SOBOs Roll Past Polo, Advance to Second Round of I8FA Playoffs

The South Beloit SOBOs left little doubt Saturday afternoon, dominating in all three phases of the game and rolling to a convincing 44-18 victory over the Polo Marcos in the opening round of the IHSA Class 1A Eight-Man Football Playoffs.

With the win, South Beloit improves to 7-3 and advances to the second round, where the SOBOs will host the West Central Cougars on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Polo's season comes to an end with a 7-3 record.

South Beloit's offense produced points in bunches, but the final score only tells part of the story. The SOBOs consistently benefited from outstanding field position thanks to a relentless defense and a dominant special teams unit that repeatedly forced Polo to navigate long fields while giving South Beloit's offense short ones.

The SOBO defense made life difficult for the Marcos from the opening kick, routinely stuffing first-down plays and putting Polo behind the chains. Time and again, the Marcos found themselves facing third-and-long situations, preventing them from establishing the ground attack that had fueled much of their success throughout the season.

Adding to Polo's challenge was a growing injury situation at quarterback. The Marcos were forced to rely on multiple signal callers throughout the contest, a difficult obstacle in eight-man football where limited roster sizes can quickly create a ripple effect across multiple positions.

Meanwhile, the SOBO offense capitalized on nearly every opportunity.

Leading the charge was senior running back Chase Harrington, who delivered one of the best performances of his season. Harrington pounded out 199 rushing yards on 27 carries and scored four touchdowns, consistently breaking tackles and wearing down the Polo defense.

South Beloit rushed for 218 yards on 37 attempts, controlling the clock and dictating the pace of the game from start to finish.

When the SOBOs went to the air, they struck quickly. Quarterback James Carrington connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Zane Hagstrom, providing another explosive play in an already impressive offensive showing. South Beloit finished the afternoon with 266 total yards of offense.

Hagstrom's impact wasn't limited to offense. The standout playmaker also contributed defensively, recording a key interception that he returned for a touchdown, helping the SOBOs build separation on the scoreboard.

While South Beloit's offensive numbers were impressive, the defense deserves equal credit. Polo actually amassed 369 total yards, including 202 rushing yards and 177 passing yards, but the Marcos struggled to overcome poor field position and costly mistakes. South Beloit's ability to force difficult downs and capitalize on turnovers proved to be the difference.

For Polo, senior standout Jordan Reed closed out his high school career with an impressive effort, rushing for 143 yards on 23 carries while adding 32 receiving yards on three catches. Sophomore quarterback Landry Mumford provided a spark through the air, completing 8 of 16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in extended action.

Defensively, South Beloit's physical play and pursuit stood out throughout the afternoon. Players such as Gabriel Najera and Valom Munoz were repeatedly around the football, helping limit Polo's ability to sustain drives and create momentum.

Following the game, South Beloit head coach Josh Redieske summed up the team's mood in three simple words.

"We are pumped."

The SOBOs have every reason to be.

After one of their most complete performances of the season, South Beloit now turns its attention to a second-round showdown against West Central, with a trip deeper into the I8FA playoffs on the line. The way the SOBOs controlled every phase of Saturday's game suggests they will be a difficult team to stop as their postseason journey continues.