NUIC Football Week 6 Recap

By Al Zipsie

Milledgeville and Eastland/Pearl City (both unbeaten in six outings) have guaranteed a spot in playoffs after week six.

Milledgeville ranked 9th in the state in 1A rolled over Warren 46-6 in the NUIC Upstate. The Missiles scored all seven touchdowns with rushing, led by Cayde Gusloff with three and Carson Boyer and Nate Rahn with two each.

E/PC ranked fifth in 2A beat Galena 34-7. Three third-quarter touchdowns broke the game open. Jayden Kempel led the Wildcatz' with 143 yards rushing on 20 carries with three touchdowns.

Dakota and Lena-Winslow both notched a fifth win and became playoff eligible. The Panthers ranked second in 1A defeated Amboy in a high scoring game 72-37. Amboy kicked a field goal on the first drive for a 3-0 lead. Then the Panthers roared, Sean Ormiston scored a total of six touchdowns in the win. Ormiston had 183 yards rushing on nine carries while Isaiah Bruce added 114 yards on only five rushes. For Amboy quarterback, Mitchell McLaughlin was 17 of 39 passing for 253 yards and three touchdown passes. Marcus Winn had 159 receiving yards with two touchdowns.

The Indians beat West Carroll 44-12. Dakota was led on the ground by Trey Engelbrecht with 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Aden Cassidy added 134 yards and a TD. Zack King led West Carroll's defense with 17 tackles.

In the other NUIC Northwest game, Forreston beat East Dubuque 44-12.

In the Upstate, Stockton blanked Ashton/Franklin Center 52-0. Blackhawks quarterback Garrett Buske clicked on 5 of 8 passes for 121 yards. Chase Rowe had four of those receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The rushing game was led by Colin Dvorak with a pair of touchdowns and Jason Hermann (one TD) both had 116 yards rushing. A/FC had eight turnovers.

River Ridge shutout Polo 6-0. Both teams are leaving the NUIC for eight-man football next year. Polo without injured running back Brady Webb was held scoreless. The only score came as River Ridge's Jacob Speer connected with Nick Parr for a 46 yard aerial in the third quarter. Speer was 10 of 26 for 162 yards passing. For Polo Bennett Soltow was 11 for 21 for 135 yards and two interceptions.

On Saturday Durand/Pecatonica notched their first win of the season at home 10-0 in a non-league game over Madison. It showed how strong the NUIC is, while Du/Pec was win less they knocked off Madison who was unbeaten at 5-0. The Rivermen defense came up big with the shutout.

Also, Saturday Orangeville knocked off Aquin for the first time since 2008. The Broncos won in overtime 26-20. It was the third straight loss for Aquin, who started 3-0, the young but talented Bulldogs face River Ridge, Stockton, and Milledgeville. The Broncos Garret Rodebaugh rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns. After a Breyton Schofield interception on Aquin in OT. It was Rodebaugh who scored on third and a yard for the win.

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Rankings.

Eastland/Pearl City. 6-0.
Lena-Winslow. 5-1.
Milledgeville. 6-0.
Forreston. 4-2.
Dakota. 5-1.
Stockton. 4-2.
Orangeville. 4-2.
Aquin. 3-3.
River Ridge. 3-3.
Polo. 4-2.

NUIC Media Picks. Week six was a tie for first with Kyle Kampmier of the NUIC Football Fanatics and Al Zipsie, of the Stateline Sports Hub, both were 8-1 only losing the Du/Pec game. Both did have River Ridge to beat Polo and Orangeville over Aquin. Zipsie has a three-game lead with three weeks left.

Weekly and overall records.

Al Zipsie. Stateline Sports Hub. 8-1. 46-8.

Terry Werntz. Former Dakota and Freeport coach. 7-2. 43-11.

Scott Leber. WTVO. 7-2. 42-12.

Kyle Kampmier. NUIC Football Fanatics. 8-1. 42-12.

Matt Trowbridge. Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star. 7-2. 42-12

Cody Cutter. Sauk Valley News. 7-2. 42-12.

Shane Klever. NUIC Football Fanatics. 7-2. 41-13.

Joe Dredge. WROK/Stateline Sports Hub. 7-2. 41-13.

Mike Buda. WIFR. 7-2. 40-14.

Pete Leinweber Deep Dish Football. 7-2. 39-15.

Tim O Halloran. Edgytim.com 7-2. 38-16.