NUIC Playoff Recap

Lena-Winslow continues to destroy its foes. Even a previously unbeaten Aquin they rolled over 52-20 Saturday in the 1A quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs had a great season going 11-1 winning the NUIC South and return many players and should be very tough and make a deep run in the playoffs next year.

The Panthers now 12-0 are not letting it up. They now meet the No 1 seed in the North in 12-0 Annawan-Wethersfield Saturday at 1 at Kewanee Wethersfield In the semi-final. Lena-Winslow is well aware where they were upset by Forreston in last year's semifinal who went to win the state title.

AW beat a previously unbeaten strong Morrison team 20-13.

This year's Panthers led by the senior duo of Sean Ormiston and Isaiah Bruce on offense and defense and they have been dominating. Ormiston set the NUIC all-time rushing record for career touchdowns with 60. He scored a pair of touchdowns and had 157 yards rushing. Bruce on only four attempts had 65 yards and two touchdowns. Marey Roby had 112 yards on only five carries and a 76-yard touchdown. Quarterback Luke Benson hooked up with Kade Chrisman for a pair of touchdown passes.

Other Stateline schools in 2A Sterling Newman shutout Knoxville 28-0 and host Minook Fieldcrest next in the semifinal. In 3A Byron beat Wilmington 32-0 and play at Princeton in the semifinal. In 4A Richmond Burton defeated Elmhurst IC Catholic 24-24 and play in the semifinal at Coal City. In 5A Rockford Boylan stayed unbeaten at 12-0 by edging Sycamore 19-16. The Titans now play in the semi-final at Chicago St. Rita. The last time Boylan won the state football championship was in back to back years in 2010 and 2011. The heroics came from Xavier Bryant for Boylan who returned two fumbled for touchdowns down the stretch for the win.

Two schools that were in the NUIC just last year are now playing for a State Championship in other leagues this weekend. This also shows how strong small-town football in the NUIC area is.

On Thursday night Blackhawk/Warren will play for the Wisconsin Division 7 State Championship at the University of Wisconsin Camp Randall playing Edgar Thursday night. Last year just Blackhawk beat Edgar 22-15 for the state championship. This year they were joined by Illinois school Warren and won their semifinal Friday over Lourdes Academy 34-7.

In 8 man football Polo in their first year will play for the State Championship Friday night at 7 p.m. at Monmouth College meeting Milford Cissna Park. Both teams are 11-0. Polo knocked out River Ridge 64-20 in the semifinal. Polo finished it's first 8 man season 8-4. The Marcos led 32-20 at the half. Then held River Ridge scored while scoring 32 more unanswered points and breaking the game open. Quarterback Tucker Mumford connected with Jace Coffey for a 77-yard aerial. Then Alex Davies took it 86 yards to the house. Mumford added a 16-yard keeper and Coffey had a 21 yard TD run to lead 24-6.