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Daily Journal

Sunset on a gridiron rivalry

Bishop McNamara pulls away in win over Herscher

The sun sets behind Herscher's Seebach Stadium during the annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

The sun sets behind Herscher's Seebach Stadium during the annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter. (Tiffany Blanchette/Tiffany Blanchette)

By Tiffany Blanchette

As the glow of sundown faded in the sky, attention turned to the illuminated gridiron at Herscher’s Seebach Stadium where a classic area football rivalry game was about to kick off.

The Bishop McNamara Fightin’ Irish and the Herscher Tigers took to the field as the student fan sections roared, exchanging chants throughout Friday night’s nonconference matchup.

The Bishop McNamara fan section interacts with the Herscher marching band as they pass by during the annual rivalry game on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

Football: Herscher vs. Bishop McNamara The Bishop McNamara fan section interacts with the Herscher marching band as they pass by during the annual rivalry game on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette/Tiffany Blanchette)

The Herscher fan section cheers during the Tigers' annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

Football: Herscher vs. Bishop McNamara The Herscher fan section cheers during the Tigers' annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette/Tiffany Blanchette)

The teams also exchanged the lead on five straight possessions to open the second half, but it was the Irish that emerged victorious with a 45-28 win after a productive fourth quarter from Julius May, who finished the day with 237 yards and four touchdowns.

After coming up short in the fourth quarter of last year’s 20-13 home loss to the Tigers, the Irish flipped the script to reclaim their bragging rights for 2025.

Herscher football players warm up ahead of the annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara as the sun sets on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

Football: Herscher vs. Bishop McNamara Herscher football players warm up ahead of the annual rivalry game against Bishop McNamara as the sun sets on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. The Fightin' Irish would pull ahead to 45-28 victory over the Tigers in the fourth quarter. (Tiffany Blanchette/Tiffany Blanchette)

The Irish improve to 2-0 for the first time since their 2018 trip to the IHSA Class 4A State championship game as the Tigers, now 1-1, begin their Illinois Central Eight Conference season with another rivalry against Manteno next week.

For the full game story, see Sports or visit shawlocal.com/daily-journal.

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Tiffany Blanchette

Tiffany Blanchette

Tiffany Blanchette has been a photojournalist with the Daily Journal since 2014 and Photo Editor since 2018. She has won awards for her work from the Illinois Press Association and the National Press Photographers Association. She enjoys covering everything from news to sports in the very community she grew up in.