NUIC Football Week 5 Recap

By Al Zipsie

Eastland/Pearl City came into Lena-Winslow Friday and ended the Panthers 18 game winning streak. It included an unbeaten state championship last year and four easy wins to start this season.

E/PC, who will likely move up from the AP 6th ranked 2A team knocked off the No 1 ranked 1A Lena-Winslow 20-14. E/PC stays unbeaten in five outings for first-year head coach Jared McNutt, who came over from Warren. The Wildcats were leading 20-7 in the fourth quarter when Lena-Winslow's Sean Ormiston took a fumble 60 yards to the house and close the gap to a touchdown at 20-14. After both teams traded turnovers. The Panthers held E/PC and got the ball back at their own 37-yard line. Lena-Winslow drove to the Wildcatz' ten yard line in the final minute.

Then E/PC came up big with a stop as Panthers quarterback Cade Benson's pass intended for Isaiah Bruce in the end zone was incomplete with 15 seconds left on a fourth and goal at the 15 yard line. The game with the NUIC powers was marred by turnovers with eight total.

It was the second straight big win for E/PC who just last week won easily over Forreston. The loss may be motivation for Lena-Winslow to get back on track as they defend their 1A state title.

In other NUIC Northwest games Galena shutout West Carroll 10-0 and East Dubuque got by Amboy-LaMoille 27-21. Dakota blanked Durand/Pecatonica 36-0 behind quarterback Josh Clark running for three touchdowns and Trey Engelbrecht adding 115 yards rushing and a touchdown.

In the Upstate, Stockton held on to beat River Ridge 22-14. Colin Dvorak of the Blackhawks shined on both offense and defense. He had 198 yards rushing with a pair of touchdowns and eleven tackles on defense. Dvorak scored on a one yard plunge with 4:16 left in the game for the winning TD. For River Ridge Speer passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

Polo playing without Brady Webb who dislocated a shoulder last Friday, were tied with Warren at halftime 14 all. But went on to win 28-14 holding the Warriors to just 22 yards rushing for the game.

In a non league game, Ashton/Franklin Center stayed win less falling 26-14 to South Beloit. In a crossover game, Forreston racked up a 62-33 win over Aquin. The Bulldogs led 13-6 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Cradinals then outsocred them 56 to 20 the rest of the way.

On Saturday in a Upstate battle, it was Milledgeville who stayed unbeaten holding off Orangeville 20-14. Garret Rodebaugh had a three yard TD run with 7:29 left in the game cutting the lead to 20-14. Rodebaugh also had a 59 yard touchdown pass from Carter Kleckler earlier in the game.

The Missiles got the ball back with 7:29 left and ran out the clock. Cayde Gusloff had 112 yards rushing in the win.

The Broncos fell to 3-2 but showed they can play with the state ranked teams like the Missiles. Orangeville now will face Aquin who will be trying to break a two game losing streak.

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Rankings.

Eastland/Pearl City. 5-0.
Lena-Winslow. 4-1.
Milldedgeville. 5-0.
Forreston. 3-2.
Dakota. 4-1.
Orangeville. 3-2.
Polo. 4-1.
Stockton. 3-2.
Aquin. 3-2.
East Dubuque. 2-3.
Galena 2-3.
Amboy. 2-3.
West Carroll. 2-3.
River Ridge. 2-3.
Durand/Pecatonica. 0-5.
Warren. 0-5.
Ashton/Franklin Center. 0-5.

NUIC Media picks panel.

Top weekly record was Matt Trowbridge, of the Feeeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star who was 7-2 after being the only one to pick E/PC over Lena-Winslow and Galena over West Carroll. Terry Wentz also went 7-2 on the week and sits in second place. Zipsie increased his lead to three games aided by one of only three to take South Beloit over A/FC. Tied for third are Scott Leber WTVO, Terry Werntz former Dakota and Freeport football coach, Cody Cutter of Sauk Valley News and Trowbridge.

Weekly and overall records.

Al Zipsie. Stateline Sports Hub. 6-3 and 38-7.

Terry Werntz. Former Dakota and Freeport coach. 7-2 and 36-9.

Scott Leber. WTVO. 5-4 and 35-10.

Cody Cutter, Sauk Valley News. 5-4 and 35-10.

Matt Trowbridge. Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star. 7-2 and 35-10.

Kyle Kampmier. NUIC Football Fanatics. 5-4 and 34-11.

Shane Klever. NUIC Football Fanatics. 5-4 and 34-11.

Joe Dredge. WROK/Stateline Sports Hub. 6-3 and 34-11.

Mike Buda. WIFR. 5-4 and 33-12.

Pete Leinweber. Deep Dish Football. 6-3 and 32-13.

Tim O'Hallaran. Edgytim.com. 5-4 and 31-14.