Plainfield North Fails to Overtake East St. Louis in State Championship

The Plainfield North Tigers fought hard against the East St. Louis Flyers in the Illinois High School Association 7A state championship game, but it wasn't enough to take home the win.

East St. Louis scored two touchdowns late in the first quarter and maintained a lead throughout the game.

At one point it looked like Plainfield North but might make their first touchdown of the night in the first half after intercepting a pass, but they weren't able to see it through to the end zone.

In the third quarter, East St. Louis once again scored a touchdown and then completed a two-point conversion. They scored yet another touchdown after intercepting a pass and running the ball in 85 yards.

Plainfield North made a valiant effort for a comeback in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns and a field goal, but it was too little, too late for the Tigers.

The final score was 26-13.

Plainfield North’s participation in Saturday's game was a point of some controversy after the IHSA said an official had made an error in the Nov. 19 game against Fenwick High School. An official mistakenly gave an untimed down to the team, allowing North to beat Fenwick and play in the championship.

On the untimed down, Plainfield North tied the game with a field goal and then went on to win the game in overtime. Per Rule 3-3-4 in the 2016 NFHS Football Rules Book, the game should have concluded on the final play of regulation and the untimed down should not have been awarded.

A Cook County judge denied Fenwick’s bid to overturn Plainfield North's win.