Nov. 30--Follow along on Twitter @ChiTribPreps.
Mike Helfgot breaks down the Class 4A-8A state finals here.
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State football finals coverage here.
7A final: Providence 31, Cary-Grove 28
6A final: Nazareth 26, Lemont 7
5A final: Sacred Heart-Griffin 29, Montini 14
4A final: Rochester 49, Phillips 28
3A final: Wilmington 20, Williamsville 17
2A final: Eastland-Pearl City 41, Maroa-Forsyth 12
1A state final: Forreston 20, Carrollton 15
FINAL
8A final: Stevenson 31, Homewood-Flossmoor 25
CHAMPAIGN -- Jack Joseph scored a pair of touchdown to lead Stevenson to its first state title in school history.
The Patriots placed second in 2002 in Class 8A. Stevenson quarterback Willie Bourbon completed 13-of-20 passes for 144 yards, and Joseph added 17 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
The Patriots (14-0) led 24-10 after Tyler Vincent's 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but the Patriots, who averaged 43.3 points in their first 13 games, fought back to cut the deficit to 31-25 following Jared Sharp's 15-yard leaping touchdown catch from Gray with 1 minute, 55 seconds left in regulation. The Vikings (11-3) recovered the ensuing onside kick at Stevenson's 18-yard line. Three plays later, on fourth down and 1 at Stevenson's 9-yard line, Deante Harley-Hampton was stripped of the ball and Stevenson's James Mahoney recovered the ball at the 3-yard line with 51 seconds remaining.
The Patriots, who finished with 306 total yards, ran out the clock for the victory. Homewood-Flossmoor junior quarterback Bryce Gray completed 19 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown, and James Sheehan caught seven passes for 117 yards.
-Bob Narang @bobnarang
HALFTIME
Class 8A: Stevenson 17, Homewood-Flossmoor 10
Homewood-Flossmoor struck first, just like the first time.
In Week 2, the Vikings continued to outplay Stevenson for the rest of the first half.
Saturday night, Stevenson recovered to take a lead into halftime of the Class 8A championship game at Memorial Stadium.
Jack Joseph rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns to bring Stevenson within 24 minutes of its first state championship and its second victory over Homewood-Flossmoor this season.
The Patriots (14-0) overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to beat the Vikings 33-24 on Sept. 6 in Flossmoor.
Homewood-Flossmoor took a 7-0 lead in the rematch when a 47-yard pass from Bryce Gray to James Sheehan set up a 3-yard TD run by Deante Harley-Hampton just 2 minutes, 6 seconds into the contest.
Joseph finished off a 65-yard drive with a 1-yard score to tie it at 7, and Stevenson took the lead with a 28-yard field goal by Mike Gambino on its next possession.
Homewood-Flossmoor made it 10-10 on a 29-yard field goal by Morgan Bohlman before Joseph finished off another 65-yard drive with a 2-yard run.
-Mike Helfgot @mhelfgot
Class 7A: Cary-Grove 14, Providence 10.
Cary-Grove senior quarterback Jason Gregoire scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter, and the Trojans held Providence to a field goal late in the second quarter to maintain a slim lead.
The Trojans have rushed for 164 yards, with Gregoire attempting just one pass. Providence quarterback Justin Hunniford has completed 11 of his 14 passes for 80 yards, and Richie Warfield has a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Trojans are seeking their second state title since 2009, when they defeated Providence. The Trojans lost a fumble on their first possession but put together long drives for touchdowns on their next two possessions.
-Bob Narang @bobnarang
Class 6A: Nazareth 14, Lemont 7
Two trips to the end zone in 24 minutes is below Nazareth's postseason average, but leading at halftime is par for the course.
The Roadrunners might not top 50 points for the fourth time in five playoff games, but they'll happily settle for their first state championship.
Jonah Beauduy threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Jackson, and Nolan Dean scored his 28th rushing TD of the season to give Nazareth the lead against Lemont at halftime of the Class 6A championship game Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Neither school has won a state championship.
Both teams had opportunities to score late in the half.
Nazareth junior Julian Love, a standout in all three phases, intercepted a pass intended for Flynn Nagel in the end zone. Nagel has 28 TD receptions this season, one shy of a state record.
Nazareth (13-0) drove the field in the final minute of the second quarter but failed to convert a 28-yard field goal attempt.
After Jackson's catch gave Nazareth a 7-0 lead, Lemont (13-0) evened the score on a short TD run by Thomas Bleka.
Both high-scoring offenses have been contained for the most part.
Dean has a game-high 52 yards on 13 carries. Lemont quarterback Ryan Dawson has 47 yards on two carries but has been limited to 48 yards passing while throwing two interceptions.
-Mike Helfgot @mhelfgot
Class 5A: Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 12, Montini 7Sam Sergent's 1-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left in the second quarter capped a nine-play drive to hand the Cyclones the lead at halftime.The Cyclones trailed for the second time this season when Leon Thornton III caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Chuck Norgle III in the first quarter. The Cyclones struggled to move the ball early before scoring a touchdown on their last two first-half drives, including a 15-play possession that was capped a 1-yard touchdown run by Anthony DiNello. The Broncos finished with 132 yards passing and 44 rushing, as Norgle lost a fumble at the goal-line on Montini's first possession. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin quarterback Gabe Green, a Southern Miss recruit, has completed 6 of 8 pass attempts for 92 yards and rushed for 42 yards.-Bob Narang @bobnarang
PREGAME
Class 5A: Montini (10-3) vs. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (13-0), 10 a.m.
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin ended Montini's bid for a Class 5A five-peat in the 2013 state final.
The Broncos is seeking to avenge that loss when the state powers meet for the second straight season at 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The schools have dominated Class 5A over the last decade, with Montini winning five titles and Sacred Heart-Griffin three -- plus one in 6A --since 2004.
Riding a 27-game winning streak, Sacred Heart-Griffin (13-0) has enacted the running-clock mercy rule by taking a 40-point lead in every game this season.
Quarterback Gabe Green, a Southern Mississippi recruit, is a state player of the year candidate. He's thrown for 2,630 yards on 160-for-212 passing with 36 TDs and two interceptions and run for another 765 and eight.
Chuck Norgle is the latest in a long line of successful Montini quarterbacks. He's thrown for 2,892 yards on 204-for-315 passing with 24 TDs and six INTs.
The Broncos (10-3) were porous defensively during most of the regular season, giving up at least 30 points five times, but they've been significantly better in the playoffs.
Their 52-15 victory over Geneseo in the semifinals was the most points the Broncos have allowed since since Week 7 of the regular season.
-Mike Helfgot
Class 6A: Nazareth (13-0) vs. Lemont (13-0), 1 p.m.
CHAMPAIGN -- A change in offensive style has been the story of Lemont's run to the Class 6A championship game.
Nazareth has been scoring points like they're going out of style.
The 13-0 teams with high-powered offenses will meet in the state final Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Nolan Dean (1,852 yards rushing, 27 TDs) and Julian Love (11 rushing TDs, 8 receiving TDs, 2 INT return TDs, one punt return TD and one kickoff return TD) inflicted their typical damage in Nazareth's 56-28 victory over St. Francis in the semifinals.
It was the third time in four playoffs games and sixth time in 2014 that Nazareth scored more than 50 points. The Roadrunners also scored 49 twice.
A new spread offense under first-year coach Bret Kooi, a two-time state championship coach at Lockport, sent Lemont flying this season.
Quarterback Ryan Dawson, a reserve at season's start, has thrown for 2,357 yards and 46 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Receiver Flynn Nagel, a Marist transfer, has 87 catches for 1,361 yards and is one shy of equaling the state record for touchdown receptions with 28.
The Duke recruit had one last week as well as a rushing TD and a game-ending interception in the end zone as Lemont outlasted Peoria Notre Fame 32-25.
Neither Nazareth nor Lemont has won a football state championship.
-Mike Helfgot
7A: Cary-Grove (13-0) vs. Providence (12-1), 4 p.m. SaturdayPerhaps the most exciting game on paper of all the eight state championships at Memorial Stadium, the Celtics are seeking to avenge a state title game loss to the Trojans in 2009.The Celtics have steamrolled opponents during the playoffs, winning by double figures in all of their four games. Providence senior quarterback Justin Hunniford is a high-percentage passer who rarely makes mistakes. Hunniford has completed 228 of his 333 attempts for 3,119 yards with 40 touchdowns and three interceptions.Notre Dame-bound receiver Miles Boykin, who missed the quarterfinal win over Wheaton Warrenville South with a pinkie injury, leads the Celtics with 62 receptions for 987 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior tight end Nate Vejvoda (Iowa) has 39 catches for 583 yards and eight touchdowns.Sophomore Richie Warfield has emerged as a big-play threat in the running game (138 carries, 709 yards) and on special teams. The Celtics are trying to win their 10th state championship.Cary-Grove's triple-option attack has been humming all season with 17 starters back. The Trojans are averaging 44 points and 417 yards a game, with Tyler Pennington rushing for a team-high 1,653 yards and 33 touchdowns. Cary-Grove's offensive line has two Division I players, led by Notre Dame-bound Trevor Ruhland. The Trojans primarily are a running team, as quarterback Jason Gregoire has completed 35 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns. Cary-Grove's defense allows 12.2 points and 229 yards per game.-Bob Narang 8A: Stevenson (13-0) vs. Homewood-Flossmoor (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday
Stevenson mounted a second-half comeback to pull out a 33-24 win in a Week 2 game that was played over a two-day period due to bad weather.Homewood-Flossmoor has fixed some defensive issues from that first game. The Vikings have a number of weapons on offense, but the Harley-Hampton twins handle the majority of the load. Deante Harley-Hampton has rushed for 1,528 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Devonte Harley-Hampton has 1,086 yards. Junior quarterback Bryce Gray has completed 125 passes for 2,106 yards and 23 touchdowns. Stevenson defeated Glenbard West 7-3 in a semifinal to reach state for the first time since placing second in 2002. Senior quarterback Willie Bourbon has 2,435 yards passing and 319 rushing. Northwestern recruit Cameron Green paces has 57 receptions for 826 yards and 10 touchdowns.-Bob Narang
HALFTIME
4A final: Rochester 25, Phillips 12
CHAMPAIGN -- Dewayne Collins added two long touchdown runs to his volume of big plays.
They were the only scores Phillips mustered in the first half of the Class 4A championship game, however, which was two fewer than Rochester.
Bidding to become the Public League's first football state champion, Phillips trails four-time defending champion Rochester 25-12 at halftime Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Collins (9 carries, 132 yards) scored on runs of 65 and 53 yards to keep Phillips (12-1) close. His second TD brought the Wildcats within 17-12 with 2 minutes, 33 seconds left in the half.
Rochester quarterback Daniel Zeigler (12-of-122, 165 yards, 2 TDs) responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass, and the Rockets added a two-point conversion to take a 13-point halftime lead.
Corey Warren rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries for Phillips in the penalty-filled first half. Rochester's Evan Sembell, a 2,200-yard rusher, had 87 and a TD on 13 carries.
-Mike Helfgot
3A final: Wilmington 3, Williamsville 0
Jordan Sarr's 26-yard field goal late in the second quarter accounted for the lone points of the first half.The Wildcats' Double Wing -T offense has netted 112 yards rushing, while quarterback Mason Southhall, who had 52 completions in his first 13 games, is 5-for-7 passing for 67 yards. Nick Hawkins leads the Wildcats with 12 carries for 50 yards. Williamsville's spread offense has tallied 64 yards rushing and 38 passing, but the Bullets have turned the ball over twice. Wilmington lost a fumble near the goal line when Nick McWilliams was stripped by Ben Kovacevich and the ball was recovered by Willamsville.-Bob Narang
2A final: Eastland-Pearl City 21, Maroa-Forsyth 0
CHAMPAIGN -- The first seven minutes of the Class 2A championship game were all about Maroa-Forsyth.
Then Eastland-Pearl City got its hands on the ball.
Deven Heeren had a touchdown pass and a TD run and Eastland-Pearl City's defense has made timely stops.
Behind Jack Hockaday, who led Maroa-Forsyth to the Class 1A championship as a sophomore in 2012, the Trojans methodically marched down the field on the opening possession.
Hockaday (21 carries, 97 yards) took Maroa-Forsyth to the Eastland-Pearl City 8, but a bad snap pushed it back to the 35 and forced the team to punt.
Austin Fischer stopped Hockaday on fourth down on Maroa-Forsyth's next drive at the Eastland-Pearl City 30, then Heeren and the Eastland offense took over.
The Wildcatz put together three quick scoring drives in the second quarter, starting with an eight-play, 70-yarder that took 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
Heeren followed Eric Schaney's 3-yard TD run with a 24-yard scoring pass to Cody Kluck before making it a three-touchdown lead with a 1-yard sneak 12 seconds before halftime.
Heeren completed 8-of-9 attemts for 122 yards, with Kluck catching four for 88. Hockaday was 4-for-12 for 33 yards and an interception.
-Mike Helfgot
Class 1A: Forreston 14, Carrollton 7
CHAMPAIGN -- Forreston scored a touchdown on its first two second-quarter drives to move within two quarters of winning the school's first state championship.Running back Aaron Shelton started the scoring with a 10-yard run midway through the second quarter. Carrollton's Jacob Smith's 51-yard touchdown run gave the Hawks a 7-6 lead. The Cardinals answered with a 10-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown by Spencer Cruthis 44 before halftime.Forreston has 180 yards rushing and 28 passing.-Bob Narang
PREGAME
Class 4A: Phillips (12-1) vs. Rochester (11-2), 7 p.m. Friday
Experience in on Rochester's side. The Rockets have won four straight Class 4A state championships.
Phillips is making its first state final appearance, and the Public League's second. Robeson placed second in 1982.
Rochester defeated Herrin 28-9 in the semifinals, while Phillips beat Coal City 26-6.
The Wildcats won two games in 2010 in coach Troy McAllister's first season, but steadily improved each year. They have won 11 games in a row after falling 20-13 to Carmel in Week 2.
Senior quarterback Dewayne Collins is the driving force for the Wildcats' offense. He has thrown for 1,370 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he does most of his damage running the ball. The Illinois State recruit ran for 122 yards Saturday to raise his season total to 1,843 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns.
Running back Corey Warren had a game-high 223 yards and two last week, when the Wildcats attempted just four passes.
Still, Quayvon Skanes has 40 receptions for 977 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Wildcats' hard-hitting defense enters Friday's game allowing just 4.5 points per game. McAllister called junior middle linebacker Amani Jones, who has 101 tackles, the best player on the team. Sophomore nose guard Chris Elmore has a team-high 13 sacks and strong safety Jamal Brown is second on the team with 84 tackles and six interceptions. Aaron Clayton has a team-high seven interceptions.
"We have so many playmakers on defense," Brown said. "Our coaches have put together good game plans and put us in a place to make plays. We just have to execute. We're excited about the challenge Friday, and we're trying to make history."
-Bob Narang
Class 3A: Wilmington (13-0) vs. Williamsville (13-0), 4 p.m. Friday
Williamsville has won nine or more games for six straight seasons but still is in search of the program's first state championship.
The Bullets gave up 54 points during the regular season, 38 in the playoffs and have held their last eight opponents to 14 points or fewer.
Quarterback Luke Bleyer, who is 148-for-233 for 2,139 yards and 17 touchdowns, spreads the ball around to a number of targets. Three players have at least 492 receiving yards, led by Daniel Daykin's 776 yards and eight touchdowns. Vince Vignali leads the team in receptions (40) and ranks second in receiving yards (563).
Wilmington, which plays in the Interstate Eight Conference, squeezed out a 20-19 victory against St. Joseph-Ogden in the quarterfinals and defeated Byron 46-13 in the semifinals.
The closest the Wildcats have come to a state title was 2003, when they finished second with a 13-1 record.
Senior running back Nick McWilliams (1,348 yards, 23 TDs) and junior Nick Hawkins (1,115 yards, 13 TDs) handle the majority of the offensive load. Quarterback Mason Southall has 52 completions for 1,005 yards and 12 touchdowns.
-Bob Narang
Class 2A: Pearl City (13-0) vs. Maroa-Forsyth (10-3), 1 p.m. Friday
Eastland-Pearl City has scored 599 points and held opponents to 163. The Wildcatz do most of their damage in the first half, scoring 147 in the first quarter and 210 in the second.
EPC has 3,525 yards on the ground and 1,681 through the air. Walter Ollie has run for a team-leading 1,066 yards and 17 touchdowns. Donny Groezinger is second on the team with 982 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Quarterback Deven Heeren is 85-for-147 for 1,341 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Besides a 27-20 win over Spring Valley Hall in the second round of the playoffs, the Wildcatz have won every games by double figures.
The Trojans are led by linebacker/quarterback Jack Hockaday, an Iowa recruit. The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder has accounted for 52 touchdowns. He's has 1,784 yards and 30 touchdowns rushing and has thrown for 1,897 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also has 96 tackles and has 19 punts with a long of 56 yards. The Trojans have won six in a row since losing 17-14 to St. Joseph-Ogden. Maroa-Forsyth won a state title in 2006 and 2012 and was second in 2009 and 2010.
-Bob Narang
Class 1A: Forreston (12-1) vs. Carrollton (13-0), 10 a.m. Friday
Carrollton is searching for the program's first state championship.
The Hawks beat Camp Point Central 22-7 in the semifinals and are aiming to become the first unbeaten Class 1A state champion since Triopia in 2008.
Senior running back Luke Palan leads the Hawks' offense with 122 carries for 1,292 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Jacob Smith has 666 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.
Smith's favorite targets are Cody Leonard (44 catches, 870 yards, 10 TDs) and Palan (39 catches, 711 yards, 8 TDs). The Hawks have scored 56 points or more in four games.
Forreston's lone loss this season came in Week 9, 54-21 to 2A finalist Eastland-Pearl City. The Cardinals have won their four playoff games a combined 163-65.
Forreston relies on a power running game, with Max Barklow leading the way with 1,039 yards and 14 touchdowns. Spencer Cruthis (898 yards rushing, 15 TDs), Robert DeVries (876 yards, 16 TDs) and Aaron Shelton (575 yards, 10 TDs) round out Forreston's ground game.
The Cardinals also are making their first state final appearance.
-Bob Narang
