High school football squads advance to quarterfinals, Iron & Saints head to volleyball state

Posted on November 7, 2015

Central Catholic was one of six area teams to advance to next Saturday’s quarterfinal round in the Illinois high school football playoffs. (Photo by Madison Roberts/You Name It Sports)

By Greg Halbleib

Area high school football showed its strength as several teams advanced to next Saturday’s quarterfinal round.

Central Catholic 35, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 28

The Saints (10-1) survived an early deficit to capture the road win in Class 3A to set up a home quarterfinal game next weekend against St. Joseph-Ogden. Listen to Central Catholic coach Mike Moews recap the game with Eric Lapan here.

Normal Community 42, Maine South 21

Normal Community (10-1) surged into the quarterfinals by pulling away after a defensive first half. Riley Rahuba caught three touchdown passes from Grant Price, Alec Bozarth rushed for two scores and Price ran for another for the victorious Ironmen. NCHS visits Libertyville in next weekend’s quarterfinals. Listen here to Bryan Bloodworth’s post-game interview with Ironmen coach Wes Temples.

Area second round football scoreboard:

Class 1A:
LeRoy 20, Tuscola 13
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 20, Winchester (West Central coop) 8

Class 2A:
Tri-Valley 41, Taylor Ridge Rockridge 7
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 32, Mendon Unity 26
Annawan-Wethersfield 30, Fieldcrest 20

Class 3A:
Central Catholic 35, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 28

Class 7A:
Normal Community 42, Maine South 21

Iron, Saints volleyball to state:  The state high school volleyball finals at Redbird Arena next weekend will feature two local teams. Normal Community volleyball advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Glen Ellyn Glenbard West with a 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 victory over Lincoln-Way North to capture the Normal West Supersectional. Central Catholic earned a Class 2A semifinal slot at about 1:30 p.m. Friday against Elmhurst Timothy Christian after winning the Warrensburg-Latham Supersectional in a thrilling 28-30, 25-19, 25-23 triumph over Williamsville. Lexington lost its Class 1A Supersectional at Hartsburg-Emden by scores of 25-17, 25-18 to Kewanee Wethersfield.

Cross country:  El Paso-Gridley placed 7th in Class 1A boys in the state cross country meet in Peoria, led by a 9th-place individual finish by Hunter Cobbley. U-High boys placed 10th in Class 2A led by Jack Franklin finishing 6th. Shelby Siltman of Olympia finished 5th in the girls Class 1A race.

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