Top performers from Week 7 in Peoria high school football: Dominant 'D' and 400 pass yards
The 2023 high school football season continued Friday across Peoria.
Each week, the Journal Star takes a look at the top-performing teams and players from weekend games in the Peoria area. Players from Richwoods, Peoria High and Morton lead our list for Week 7.
Zion Franklin, Richwoods
The defensive lineman had two fumble recoveries, including one in the end zone to kick off the scoring for the Knights in a 21-0 victory over rival Manual. Amarii Scurlock led the way for Richwoods with 81 yards on 10 carries as the teams combined for nine fumbles and four interceptions.
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Seandon Buffington, Morton
The prolific running back just keeps dominating. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior scored three consecutive touchdowns to send Morton on its way to a 61-14 victory over East Peoria. The Potters (7-0, 5-0) kept pace in the Mid-Illini Conference race with Washington (6-1, 5-0), a 28-7 winner over Dunlap.
Isaac Thomas, Pekin
The running back had a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion to send Pekin to its first Mid-Illini Conference victory of the season, 22-7 over Canton at home. Peyton Hess scored the other TD for the Dragons (2-5, 1-4), who had lost five games in a row before their highest-scoring output of the season.
Tyce Albritton, Deer Creek-Mackinaw
The versatile senior ran for 89 yards and scored three touchdowns on short runs to vault Deer Creek-Mackinaw to a 46-0 rivalry win over Tremont. Max Eccles added a pair of touchdowns for the Chiefs (3-4), who snapped a four-game losing streak with a decisive victory.
Maliek Ross, Peoria High
The senior running back accounted for 114 of Peoria High's 139 rushing yards in beating Bloomington, 52-12. Ross scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, finding paydirt from 12 and 3 yards out.
Jaiduan Cranford, Metamora
The running back scored three touchdowns on three big plays, including a 65-yard punt return, to lead the Redbirds to a 56-7 home victory over Limestone. He finished with 107 yards on just those trio of carries. The Redbirds led 56-0 at halftime on the way to their fifth victory, which more than likely assures them a berth in the IHSA playoffs. Cranford added TDs on runs of 54 and 28 yards.
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Tino Gist, Peoria High
The senior quarterback threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns as Peoria High torched Bloomington for a 52-12 victory. Gist evenly split 18 hookups with Jaivyn Moore (9 catches, 125 yards, TD) and Sean Franklin (9 catches, 115 yards, TD). TQ Webb, Jaylen Rayford and Spencer Russell were also on the receiving end of a Gist touchdown pass.
Dillon Horrie and Zeb Rashid, Annawan/Wethersfield
The quarterback/running back duo was dynamic for state-ranked Annawan/Wethersfield in a 33-15 victory over previously unbeaten Farmington (6-1). Horrie accounted for 297 yards, including 153 rushing and a TD on 22 carries. He added 114 yards on 5-of-6 passing. Rashid ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries for the Titans (6-1), ranked No. 9 statewide in Class 1A.
Washington defense
The Panthers, who are ranked No. 3 statewide in Class 6A, scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in a 28-7 victory over previously unbeaten Dunlap. Washington used a pair of pick-6s from Garrett Cox and Noah Bell-Lorentzen, plus a fumble recovery by Kainon McQueary to control the turnover battle.
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Casey Etheridge, Princeton
The sophomore running back rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns to lead the state-ranked Tigers past Bureau Valley, 42-0. He had TD runs of 45 and 41 yards in the first quarter and added a 21-yard score in the fourth. The Tigers (6-1) are ranked No. 2 statewide in Class 3A.
Kamren Schumacher, El Paso-Gridley
The quarterback continued his dominance, running for 212 yards and three touchdowns to lead EP-G (5-2) to a 28-7 victory over Eureka (4-3). Conlee Landrus added 157 rushing yards and a TD for the Titans, who took control early after scoring a pair of TDs after forcing first-quarter turnovers.
Eddie Lorton, Fieldcrest
The junior running back ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights (3-4) kept their playoff hopes alive with a decisive 40-0 victory over Fisher. Fieldcrest faces Ottawa Marquette and Le Roy to end the season.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Week 7 Illinois high school top performers from around Peoria
