By Greg Halbleib
Normal Community clinched a share of the Big Twelve Conference title and Normal West solidified a playoff berth in highlights from the next-to-last week of the high school football regular season.
Peoria 42, Bloomington 26: Ben Wellman completed 14 of 28 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough as Bloomington (3-5, 3-4 Big Twelve) was eliminated from post-season contention with the loss. Dionte Griffin caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception return for a touchdown while Eric Johnson had five receptions for 174 yards and one touchdown for the Purple Raiders. Javier Guyton ran 37 times for 200 yards to lead Peoria (7-1, 6-1 Big Twelve) while Gabe Hernandez was 18 of 28 through the air for 233 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Normal Community 41, Champaign Centennial 13: The Ironmen set up a showdown between two of the top teams in the Big Twelve Conference as they visit Peoria in the regular season finale next Friday. Normal Community (7-1, 6-0) was paced by Aidan Oliver with 112 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding 102 rushing yards with three touchdowns. The Ironmen defense forced four turnovers by Centennial (0-8, 0-7) and less than 150 yards offense.
Normal West 49, Champaign Central 14: Carson Camp completed 13 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns with one interception while adding seven carries for 22 yards and a touchdown for West (6-2, 6-1 Big Twelve). Latre Billups added 102 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns for the victorious Wildcats. Central fell to 3-5 and 3-4.
Springfield 27, U-High 13: The Pioneers led 13-7 at halftime but Springfield (6-2) took advantage of a pair of U-High fumbles to take the lead for good. Spencer Parker registered 127 rushing yards for U-High (2-6).
Illinois Valley Central 48, Central Catholic 34: Alex Merlo completed 16 passes for 204 yards with two interceptions to lead IVC (8-0). Jonathan Naour connected through the air 14 times for 234 yards and one interception for Central Catholic (3-5) while Jake Slaughter ran for 107 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.
Week 8 scores:
Big Twelve:
Peoria 42, Bloomington 26
Normal Community 41, Champaign Centennial 13
Normal West 49, Champaign Central 14
Danville 27, Peoria Richwoods 10
Peoria Manual 34, Urbana 0
Illini Prairie:
Pontiac 40, St. Thomas More 18
Tolono Unity 44, Rantoul 14
St. Joseph-Ogden 41, Olympia 21
Prairie Central 59, Monticello 37
Central State Eight:
Springfield 27, U-High 13
Decatur MacArthur 54, Decatur Eisenhower 0
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 55, Jacksonville 16
Chatham Glenwood 56, Springfield Southeast 7
Rochester at Springfield Lanphier, Sat. 2 p.m.
Heart of Illinois Large:
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 27, El Paso-Gridley 0
Fieldcrest 21, Eureka 17
Tri-Valley 49, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 0
Heart of Illinois Small:
Fisher 42, Ridgeview-Lexington 14
LeRoy 12, Heyworth 7
Apollo:
Lincoln 29, Mattoon 28 (OT)
Central Illinois:
Clinton 66, Okaw Valley 38
Lincoln Prairie:
Arcola 49, Blue Ridge 13
Non-Conference:
Dwight-Gardner-South Wilmington 32, Hoopeston Area 8
Tremont 26, Peoria Heights 6
Peoria Notre Dame 57, Collinsville 23
Eight-Man:
Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland 32, North Fulton 0
Sports Director Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
