CAHOKIA — The Cahokia High football team capped off a week of pain and sorrow the best possible way on Saturday afternoon.
Shaking off a pair of deaths close to the program, the Comanches turned in a feel-good performance in knocking off East Peoria 30-0 in a Class 5A first-round playoff contest in Cahokia.
Third-seeded Cahokia (9-1) advances to host Joliet Catholic in second-round play Saturday.
Senior quarterback Patrick Ivy, whose stepfather passed away on Thursday night, threw for two scores and ran for another to lead the charge. Ivy and his brother, sophomore Lamontiez, missed practice Friday and coach Antwyne Golliday wasn't sure whether the pair would be ready come game time.
"They stepped up pretty good under the circumstances," said Golliday. "(Patrick) played his heart out today."
Golliday was dealing with a heavy heart as well. His uncle passed away during the week and Golliday expects to miss a few practices during the upcoming week.
"It's just part of life," Golliday said. "You take what the Good Lord gives you."
Patrick Ivy hit on 13 of 22 passes for 203 yards. His 24-yard touchdown pass to junior Brandon Gates on the first play of the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 22-0. He also connected with Missouri-bound senior wide out Jimmie Hunt on a 23-yard TD pass later in the period. Hunt caught eight passes for 126 yards and ran in a pair of two-point conversions from the holder position.
"Our quarterback was coming back off some emotional stuff," Hunt said. "We're all about heart."
Cahokia rolled out to a 14-0 halftime lead on the strength of a 1-yard run by Ivy and 10-yard gallop by senior Joe Grinston in a 6-minute, 14-second span of the second quarter.
The Comanches, making their seventh successive playoff appearance, dominated on the defensive side of the ball. East Peoria (6-4), seeded 14th, managed just four first downs through the first three quarters.
"It's pretty hard to play against and coach against that kind of speed," said East Peoria coach Doug Martin. "They're a talented ballclub."
