The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Mike Rodeffer, The Quill
The Illini West Chargers football team came away with a 36-8 victory over South Fulton Rebels last Friday night to notch their 6th victory of the season and make the Illinois State Playoffs.
The Chargers scored on a 16 yard TD pass from Jackson Porter to Michael Lord after Lord had run the Rebel punt back to the 16 yard line.
Porter passed to Carter Boyer for the extra points and the Chargers led 8-0 halfway through the first quarter.
The first half was filled with penalties on both teams. South Fulton came back with a drive of their own, aided by some IW penalties. South Fulton tied the game at 8-8 with a 66 yard drive.
The Chargers bounced back. Starting on their own 38 yard line, Lord ran for 2 yards and Colton Sargeant ran for 9 yards. Sargeant ran 16 more yards.
A Rebel late hit and a Rebel unsportsman penalty moved the ball to the 7 yard line. Nick Voorhies ran in for the TD on the next play. Extra point failed but IW led 14-8.
South Fulton moved the ball into IW territory as time ran out in the half. Score at halftime was still 14-8.
IW received the kickoff in the second half and marched down the field for a TD. Voorhies ran for 13, 6 and 2 yards. Lord added 4 and 7 yards. Sargeant added 4 more yards. Voorhies again ran for consecutive yardage of 10, 7, and 2 yards.
From the 6 yard line Sargeant ran 3 yards and Voorhies capped the drive off with a 3 yard run for his second TD on the night.
Porter ran the 2 point conversion in and IW now had a more comfortable lead at 22-8.
On South Fulton's next possession, IW's Ty Jackson tackled a Rebel running back in the back field for a 4 yard loss, forcing the Rebels to punt.
IW took the ball and went on a 10 play 60 yard scoring drive. Voorhies ran for 8, 3, and 5 yards.
Sargeant added a 15 yard run, Voorhies 3 more, and Lord added 3 and 5 yards. Sargeant ran 14 yards down to the 5 yard line and Sargeant ran the next play in for a TD. Sargeant ran the extra points in and IW led 30-8.
The IW defense again stopped South Fulton and took over on their own 45 yard line. Voorhies ran for 8 straight plays and scored his 3rd TD on a 6 yard run.
Extra point failed. IW had the lead of 36-8.
The IW defense was very strong in the final quarter. Carter Willdrick intercepted a Rebel pass late in the game for IW.
Voorhies finished with 143 yards and 3 touch downs. Sargeant had 88 yards and 1 TD.
Lord had a 16 yard TD reception and also ran for 52 yards. Porter threw for 58 yards.
Illini West (6-3) will travel to Marao-Forsyth (8-1) in the first round of the 2 A playoffs.