Jackson Cacini Shines with Five TDs to Propel Prospect Past Maine West

Prospect High School celebrated its homecoming with a commanding victory over Maine West, winning 56-8. The standout performance of the evening came from junior quarterback Jackson Cacini, who showcased his skill by throwing for five touchdowns in the first half. Cacini completed 13 of 15 passes for a total of 213 yards during the game held at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.

The event also honored former Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade, a member of the school’s Class of 1975, as one of its Distinguished Alumni. Cacini, despite his impressive display, humbly admitted, “I don’t follow baseball, sorry,” in a post-game interview.

Contributing to the Knights’ offensive success was senior wide receiver Nathan Cichy, who caught six passes for 106 yards. Cichy scored three touchdowns, including receptions of 18, 30, and 23 yards, demonstrating a strong connection with Cacini. After the game, he praised his quarterback, stating, “He’s great, and he does things like he did tonight every game.”

Cacini’s flawless execution was evident as he completed his first nine passes against the Warriors (1-3), accumulating 148 yards before his first incompletion. His fourth touchdown pass, a 9-yard swing to Cichy, extended the lead to 34-0 early in the second quarter. Knights head coach Dan DeBoeuf highlighted Cacini’s talent, noting that he has not received the recognition he deserves but will soon attract attention for his abilities.

Junior running back Matthew Donnelly also made significant contributions, rushing 11 times for 127 yards and scoring twice. His impressive 52-yard touchdown run briefly overshadowed Cacini’s passing display during the first quarter.

The Knights continued to dominate, leading 49-0 at halftime. Senior Jacob Sutton caught the first touchdown pass of the night, a 9-yarder, setting the tone for the overwhelming performance.

In a remarkable defensive play, senior defensive back Maxwell Hargadon intercepted a pass early in the second half and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown, further widening the score to 55-0. Other notable defensive performances included a sack by Quintin Lokun, an interception by Caden Moran, and tackles for loss by Jacob Pepsnick and Ryland Contreras.

Maine West finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when senior running back Louis Avalos rushed for a 4-yard touchdown. Junior wide receiver Davion Tate added a two-point conversion to finish the scoring.

Maine West coach George Klupchak acknowledged the challenges his team faced, stating, “This was a tough one; we hadn’t lost three games in a row for a while.” He commended Prospect’s speed and execution, expressing confidence in his team’s resilience. “It’s going to learn about bouncing back, about looking at this as a life lesson,” he said, emphasizing the importance of unity moving forward.

With this victory, Prospect improves to a record of 3-1, showcasing their potential as they aim for greater goals this season.