Bishop McNamara unable to get payback win over Hope Academy, falls 36-13 in first round
Kendra Brooks holds a Master’s in Environmental Science from Northern Illinois University and has dedicated her 4 years in journalism to covering environmental issues in the suburbs. She previously reported for Eco-Illini and is passionate about sustainability initiatives in the Naperville area.
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Bishop McNamara lost just one conference game on its way to back-to-back Chicagoland Conference titles in the last two seasons, going 7-0 in CCC play last season and 6-1 this year. That lone loss came at home in Week 8 to Hope Academy.Just 21 days later, the Fightin’ Irish had a chance for payback in Friday’s IHSA Class 3A first-round playoff matchup with the Eagles, but for the second time in three weeks, Hope proved once again to be the only CCC team capable of taking down the champs. The Eagles (7-4) won 36-13 Friday, ending the season for a Bishop McNamara program that has gone 17-4 over the last two seasons after missing the playoffs in the four seasons prior.“I just told the guys how proud we are of them,” coach Greg Youngblood said. “They’ve done some great things. Conference champs in back-to-back seasons, making the playoffs both years and setting the standard for the future, they’ve done a great job. I couldn’t be more proud of them. It’s always hard to lose this.”The Irish (