By Bryan Bloodworth
Normal West and Central Catholic high schools picked up Homecoming victories Friday night, while Normal Community and University High assured themselves spots in the post-season playoffs with triumphs.
At Normal West, the Wildcats had no trouble with winless Peoria Manual, 64-14, in Big 12 Conference action as Mitch Fairfield completed 11 of 15 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns. The victory moved West’s record to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league.
Jack Coakley had two touchdown receptions of 5 and 45 yards, while Dajour Forrest added an 11-yard touchdown run and caught a scoring pass that covered 38 yards on a screen pass. Forrest finished with two receptions for 74 yards and rushed five times for 85 yards.
Tight end Mace Julian led the Wildcats with four receptions for 90 yards and scored on a 1-yard pass.
Other West scores came on a 65-yard pass from Fairfield to Dante Ruffin, a 52-yard pass from Fairfield to Malik Tucker, a 20-yard scoring pass from Peyton Dillingham to Trevoun McGee, a recovery fumble in the end zone by Farad Muhammad and a safety.
At Central Catholic, the Saints zipped past Prairie Central, 42-7, in Corn Belt Conference action and kept their hold on sole possession of the league lead with a 5-0 mark. The Saints are 6-1 overall and have won six straight.
The Saints dominated on both sides of the ball after an early turnover gave Prairie Central a 7-0 lead when Luke Sieving ran 42 yards for the score, Central answered with a 73-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Ryan Zitkus.
Zitkus, who finished with three touchdowns, had 106 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Brett Segobiano paced the Saints with 200 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Jake Baughman also had two rushing touchdowns and threw for a 7-yard touchdown to Bobby Brady. Baughman completed 6 of 11 passes for 115 yards.
At Mahomet, Jo Jo Hughes rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while Duncan Terry ran for a score and intercepted a Mahomet-Seymour pass as the Pioneers clinched a fifth straight playoff appearance with a 21-13 win at Mahomet.
Terry’s touchdown came on the third play from scrimmage 59 seconds into the game and the pick came a few plays later. The Pioneers established the running game early, while limiting the Bulldogs to just 36 rushing yards.
Mahomet quarterback Thomas Kenney was sacked six times.
The Pioneers have a 6-1 overall record and are 5-1 in the Corn Belt to stay in the hunt for a conference championship.
At Normal Community, quarterback Grant Price completed 13 of 15 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns as the Ironmen moved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12 Conference with a 55-6 win over Peoria Richwoods.
The Ironmen scored twice in the first quarter on a 2-yard run by Alec Bozarth and a 1-yard touchdown pass from Price to Riley Rahuba. NCHS extended the advantage to 34-6 by halftime on touchdown passes of 68 yards to Dakota Cremeens, 7 yards to Steven Towns and 23 yards to Rahuba.
The Ironmen’s three second half scores came on a 35-yard pass to Christian Wey, a 15-yard pass to Towns and a 10-yard run by Armaini Mendiola.
At Bloomington, the Purple Raiders saw their record slip to 1-6 with a 56-35 loss to No. 2 state-ranked Class 5A entrant Peoria Central. BHS is 1-3 in the Big 12 and Peoria Central remains undefeated.
Kenton Watkins had 338 yards rushing on 30 carries and six touchdowns to lead Peoria. BHS got its touchdowns from Telly Arrington on a 42-yard run, a 40-yard kickoff return by Ian Sweeney, a 1-yard run by Tyler Stewart, a 4-yard run by Jalen Hayes and a 3-yard run by Noah Nobling.
Arrington finished with 172 yards on 21 carries, while Stewart completed 11 of 25 passes for 102 yards.
INTERCITY
University High 21, Mahomet-Seymour 13
Central Catholic 42, Prairie Central 7
Normal Community 55, Peoria Richwoods 6
Normal West 64, Peoria Manual 14
Peoria 56, Bloomington 35
HEART OF ILLINOIS
Tri-Valley 21, LeRoy 0
Tremont 31, RBL 0
GCMS 42, Heyworth 0
Fieldcrest 28, EPG 21
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 62, Flanagan 18
Salt Fork 54, Fisher 40
CORN BELT
Pontiac 36, Olympia 12
Eureka 14, IVC 10
BIG 12
Danville 27, Champaign Central 20
Peoria Notre Dame 48, Urbana 22
Champaign Centennial 12, Crystal Lake Central 0
AREA
Decatur MacArthur 34, Lincoln 8
Warrensburg-Latham 58, Clinton 53
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
