The Prairie Central football team held off previously unbeaten Columbia Saturday 28-22 to advance in the IHSA football playoffs.
The 10th-seeded Hawks head into the quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade, hosting Effingham next Saturday.
No one scored in the first quarter but the action picked up in the second with a 64-yard pass by Columbia’s Nic Horner to Ronnie Hunasker to put the Eagles ahead 7-0. PC’s Connor Casner had a 12-yard run to put the Hawks up 8-7 before Kaden King had a 29-yard run to take a 14-7 lead at the half.
Casner put the Hawks ahead 21-7 in the third while Dailen Loveless had a 19-yard run in the fourth. Columbia then came back scoring two times in the fourth. Brandon Hoselton had an interception with under a minute left in the game to seal the deal for the Hawks.
King led passing for the Hawks while rushing leaders were King, Loveless, Casner and Corbin Moser. Clare Strong had five kickoffs while Austin Swiech, Jacob Niffen and Moser all had kickoff returns. Swiech had a punt return while Loveless and Casner both had fumbles. Fumble recoveries were made by Hoselton and Swiech.
PC had a time of possession of 33:14 to Columbia’s 14:46. For rushing, PC had 396 with Columbia at 109. PC led the total yards 396-278.
