Wheaton Academy's best start in nearly 70 years ended Friday, Oct. 2, when Bishop McNamara's Malachi Lee stuffed running back Ethan Brooks on fourth down in the red zone to seal a 34-28 victory at Rich Zinanni Athletic Complex.

The Warriors (6-1) had opened 6-0 for the first time since the 1957 team went unbeaten. A late drive gave them a chance to extend the streak, but a holding penalty and Lee's tackle short of the first-down marker with about two minutes left ended it, as Shaw Local first reported.

Lee wrapped his entire body around Brooks to clinch the turnover on downs. He then described the moment simply.

"I knew they were going to come at me. I knew I had to execute and make the tackle in the backfield," Lee said.

Warriors couldn't finish the final drive

Wheaton Academy's last possession started at the Bishop McNamara 38-yard line. The Warriors moved 32 yards over nine plays before a holding penalty stalled the drive and set up the fourth-down stop.

Senior quarterback Colton Miller, in his second year as the starter, went 12-of-15 for 192 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Brooks carried 14 times for 82 yards and two scores. Western Illinois commit Logan Oros hauled in five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

The Warriors had averaged 31 points per game entering the matchup. They scored 28 but could not convert when it mattered most.

Lee brothers powered Bishop McNamara

Malachi Lee did more than make the game-ending stop. He caught four passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, including a 96-yard score on the opening drive, and picked off Miller in the third quarter.

His brother, quarterback Micah Lee, finished 13-of-20 for 293 yards and three touchdowns. He added 68 rushing yards and a rushing score. Wide receiver Rontez Smith contributed a 64-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that gave Bishop McNamara its first lead since early in the first quarter.

Third-year head coach Greg Youngblood said the interception by Malachi Lee turned the game. He called the win one his team would never forget.

Halftime momentum shift

Bishop McNamara trailed 21-12 with 2:29 left in the first half. The Fightin' Irish answered with a six-play, 53-yard scoring drive capped by a Micah Lee scramble into the end zone. Lee then kept the ball on a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to one at halftime.

That sequence changed the game's direction.

Playoff picture

The Warriors went 4-5 last season and missed the playoffs. First-year head coach Justin Swider has the program in strong position at 6-1 with 27 playoff points entering the week. The IHSA expanded its football playoffs to 384 teams this year, with the top 16 seeds in each class earning first-round byes.

Swider said the loss would sting but predicted his players would use it to bounce back. Bishop McNamara, which beat Wheaton Academy 29-14 last season, next faces Hope Academy.

Wheaton Academy hosts Aurora Christian in Week 8, then closes the regular season against Christ the King in Week 9.