From an entertainment standpoint, last week’s Red Zone Game of the Week presented by Illinois National Bank was second to none. I’ve been calling high school football games off and on since 1988, and I can’t recall a more thrilling, wild finish in the 70-69 Richwoods victory over defending Class 5A state champion Peoria High.
Both teams scored TOUCHDOWNS in the final :12 seconds of regulation, and both kickers missed extra points after those last-second scores, leaving the over-flow crowd of 4,000 gasping. 63-63 at the end of regulation!
Peoria High’s all state QB Coran Taylor scored untouched from 10 yards out on the first play of overtime, but couldn’t complete the 2-point conversion pass. Richwoods T’Nahleg Hall rushed in from 3 yards out on the Knights third OT play to tie it at 69 all before Alex Nieves drilled the extra point. Richwoods, after combining for five wins in the last two seasons, is back.
This week, the Mid Illini schedule is back with league openers in what figures to be a tough, well-balanced conference. IMO, six of the eight schools have a shot at winning the strong Mid Illini, which Washington has captured the past two seasons. Last season, three Mid Illini teams reached the state quarterfinals or better.
2-0, Class 5A state-ranked Dunlap and 1-1 Pekin are two of those capable of winning it all. The Eagles and Dragons meet in Dunlap in our main Red Zone game of the week, with former Illinois starting lineman and Peoria Pirates assistant coach Tony Johnson and me on the call.
In Prairieland Blue action, 2-0 Elmwood Brimfield will host 1-1 Peoria Heights Quest. Tom Meredith will handle the scoring updates and call some live play by play from Elmwood, where the Trojans have reaches the IHSA state playoffs 13 of the past 14 seasons.
Back at the GLO studio, Jason Glick produces the broadcast as he’s done for all 7 Red Zone seasons, while tracking the scores from all the area teams.
Tune in Friday night at 7 pm for the pregame show, featuring my coach’s interviews with Brett Cazalet and Doug Nutter. Kickoff’s at 7:30 for the main game on the Red Zone game of the week presented by Illinois National Bank every Friday night this fall on Peoria’s home for classic rock and football, 95.5, GLO.
Doc Watson
