Football season came to a dramatic but heartbreaking end for two area teams.

We start with the S. Newton Rebels hosting Triton for the Indiana Class 1A Sectional 33 championship. With Triton up 23-15 in the 4th quarter, S. Newton’s Tyler Lowe hit Trent Allenduff from 7 yards, but missing the 2-point conversion. With the Rebels trailing by 2, they recovered an onside kick and had one last chance for a win. They drove as close to the Trojan 6, but Evan Brown’s 23 yard FG try was blocked with 12 seconds left, Triton takes their 2nd straight sectional title, 23-21, while South Newton ends their season at 8-4.

In Bushnell, the Momence Redskins and Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans were scoreless at the half. Then in the 4th quarter, Momence found itself down 22-13 with just over 5 minutes left, when the Redskin defense pounced on a Bushnell fumble and cashed it in on Clayton Simpson’s TD pass to Alex Cavendar. The Redskins then trailed by 2, but after a Momence onside kick failed, the defense forced another fumble, and Momence had about a minute left to score and potentially win. But Bushnell made a key interception to kill the comeback. Final score Bushnell 22, Momence 20. Redskin QB Clayton Simpson passed for 147 yards, 3 touchdown passes, 2 to Alex Cavendar and the other to Drew Sain, but the Bushnell defense held Calvin Phillips to just 26 yards rushing on the day. Momence finishes their season at 9-2.

Next week, Bushnell will play at Clifton, against Coach Brian Spooner’s Central Comets, who won in Flanagan 20-0. The Comet defense was stellar, holding the Falcons to only 54 yards rushing, Logan Mathy with 2 big interceptions. Trent Faulkner with 2 TD passes, one to Kyle Frake, the other to Matt Lemenager. Gusty winds also helped the Comets on a bizarre Flanagan punt that was blown back to the Falcons 20 and recovered by Central at the Flanagan 2, where Jarrett Hixson shortly afterward had an easy TD run, he finished with 75 rushing yards, on 18 carries.

Other football teams in the WGFA listening area that will move on to round 3 include Kankakee, who will host Morris next weekend, while Wilmington travels to Oregon.

Keep it tuned to 94.1 FM and http://www.wgfaradio.com for the latest information on exactly when we will bring the Central-Bushnell game to you. For 94.1 WGFA, this is Tom Conn.

By Mike Egenes
megenes@pantagraph.com

Conditions were tough for football Saturday. How tough? Look no further than Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland’s Jordan Pomeranke. Punting from his own 21-yard line in Saturday’s Class 2A second-round playoff game against Clifton Central, Pomeranke put a tad too much air under a third-quarter punt.

Unfortunately, that was just as Mother Nature was at her grumpiest. Her howling south wind chewed it up and spit it out, finally allowing the punt to settle 20 yards behind Pomeranke just inches from the goal line.

On the next play, Clifton Central’s Jarrett Hixson rushed it in for a score and a two-touchdown lead.

Even for an offense that scored 34 or more points four times during the regular season that was an insurmountable deficit as underdog FCW fell, 20-0, to the No. 5 seeded Comets.

“It was tough in these conditions,” FCW coach Ted O’Boyle said. “We just couldn’t get anything going on either side today.”

FCW (7-4) had just 63 yards of offense against Clifton Central’s stout defensive front. The wind was no less of a challenge for the Falcons’ passing game as junior quarterback Ben Roeschley completed just one of 11 passes and was intercepted twice.

That allowed the Comets’ defense to play like it knew what was coming.

“They were stacking it up against the run,” said senior running back Cam Blossom, who had 43 of the Falcons’ 47 rushing yards. “They were looking run all day. It was so windy that it made it hard to get the run game going when they were not expecting us to pass at all.”

Clifton Central (9-2) scored with 1 minute, 37 seconds left before halftime. On fourth-and-4 from FCW’s 16, quarterback Trent Faulkner hit Kyle Frake on a screen play that went for a touchdown. Those two hooked up again for the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

“We put that in this week as a little wrinkle,” Comets coach Brian Spooner said. “I have to give a thumbs up to Trent for making a nice pass and to (Frake) from making a couple of nice moves to get into the end zone.”

In the second half, the Falcons had the ball six times, but ran no more than four plays on any of those possessions.

“We just didn’t click on offense,” O’Boyle said. “Our defense played well, without a doubt. We were able to build some momentum last week (in an upset win at GCMS). But today we just couldn’t get anything going.”

The Comets advance to the quarterfinals where they will play Bushnell-Prairie City/Avon, which upset top-seeded Momence.

Join WGFA Radio on Friday Night for coverage of the South Newton Rebels playing Triton at home. Kickoff is at 6:30 and pre-game at 6:10 on WGFA.

Then on Saturday, Central plays at Flanigan at 1pm. WGFA Pregame coverage begins at 12:40 with Mike Harris and Darryl Focken.

Congratulations to Momence who moves on to play at Bushnell with a 2pm kickoff on Saturday.

Morning everyone, recapping area high school football playoffs from last weekend, we gotta start with yet another close and physical battle between two long-time rivals, Clifton Central and Watseka, as these 2 clubs had to go to overtime to decide their first round Class 2A playoff game, and the Comets prevailed at home 34-27. Central sophomore David Payne’s 5 yd TD run in the Comets’ first OT possession was the decider. Another Comet sophomore, Kyle Frake, had 2 TD runs, Jarrett Hixson also with one of his own. Watseka’s Alex Hall with 2 TD runs and Sawyer Harris catching 2 TD passes in the losing cause as the Warriors finish 6-4, while Central improves to 8-2 and wi ll play the Flanagan Falcons next.

At Momence, the Redskins easily took down the Farmington Farmers 41-0, holding the Farmers to only 9 yards passing, while Momence’s Clayton Simpson had another fine day, passing for 324 yards and 4 TD passes–2 of them went to Drew Sain, 2 to DeMar Brown. Calvin Phillips with 2 TD runs of 44 and 29 yards. Momence improves to 9-1, and their 2nd round opponent will be the Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans.

Other Illinois teams moving on to round 2 include Bishop McNamara Catholic, Kankakee, Wilmington, Coal City, Salt Fork and Westville.
In Lake Station Indiana, the South Newton Rebels had little trouble with the Fighting Eagles, as S. Newton rang up a 48-0 win. Jace Snodgrass with 2 TD runs, and 1 each by Curt Roberts, Jordan Purdy, Kody Wilson, Jarrod McCord and Luke Welch. Blaine Bond a fine night rushing for 111 yards on just 8 carries. The Rebels next week have a Sectional 33 Championship rematch with the Triton Trojans, only this time it will be in Kentland.

Keep it tuned to 94.1 FM and wgfaradio.com for the latest updates on our broadcast schedule for Dralle’s high school playoff football. For 94.1 WGFA, this is Tom Conn.

WGFA Coverage this Friday night will include live coverage of South Newton at Lake Station with a 6:40 pregame and 7:00 kickoff.

On Saturday Momence plays at home at 1pm. We’ll have coverage of that game until the 2:30 Illini start with updates through the afternoon. Watseka plays at Clifton at 7pm. We’ll cover that game live as well…

INDIANA PLAYOFFS

South Newton at 7-3, will travel Friday to Lake Station to face the 1-9 Fighting Eagles.

ILLINOIS PLAYOFFS

CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS

Upper Bracket

#16 Farmington (5-4) at #1 Momence (8-1)
#9 Bushnell (B.-Prairie City) [B.-P.C.-Avon Coop] (6-3) at #8 Minonk (Fieldcrest) (7-2)
#13 Flanagan (F.-Cornell) [F.-C.-Woodland Coop] (6-3) at #4 Gibson City (G.C.-Melvin-Sibley) (8-1)
#12 Watseka (6-3) at #5 Clifton (Central) (7-2)
#15 Elmhurst (Immaculate Conception) (5-4) at #2 Orion (8-1)
#10 Lanark (Eastland) [E.-Pearl City Coop] (6-3) at #7 Lena (L.-Winslow) (7-2)
#14 Elmwood [E.-Brimfield Coop] (5-4) at #3 Manlius (Bureau Valley) (8-1)
#11 Downs (Tri-Valley) (6-3) at #6 Morrison (7-2)

Lower Bracket

#16 Havana (5-4) at #1 Auburn (9-0)
#9 Trenton (Wesclin) (6-3) at #8 Marshall (6-3)
#13 Athens [Coop] (5-4) at #4 Pleasant Plains (8-1)
#12 Chester (5-4) at #5 Macon (Meridian) (7-2)
#15 Toledo (Cumberland) (5-4) at #2 Casey (C.-Westfield) (9-0)
#10 Bridgeport (Red Hill) (6-3) at #7 Westville (7-2)
#14 Warrensburg (W.-Latham) (5-4) at #3 Maroa (M.-Forsyth) (8-1)
#11 Alton (Marquette) (6-3) at #6 Johnston City (7-2)

Morning everyone, time to recap area high school football from a Friday night that saw plenty of wind, rain and lightning delays, but most games were played, starting with the South Newton Rebels opened their Indiana Sectional 33 Class A playoffs at home against West Central, and the Rebels win a close one 19-16. Kody Wilson and Jace Snodgrass each with a TD run, There was also a safety and a clutch 22-yard FG by Evan Brown. South Newton at 7-3, will travel Friday to Lake Station to face the 1-9 Fighting Eagles.

On Momence’s senior night, the Redskins beat the Central Comets 34-16, Momence claims the Sangamon Valley Conference. Clayton Simpson another magnificent night, threw for 319 yards, ran for 1 TD and passed for 4 more, to Drew Sain, DeMar Brown, David Clayton, and Calvin Phillips. Central QB Trent Faulkner meanwhile threw TD passes to Zach Webber and Jarrett Hixson.

So now 8-1 Momence will open their playoffs at home against 5-4 Farmington. While Central finishes 7-2 and will open their playoffs at home against bitter rival Watseka. You’ll recall on Oct. 17, Central won on their Senior night over Watseka, 30-24.

Speaking of the Warriors, on their rainy Senior Night, they beat Iroquois West 44-6. Dylan DeFauw with 2 TD runs and 2 TD passes, Marcel Maiden with a TD run and a TD catch, and Drew Watts had a touchdown catch and even caused a safety. Alex Hall also rushing for 123 yards. So Watseka finishes 6-3.

The Milford Bearcats pounded Hoopeston 56-0. Kyle Evans 199 yards and 4 TDs, Ryan Kunce with 120 all-purpose yards and 2 TD runs, Trevor Lucht with a 33 yd TD pass to Jordan Scherf. Milford finishes at 5-4, and although they did not earn enough playoff points to go to post-season, Milford did achieve their first winning football season in 11 years.

Keep it tuned to 94.1 FM and wgfaradio.com for the latest broadcast schedule for Dralle’s high school playoff football. This is Tom Conn reporting for WGFA 94.1 FM

For those of you looking for the audio for the Watseka Might Mights play by play of the superbowl game, click on over and download it for your archives.

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Area high school football from Friday night, we start with Senior Night at Clifton Central as the Comets & Watseka Warriors exchanged the lead 5 times before the Comets prevailed 30-24. Central’s Trent Faulkner with 4 TD passes, two of them to Matt Lemenager, including the game winner with about 3 minutes to go. Watseka’s Dylan Defauw with a TD run and 2 TD passes to Sawyer Harris in the losing cause, as Watseka falls to 5-3, and the Comets improve to 7-1.

Joe Kubal’s Momence Redskins also go to 7-1 with a 48-12 trouncing of PBL. QB Clayton Simpson with 2 TD runs and 2 TD passes both to Drew Sain, who also had an interception return for another TD. Calvin Phillips also pitching in with 137 yards rushing and a TD. So Central and Momence will face off for the Sangamon Valley Conference this Friday.

In other action, the Milford Bearcats pull out an overtime thriller at home over Fithian Oakwood, 21-20. Trevor Lucht with a TD pass and TD run, Kyle Evans with 74 rushing yards, including a 5-yard TD run in OT. After Oakwood scored in OT, the Bearcats foiled a 2-point conversion, sending Milford to 4-4. A win over Hoopeston next week would give Milford their first winning season, and maybe their first playoff berth in 11 years.

Another fine night of receiving for South Newton’s Trent Allenduff, 9 receptions for 137 yards and a 1st quarter TD pass from Tyler Lowe, but that was the only score the Rebels had against South Vermillion, who beat the Rebels 21-6, ending South Newton’s 4-game win streak, and the Rebels finish the regular season 6-3.

In Gilman, Matt Ulrichs of Iroquois West had 58 yards rushing, but Joe Parkhill of St. Thomas More countered with 164 rushing yards and a TD, as the Sabers defeated the Raiders 26-0.

Join us this Friday for a big night of Dralle’s high school football, our live game will be S. Newton opening the Class A Sectional 33 Playoffs at home vs. West Central; with phone updates from the Central Comets @ Momence game, followed afterward by taped coverage of Iroquois West @ Watseka. For 94.1 WGFA, this is Tom Conn.

Morning everyone, recapping area high school football from Friday night, we start at Blake Field in Watseka, where the Warriors knocked out long-time nemesis St. Joseph Ogden 47-14. Warriors QB Dylan DeFauw passing for 177 yards, 3 TD passes, 1 TD run, and an 81-yard interception return for a TD. Alex Hall also contributing with 2 TD runs to help the Warriors improve to 5-2.

In Gilman, longtime rivals Central and Iroquois West once again in a physical and close battle for 3-plus quarters, including 7 lead changes, but in the 4th quarter the Comets took firm control, winning 45-22, sending the Comets to 6-1. Central’s QB Trent Faulkner 13/18 for 202 yards, 2 touchdowns. Logan Mathy 140 yards rushing, and Matt Lemenager catching 2 TD passes. The Raiders Matt Ulrichs performed admirably, having to fill in at QB after starter Colby Barham was knocked out of this game, and perhaps the season, after a violent hit. Ulrichs 166 all-purpose yards and 3 TD runs. Connor Coleman also had a 24-yard TD run before a knee injury forced him out of the game.

The Momence Redskins travelled 4 hours south to Edwardsville on Saturday to take on Metro-East Lutheran, and it was well worth the trip– 61-21 Momence, as Calvin Phillips with 4 touchdowns, 160 yards rushing. QB Clayton Simpson threw for 300 yards, 5 touchdown passes, 2 to Drew Sain. David Clayton, DeMar Brown also with a TD as the Redskins now go to 6-1.

Down at Milford, Nate Albaugh’s Bearcats had a convincing 43-7 win over Danville Schlarman. Kyle Evans 2 TD runs, Trevor Lucht 168 yards passing and 2 TD passes. Beau Fitzgerald had a TD on a fumble return, while Ryan Kunce also made an interception for a score, to help improve Milford to 3-4.

Across the border, the South Newton Rebels jumped out to a 22-0 lead over North White after 1 quarter, courtesy of 3 TD passes from Tyler Lowe, all to Trent Allenduff who finished with 212 yards receiving and despite not scoring again, the Rebels held off the Vikings for a 22-20 win, to send the Rebels to 6-2.

Join us this Friday night for Dralle’s high school football, a big feature game, it’ll be Watseka @ Central, we’ll also have phone updates from St. Thomas More @ Iroquois West. For 94.1 WGFA, this is Tom Conn.

by Ariel Schroeder

GILMAN — The Iroquois West girls’ volleyball team beat Hoopeston in three games 25-15, 21-25, 25-16 on Saturday.

Senior Ariel Schroeder had seven blocks and nine kills. Juniors Nikki Fatka added six kills and Riley Schroeder with five.

Senior Holly Pence had 15 digs for the Raiders. Teammate Ashley Morris had seven.

Senior Audra Fink scored four aces. Morris had 16 assists.

“The girls made some unforced errors in the second game due to mental mistakes, but we were able to recover and play a nice third game,” Iroquois West coach Christina Brown said. Although everyone on the team stepped up and that is why we were able to overcome our mistakes and take home a victory.”

Hoopeston’s Bethany Heddig’s 18 digs weren’t enough to help the Cornjerkers (10-9) on this Saturday morning game.Laura Williams also had a solid all-around game with 10 digs, three blocks and four assists to help her team earn points.

The Iroquois West Raiders will play at Momence on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.