Eastland-Pearl City closing in on NUIC Northwest title
Wildcatz run wild
Eastland-Pearl City clinched at least a share of the Northwest Upstate Illini Northwest title with a 45-7 victory at Dakota on Friday night.
The Wildcatz (8-0) can clinch an undisputed title next week with a home victory over Forreston.
Tyler Thomas rushed 13 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns to pace the EPC attack.
The Wildcatz also had three special teams scores. Cody Kluck returned a kickoff 84 yards for one score and a punt 75 yards for another. Donny Groezinger added a 66-yard punt return for another score.
Dakota averted a shutout after a 13-yard TD run by Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter.
Galena 50, West Carroll 7: Shaun Magill’s 83-yard kickoff return in the first quarter provided the lone highlight for the Thunder in a road loss to the Pirates.
West Carroll had just 59 yards of total offense, compared to 510 by the Pirates.
Austin Long (13 carries, 175 yards, 2 TDs), Jesse Sinagra (10 carries, 118 yards, 3 TDs) and Roberto Salgado (13 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD) led Galena.
Warren 39, AFC 22: Jake Kaecker rushed 20 times for 151 yards for the Raiders in a home loss to Warren.
AFC climbed to within 21-16 early in the third quarter after a 6-yard TD pass from Andrew LeFevre to Paul Rod, but Warren responded with three straight scores to seize control.
Brady Raab rushed 13 times for 146 yards, including TD runs of 33 and 70 yards, to lead Warren.
River Ridge 36, Milledgeville 6: The Missiles (1-7, 1-6 NUIC Upstate) managed just a lone score in a road loss.
