Here's the history of Peoria-area football teams in IHSA football state semifinals
The Washington football program will play in its third state semifinal game in the last decade this weekend when East St. Louis comes to Babcook Field for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Class 6A.
Since 2007, the four teams from Peoria and the eight Mid-Illini Conference programs have played in 15 semifinal playoff football games.
We take a look back at those other games — working from Peoria High's appearance last season, to Morton and Washington's semifinal shots and back to multiple Metamora and Richwoods final four games.
IHSA football: Playoffs bracket 2023: Teams, pairings, schedule, game times
Peoria High, 2022
Peoria High 76, Morris 56, Class 5A: Eventual Journal Star Player of the Year Malachi Washington rushed for 383 yards to lead the Lions to their third championship game appearance overall and first since winning the 2016 Class 5A title. The 132 combined points were just four short of the 5A playoff record set in 2016 by Peoria High and Decatur Eisenhower (96-40). The No. 7-ranked Lions went on to lose a heartbreaker to LaGrange Park Nazareth, 45-44, in the title game.
He said it: "We've tried not to talk about it, but it always gets brought up," Peoria High coach Tim Thornton said of making the title game. "We bring it up at the beginning of every week and then shut it down for the rest of the week. This week, we're going to talk about it all week long. We're fired up."
All the stories: Every story from Peoria High's run to the Class 5A football championship game
Morton, 2021
Kankakee 41, Morton 14, Class 5A: The Potters had made it farther than any team in program history, only to see their season end after Kankakee scored 35 answered points. Seth Glatz's 95-yard kickoff return put Morton ahead 7-6 with only 34 seconds off the clock. However, the Kays took advantage of four turnovers — three INTs and a fumble — that led to three TDs. Glatz finished his record-setting season with 186 yards and two TDs — including a 4-yard score with 2:37 left in the game.
He said it: "It was definitely a great season. Knowing we were special coming into this season, made it happen but kind of sucks coming to an end like this. We had a great season. We’re still proud of ourselves. It just sucks.” — Glatz.
Dunlap and Washington, 2017
Dunlap 21, Washington 0, Class 5A: Dunlap became the fourth Mid-Illini Conference school to make a state championship game, beating a league rival in the process. Isaac Guyton got the Eagles on the board thanks to a nifty grab and 46-yard TD run on a pass by Myles Burke. Luke Bennyhoff's 32nd rushing TD of the season gave Dunlap a 14-0 lead just seconds before the first quarter ended. Tight end Josiah Miamen set the final score on his back-shoulder TD catch from 16-yards out. Twice the Dunlap defense held in the red zone, stopping the run on fourth-and-1 and forcing another turnover on downs. The Eagles ended up losing the state title to Chicago Phillips, 33-7.
He said it: "We’re going to the state championship game.” — Dunlap coach Brett Cazalet's 4-year-old son, Vinny, to his dad after the game.
Peoria High, 2016
Peoria High 43, Morris 35, Class 5A: The Lions secured their first state title berth since 1988 thanks to a pair of defensive plays. Two second-half tackles-for-loss by Jaleen James and Eli Horton, who also recovered a fumble, helped change the momentum of the game. James' stop set up a 44-yard go-ahead TD from QB Coran Taylor. Taylor was one of three backs hitting triple-digit yards in the game. His 107 yards were third to James' 133 and Geno Hess running for 274. Hess scored five TDs in helping set the single-season state record for rushing scores. Peoria High went on to win the state championship, 62-48, over Vernon Hills and scored the most points in state history with 805.
He said it: "It’s just incredible. This is what we were talking about at the start of the summer. This is why we work our butts off in the summer and work so hard in the weight room, to get to this point and this chance.” — James said.
More: Complete list of 2022 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams
Canton, 2016
Rochester 49, Canton 21, Class 4A: The Little Giants were making the program's first-ever semifinal appearance, running into a Rockets team who was playing in their seventh in a row. All three of Canton's scores came in the second half when the game was out of reach. Jace Chamberlin, Clint Wells and Cameron Lucas all had rushing TDs for the Little Giants, who were held to 209 total yards.
He said it: “I'm proud of our kids. We have a lot to be proud of. It didn't end out the way that we wanted it to, but we're still always going to be the best team in Little Giant history. That means a lot.” — Canton coach Ryan Pearson.
Notre Dame, 2014
Lemont 32, Peoria Notre Dame 25, Class 6A: PND was one step away from its first appearance in a state championship. The Irish, however, got down in the second quarter and never recovered. But PND QB Demarco Washington pulled the Irish within seven with 2:56 left. An interception by Andy Shadid gave PND another shot, only to see its season end on an ensuing pick. Shadid ran for 195 of the Irish's 252 rushing yards.
He said it: "A lot of kids never get a chance to go to the playoffs or win in the playoffs, and here we are in the semifinals. That's a good season for us. We're not going home sad." — PND coach Joe Walters.
Peoria High, 2014
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 49, Peoria High 21, Class 5A: The Lions ran into the reigning 5A state champs, riding a 27-game win streak. One bright spot came when Peoria High running back B.J. Harris scored on a 57-yard scamper, cutting the SHG lead in half. But a second-half running clock resulted in some late TDs from Peoria High, which gained 331 yards of total offense — 198 coming in the opening half.
He said it: "They've just got some tremendous players. Their X's and O's are a little bit bigger than our X's and O's." — Peoria High coach Tim Thornton.
Washington, 2013
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 44, Washington 14, Class 5A: Six days before Washington was set to face SHG, an EF-4 tornado ripped through the Tazewell County town, damaging over 1,000 homes and leaving one person dead. Washington had made it 23-14 off a nice 34-yard TD catch by Casey Danley in the third quarter. However, the Panthers surrendered 21 unanswered points and ended their hopes of going to the state title game for the third time ever.
He said it: "Unless you win that last game, you feel like that defines what you've done. These guys have done so much more. My most proud thing this whole year was how they conducted themselves Sunday after our tragedy." — Washington coach Darrell Crouch.
'It made us better': How football helped Washington heal from devastating 2013 tornado
Richwoods, 2011
Richwoods 34, Lemont 31 (2 OT), Class 5A: Justin Cole's 19-yard field goal sealed the victory in the game's second OT, capping an incredible second extra period. Mikail Davis picked off a Lemont pass near the goal line, setting up the late-game heroics from Cole. That was the second of two OT field goals from the sophomore, who booted a 25-yard one in the first OT. After trailing by two TDs in the third quarter, Clayton Glasper's 11-yard TD catch tiled the game just before the final 12 minutes. Kendrick Foster rushed for 162 yards on 21 carries. Richwoods would lose in the state title, 35-14, to Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge.
He said it: "The snap and hold were great and it felt good coming off my foot. I knew it went through when I heard the crowd reaction. I can't believe we're going to Champaign." — Cole said of his game-winning kick.
Metamora, 2010
Rochester 50, Metamora 17, Class 4A: The Rockets exacted revenge from a devastating 2009 loss led by their all-stater Colton Glazebrook. The running back rushed for 198 yards and scored three of his five TDs as part of 37 unanswered points from Rochester. Metamora had pulled within 13-10 at the 5:15 mark of the second quarter when Michael Fay found Dekota Doerr for a 29-yard TD. That ended up being the closest the Redbirds would get.
He said it: "Some of these guys were one game away from getting a chance to dress out for the state championship all four years. But it's a friendly reminder how difficult it is to get a championship. We've been on such a good run that we got hit with a little dose of reality." — Metamora coach Pat Ryan.
Richwoods, 2010
Chatham Glenwood 42, Richwoods 13, Class 5A: Glenwood used a devastating running back duo of Devin Von Nordheim-Moore (175 yards, 3 TDs) and Tony Giovannelli (139 yards, TD) in burning Richwoods for 410 total yards. Kendrick Foster again showed what he could do in the backfield. The then-sophomore running back rushed for 237 yards on 34 carries with two TDs. He ended up tallying 2,004 yards on the season.
He said it: "We got mauled. Like we were carrying a jar of honey and getting chased by a grizzly bear." — Richwoods coach Roland Brown.
Metamora, 2009
Metamora 41, Rochester 40, Class 4A: After dropping down a class, the Redbirds came away with one of the more thrilling victories in the program's history. Defenders Bryan Love and Preston Butner stopped a two-point conversion with three seconds left, lifting Metamora to its second title game in three seasons. Michael Fay ran behind fullback Aaron Peters to score the go-ahead score from 7 yards out. That capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took nearly eight minutes. This was the second time in school history Metamora went to a third consecutive title game. Metamora won the state title, 41-7, over Geneseo for Pat Ryan's second state title.
He said it: "This is by far the most fun. Senior year. It was very emotional. I don't think I've cried so much in a win before." — Metamora senior Dan Burk.
IHSA football: In second-to-last game, Metamora duo makes a save
Richwoods, 2009
Joliet Catholic 54, Richwoods 7, Class 5A: Richwoods was making the first of three consecutive semifinal appearances. The Knights, however, turned the ball over seven times, leading to five scores by the Hilltoppers, who had 458 total yards led by 364 on the ground. Tevin Hicks scored the lone Richwoods TD off a 36-yard run just 1:33 into the second quarter. Richwoods running back Kendrick Foster, a freshman at the time, rushed for 95 yards on 23 carries.
He said it: "Turnovers killed us, and five in the first half is just too, too many. But that's a credit to them, being where they needed to be on defense. We were moving the football, but defensively did not make tackles and just couldn't get things done." — Richwoods coach Roland Brown.
Metamora, 2008
Metamora 42, Cahokia 13, Class 5A: The reigning 5A state champions ran their win streak to 27 in a row thanks to a stout defense. Four sacks totaling a loss of 61 yards highlighted the Redbirds defense, which allowed 55 second-half yards. Fullback Aaron Peters rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Michael Fay threw and ran for TDs, finishing with 130 rushing yards on the day. Placekicker Brennen VanMieghem went 6-for-6 on PATs, tying the state record for most in a season, a record he would break in the state championship. Metamora, however, finished second, losing to Wheaton St. Francis, 49-35.
He said it: "Going for history, I guess. There's not a much better feeling than this right now. Well, if we win." — Metamora defensive captain Charlie Heinzmann.
More: The top central Illinois high school football games of the last 20 years
Metamora, 2007
Metamora 62, Marion 34, Class 5A: After making the semis in 2006, Metamora utilized a record-setting offense to make the title game for the fifth time since 1996. Three touchdowns — a punt return and a 4-yard TD run from Adam Duvendack along with a 59-yard TD catch from Brad Herman — in only three minutes pushed the Metamora lead to 41-14 just before halftime. Quarterback Caleb TerBush (260 total yards) and running Brock Gray (151 rushing yards) both scored TDs as Metamora rolled up 472 of its 587 yards on the ground. The Redbirds went on to win 17-14 over Morris for their first state championship under Pat Ryan.
He said it: "That's really cool. Records are made to be broken. But the important thing? Our team's playing for a state championship." — Herman said of Metamora setting the program's single-season yardage and scoring marks.
Peoria-area schools in the IHSA football semifinals
Here is a school-by-school look at every state semifinal appearance by programs from Peoria and the Mid-Illini Conference.
Peoria High — 1988, 2014, 2016, 2022
Manual — None
Notre Dame — 2014
Richwoods — 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2009, 2010, 2011
Limestone — 1983, 1985
Canton — 2016
Dunlap — 2017
East Peoria — None
Metamora — 1975, 1976, 1977, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Morton — 2021
Pekin — None
Washington — 1983, 1985, 2013, 2017, 2023
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: History of Peoria teams in Illinois state semifinals
