Rockford Week 7 football roundup: Girl soccer player's extra-point difference in 19-18 win
Rachel Busker, a junior soccer player, became one of the few girls to ever decide a NIC-10 football game. Her extra-point after Freeport’s first touchdown was the difference in the Pretzels’ 19-18 win over Jefferson on Friday night.
“Thank God we have a kicker,” Freeport coach Anthony Dedmond said.
More: Week 7 football Stillman Valley's Braden Rogers and Lena-Winslow's Gage Dunker lead Rockford's top performers
“We came in short handed, with only one running back and one linebacker. But those kids showed fight. They never gave up. They are a special group, regardless of what their record is.”
Jefferson (0-7) led 18-7 going into the fourth quarter. Freeport’s only score was a 70-yard run by Cam Verner. But Dedric Macon then scored on a 64-yard run and added a diving 25-yard touchdown catch with two minutes left. Freeport (2-5) then recovered a fumble on fourth down and ran out the clock.
East 16, Guilford 6
Javius Catlin had another big game with 186 yards and a TD on 34 carries to lift East (2-5) past Guilford (3-4). East's defense held Guilford to 186 total yards, including 58 yards rushing on 17 carries. The E-Rabs also intercepted two passes.
Auburn 19, Belvidere 8
Patrick Dubose Jr. ran for two touchdowns to help Auburn (4-3) keep its playoff hopes alive. Auburn's defense shut out Belvidere (1-6), with the Bucs' only touchdown coming on a pick-6 interception return by Jason Dean.
"Our offense did not play well," Belvidere coach Tony Ambrogio said. "We had a lot of mistakes and turnovers. It was closer than anticipated by most. Our kids played tough. They just ran out of gas."
Boylan 45, Harlem 0
Boylan's defense was again suffocating, and QB Connor Dennis was on target. Dennis threw for 243 yards and the defense, which posted its third shutout of the season, held Harlem to four first downs the entire game. Boylan (6-1) is now in second place ahead of Harlem (5-2) in the NIC-10, behind only unbeaten Hononegah.
Stillman Valley 20, Genoa-Kingston 12
Stillman Valley stayed alive in the playoff hunt with a big win over G-K after both teams entered the fray at 3-3. The Cardinals, who close the season against undefeated Byron, needed this win, and pulled away early. The Cardinals, who outrushed G-K 229-70, scored on their first two possessions of the first quarter, and their defense shut the Cogs out until the fourth quarter.
"We were desperate for a win," Stillman Valley head coach said as his team came in on the heels of back-to-back losses. "We just needed this. The guys knew it, too."
The Cardinals got 131 yards on 25 carries from Braden Rogers, who also scored twice. Stillman Valley lost its starting quarterback Braden Engel on the Thursday before their Week 5 loss, so it was key that they turn it around quickly. They did.
Byron 62, Winnebago 0
Byron has now outscored its first seven foes of the season 445-32, crushing all of them, and earning its fourth shutout with the win on Friday. Winnebago, on the other hand, is now 1-6 and will miss out on the playoffs after making them last year to snap a four-year postseason drought.
Lena-Winslow 46, Eastland/Pearl City 6
While it wasn't Le-Win's third shutout of the season, but it was still the Panthers' sixth dominant victory of the year. Le-Win got another huge game from Gage Dunker (219 yards rushing and four TDs) before he sat down early in the second half when the game was out of reach.
Dakota 20, Galena 0
Dakota earned its second straight win after suffering four straight defeats, and stayed alive in the playoff hunt with the dominant win over Galena. Dakota barely outgained Galena, 240-228, but its defense never cracked, and forced two turnovers. Dakota's Conner Matthew rushed for a career-high 116 yards on 22 carries with a score.
Oregon 39, Rock Falls 0
Led by Logan Weems (17 carries for 180 yards with three TDs) once again, Oregon rolled, and climbed to 4-3 to stay alive in the postseason hunt. Jack Washburn connected with Josh Crandall for their fourth TD pass of the season together.
North Boone 34, Lutheran 3
Led by a powerful passing attack with Jack Christensen (21-for-32 for 184 yards with three TDs) at the helm, North Boone rolled over Lutheran.
Dixon 49, Rockford Christian 6
Jaden Williams, who leads the Big Northern Conference in passing for a winless team, threw for 169 yards on 11 of 18 passing, but had one interception and no TDs in the loss. Easton Morehouse had seven grabs for 121 yards.
Forreston 22, Gibson City/Melvin Sibley 21 (Sat.)
The Cardinals rallied all day Saturday, eventually scoring with 4:03 left, and getting the two-pointer shortly after, to claim the win and stay undefeated on the season. Owen Mulder had two rushing TDs on the day, including the game-winner, and the extra points.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Freeport edges Jefferson 19-18, with extra point by girl kicker
