NUIC Football Week 1 Recap

By Al Zipsie

The NUIC football season openers ended Saturday afternoon with Polo knocking off host Orangeville 34-31. The Marcos trailed 31-21 going into the fourth quarter when they held the Broncos and scored two touchdowns to take the lead for good.

In Friday games Aquin held off Kirkland Hiawatha 21-14 in a non-league game.

William Gustafson the Bulldogs sophomore quarterback contributed 354 of total offensive yards and was in on all three touchdowns. He ran for 174 and two touchdowns and passed for 180 and a touchdown.

In the crossover game, Milledgeville of the Upstate whipped Amboy of the Northwest 36-7. The Missiles broke open a tight 14-7 halftime lead. The spark came from Carson Boyer he took the opening second-half kickoff 80 yards to the house. Nate Rahn had 150 yards on 14 rushes and a pair of touchdowns.

In the NUIC Northwest defending state champion, Lena-Winslow took up where they left off rolling past West Carroll 37-8. The Panthers said they would get the junior end, Isaiah Bruce, the ball more this season. He scored on a 70-yard run. Sean Ormiston rolled up 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just13 carries.

Dakota shutout Galena 35-0. Josh Clark a junior started his first game at quarterback and completed 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

Eastland/Pearl City blanked East Dubuque 28-0.

Forreston was tied at halftime and led 14-6 going into the final quarter before pulling away for a 30-6 win over Du/Pec.

In the Upstate River Ridge shutout, Ashton/Franklin Center 22-0 and Stockton had a 46-6 rout of Warren. Colin Dvorak rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

It's the final season in the NUIC for three Upstate teams in Polo and River Ridge both going to eight-man football. Warren is joining a Coop with a Wisconsin school. And the teams going to eight-man football both came up with season-opening wins.

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Rankings. Will go through the playoffs with weekly top ten.

1. Lena-Winslow
2. Dakota
3. Eastland/Pearl City
4. Forreston
5. Milledgeville
6. Stockton
7. Aquin
8. River Ridge
9. Polo
10. Orangeville

Here were the records for our Stateline Sports Hub media picks for the opening week.

Only Pete Leinweber of Deep Dish Football started the season with a perfect 9-0 record. He was one of only two on our panel who had Polo beating Orangeville.

Six went 8-1 in Terry Werntz former Dakota and Freeport head coach. Matt Trowbridge Rockford Register Star/Freeport Journal Standard. Al Zipsie Stateline Sports Hub. Kyle Kampmier and Shane Klever of the NUIC Football Fanatics and Scott Leber WTVO TV.

Going 7-2 were Joe Dredge. WROK Radio/Stateline Sports Hub. Cody Cutter Sauk Valley News. Mike Buda. WIFR TV. Tim O'Hallaran Edgytim.com was 6-3.