dame, Providence, and St. Francis have all advanced. The standout performances from the second round set the stage for the upcoming quarterfinal matchups.
