Every football player dreams of making a big play in the biggest game of their life, and Batavia’s Henry Hahn is no different. His reaction in the second quarter Saturday was priceless.
After reaching the end zone on a 9-yard run, all of those emotions came flooding out for him.
“That was maybe the most amped up I’ve ever been in my life,” Hahn said. “I was extremely fired up. I had as much confidence as I’ll ever have in my life after that touchdown.
“I was ready to win the game after that.”
That pulled the Bulldogs within four points, but a crucial stop on fourth down late in the first half sparked host St. Rita to a 54-34 victory in a Class 7A state semifinal game in Chicago.
Hahn was turned away at the goal line on a fourth down with 1:14 left in the second quarter. It gave the momentum to the Mustangs (9-4), who led by as many as 37 points in the second half.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Hahn finished with 78 yards on nine carries for Batavia (10-3), which was looking to return to Hancock Stadium in Normal for a second straight season.
Michael Vander Luitgaren completed 25 of 42 passes for 308 yards and three TDs. Brett Berggren tallied nine catches for 156 yards and a TD. Darin Ashiru and Brennon Zeng also had TD catches.
Steven Armbruster led the way for St. Rita (9-4), completing 12 of 18 passes for 229 yards and four TDs and also adding a rushing TD. Walter Jones caught two of those TD passes.
Hahn formed a potent one-two punch with senior fullback Preston Brummel this fall. They had nearly an identical amount of carries, getting help from Charlie Rosengren and Vander Luitgaren.
Afterward, Hahn reflected on how special that dynamic was.
“This season was amazing,” Hahn said. “I’ve never felt so close with a group of guys. The running back group specifically, I love that we were all able to run and block for each other.
“No one was ahead. I love that. This is the most special couple months of my life.”
Batavia coach Dennis Piron believes both Brummel and Hahn stepped up after barely carrying the ball last year. He pointed out they combined for almost 2,000 yards and 20 TDs this season.
“Henry was very unheralded,” Piron said. “Those guys between them had like 100 yards last season. Just great football players for us. It was phenomenal what they did.”
The Bulldogs relied on the ground game to get them back in the mix right before halftime.
Down 21-10, Batavia marched nine plays and 88 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 2. Hahn was stopped for no gain on the first carry, then picked up a yard. Vander Luitgaren tried to sneak it in.
After Vander Luitgaren was stacked up inside the one, Hahn got the call again. He took it outside, but sophomore linebacker Jack Schapendonk wrapped up Hahn for a 1-yard loss.
Instead of cutting the lead to four, St. Rita still held a 21-10 lead before going on a scoring spree.
“We thought we could beat them outside,” Hahn said. “They were tough up front in the middle. It really hurt. I really thought we had it.”
St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins praised Schapendonk for the stop.
“That was huge,” Hopkins said. “We bend, don’t break. If they get down to the end zone, they don’t have to get in. Our guys didn’t give up.”
Batavia scored three late TDs, but the damage was already done.
“I really liked that we kept fighting,” Piron said. “I want to go down swinging.”
Disappointed by the final score, Hahn walked off the field with emotions on his sleeve.
“It’s sad that it ended,” he said. “But I’m glad I got to do it with this group of guys.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.