VGH Football heads into third consecutive playoff, Price to represent VGH in cross country Sectionals
BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Villa Grove/Heritage Football
Despite an edge in total yards (270 to 231), the Blue Devils ended the regular season on Friday with a 23-0 loss at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond.
The game was 0-0 at halftime.
VG/H was undone by four turnovers.
Finishing the regular season with a 5-4 record, the Blue Devils had ample points to qualify for the playoffs. VG/H will trek to Nashville (8-1) for a 1:30 p.m. first-round game in Class 2A on Saturday.
In last week’s Associated Press state poll, Nashville was ranked 11th, but in Class 3A. With an enrollment of 405, Nashville is the largest school assigned to Class 2A.
“It’s great to be playing another week,” VG/H head coach Heath Wilson said. “There are a lot of teams not playing right now.”
The Blue Devils are one of six teams from the Lincoln Prairie Conference that advanced into the playoffs.
“It was a very competitive conference,” Wilson said.
Against the Knights, Blake Smith completed 16 of 37 passes for 180 yards. Carson Howard had five receptions for 96 yards. Ierik Sorenson caught six passes for 51 yards. Keagan Patterson and Kehm Shirley each hauled in two passes and Issac Mahoe had one reception.
Shirley was the team’s top rusher with 57 yards on 12 carries. Ezra Ely gained 18 yards and Smith ran for 12 yards.
“We got banged up Friday, but we’ll get evaluated and hopefully Saturday will be ready to go,” Wilson said.
The playoff berth is the 21st overall for the program, which has now qualified three straight years.
VGH Girls’ cross-country
Freshman Kyleigh Price will represent the Blue Devils at the sectional meet.
In Saturday’s Class 1A Tuscola Regional, Price placed 43rd overall and secured an individual berth at the sectional, which will be on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Effingham St. Anthony. The girls’ race will start at 10 a.m.
Price’s 3-mile time was 23 minutes, 27.32 seconds.
Monticello won team honors at the regional with 37 points. VG/H placed eighth in the nine-team field with 223 points.
The team’s other regional runners were: Emma Buesing (44th in 23:34.51), Allison Kneer (49th in 24:04.93), Madison Logan (53rd in 24:42.35), Kate Eisenmenger (59th in 25:31.25) and Regan Blanton (63rd in 26:56.81).
VGH Boys’ cross-country
The Villa Grove/Heritage season concluded at Saturday’s Tuscola Class 1A Regional.
The Blue Devils ended 12th in the 13-team field. VG/H totaled 329 points. Meet champion Monticello had 28 points.
The team was represented by five runners. Rowan Denmark-Collins led the way, finishing 53rd in 19 minutes, 21.77 seconds for the 3-mile course.
Daniel Olson placed 65th in 21:00.04, Caleb Wiessing was 70th in 21:21.48, Kylee Witte was 77th in 22:20.04 and Isaac Horen was 87th in 24:55.24.
Villa Grove Volleyball
The Blue Devils dropped their regular-season finale on Thursday, 25-16, 25-22 to Tri-County (20-8). Reagan Cheely handed out 10 assists for VG (11-13).
The team’s postseason opener will be tonight in the Kansas Class 1A Regional with a first-round match against Arcola (7-16).
