By Greg Halbleib
A back-and-forth affair highlighted the Week 6 high school football schedule on Friday night as Normal West beat visiting Bloomington.
Normal West 41, Bloomington 36
West’s Genesis Forrest ran wild in the Intercity match-up, carrying 25 times for 388 yards and two touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner with 5:37 left.
Bloomington (3-3) was denied the lead with under two minutes left as the Wildcats (2-4) stopped the Purple Raiders on fourth and goal at the 4-yard line.
Purple Raiders back Domeneik Criddell carried 27 times for 174 yards with one touchdown plus a 23-yard touchdown catch.
Normal Community 17, Lincoln-Way West 7
NCHS (5-1) did not allow Lincoln-Way West (4-2) an offensive touchdown in the victory. The Ironmen took a 10-7 lead into the locker room on a 22-yard field goal by Cameron Hinmon as time expired.
The hosts threatened inside the Ironmen 10 with under three minutes to play but fumbled a snap to turn the ball over, followed immediately by a 91-yard run by Varshaun Dixon for insurance.
Central Catholic 38, IVC 14
The Saints (5-1, 4-0 Corn Belt Conference) trailed 7-3 after one quarter but took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
Max Moews was 12-of-18 through the air for 256 yards and three touchdowns for the host Saints. Bobby Brady caught five of the passes for 124 yards and one touchdown, plus returned a punt 54 yards to the house for another score.
U-High 46, Olympia 0
The Pioneers (2-4, 2-2 Corn Belt) benefitted from a strong night from Doug Holmes, who was 9-of-11 in the air for 172 yards and two touchdowns plus 47 yards on eight carries and two more scores, and Jeremiah Carter, who carried 13 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns.
Olympia (0-6) turned the ball over five times.
Tri-Valley 45, El Paso-Gridley 0
Tri-Valley (6-0) rushed for 250 yards and held EPG (4-2) to 100 yards of total offense.
Evan Smith carried 20 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns to pace the victorious Vikings.
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 62, Fieldcrest 0
Dee-Mack (6-0) lost Preston Lester to an apparent knee injury in the first quarter, but not before he rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Fieldcrest falls to 2-4, 0-3 in the Heart of Illinois Conference Large Division.
SCORES
Intercity
Normal West 41, Bloomington 36
Central Catholic 38, IVC 14
U-High 46, Olympia 0
Normal Community 17, Lincoln-Way West 7
Big Twelve
Danville 17, Champaign Centennial 10
Champaign Central 47, Urbana 14
Peoria 68, Manual 6
Peoria Notre Dame 48, Richwoods 6
Corn Belt
Mahomet-Seymour 7, Prairie Central 6
Pontiac 48, Gary (IN) Bowman Academy 0
Heart of Illinois
Dee-Mack 62, Fieldcrest 0
Tri-Valley 45, El Paso-Gridley 0
Eureka 28, Ridgeview-Lexington 3
Heyworth 28, Fisher 14
LeRoy 55, Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland 16
GCMS 45, Tremont 0
Area
Dwight 22, South Newton (IN) 6
Clinton 51, Sullivan-Okaw Valley 20
Jacksonville 42, Lincoln 0
