By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden scored early and often on Friday (Oct. 14) and became playoff-eligible after a 57-12 Illini Prairie Conference football victory at Rantoul’s Bill Walsh Field.
SJ-O led, 50-0, at halftime. The final two quarters were played with a running clock.
Six different Spartans scored touchdowns: Tyler Burch, Aidan Moberg, Ty Pence, Logan Smith, Coy Taylor and Justice Wertz.
Smith, who completed 9 of 10 passes for 174 yards, threw TD passes to Moberg, Pence and Taylor.
Taylor also scored a second TD on a 91-yard interception return, which SJ-O coach Shawn Skinner said was a tribute to assistant coach Dalton Burks.
“That was a credit to Burks,” Skinner said. “Rantoul called a timeout and Burks pulled Coy aside and told him to jump the slant, and he took it to the house.”
SJ-O had four rushing TDs, including two by Burch and one apiece by Smith and Wertz. Joe Frasca converted seven extra-point kicks and Smith added one two-point conversion.
Skinner said it was important to have a varied offensive attack.
“We need to have that ability,” Skinner said, “and not be two-dimensional (with Pence and Taylor).”
The Spartans finished with nearly 400 yards of total offense. Taylor generated 71 yards on his three receptions, Pence gained 70 yards on his four catches and Moberg totaled 33 yards on two receptions.
“Our offensive line was outstanding,” said Skinner, who lauded the play of tackles Bryson Helfrich and Peyton Sarver, guards Owen Birt and A.J. Wells along with center Quincy Jones.
Birt and Wells were both getting their first varsity starts on offense, filling in for the injured Luke Allen and Braxton Waller.
On a night when strong winds and rains were a factor, Jones was solid on his snapping duties.
“That wasn’t easy in those conditions,” Skinner said.
The Spartans took the momentum early and – literally – ran with it.
Kicking off against the wind to start the open, SJ-O gained possession when Rowan Musselman recovered the onsides kick.
“That was a jump-start that allowed us to get momentum,” Skinner said. “We pounded the ball (on the ground) the first quarter. It was significant to show that we could run.”
Burch became the third different Spartan runner with a 100-yard rushing performance this season. He gained 105 yards on nine carries.
Other top ballcarriers were Wertz with 75 yards on six attempts and Smith with 16 yards on three carries.
“In the second quarter, I thought it was important to see how we could throw in those conditions,” Skinner said. “Logan was on-point with his accuracy and we showed that bad weather won’t limit us.”
Among the defensive standouts were middle linebacker Colin Wayland and outside linebacker Nolan Earley.
“Nolan started the season on JV, making plays on Mondays,” Skinner said. “When James Barron got hurt, he stepped in and provided us a spark.
“Colin has been playing better every week.”
SJ-O (5-3) returns to action on Friday (Oct. 21) in its Senior Night regular-season finale against Paxton-Buckley-Loda (also 5-3).
The winner will be guaranteed a berth in the playoffs while the loser will have to play the waiting game until the IHSA announces the 256 teams that will compete in the postseason on Saturday evening (Oct. 22).
“Someone will come out breathing easy and the other will have to wait until the final bell,” Skinner said. “PBL is huge and strong and it will be a heck of a challenge.”
The Spartans’ seniors are Owen Birt, Tyler Burch, Payton Carter, Spencer Fitch, Alex Funk, Bryson Helfrich, Aidan McCorkle, Ethan McElroy, Aidan Moberg, Ty Pence, Peyton Sarver, Jack Setterdahl, A.J. Wells and Corbin Wells.
