Six teams from the WGIL-FM 95 listening area — including ROWVA-Williamsfield, Monmouth-Roseville and Farmington — have advanced to the second round of the IHSA State Football Playoffs.
As heard on FM 95, Spencer Brown scored four touchdowns, including three rushing TD’s, as ROWVA-Williamsfield advanced to the second round of the Class 1A playoffs for the second straight season, defeating Sterling Newman 28-14. But it was a daring fourth down fake punt early in the fourth quarter that helped turn the tide for the Cougars, which improved to 8-2.
Leading 20-14 and facing a 4th-and-5 from their own 43 with just under 10 minutes left in the game, Coach Grant Gullstrand called a fake punt, which the Cougars converted with a 29-yard pass play from Preston Schroeder to tight end Talan Hull.
ROWVA-Willamsfield went on to complete a game-clinching 11-play scoring drive, capped off by Brown’s third rushing TD, to take a two-touchdown lead, which capped off the scoring.
Devonte Noel sealed the victory with an interception at the 3:01 mark of the final quarter, and the Cougars ran out the clock by converting two more first downs.
The Cougars will play at home in round 2 of the 1A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday against Lincoln Trail rival Stark County (10-0), which won its opening-round game Friday night, 34-20 over Princeville. The Rebels handed ROWVA-Williamsfield its first loss of the season, 24-14 back on Sept. 29.
In a Class 2A game heard on 1400 AM WGIL, Knoxville fell 16-8 to Momence on Saturday at Bradley Bourbonnais. The Blue Bullets scored on their first drive and led 8-0. The game was tied at 8 at halftime before Momence scored the go-ahead touchdown in the second half.
Knoxville ends the season at 7-3.
Monmouth-Roseville went on the road and defeated Poplar Grove (North Boone) 35-14 in a Class 3A game. Monmouth-Roseville (6-4) will play host to Princeton (9-1) in a second-round game at a time to be determined. Princeton advanced with a 44-7 win over Paxton (Buckley-Loda).
Elsewhere in Class 1A, Kewanee Wethersfield defeated Deer Creak Mackinaw 41-6. In the second round, Wethersfield will play host to Morrison, a 34-12 winner over Fulton, in a battle of 9-1 teams.
In Class 2A, Farmington (9-1) defeated Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin 28-23; Rockridge topped Westville 37-21; and Wilmington downed Mercer County 41-14.
Rockridge (9-1) will play host to No. 1 see Seneca (10-0) in a second-round game.
Peoria Notre Dame defeated Kewanee 28-13 in a Class 3A game Friday.
In games involving Western Big 6 Conference teams, Sterling stunned No. 1 seed Chicago Payton 50-0 in Class 5A and Quincy crushed West Chicago 44-14 in Class 7A. Geneseo played at Elmhurst (IC Catholic) in a Class 4A game Saturday night.