By Austin Duncan
Normal Community High School’s football team had its 20-game win streak against Big 12 Conference opponents snapped Friday night in a 41-21 loss to state-ranked Peoria Central at Peoria Stadium
Kenton Watkins rushed for 232 yards on 43 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead the Class 5A No, 2-ranked Lions. Coran Taylor also rushed for three touchdowns.
Alec Bozarth had 15 rushes for 90 yards and three touchdowns for the Class 7A No. 4-ranked Ironmen, whose record dropped to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league.
Peoria, which is undefeated in six games overall and in the Big 12, scored three unanswered touchdowns after Bozarth’s third touchdown tied the game early in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, at Dozer Park in Peoria, Notre Dame recovered an onside- kick in the last minute and scored the winning touchdown with 24 seconds left to defeat NCHS West, 56-52, in the inaugural Shamrock Classic.
West enjoyed a 31-21 halftime lead and built it to 45-27 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Irish would not go away, though.
Notre Dame outscored Normal West, 21-7, in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. The Irish were led by Luke Shadid’s 300 rushing yards. This game marked Shadid’s second consecutive 300 yard game.
The Wildcats had big games from Dajour Forrest, who collected 163 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, and Dante Ruffin, who had three touchdowns. Quarterback Mitch Fairfield completed 18 of 25 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 in Class 5A, is undefeated in six games. West is 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12.
Central Catholic got off to a slow start, but did not let that hold them back as they picked up a 39-3 Corn Belt Conference win over IVC in Chillicothe.
The league-leading Saints’ rushing game propelled them to the victory. Brett Segobiano collected 154 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while Ryan Zitkus rushed for over 100 yards and a pair of scores.
The Saint’s defense held IVC to just 21 yards in the second half. Central improved its overall record to 5-1 and its league mark to 5-0.
U-High was paced by Jo Jo Hughes in handing Olympia a 29-14 loss at Hancock Stadium in Corn Belt Conference action.
Hughes rushed for 196 yards on 30 carries and scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Doug Holmes completed 10 of 20 passes for 141 yards. Holmes connected with Emanuel Bada on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Olympia quarterback Collin Miller went 12 for 22 for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Levi Nieson caught a 48-yard touchdown as the Spartans fell to 1-5 overall and is winless in five Corn Belt games.
U-High is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Corn Belt.
Big 12:
Peoria Central 41, Normal Community 21
Peoria Notre Dame 56, Normal West 52
Champaign Central 63, Peoria Richwoods 18
Danville 56, Grayslake Central 16
Champaign Centennial 33, Urbana 21
Corn Belt:
Central Catholic 39, IVC 3
University High 29, Olympia 14
Pontiac 33, Eureka 23
Mahomet-Seymour 17, Prairie Central 6
Heart of Illinois:
GCMS 41, RBL 0
Tremont 28,Fisher 14
Fieldcrest 40, FCW 0
Milford 24, Heyworth 14
LeRoy 50, Watseka 20
Find post game interviews with a coach from each of these games here.
WJBC’s Eric Stock and Larry Duling contributed to this report.
