By Fred Kroner
Senior Carson Howard caught four touchdown passes and sophomore Kurt Zimmmerman rushed for two additional TDs on Friday (April 9) as Villa Grove/Heritage more than doubled its point total for the season with a 42-18 victory at home over Sangamon Valley.
Howard hauled in seven receptions from Liam Barr and turned four into scores covering 28, 22, 24 and 26 yards
Zimmerman’s scoring romps were on gains of 18 and 2 yards. Zimmerman rushed for a season-high 124 yards on 15 carries.
The pre-game plan was for Zimmerman to focus on defense, but when Jack Benschneider (who led the Blue Devils in rushing in their two previous games) went down with an injury, Zimmerman was called upon for double duty.
“All of our running backs ran well and we tried to spread it out and go with the hot hand,” VG/Heritage coach Heath Wilson said.
The Blue Devils scored first, on a pass from Liam Barr to Howard before Daelin Price converted the first of six successful extra-point kicks.
Sangamon Valley captured a 12-7 lead before VG/Heritage took the lead for good.
In a wild final 64 seconds to the first half, the Lincoln Prairie Conference schools combined for three TDs, resulting in a 28-18 Blue Devils lead at intermission.
The sequence started with 1 minute and 4 seconds left in the second quarter on a Barr-to-Howard pass.
Eleven seconds later, Sangamon Valley returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a TD.
Not to be outdone, VG/Heritage struck again with four seconds remaining in the half when Barr hooked up with Howard for a TD.
Prior to Friday, Barr had thrown one pass during the team’s first three games. Against Sangamon Valley, he connected on 8 of 11 attempts for 133 yards.
Barr was filling in for Blake Smith, one of six seniors who will miss two games due to COVID-19 protocol.
“We only had two seniors dressed (Benschneider and Howard),” Wilson said. “We had four freshmen starting.
“We were basically playing next year’s team. We had three sophomores and two juniors on the offensive line.”
Wilson was encouraged by what he saw.
“Our team is playing well,” the coach said. “The future looks bright for us.”
Wilson wasn’t surprised by Barr’s performance.
“Liam’s the type who can do anything,” Wilson said. “We’ve had him at offensive line (center), running back, defensive back and defensive line.
“He has a rocket for an arm and for a lot of teams, would be the starting quarterback.”
In the second half, the Blue Devils’ defense shut down Sangamon Valley, holding the visitors scoreless during the last two quarters.
Counting kickoff returns, Howard finished with 178 all-purpose yards.
Howard also had an interception as did freshman teammate Brady Clodfelder.
Price and Zimmerman anchored the defense with seven tackles apiece. Benschneider and Tyler Wilson each had six stops. Barr and Clodfelder wound up with four tackles apiece.
The Blue Devils held a 392-176 edge in total yards.
The offense was effective, Wilson said, because of the efforts of the youthful linemen.
“Our line blocked well and gave holes for the running backs,” Wilson said. “We had our best pass-blocking performance, too.”
VG/Heritage (2-2) returns to action on Friday (April 16) at Tri-County.
“We hope to do the same game plan,” Wilson said. “See if we can move the ball on the ground. And, we’ll ask for some freshmen to step up.”
