The Metro East area is the home of two new state championship football teams as the East St. Louis Flyers and Alfhoff Crusaders showed up and showed out at Illinois State last weekend.
East St. Louis defeated Geneva 48-28 to win the IHSA Class 6A state championship while Althoff defeated Lena-Winslow 57-14 to win the Class 1A state championship. The respective games were held at Hancock State on the campus of ISU in Normal.
For East St. Louis, the victory marked the 11th state championship in its storied football history. The Flyers finished the season with a 13-1 record with its only loss coming against national power IMG Academy (FL).
For Althoff, senior running back Dierre Hill had a performance for the ages in his final high school game. The Oregon recruit rushed for 436 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also added an 80-yard reception for his seventh touchdown. He finished the game with 516 yards of total offense. The Crusaders finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record.
Quarterback Kendrick Lyons led the Flyers as he completed 16 of 17 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Ronnie Gomiller had five receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns while Larevious Woods rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns.
For Althoff, senior running back Dierre Hill had a performance for the ages in his final high school game. The Oregon recruit rushed for 436 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also added an 80-yard reception for his seventh touchdown. He finished the game with 516 yards of total offense. The Crusaders finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record.
Reports on the The Missouri State Championship games played at Faurot Field on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus will be coming soon.
Top individual performersÂ
Defensive back Mike Clark of Lutheran North had two interceptions in the Crusaders’ 24-21 victory over Kearney in the Class 4 semifinals.
Running back Jayden McCaster of DeSmet rushed for 201 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown in the Spartans’ 34-14 victory over Liberty in the Class 6 semifinals.
Quarterback Dillon Duff of DeSmet rushed for 156 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, and passed for three more TDs in the Spartans’ 34-14 victory over Liberty in the Class 6 semifinals.
Quarterback Owen Nesslage of Kirkwood completed 36 of 56 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns in the Pioneers 56-46 loss to Nixa in the Class 6 semifinals.
Receiver Jacob Eberhart had nice receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in the Pioneers 56-46 loss to Nixa in the Class