Hornets seize complete control in third quarter, knock Mustangs out of playoffs

NASHVILLE, Ill. — Riker Triplett’s 5-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the first half Saturday put the Unity-Payson football team in position to challenge sixth-seeded Nashville in the second half of Saturday’s Class 2A first-round playoff game.

The Hornets quickly pushed the challenger aside.

Leading 21-14 after Triplett’s TD, Nashville scored three touchdowns in the first 7 minutes, 14 seconds of the third quarter. It propelled the Hornets to a 48-20 victory and ended the 11th-seeded Mustangs’ season with a 6-4 record.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter with Bryan Dieker’s 1-yard scoring run for Unity-Payson tying the game at 7. Nashville got a 15-yard TD run from Isaac Turner and a 3-yard TD run from Ian Blazier to go up 21-7.

Unity’s final drive of the half made it a one-possession game.

Taking the opening kick of the second half, the Hornets needed a little more than three minutes to go up 28-14 on Blazier’s 23-yard TD run. Nashville recovered the ensuing onside kick and Blazier caught an 11-yard TD pass. Turner had a 23-yard TD reception to go up 42-14.

Ryle Duke’s 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter was the Mustangs’ final touchdown. Duke completed 16 of 32 passes for a season-high 256 yards.