By Austin Duncan
Normal Community High School’s football team captured a 34-28 victory over Schaumburg in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
Meanwhile, Deer Creek-Mackinaw advanced while U-High was eliminated.
NCHS wins
The Ironmen got off to a hot start, collecting the first 13 points of the game. Schaumburg would answer, though, trailing just 13-6 at the half.
Schaumburg came out of the locker room strong and led 22-19 early in the fourth quarter.
The Ironnmen rode the back of sophomore running back Varshaun Dixon as he collected a 41-yard run setting himself up for a 2-yard touchdown run to make the score 26-22 in favor of NCHS.
Schaumburg did not quit as it answered on fourth down when quarterback Justin Perez connected with Bernard Payne to give them a 28-26 lead with 4:46 to play.
Dixon, who replaced NCHS’ standout running back Alec Bozarth in the fourth quarter, answered with a 26-yard touchdown run to give the Ironmen the lead for good. NCHS completed a pass from Grant Price to Christian Wey to secure the 34-28 win for the Ironmen.
Bozarth was suffering from leg cramps and did not return to the game.
Dixon finished with 80 yards on nine carries and collected two scores. Bozarth had 54 yards and a score. Grant Price finished with 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground while throwing for 166 yards.
The Ironmen overcame three turnovers and improve to 9-1. They will host Maine South next week, time to be determined.
U-High loses
U-High saw its season come to an end with a 54-32 loss to Big 12 champion Peoria High in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Peoria standout running back Kenten Watkins rushed 29 times for 295 yards and six touchdowns.
U-High finished the season 6-4.
Dee-Mack cruises
The Dee-Mack Chiefs collected a 54-22 rout over West Hancock in Class 2A.
Dee-Mack started hot and stayed that way, using the backfield duo of Jared Reese and Hudson Stedman.
Reese ran the ball 26 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns while Stedman had 14 rushes for 166 yards and four touchdowns.
The Chiefs collected nearly 500 total offensive yards.
Dee-Mack improved to 8-2.
Pontiac falls
The Pontiac Indians’ season ended with a 44-19 loss to Johnsburg in Pontiac.
SATURDAY:
CLASS 1A:
#16 Tremont (5-4) vs. #1 Toulon (Stark County) (9-0) at Wyoming, Sat., Oct. 31, 1 p.m.
#9 LeRoy (6-3) vs. #8 Greenfield [G.-Northwestern Coop] (6-3) at Greenfield, Sat., Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m.
#15 Mt. Olive (5-4) at #2 Gibson City (G.C.-Melvin-Sibley) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 31, 3 p.m.
CLASS 2A:
#10 Knoxville (6-3) at #7 Minonk (Fieldcrest) (7-2), Sat., Oct. 31, 1 p.m.
#16 Savanna (West Carroll) (5-4) at #1 Downs (Tri-Valley) (9-0), Sat., Oct. 31, 2 p.m.
#12 El Paso (E.P.-Gridley) (6-3) at #5 Mendon (Unity) [Coop] (7-2), Sat., Oct. 31, 2 p.m.
CLASS 3A:
#12 DuQuoin (H.S.) [Coop] (5-4) at #5 Bloomington (Central Catholic) (8-1), Sat., Oct. 31, 2 p.m.
Find play-by-play from CCHS’ opening playoff game here.
CLASS 4A:
#16 Clinton (5-4) vs. #1 Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (9-0) at Belleville (Lindenwood University), Sat., Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 6A:
#10 Normal (Community West) (6-3) vs. #7 Peoria (Notre Dame) (7-2) at Peoria (Richwoods), Sat., Oct. 31, 2:30 p.m.
Find live play-by-play from this game here.
Scores can be found on our exclusive high school football twitter page, @WJBCHSFootball and #WJBCHSFB.
