By Blake Haas
The road to Dekalb began and ended for many intercity teams in the First round of the IHSA playoffs on Saturday. A cold and gloomy day proved to be no match as the Central Catholic Saints, Normal Community Ironmen and the Normal West Wildcats advance to the Second round.
Normal Community 42, Downers Grove North 0
Normal Community Ironmen defense forced two turnovers in the first half that helped the Ironmen jump out to an early 28-0 lead in the first half. The Ironmen offense tacked on seven points in the third quarter and seven points in the fourth quarter to blank Downers Grove North 42-0 in the First round of the IHSA playoffs.
The Ironmen were lead by Quarterback Daylen Boodie who marched into the big house with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. With the Boodie passing for two touchdowns, Wide receiver Nick Hesse caught both of them and tacked on a rushing touchdown.
Normal West 43, Blue Island Eisenhower
C.J. Davis rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the second half after the Wildcats took a 17-14 deficit into the locker room. Armani Forest’s interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter as West exteded to a 36-17 lead.
Eisenhower pulled within 36-30 on Hilel Anjourin’s touchdown run with 8:06 remaining before Davis added a final touchdown with :30 remaining.
West quarterback Carson Camp completed 10 of 16 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats outgained the Cardinals 554-227 while amassing 375 rushing yards
Central Catholic 35, Beardstown 31
Beardstown jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a pass from Quarterback Issac Riddle to Pascal Guilavogui, but the Saints bounced back as they scored on a 47-yard connection from Max Moews to Braden Glowacki. BHS rounded out the first quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Drake Wrobleski to take the 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, the Saints scored two unanswered touchdowns on by Senior Running Back Sa’mond Davis on a 1-yard run and a 4-yard pass from Mowes to James Morris. BHS bounced back on a 1-yard touchdown run by Brady O’Hara, but the Saints ended the first half scoring on a 31-yard connection to Morris to give the Saints the 21-7 advantage at halftime.
BHS controlled the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Drake Wrobleski then scored on a 35-yard Field Goal to give BHS a 31-28 advantage.
The Saints bounced back in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown connection from Moews to Morris to give the Saints the 35-31 victory.
Central Catholic was lead by Senior Quarterback Max Mowes who thew for 286 passing yards and four touchdowns. Junior Widereciever James Morris had five receptions for 161-yards and three touchdowns.
Tri-Valley 42, South Macoupin 6
Tri-Valley controlled the first half as the Vikings scored five unanswered touchdowns on their first five possessions to give the Vikings a 35-0 lead at halftime. Both teams scored only one touchdown in the second half as the Vikings defeated South Macoupin 42-6.
Tri-Valley was lead by Hunter Gawlik, Harley Justus, Zach Woodring and Jake Reeser. Gawlik ran for 130-yards and two rushing touchdowns while Senior Running Back Zach Woodring ran for 85-yards and a rushing touchdown. Vikings Quarterback Jake Reeser passed for 96-yards and added a rushing touchdown.
The Vikings defense held South Macoupin to only 120 total yards of offense.
First round results from Saturday:
Class 1A:
Freeport Aquin 30, Fisher 27
Class 2A:
Tri-Valley 42, South Macoupin 6
GCMS 50, Lanark-Eastland 14
Savanna-West Carroll 40, Fieldcrest 0
El Paso-Gridley 29, Taylor Ridge-Rockridge 26
Westville 42, Deer-Creek Mackinaw 0
Class 3A:
Central Catholic 35, Beardstown 31
Class 5A:
Tolono Unity 61, Pontiac 42
Class 6A:
Normal West 43, Blue Island-Eisenhower 30
Class 7A:
Normal Community 42, Downers Grove North 0
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].[email protected]
