Photo gallery: Althoff’s arsenal of Division I talent too much for Central to overcome

November 24, 2024 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Camp Point Central coach Brad Dixon, right, and his captains — from left, Kadin Niekamp, Jaden Summy, Nate Peters and Elijah Genenbacher — head to the middle of the field for the coin toss prior to Saturday's Class 1A state semifinal matchup with Belleville Althoff in Belleville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The Belleville Althoff football team has three players committed to NCAA Division I schools, including top-ranked Oregon, and two others receiving recruiting interest from Power 5 programs. It’s a significant reason the Crusaders are rolling through the Class 1A playoffs.

Althoff pulled away from Camp Point Central in Saturday’s state semifinals, scoring the game’s final 36 points en route to a 58-19 victory and a spot in the state championship game opposite Lena-Winslow at 10 a.m. Friday at Hancock Stadium on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Ill.

Central’s season ends with an 11-2 record and third straight semifinal appearance.

Photographer Mike Pritchard put together this photo gallery from the game: