No. 16-seeded host Hersey put up a good fight against No. 25 St. Rita Saturday afternoon in the IHSA Class 7A state football quarterfinals.

But in the end, the Huskies just could not contain the Mustangs’ high-powered offense as St. Rita posted a 56-42 victory in a real shootout of a game in Arlington Heights.

The Mustangs (8-4) will host No. 13 Batavia in the semifinals next Saturday while Hersey closes out its season with a 9-3 record.

Leading 35-28 after a wild first half of play, the Mustangs (8-4) got a 2-yard TD run from quarterback Steven Armbruster (8-for-9, 261 yards passing) before the extra point by Saul Ruiz boosted the lead to 42-28.

There was no more scoring until Armbruster hit Langston Smith with a 50-yard TD pass to boost the lead to 49-28 with 8:14 to play.

Herse

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