By Fred Kroner
For the second consecutive week, the Blue Devils rolled up more than 40 points and posted a Lincoln Prairie Conference football victory.
On Friday (April 16), Villa Grove/Heritage recovered from an early deficit to win at Tri-County 41-19.
Luke Zimmerman rushed for five touchdowns and Liam Barr had his second consecutive no-interception, 100-yard-plus passing game.
Barr completed 12 of 15 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown to Jack Benschneider. Carson Howard hauled in seven passes for 130 yards. Benschneider gained 87 yards on his two catches.
A 58-yard pass from Barr to Benschneider snapped a 7-7 tie less than 3 minutes into the second quarter and lifted the Blue Devils into the lead for good.
“We’re rolling right now,” VG/Heritage coach Heath Wilson said. “Liam is throwing the ball well and hitting the open guys.
“The receivers are getting in open spaces. Liam is a confident kid and the kids love to be around him.”
Benschneider has emerged as a threat whether as a ball carrier or as a receiver.
“Jack is shifty and fun to watch,” Wilson said. “We gave him the ball on a screen and he took it to the house.”
Zimmerman was the backfield ace, rushing for 117 yards on 18 carries. He also anchored the defense, posting a season-high 14 tackles.
Other tackling leaders for the Blue Devils included Tyler Wilson (10), Howard (nine), Logan Nohren (seven), Elijah Kiesel (seven) and Brady Clodfelder (six).
For the second game in a row, Clodfelder had an interception.
“Tri-County ran hard and drove it, but our defense stopped some drives,” Wilson said. “I like to say our kids are football players first, but they are athletes who want to compete and represent their school.
“They’ve been making plays all year.”
Villa-Grove/Heritage (3-2) returns to action on Friday (April 26) in its season-finale and homecoming game against Arcola.
“Arcola should be a fun game to end our season and see what we have to work on (for the fall season),” Wilson said. “A lot of the kids who are playing are underclassmen.”
