New Trier football is an IHSA semifinalist for first time in 44 years, as Nightingale Jr. runs wild

It’s time for New Trier football to party like it’s 1982.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the Trevians are headed to the final four of the IHSA postseason.

New Trier’s remarkable 2026 campaign kept clicking Friday night with another memorable victory, a 42-28 win against previously unbeaten Huntley, the Class 8A bracket’s No. 2 seed, It was No. 7 New Trier’s third playoff win to push the group to 11-1.

The Trevs were led by their superb rushing attack and their standout senior running back Throy Nightingale Jr., who for the second time this season scored five touchdowns in a game and totaled nearly 300 yards on the ground.

“It’s surreal,” New Trier head coach Brian Doll said. “Being able to go to the semifinals for the first time since 1982 is unreal. Credit to these guys, they’ve had an amazing season.”

New Trier jumped all over the Red Raiders Friday night, opening the game with a dominant drive of 81 yards in six plays.

The opening scoring series was capped with a 43-yard touchdown pass from New Trier’s stalwart quarterback Jackie Ryder to junior wide receiver Ben Sullivan.

“I knew it was coming my way,” Sullivan said of the touchdown. “All week during practice our coaches were preaching to beat your man downfield and get open. … I just needed to focus on catching that ball and Jackie put it in a great spot in between two defenders.”

New Trier hit the Red Raiders with a quick second punch when Huntley muffed a punt that the Trevians recovered before Nightingale Jr. found the end zone a couple of plays later. New Trier was up 14-0 in the first quarter.

New Trier extended its lead to 21-0 in the second quarter when Nightingale Jr. rushed in a 7-yard touchdown. Huntley, though, scored the next two touchdowns, trimming its deficit to seven after a touchdown on its first drive of the second half.

But it was all New Trier from there.

Nightingale Jr.’s three additional scores in the third and fourth quarters pushed the Trevs to victory.

“It means everything to win this game.” Nightingale Jr. said. “I’ve never been to the semifinals before. I could not have done it without my coaches, my line and all my teammates. I have a great support system from our supporters, our school and especially my family”

The Trevians advance to the 8A semifinals and a date with either No. 3 Loyola Academy or No. 11 St. Ignatius next Saturday.

The 1982 season, under coach Eugene “Chick” Cichowski, was the only time New Trier football has advanced to an IHSA postseason semifinal; however, Chick also led New Trier East (when the district was split) to a semifinal appearance in 1976, and before the state playoffs, NT East finished 8-0 in 1973 and atop state rankings.

Stay tuned to TheRecordNorthShore.org as more quotes, stats and details are added to this story.

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