By Eric Stock
CHICAGO – Normal Community came within one point of extending a perfect season.
Mt. Carmel’s Eddie McGee blocked a PAT that would have tied the game with 3:28 in 3rd quarter and the Caravan held on to beat the Ironmen 14-13 in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Chicago’s Gately Stadium.
Daylon Bobbie rushed for 143 and had TD runs of 54 and 14 yards. But had two passes intercepted, including one in the endzone on the final play of the first half with NCHS trailing 14-7.
NCHS (10-1) held Mt. Carmel to 100 rushing and 61 passing, but the Caravan didn’t commit a turnover.
Boddie and Varshaun Dixon combined for almost 200 yards rushing and Boddie passed for 71.
Providence Catholic 33, Normal West 7
Providence Catholic quarterback Caden Kalinowski compiled 193 all-purpose yards and rushed for two scores as the Celtics cruised to a 33-7 win in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at New Lenox. PCHS scored first when Malik Turner was sacked in the end zone for a safety early in the first quarter.
Kalinowksi’s two touchdowns boosted the PC lead to 16-0 before Adriel Fussel’s 11-yard run trimmed the margin to 16-7 at halftime. DeShon Gavin’s 80-yard touchdown run late in th third period game the Celtics a 26-7 lead.
Armani Forrest rushed for 104 yards on three carries for Normal West (8-3). Carson Camp completed 19 of 33 passes for 101 yards and threw one interception.
Williamsville 45, Central Catholic 14
Central Catholic was tied after one quarter and was within a touchdown at the half, but Williamsville surged to a 45-14 win over the visiting Saints in the second round of Class 3A.
The Saints scored on their first possession on a Sa’Mond Davis 4-yard run after recovering a fumble on the first offensive play of the game, but Williamsville tied the contest on a 64-yard fumble recovery of a pitch and score by Cade Beckett.
Central Catholic (9-2) cut the margin to 22-14 at halftime with an interception in the final minute followed by an Austyn Ellison touchdown pass from Max Moews, but the Bullets (11-0) broke the game open with 7:04 in the third quarter on a tackle-breaking 78-yard touchdown run by Hunter Thompson on a pass from Justice Ferrier. The duo also connected on a 94-yard touchdown early in the final period.
Shelbyville 50, Tri-Valley 35
Shelbyville scored 22 unanswered points in the third quarter, including two touchdowns in a 20-second span late in the third quarter as the Rams broke a halftime tie and pulled away to a second round Class 2A playoff win at Downs.
Brett Spears returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown for the Rams as they extended to a 50-28 late with 1:22 left in the third period.
Shelbyville quarterback Turner Pullen threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth score. He passed for 328 yards and ran for 99. Kentrell Beck caught 13 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams (9-2) reach the quarterfinal round.
Zach Woodring rushed for 208 yards on 33 carries and scored four touchdowns for the Vikings (9-2). Tri-Valley’s Jake Reeser completed 6 of 15 passes for 127 yards, but an interception midway through the fourth quarter stalled the rally.
Class 7A
Mt. Carmel (Chicago) 14, Normal Community 13
Class 6A
Providence Catholic 33, Normal West 7
Class 3A
Williamsville 45, Central Catholic 14
Class 2A
Shelbyville 50, Tri-Valley 35
El Paso-Gridley 28, Knoxville 22
GCMS 24, Savannah-West Carroll 6
