By Greg Halbleib
As the high school football regular season ends this weekend, teams wait for Saturday night’s announcement of the 256 playoff teams to compete for the eight state championships beginning with next week’s playoff openers.
One area game remains in the regular season as U-High (1-7) faces Decatur Eisenhower (0-8) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Frank M. Lindsay Field at Millikin University in Decatur. The game can be heard on WJBC.com; click here to listen.
Normal Community 61, Peoria 14
The Ironmen wrapped up another Big Twelve Conference championship and an 8-1 regular season in impressive fashion by stomping the Lions (4-5). NCHS will make its 23rd consecutive playoff appearance.
The Iron defense set the tone, intercepting five Gabe Hernandez passes, two returned for touchdowns, while quarterback Daylen Boddie ran for two scores and passed for two more. Aiden Oliver and Daniel Horton were on the receiving end of both passing touchdowns.
NCHS led 49-0 at halftime. Quyncee Hunter contributed the first defensive score of the game with a 58-yard interception return while Hayden Wiese added a 30-yard pick-six. Ke’Juan Pleasant had two interceptions while Caleb Zbrozek added another and defensive tackle Brock Griffen added a blocked punt that set up another score.
Jake Hileman added a 6-yard touchdown run while reserves Justin Potts and Camron Jackson added rushing touchdowns as coach Jason Drengwitz rested all his starters in the second half.
Normal West 55, Urbana 26
The Wildcats (8-1, 7-1 Big Twelve) rolled to a 22-0 lead after one quarter and a 35-7 lead at halftime. Carson Camp was 14-of-18 through the air for 206 yards and one touchdown for West as Davion McQuirter carried 21 times for 138 yards and four touchdowns. Cole Hernandez caught eight passes for 149 yards.
Bloomington 41, Champaign Centennial 0
Griffin Moore led the Purple Raiders (7-2, 6-2 Big Twelve) with 7-of-15 passing for 144 yards and three touchdowns, all to Mauliek Johnson. The Raiders are in the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Centennial finished the season 2-7, 2-6 in Big Twelve play.
Tolono Unity 44, Central Catholic 0
Central Catholic (0-8) was decimated by injuries early, although Reece Seidl carried 16 times for 108 yards. Unity finishes at 4-5.
Eureka 21, Tri-Valley 14
Eureka (8-1, 4-1 Heart of Illinois Large) was led by touchdown passes of 17 and 71 yards by Matt Martin, with the longer strike coming just three plays after Tri-Valley (5-4, 3-2) tied the game at 14-14. Zach Woodring carried 35 times for 144 yards and one touchdown for Tri-Valley.
LeRoy 46, Fisher 14
The Panthers (5-4, 5-0 Heart of Illinois Small) won the conference title with a dominating victory over the Bunnies (7-2, 4-1). Rodney Kaeb led the LeRoy rushing attack with 18 carries for 163 yards and three touchdowns while Isaac Nava ran 19 times for 126 yards and one score. The Panthers compiled 381 rushing yards.
WEEK 9 SCORES:
Big Twelve:
Normal Community 61, Peoria 14
Normal West 55, Urbana 26
Bloomington 41, Champaign Centennial 0
Peoria Notre Dame 55, Danville 22
Champaign Central 49, Peoria Manual 14
Illini Prairie:
Tolono Unity 44, Central Catholic 0
Prairie Central 44, St. Thomas More 42
Pontiac 49, Rantoul 7
Monticello 50, St. Joseph-Ogden 7
IVC 34, Olympia 14
Heart of Illinois Large:
Eureka 21, Tri-Valley 14
Fieldcrest 26, El Paso-Gridley 6
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 59, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 0
Heart of Illinois Small:
LeRoy 46, Fisher 14
Ridgeview-Lexington 41, Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland 0
Tremont 40, Heyworth 21
Central State Eight:
Rochester 31, Chatham Glenwood 14
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 38, Decatur MacArthur 13
Springfield 41, Jacksonville 10
Springfield Southeast at Springfield Lanphier, Sat. 12 p.m.
U-High at Decatur Eisenhower (at Millikin University), Sat. 1 p.m. (Click here to listen)
Sangamon Valley:
Dwight 22, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 7
Central Illinois:
Warrensburg-Latham 21, Clinton 14
Non-Conference:
Blue Ridge 42, Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran 21
Freeburg 48, Lincoln 27
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
