Playoff bound — Wesclin senior running back Landyn Kerns runs upfield in the Warriors’ 43-8 victory over Madison on Friday. Kerns was strong for the Warriors with eight carries for 91 yards in the Warriors’ second win of the season. PHOTO BY BETH HOLLENKAMP For the first time since Wesclin started football in 2003, all four Clinton County football teams have punched a ticket into their respective classes into the IHSA football playoffs.
For this season, the IHSA increased the total qualifiers from 256 football teams to 384 that make the playoffs, allowing two-win teams to qualify.
In Class 4A, the Central Cougars earned a bye after a 42-16 win at Herrin ended their regular season at 8-1 and earned them a 5-seed. They will play next weekend against the winner of the Alton Marquette at Metamora game at 7 p.m. this Friday.
In Class 3A, the Mater Dei Knights clinched a playoff spot, despite dropping their regular-season finale, 40-0 at Mt. Zion. The Knights come in at 5-4 and the 20-seed while they will travel to the 13-seeded Sparta Bulldogs on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs enter the game at 7-2.
Great season — Mater Dei wide receiver Bentley Nicklin and the Knights enter the Class 3A playoff on Saturday when they travel to Sparta for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Nicklin is third in the Metro-East area in receiving. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The cinderella story of the field is the Carlyle Indians, coming off an 0-9 campaign, earned a home game after beating Alton Marquette on Friday. The Indians are 6-3 and are the 14-seed. They will host the 19-seed Nokomis on Saturday at 1 p.m.
In Class 2A, Wesclin got their second win of the season with a road rout over Madison on Friday to punch their ticket as they will play at Chester who is 5-4. They will tango on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Central 42, Herrin 16: The Cougars clinched their opening-round bye, with a rout over the host Tigers on Friday night.
The Cougars wasted no time, getting the opening kick for once and needing just one play to reach the scoreboard when junior Owen Kehrer hit senior Alex Athmer on a 62-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead after the Athmer PAT.
The Cougars added to that lead a couple possessions later when junior Manny Velazquez crossed from 16 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 3:07 left in the opening 12.
After the Cougars’ defense forced a punt, the Cougars got on the board when Kehrer connected with Cole Huegen on a 23-yard touchdown completion and a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Ending strong — Central wide receiver Cole Huegen and the Cougars ended the regular season with a 42-16 win at Herrin on Friday. The Cougars earned the five-seed in the Class 4A State playoffs and received an opening-round bye. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Cougars’ special teams got in on the fun when Payne Lynch got a punt block and set the Cougars’ offense up in prime scoring position late in the half.
Central cashed it in when Velazquez ran it in from two yards out with just 50 seconds left as Central led 28-0 at the half. Kehrer was strong with 167 yards passing in the opening 24 minutes.
The Cougars’ bench got in on the scoring fun in the third quarter when Kylr Shirley crossed from eight yards out for a 35-0 lead with 7:32 left.
The Tigers solved the Central defense on their next drive when Kainon Boyer ran in from 75 yards out to get the game within 35-8 with 7:19 remaining.
Central expanded the lead four minutes later when August Reeves rambled in from two yards out to lead the contest 42-8 with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
Herrin got the final score of the contest when Rylan Lattuada ran the ball 60 yards for a touchdown to end the scoring with a 42-16 win for Central.
Kehrer was 14-of-23 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Athmer had four catches for 94 yards while Carson Weber made four grabs for 53 yards.
Cooper Martin had five carries for 32 yards while Velazquez had five carries for 56 yards and two scores. The Cougars had 205 yards on the ground and 215 through the air for 420 yards of offense.
Lynch had seven tackles and a punt block while Liam Koetting added six tackles with one for a loss.
Two scores — Central junior running back Manny Velazquez ran in for two touchdowns in the Cougars’ 42-16 win over Herrin on Friday night. The Cougars ended the regular season with an 8-1 record and a bye in the opening round. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Mt. Zion 40, Mater Dei 0: The Knights were their own worst enemy on the road Friday night with six turnovers in the loss.
Mater Dei owned the time of possession in the contest with 31:12 while the Braves had the ball for 21:15. MD had 158 yards of total offense compared to 372 for the home squad.
The Braves had 189 yards rushing while they added 183 passing with just one turnover in the victory.
Mater Dei took the opening drive for an eight play drive with the aide of a roughing the punter call. The Knights had a bad snap that ended the drive.
Mt. Zion needed five plays before Noah Schmahl found Sam Toth to the right for a 37-yard completion for a 7-0 lead with 5:53 left in the opening frame.
Mater Dei had an offensive pass interference stall their second drive before Mt. Zion answered with another scoring drive.
The Braves needed two plays before Schmahl connected with Jaxon Good for a 65-yard touchdown to the right side for a 14-0 lead with 3:57 left in the quarter.
Mater Dei threw their first of six interceptions to give MTZ good field possession, before a two-play drive ended when Connor Fox ran in from one-yard out with a 20-0 lead after 12 minutes.
Mt. Zion got back into the scoring after a MD punt allowed the Braves a six play drive that ended when Schmahl hit Good for a 16-yard TD pass for a 26-0 lead with 8:57 left in the half.
After another MD interception, Mt. Zion capitalized with a Kellen Bollhorst 13-yard touchdown as MTZ led 33-0 at the break.
The third quarter was scoreless before Mt. Zion initiated the running clock when Travon Street sprinted in from 62 yards down the right sideline for a 40-0 lead.
Cameron Von Bokel was 11-of-32 for 92 yards passing. He added 15 yards rushing. Bodie Brockmeier had five catches for 75 yards for MD.
Street had 13 carries for the Braves for 148 yards and a score. Schmahl was 8-of-18 for 183 yards and three scores.
Wesclin 43, Madison 8: The Warriors scored early and often in their road victory on Friday night in Trojan Country.
Wesclin got a pair of touchdowns in each the first and second quarters while the Warriors’ defense shut out the Trojans over the final three quarters.
Jarett Wuebbels was 6-of-10 passing for 77 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The junior added six carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
Brock Hoffman was strong in the ground game with 18 carries for 103 yards. Caydon Farias had two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
