Class 4A Football Playoffs: Evergreen Park Boots Alleman on Esparza Field Goal

Breaking It Down: In a game that matched two teams with running games able to eat up the clock and control the ball, turned to its passing attack against Alleman with Friday night’s Class 4A playoff battle on the line.

Down 18-16 with just over five minutes left to play and the ball at their own 1-yard line, the Mustangs used two big passing plays—both to sophomore Jacquet McClendon—to set up Jeremy Esparza for a 28-yard field-goal try with 12.4 seconds left in the game.

Esparza lined up and drilled home the field goal, lifting the host Mustangs to a 19-18 lead with 7.5 seconds left to play. That stood up as the final score, as 13th-seeded Evergreen beat 5th-seeded Alleman from Rock Island to advance in the playoffs.

Patch’s Co-MVPs: Evergreen Park wide receiver Jacquet McClendon and kicker Jeremy Esparza. McClendon hauled in four passes for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown, and he set up Esparza's game-deciding field goal with his last catch. Esparza hit two field goals, including the game-winner.

Evergreen Park Stat Pack: Victor Baker rushed for 56 yards and threw a 25-yard completion. Brandon White threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Kyle Venhuizen caught his fourth touchdown pass of the year. Rashad Kimble forced a fumble to set up an Evergreen Park touchdown.

Alleman Stat Pack: Max Mendoza rushed for 99 yards. John Tracey had a 1-yard touchdown run and threw for a 73-yard score. Adam Hoogerwerf hauled in a Tracey's touchdown pass.

Quotable I: Jeremy Esparza, Evergreen Park kicker, on his game-winning field goal: “I was just zoning everyone out, thinking about getting the kick down and getting it through.”

Quotable II: Jacquet McClendon, Evergreen Park wide receiver, on the win: “I'm ready to win right now. I want to go to Champaign with my family, with my team.”

Team Records: Evergreen Park improved to 8-3 overall. Alleman finished at 9-2.

What’s Next: Evergreen Park will play the winner of the Richmond-Burton vs. Mendota game in next weekend. The loss ended Alleman's season.

Other Scores of Interest: All other class 4A games, including, Richmond-Burton versus Mendota, will be played Saturday. Class 7A: St. Rita 28, Andrew 13. Class 8A: Downers Grove South 41, Brother Rice 14. For more scores of interest, check out the IHSA Score Zone.