EDWARDSVILLE — Ella Wallace threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Stella Worman, then connected with Kennedy Gieseking for the winning conversion with 1:55 remaining Thursday evening, Sept. 24, 2026, as Edwardsville beat Belleville East 13-12 at Tiger Stadium to remain undefeated.
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The Tigers improved to 10-0 and clinched their second consecutive Southwestern Conference championship with three regular-season games remaining. Belleville East fell to 6-6.
“We've had some nail-biters this year,” Edwardsville coach Taylor Hay said. “So, we're actually playing good football, but we have a lot to work on. But, yes, it feels really good. That was one of our goals, to win out at home, and it was one of our goals to be undefeated.”
Edwardsville took an early 6-0 lead on Serena Shapiro’s 4-yard touchdown catch but missed the conversion. Belleville East moved ahead in the second quarter with touchdown passes to Milan Randall and Izzy Brunaugh, taking a 12-6 lead.
That score held until Edwardsville’s final scoring possession. After a Belleville East punt, the Tigers took over on the Lancers’ side of the field and benefited from a roughing-the-passer penalty.
Wallace, a senior, found Worman over the middle for the tying touchdown in the final two minutes. After a timeout, Wallace connected with Gieseking, who made an off-balance catch in the end zone for the conversion and a 13-12 lead.
“Ella and Stella have connected several times this season,” Hay said, “and I think Stella has made a lot of big plays that are super important. First downs, catching the ball and getting 10, 15 yards after the catch.”
Belleville East had one more opportunity. A defensive holding penalty gave the Lancers a first down near midfield, but Edwardsville forced an incomplete pass on fourth down in the final seconds. The Tigers then ran out the clock.
The victory came as Edwardsville prepared for a busy finish to the regular season and an IHSA regional it will host next week.
“I know as a coach, sometimes, I forget to celebrate,” Hay said, “and I think about all the stuff we could do better, and think about what we're going to do for practice tomorrow, because next week, we move into regionals. My coach brain starts moving into that, so I will take a little moment to reflect, but yeah, really, really happy that we won.”
Edwardsville will play Normal University at noon Saturday in a tournament at Danville, followed by Kankakee later in the day. The Tigers close the regular season at home against Mascoutah at 5 p.m. Monday before facing Alton on Tuesday in their postseason opener.
Edwardsville has beaten Alton twice this season, but Hay cautioned against relying on those results.
“It is a different season, and different teams show up,” she said.
Belleville East visits Belleville West at 4 p.m. Friday at Bob Goalby Field for the Battle of Belleville. The Lancers finish the regular season against East St. Louis at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Charlie Woodford Field.
