Playoff football: Normal West, EPG fall; 6 area teams in action Saturday

Posted on October 29, 2016

Normal West ended its season with a loss to Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin. (You Name It Sports photo)

By Greg Halbleib and Eric Stock

SPRINGFIELD – Top-ranked Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin had two 200-yard rushers as the Cyclones steamrolled Normal West 57-20 in the Class 6A football playoffs at Cyclone Field in Springfield.

Tremayne Lee rushed for 248 yards and scored four touchdowns before leaving with an injury late in the second quarter as SHG stormed out to a 22-0 first quarter lead.

Brian Adams picked up the load rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns with the final score setting a running clock at 8:37 of the 4th quarter.

Peyton Dillingham completed 16 of 32 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.

Genesis Forrest led the Wildcats with 84 yards on 17 carries and scored on a 1-yard touchdown reception.

The Cyclones (10-0) amassed 659 yards of total offense. West (5-5) compiled 483 in the loss.

SHG meets the winner of tomorrow’s game between Galesburg and Chicago Hubbard.

PODCAST: Listen here to Normal West coach Darren Hess in his post-game interview with Joel Swanson.

GCMS eliminates EPG: Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley advanced in the Class 2A football playoffs with a 35-7 win at home over fellow Heart of Illinois Conference member El Paso-Gridley. Mitch McNutt led the Falcons with 147 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. Keegan Allen connected on three of his six passes with two touchdowns, both to Sam Bailee.

PODCAST: Listen here to GCMS coach Mike Allen in his post-game interview with Nick McClintock.

Saturday slate, broadcast schedule: Six area teams open their post-seasons today in high school football with three games heard live on WJBC.com.

Live on WJBC.com (click here to listen):

Class 2A–Rushville-Industry (5-4) at Tri-Valley (9-0), 1:00
Class 7A–Belleville West (5-4) at Normal Community (8-1),1:30
Class 3A–Central Catholic (7-2) at Elmwood-Brimfield (8-1), 3:30

Other area games include LeRoy (6-3) visiting Kirkland Hiawatha (7-2) at 1:00 in Class 1A, Dee-Mack (8-1) hosting Orion (6-3) in Class 2A at 1:00 and in Class 3A, Eureka (6-3) at Byron (9-0) at 2:00.

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