By Jake Fogal
DOWNS – Tri-Valley and Central Catholic are separated by nine miles in Central Illinois, but don’t meet very often despite the short distance between the two schools.
Last time these two teams met came back in 2016, when Tri-Valley beat the Saints 28-6. The two Class 2A schools met again in Round 1 of the 2024 postseason, where the Vikings came out on top in a back and forth battle, 42-28.
The opening kickoff foreshadowed what was to come for much of the first half, as an offsides penalty on the Saints reset the first play of the contest. Neither team could muster any points in the opening quarter, but it was Vikings senior Cole Klein getting the scoring started in the second quarter with a one-yard run to give Tri-Valley a 7-0 lead. Klein added another score to the board later in the second, from a few yards off the goal line.
The Vikings shutout the Saints in the first half, before both teams hit a second gear in the third quarter.
Cade Danko snared in a long pass from quarterback Ethan Moore on the opening drive of the second half to give the Vikings a 21-0 advantage. Central Catholic depended on TJ Larson on a 79-yard play to get the Saints in the scoring column.
Vikings senior Thomas Harris returned the next kickoff for 80-yards to put the Vikings back up by three touchdowns. The high-level action continued as Central Catholic quarterback Valshun Powe worked his way to the end zone on a long run. The Saints still trailed by 14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Klein picked up his third touchdown of the night on a 31-yard touchdown run in the final quarter. The Saints put together a late drive as quarterback Matthew Brady completed a 31-yard throw to running back Nathaniel Roberts for a score. Larson secured another touchdown catch from Brady late in the fourth quarter, but it came too late.
Danko put the dagger into the Saints season returning an onside kick attempt for a touchdown to win 42-28.
Tri-Valley Head Coach Josh Roop and running back Cole Klein joined WJBC’s Eric Lapan following the win in Round 1.
Other final scores throughout Central Illinois from Round 1:
#6 Normal Community 41-16 #27 West Chicago (Class 7A)
#10 U-High 41-14 #7 Manteno (Class 4A)
#1 LeRoy 54-21 #16 Aurora Christian (Class 1A)
#7 Eureka 29-22 #10 Peotone (Class 3A)
#1 Byron 57-20 #16 Prairie Central (Class 3A)
#7 Seneca 39-23 #10 El-Paso Gridley (Class 2A)
Round 1 Saturday Games:
#8 Normal West 20-15 #9 Chicago Simeon
#3 Gibson City (Melvin-Sibley) 38-7 #14 Salt Fork
#13 Olympia at #4 Nashville (2:30 p.m.)
#16 Dee-Mack at #1 Farmington (3:30 p.m.)
#11 Lemont at #6 Bloomington (6:00 p.m.)
The High School Football Extravaganza is sponsored by CEFCU.
Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].
