When Jack McNamara heard the play call, he knew it was his time to shine.
The junior tight end shed his defender, ran his route and boom.
He was wide open up the right sideline.
Freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb hit him with a perfect pass over the top of the defense and McNamara raced into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown.
The score put the host Crusaders up 21-6 late in the second quarter on the way to a 49-6 victory over Batavia on Nov. 7 in a Class 7A second-round game.
“We had been practicing that play for two years and never ran it,” McNamara said with a laugh. “I heard it get called and thought, ‘I have to score here!’ I couldn’t let it go away. That play meant a lot to me.”
Brother Rice (9-2) will play at Normal (11-0) in the quarterfinals with the date and game time to be determined.
Senior Jameson Davis (95 rushing yards, TD) and sophomore Decatur Washington (79 rushing yards, TD) anchored the run game.
Holcomb finished 7-for-11 passing for 131 yards and two scores, also connecting with senior Anthony Cartolano for an 11-yard TD.
Junior Jack Badke had a key interception in the second to lead the defense. Senior Brayden Parks added a sack and a pass breakup.
McNamara, a 6-5, 240-pounder, is in his second year on the varsity. He was mainly utilized as a blocker as a sophomore on the 2025 Class 7A state championship squad.
This year, the blocking has been there, but he’s been featured more in the passing game as well.
“I learned a lot from last year and my blocking game has gotten so much better,” McNamara said. “It’s opened up my ability to get the ball. We’ve always been able to run the ball. There’s no reason not to. (Catches) have definitely picked up a little bit. It’s been more consistent.”
He also had a touchdown in the first-round win over St. Charles North.
McNamara currently has 31 Division I offers.
“It’s tough to juggle it all. You put the team first,” McNamara said. “All my focus is on the team for the whole year. In the offseason we’ll pick up with recruiting and I’m hoping to make a decision then. You stay consistent with what you’re doing and you can do it.”
The win had some added significance for the Crusaders, a bit of a delayed revenge.
Batavia beat Rice 46-0 in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs in 2023, Casey Quedenfeld’s second year as head coach.
“My mentor (former Rice running back) Randall Nauden was on that team. They lost, badly,” Davis said. “This year, it feels good to get it back for him. I’ll have to send him a picture of the scoreboard.”