Three, large school area high school football teams – Dunlap, Washington and resurgent Richwoods – are still in the hunt for a Class 5A IHSA state championship, while Class 1A Princeville hits the road this weekend, playing at Forreston for a semifinal berth. Princeville is a #10 seed that’s upset two higher seeded teams in overtime, both games.
Hear the 5A quarterfinal between Washington and Richwoods Saturday afternoon on 95.5, GLO, on the Red Zone Game of the Week, presented by Illinois National Bank. Pregame show begins at 1:30 pm with interviews from both veteran, head coaches, Darrell Crouch and Roland Brown.
While it never gets old to play high school football in November, both Richwoods and Washington are accustomed to it, while top-seeded, 11-0, Dunlap is making its first-ever quarterfinal appearance, enjoying its most successful season ever.
Dunlap earned another home game Saturday at 4 pm after a hard-fought, 28-14 second round win last weekend against visiting Rich Central from Olympia Fields. The Eagles will host 9-2 Hillcrest from Country Club Hills.
The Red Zone game of the week features 9-2 Washington, in the playoffs for the 11th straight season and in the quarters for the 9th time, playing at Richwoods, which improved to 7-4. The Knights came back from a 28-14 late second quarter deficit at Morton last week on our game of the week to win convincingly, 49-28, and reach the elite eight for the 10th time.
(According to my calculations from records at IHSA.org, Metamora is the area leader in state playoff wins with an amazing 69 since the Illinois state playoffs began in 1974. Richwoods now has 42 and Washington’s third with 32.)
Washington, meanwhile, cruised to its second straight playoff win this fall, breaking open a close game and laying a 59-28 whipping on Decatur MacArthur. The Panthers threw just one pass, since their ground game, featuring Sam Walter and Josh Schellenburg, has proven unstoppable lately, no need for quarterback Caleb Fisher to risk a pick.
After two disappointing seasons – 5 wins combined – for tradition-rich Richwoods, a return to the playoffs was not totally unexpected, but two playoff wins on the road this fall probably were. The Knights were down and nearly out after getting blown out by Notre Dame in the Shamrock Classic at Dozer Park back in week 6, but improved defensively, playing more offensive starters on the defensive side of the ball. And let’s not forget about terrific, senior running back T’nahleg Hall, who pounded his way to a state playoff-record-tying 410 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in the come-from-behind win last week at Morton.
Let your out of area family and friends, alums and former teammates know that the game of the week can be heard anywhere in the world online at this website by clicking the “Listen Live” button or with smartphone anywhere by downloading the free 95.5, GLO station app.
Saturday afternoon, tune it for quarterfinal football action with the Red Zone, presented by INB, on Peoria’s home for classic rock and football, 95.5, GLO.
Doc Watson
