PREP FOOTBALL: Oakwood, HAAP battle for survival
Sep. 28—HOOPESTON — In the sixth week of the season, teams are either ready for a playoff run or getting to a point where every game matters to keep the season alive.
Oakwood (3-2 overall and 3-2 in Vermilion Valley Conference) and Hoopeston Area/Armstrong-Potomac (2-3, 2-3) are two teams like that and a win in Friday's game can go a long way in trying to get that fifth win.
"This is such a big game for us." HAAP coach Carrick McDonald said. "In the beginning of the season, we talked about making the playoffs and that is something we have done four times in the program's existence and once in the last 30 years, so it is something that could be great for the community as well. If we take care of business, there is a clear path for us."
The Cornjerkrs are coming off a 47-7 win over Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman, which broke a three-game losing streak.
"You can look at our schedule and you can see that we have played some competitive teams," McDonald said. "Offensively, there have been some kinks we are working in and on defense, we have to make plays when we are in position to make them. With the rough stretch, we are getting into an easier part of the schedule and we are battle-tested now and against Georgetown, we wanted to show people what we think we are. We are a team that can run the ball hard and have a defense that makes you earn every yard you get."
The Comets had a three-game win streak of its own, but lost to Westville 49-28 at home last week.
"I told everyone that how our schedule broke early in the season, we played teams that we didn't really know while the other teams in the county were playing each other," Oakwood coach Cameron Lee said. "We scored a lot of points and I think we were not sure yet because we stack ourselves against teams we know and we learned a lot about ourselves. We are a good football team but there are things we have to improve on as we get to the final stretch of the season."
Lee also said that playoffs are something the team is working toward, but the Comets are focused on the Cornjerkers, who beat Oakwood 42-0 last season.
"It's been a couple of years since the Comets have been in the playoffs and it would be a huge testament to the hard work the kids have made," Lee said. "It is not the focus right now, but we are aware with it. To get to a point where we can make the playoffs is great, but we are focused on Hoopeston.
"We look at every opponent and we don't underestimate them. They are not .500 at this point, but they beat us badly last time, so you throw everything out the window and anything can happen. Hoopeston is a good team with athletes over the field so we are not taking them lightly.
The Cornjerkers depend on top players Kendrick Sigerill, Kollin Asbury and Ayden Larkin. Sigerill has passed for 193 yards and ran for 172 yards with four touchdowns, Larkin has rushed for 248 yards and four scores and Asbury had caught 11 passes for 119 yards.
"Those three guys have done a great job picking up the offense," McDonald said. "Kendrick was a receiver playing quarterback, but he is a huge kid and can run the ball pretty well. When you give Asbury the ball, you don't know what is going to happen because he's an electric playmaker and Larkin is a hard-nosed runner. He is not fast or shifty, but he is a bowling ball. He has made some great hits running the ball and we hope it continues."
The Comets have also done good work on offense. Jackson Dudley has passed for 728 yards with 12 touchdown passes, while Cameron Black has rushed for 747 yards with 11 touchdowns. Lee said the options they have are key for any situation.
"Coming into this season, we knew we had athletic guys and we can take advantage of teams with our offensive attack," Lee said. "The kids have bought into everything we have given them and they have performed at a high level. We don't want to be a one-trick pony. Against Westville, they bottled up the run game and then we had our best passing performance of the season. They have bought into the schemes and concepts and it is great to see them come to fruition.'
The game will start on Friday at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WITY-AM 980 and WITY-FM 99.5.
Salt Fork at Momence
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — Salt Fork 4-1 overall, 4-1 in Vermilion Valley Conference. Momence 5-0 overall, 5-0 in Vermilion Valley Conference.
Summary — After the Storm picked up a 14-13 win over Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, they will hit the road to face the VVC-leading Redskins. Salt Fork may need more than 14 points to pull off the win as Momence has scored at least 21 points and has gone as high as 50 points, but during the Storm's four-game winning streak, they have scored as much as 45 points.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin at Watseka
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — BHRA 3-2 overall, 3-2 in Vermilion Valley Conference. Watseka 1-4 overall, 1-4 in Vermilion Valley Conference.
Summary — After the close loss to the Storm, the Blue Devils are on the road again to try to bounce back against the Warriors. Watseka have lost its last four and are coming off a one-point loss of its own in a 13-12 loss to Clifton Central.
Clifton Central at Westville
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — Clifton Central 2-3 overall, 2-3 in Vermilion Valley Conference. Westville 4-1 overall, 4-1 in Vermilion Valley Conference.
Radio — WHRK-FM 94.9
Summary — The Tigers have scored 49 points in each of the last two games and hope to continue the streak in front of the home fans. The Comets barely won last week and hope a win will put them on the road for a playoff spot, but in their last trip to Vermilion County, BHRA beat them 56-14.
Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman at Iroquois West
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — GRFC 0-5 overall, 0-5 in Vermilion Valley Conference. Iroquois West 1-4 overall, 1-4 in Vermilion Valley Conference
Summary — The Buffaloes hit the road again to try to get that big first win in coach Dwayne Grider's run. The last time GRFC was in Iroquois County, it lost a close 27-20 decision to Clifton Central. This time, the Buffaloes face the Raiders, who has beaten Watseka, but have lost three in a row.
Schlarman Academy at Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — Schlarman 1-4 overall, Metro-East Lutheran 1-4 overall
Summary — After forfeiting last week's game against St. Thomas More, the Hilltoppers are back on the road against the Knights in non-conference play. Metro-East Lutheran is coming off its first win of the season with a 62-34 win over Unity Christian/Mount Pulaski.
Covington at Seeger
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern Friday
Records — Seeger 5-1 overall, 4-0 in Wabash River Conference, Covington 3-3 overall, 1-3 in Wabash River Conference.
Radio — WKZS-FM 103.1
Summary — The Patriots are coming off a thrilling win over Fountain Central to hold on to a part of the top spot of the conference, while the Trojans are coming off a 15-6 win over Parke Heritage which broke a 3-game losing streak. With Seeger set to face South Vermillion for the conference lead next week, they are not going to take the Trojans lightly.
Fountain Central at South Vermillion
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern Friday
Records — Fountain Central 4-2 overall, 3-1 in the Wabash River Conference. South Vermillion 5-1 overall, 4-0 in the Wabash River Conference.
Summary — The Mustangs were close to staying unbeaten in the WRC, but has a chance to try to take down the other leader in the conference. The Wildcats are on top because of their offense, they have scored at least 35 points in each of their games and have scored at least 40 in their wins. In the last three games, the Mustangs have scored at least 40.
Parke Heritage at North Vermillion
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern
Records — Parke Heritage 2-4 overall, 1-3 in Wabash River Conference. North Vermillion 4-2 overall, 3-1 in Wabash River Conference.
Summary — The Falcons are still in the hunt, but has to stay winning and the Wolves are in the way. North Vermillion is coming off a 46-0 win over Attica and hopes to continue a run where they have outscored opponents 74-14 in the last two games.
