Knoxville advances with playoff win over Mendon Unity; see area playoff results
KNOXVILLE — The Knoxville Blue Bullets jumped to a 20-0 lead and ran past Mendon Unity 33-14 in an Illinois High School Association Class 2A football game on Saturday.
The Bullets, who improved to 8-2 with the win, advanced to the second round and will travel to Bismarck-Henning (10-0) for a game next weekend.
Knoxville earned the trip behind the running of Oscar Young and Jaxin Johnson, who powered the strong start.
Young ran for 217 yards on 27 carries and 3 touchdowns while Johnson rushed for 114 yards and a TD. Sophomore Bo Law also ran for a short touchddown in the fourth quarter.
In all, the Bullets rushed for 403 yards in the game.
Led by the effort of the defensive line, Knoxville limited the Mustangs to just 42 yards rushing in the game, not allowing Mendon Unity past midfield until the third quarter.
Mendon Unity ended its season with a 6-4 record.
In Bismarck-Henning, the Bullets will be facing the No. 1 seed in their bracket. Knoxville was seeded No. 7.
More:PHOTOS: ROWVA-Williamsfield takes down Stark Co.
Friday night recaps
ROWVA/Williamsfield 28, Stark County 14
The Cougars led 7-0 after a quarter and built their lead to 28-0 by halftime.
Bryan Bertlshofer rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown for R/W in the game and Nolan Coverdill gained 83 yards and scored a TD.
Adam Kohn had a 44-yard kickoff return and a 46-yard punt return that set up two Cougar TDs.
On defense, Luke Nelson had 9 tackles — 3 for losses and a sack — Brodie Bledsoe had 7.5 tackles — 3 for losses — and Graham Wight had 6 tackles — one for a loss.
The Cougars (6-4) will travel to the bracket's top seeded Lena-Winslow (10-0) for a 1 p.m. game next Saturday.
"It was pretty awesome," said of the victory in his team's first playoff appearance in four years. "We had a big crowd here and it was cool to have a playoff win at home.
"The kids have worked hard and deserved every bit of it."
More:West Central, ROWVA/Williamsfield win first round games; see area playoff roundup
Stillman Valley 48, Monmouth-Roseville 33
In Class 3A, Stillman Valley bounced back from its first last of the season last week and then had to recover from a 20-8 first quarter deficit to Monmouth-Roseville.
The Titans had two kickoff returns for touchdowns and TD runs of 81 and 68 yards in the first quarter to take control.
But the Cardinals scored four unanswered TDs after than including an 88-yard kickoff return.
8-Player football
Ridgewood made its debut in the 8-player football playoffs with a 52-24 win over South Fork on Friday night.
The Spartans (9-1 will play Polo in the second round.
Ridgewood ran out to a 30-18 lead after a quarter and led 52-24 at halftime.
Friday's playoff scores
Class 3A
Stillman Valley 48, Monmouth-Roseville 33
Class 1A
ROWVA/Williamsfield 28, Stark County 14
8-Player football
West Central 72, South Beloit 16
Ridgewood 58, South Fork 24
Other Saturday games
Class 1A
Rockford Lutheran 35, Annawan/Wethersfield 19
Class 4A
Quincy Notre Dame (5-4) at Macomb (9-0), 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA football: Knoxville advances with playoff win; see area results
