NUIC Football Week 4 Recap

By Al Zipsie

It was a crazy week four of NUIC football Friday.

In the Northwest, Eastland/Pearl City turned in a signature win. The 9th ranked team in the AP 2A state rankings handled No. 8 in 1A in Forreston in a surprising manner, 34-8. Now they have to turn around and face the state's top-ranked Lena-Winslow next Friday.

E/PC trailed 8-6 before they scored the next 26 unanswered points. Jayden Kempel had the first three touchdowns for the Wildcats. E/PC rolled up 330 yards while holding in check a Forreston rushing attack that gained almost 500 yards in the prior week.

Lena-Winslow rolled on 42-7 over Galena. Amboy beat Durand/Pecatonica 24-6. Dakota was locked in a battle with East Dubuque and barely escaped with a 35-29 victory. Trey Engelbrecht led the Indians with 158 yards rushing and a touchdown.

In the Upstate Polo gave Aquin it's first defeat winning a 28-20 battle. Both teams are now 3-1 on the season. The Marcos lost standout Brady Webb to a separated shoulder which may put him out for the season in the second quarter. Then on the next play, Aquin quarterback William Gustafson went 47 yards giving Aquin the lead. However, with Webb the main back out, it was Tyler Mumford who picked up the slack and ended with 107 yards rushing on 19 carries. Polo quarterback Braiden Soltow converted a key fourth down for a two-yard touchdown to give them the lead for good at 21-20. Mumford later sealed the win with a seven-yard TD run.

River Ridge rolled over Warren 45-14 and Orangeville soundly whipped Ashton/Franklin Center 56-0.

In a crossover game, it was West Carroll from the Northwest with an 18-12 upset over Stockton of the Upstate. In the non-league game, Milledgeville stayed unbeaten with a 61-0 rout of Blue Ridge.

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Rankings.

Lena-Winslow 4-0
Eastland/Pearl City 4-0
Milledgeville 4-0
Forreston 2-2
Dakota 3-1
Polo 3-1
Orangeville 3-1
Amboy 2-2
West Carroll 2-2
Aquin 3-1

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Media picks.

Al Zipsie of the Stateline Sports Hub and Joe Dredge of WROK/Stateline Sports Hub both were only two of three on panel who had E/PC over Forreston and Polo over Aquin. They shared the best record at 8-1, both lost with West Carroll beating Stockton. Zipsie leads with a 32-4 record. Tim O'Hallaran and Cody Cutter both were next at 7-2 and both had West Carroll beating Stockton.

Weekly and overall records.

Al Zipsie. 32-4 and 8-1. Stateline Sports Hub.

Cody Cutter. 30-6 and 7-2, Sauk Valley News.

Scott Leber. 30-6 and 6-3. WTVO TV.

Kyle Kampmier. 29-7 and 6-3. NUIC Football Fanatics.

Shane Klever. 29-7 and 6-3. NUIC Football Fanatics.

Terry Werntz. 29-7 and 6-3. Former Dakota and Freeport football coach.

Matt Trowbridge. 28-8 and 6-3. Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star.

Mike Buda. 28-8 and 6-3. WIFR TV.

Joe Dredge. 28-8 and 8-1. WROK/Stateline Sports Hub.

Tim O'Hallaran. 26-10 and 7-2. Edgytim.com

Pete Leinweber. 26-10 and 6-3. Deep Dish Football.