Dougherty on Rock Island

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Two teams in a must-win situation to keep their slim playoff chances alive meet tonight as Galesburg entertains Rock Island on Senior Night at Van Dyke Field. 

Both teams enter the game at 1-and-3 in the Western Big-6, but — more importantly — 3-and-4 overall and needing to win their last two games to qualify for the postseason.

If Galesburg can become playoff-eligible, it would be the first time in school history the football team will have played in the postseason in consecutive years.

Streaks head coach Tim Dougherty says making the playoffs is absolutely still an emphasized goal, “We talk about it, that’s why we work. We put the work in in the offseason and summer. It’s surely not easy – if it were. We’ve been trying to do it for the eleventh consecutive season. There’s something to that. Until we bury that hatchet it’s still out there.”

First-year Rock Island coach Ben Hammer says his team’s biggest improvement as the season has gone along has been the play of the offensive line, “Our offensive line has really stepped up and done a really great job. We kind of hang our hat on the power-run play and the counter-run play. And those five guys have really done a great job of opening up holes for our runningbacks and our quarterbacks.”

Speaking of Rocky’s offensive line, Dougherty says he is impressed with Rock Island’s offensive line and ability to score quickly, “My concern is that they’re able to push us around up front and find some – (or) create bigger creases for their runningbacks. They always have better skill kids than we do – at least more of them – and that’s my concern.”

When it comes to their offense, Dougherty says he wants his team to be able to put together some sustained drives to keep the ball away from Rock Island’s offense.

He says, “They’ve got some explosive players in the receiver-core. I hope that we’ll be able to manage the game – time of possession is going to be critical.”

Pre-game broadcast on WGIL begins at 7:06 tonight with Senior Night coverage following the sophomore contest.


AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

WESTERN BIG 6
Quincy @ United Township
Moline @ Alleman

PRAIRIELAND
Abingdon-Avon @ Farmington
Knoxville @ Elmwood/Brimfield
North Fulton @ Peoria Heights/Quest
Bushnell-Prairie City/West Prairie @ South Fulton
Illini West @ Rushville-Industry
Havana @ Lewistown

LINCOLN TRAIL
United @ Mercer County
Annawan/Wethersfield @ Mid-County
Ridgewood @ West Central
Princeville @ Stark Counth

THREE RIVERS (MISSISSIPPI)
Spring Valley Hall @ Erie-Prophetstown
Peru St. Bede @ Kewanee
Princeton @ Monmouth-Roseville
Port Byron @ Sherrard

THREE RIVERS (ROCK)
Fulton @ Sterling Newman
Orion @Bureau Valley
Rockridge @ Morrison

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