After a win over Saint Charles East (49-7) in week one, Lemont had a highly anticipated game against former 7A state championship runner up Nazareth Academy. This will be their second straight non-conference game. The team started the game kicking off to Naz. Quickly, the game became a defensive matchup. Both teams struggled to move the chains in the first quarter.

Junior quarterback Payton Salomon threw a long pass to junior wide receiver Dylan Swanstrom where he had to heave his body out to catch the pass for a 40 yard gain. Unfortunately, the offense was unable to move the ball from there and were turnover on downs. Finishing off the first quarter, the game was still tied 0-0.

At the start of the second quarter, senior Mo Khalil blocked a Nazareth punt, giving the offense good field positioning at Naz’s 11 yard line. The blocked punt led to a three yard touchdown run from Albert Kunickis. The extra point was missed giving the team a 6-0 lead. 

Naz responded immediately with a kick return touchdown, and made the extra point giving them the lead 7-6. This remained the same score until the end of the first half. 

The third quarter was low scoring with a field goal from senior Albert Kunickis, giving Lemont the 9-7 lead. 

The fourth quarter was a roller coaster for both teams. Lemont tried to run the clock by running the ball each play, but was unable to move the ball past the first down marker, so they were forced to punt. 

After getting the punt, Naz moved the ball down the field and eventually got into the redzone. From there, Naz kicked a field goal taking the 10-9 lead with little time left.

Lemont got the ball back with only 24 seconds left on the clock at their own 41-yard line, and with a struggling offense their chances of winning seemed very slim. Salomon ran the ball 3 times plus a hitch play to get to Naz’s 39-yard line. At the opponents sideline and only 8 seconds left, coach Brett Kooi had to make the decision to take a long field goal or keep the offense on the field to take one shot at the end zone. He decided to keep his offense out there and give them the shot. 

Salomon got the snap and was immediately pressured, forcing him out of the pocket to his right. Gaining some space to throw the ball, he wound up and threw the ball 39 yards into the right side of the end zone. In a pack of mixed Lemont and Naz players, receiver Mike Jabaay was in the perfect spot to catch the ball and win the game 15-10. 

Reflecting on his throw, Salomon said, “Right before the throw I saw everyone run down the field. I saw the pocket collapsed to the left and I had to roll out to the right, set up and throw and I saw Mikey down field. I placed the ball the best I could, and then he caught it.” 

In shock, the student section went crazy, and all of the team’s players rushed the end zone congratulating Jabaay on his fantastic catch. 

This win pushed the Lemont football team’s record to 2-0. 

After the game, videos from the catch made its way around social media getting reposted by many Instagram and Twitter accounts such as @barstoolchicago on Instagram, @slocheofficial on Instagram, @FNDrive on Twitter, and @MySuburbanLife on Twitter.

Salomon’s hail mary pass will go down in Lemont football history.