The Taylorville Tornadoes football team's playoff hopes took many Tornado faithful on a rollercoaster last night but the Tornadoes will indeed go to the playoffs after holding off Civic Memorial 24-17 in Bethalto.  The penalty-laden game came down to the last play as the home side looked to snatch a late win.

The Tornadoes struck first on a methodical, run-heavy drive capped off by a touchdown run from Spencer Brown.  The Eagles answered with a pair of touchdowns of their own on either side of quarter-time.  Kevahn Flanagan capped off both drives on the ground for two and 29 yards respectively.

Civic Memorial looked to increase their lead before the break but a fake goal attempt failed. Taylorville, looking to produce something themselves, turned the ball over when Cameron Smith's pass was tipped by Malique Pearse and intercepted.  That gave the Eagles time to score from a genuine field goal attempt and go into the intermission up by ten points.

Down ten points and having incurred numerous penalties in the first half, Taylorville needed a response to save their season.  Jeb Odam's side stayed on the ground for much of the second half. They brought the game back to within a score with a field goal on the second half's opening drive.

Civic Memorial appeared to have returned the subsequent kick-off for a touchdown, but a holding penalty disallowed the score.  Further penalties plagued the Eagles in a drive which ended with a turnover on downs.  Taylorville took advantage with another long touchdown drive which Owen Mateer finished with a two-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Shortly thereafter, a three-play sequence saw the game tilt firmly in the Tornadoes' favor.  A tipped pass from Civic quarterback Luke Clouser could well have been intercepted.  When his pass on the next play was also tipped, Maddex Havera came down with the ball this time.  Spencer Brown started and ended the ensuing drive, with a 59-yard touchdown run on its only play.

Civic Memorial's next drive also ended on a turnover, as a screen pass was ruled to have flown backwards and been recovered by the Tornadoes.  They were forced to punt, setting Civic Memorial up for one final chance to level the scores or even win it in regulation.

The Eagles methodically drove the ball upfield, running much of the clock out.  On fourth-and-goal from the six, Clouser scrambled to his right and fired towards the end zone but could not find a receiver as timed expired giving the Tornadoes the victory.

Ben Peabody and Maddex Havera were named the Co-players of the game brought to you by Nicole Patrick, Your Country Financial Agent.  

The Tornadoes are now 5-4 and will await their playoff opponent.  We will have the bracket reveal and more discussion on their season on the Prairie Farms Playoff Pigskin Preview Show live at 7 p.m. on WTIM, Your Information Station.   You can listen on air or on the audio stream, or watch on our Facebook or YouTube livestream.