Central High School
QUINCY — A tumultuous and resignation of a high school football coach. A magical run to a state championship game appearance. A bicycle ride from one coast to the other. A shot for the ages. Those were the moments our readers wanted to know about. Here are the most viewed stories on Muddy River Sports…
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Every comeback starts at a tipping point, the moment where momentum and mojo shift dramatically. Everything lined up for a Lena-Winslow punt to be just that. Having forced the defending Class 1A state champion to punt from its own 23-yard line with 7 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter Friday…
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — As they worked their way past the long line of Decatur St. Teresa faithful waiting to enter Memorial Stadium, a group of Camp Point Central football fans were abruptly stopped by some curious Bulldogs fans. “Did you get it done?” one asked. The disappointment echoed in the tone of the response. “It…
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Central football team’s magical postseason run ended Friday with a 30-8 loss to top-ranked Lena-Winslow in the Class 1A state championship game at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium. Central finished its season with a 13-1 record and the single-season program record for victories. Here is a gallery of images from…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Come Friday, the Camp Point Central football team will walk into Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus for the Class 1A state championship game to square off with Lena-Winslow, the reigning state champion who has won five state championships since 2010. Leading the way with be an experienced, stout…
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COLFAX, Ill. — Ross Riley’s explanation for the Camp Point Central football team’s Class 1A semifinal win over Ridgeview-Lexington was a simple one. That was fitting because the Panthers’ 44-8 victory was simple domination. “We were just going, and I was just running. I don’t know what else to say,” exclaimed a jubilant Riley. “It’s…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central football players have traded cut-off t-shirts and shorts for stocking caps and sweatshirts. When that takes place, something more significant has, too. In this case, the Panthers have reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the fourth time in program history. Central (12-0) travels for the first time this…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Central quarterback Nick Moore’s post-game assessment was rather poignant. And precise. “The first half was kind of rough,” Moore said in matter-of-fact fashion. Yep, pretty much much nailed it, Nick. Fortunately, there are two halves in a high school football game. The margin of Central’s 24-12 Class 1A quarterfinal playoff victory…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Shut out in the first half and trailing by two scores, the Central football team showed why it has been one of the area’s most successful programs for the past decade. The Panthers simply refuse to lose. They rallied for a 24-12 victory over Greenfield-Northwestern in the Class 1A state quarterfinals…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — There is an entertaining tradition on Friday nights at Central’s home football games. In between the third and fourth quarters, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” can be heard booming from the loudspeaker. And it’s as if fans and players alike begin to anticipate the arrival of the sing-a-long portion of the soft-rock…
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QUINCY — Five area players earned mention on the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams, which were released Tuesday. They will be honored during the state championship games played November 26-27 In Class 1A, Central running back/defensive back Garret Williams and Brown County offensive and defensive lineman Mason Henry were first-team selections. Three…
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MOWEAQUA, Ill. — With an ample amount of time to prepare its defense, the Moweaqua Central A&M football team didn’t allow Camp Point Central to run wild. It means the Raiders are rolling on. The Panthers were limited to 220 yards of total offense in Saturday’s Class 1A second-round playoff game and couldn’t overcome a…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Nick Moore and Garret Williams both carried the same why-fix-it-if-it-ain’t-broken look on their faces. Moore, the talented sophomore quarterback for the Central Panthers, had teamed up with Williams, a senior wingback, for three first-half touchdown passes during Saturday’s 48-14 dismantling of Villa Grove in a Class 1A first-round playoff game. “(Williams)…
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Keaton Dickhut lived out every defensive lineman’s dream. With the Central football team leading Calhoun 30-14 after scoring on their first two possessions of the second half last Friday night, Dickhut intercepted what appeared to be a screen pass from Warriors quarterback Miles Lorton and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. It was the…
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QUINCY — Dylan Dickhut’s historical research uncovered a unique fact about the Central football program. The Panthers have never been a No. 1 seed in a playoff bracket, not even when finishing the regular season undefeated. Saturday night, history changed. Central drew the No. 1 seed in the Class 1A south bracket according to the…
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Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: CLASS 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Wilmette Loyola (10) (8-0) 100 1 2. Naperville Neuqua Valley (8-0) 89 2 3. Maine South (7-1) 75 3 4. Gurnee Warren (7-1) 71 4 5.…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central football team is prepping for the postseason with a playoff-like showdown thanks to a late-in-the-week schedule change. North Greene will not field a varsity team this week due to “the large amount of injuries and players under team discipline,” according to a statement from the Spartans athletic department which…
Read Full Article Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (7) (7-0) 70 1 2. Naperville Neuqua Valley (7-0) 62 2 3. Maine South (6-1) 52 4 4. Gurnee Warren (6-1) 51 3 5. Lockport…
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The Central football team wrapped up the Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division championship with last Friday’s 60-28 victory over Beardstown as Garret Williams powered the Panthers’ offense with a series of big runs. Williams scored on 39- and 27-yard runs to give the Panthers the edge, and his 8-yard scoring run with 44.5 seconds…
Read Full Article Here are the state rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class heading into Week 7, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters. They were released on Oct. 5, 2021. Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Wilmette Loyola (11) (6-0) 110 1 2. Naperville Neuqua Valley (6-0) 96 2 3. Gurnee…
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Here are the state rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class heading into Week 5, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (9) (4-0) 90 1 2. Naperville Central (3-1) 69 3 3. Naperville Neuqua Valley (4-0) 62 5 4. Chicago Marist (3-1)…
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MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Tom Little couldn’t hide his emotion. In the wake of a 22-20 victory over Central in Friday night’s battle of state-ranked teams, the Brown County football coach gathered the Hornets and delivered a simple message. “We told them we loved them,” Little said. That’s when the tears softly fell. “Win or…
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Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Maine South (8) (3-0) 107 2 2. Chicago (Marist) (1) (3-0) 96 3 3. Naperville Central (2) (2-1) 74 1 4. Gurnee Warren (2-1) 73 4…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The instinctive and smart plays Central football coach Brad Dixon continues to see from some of his youthful playmakers is as encouraging as anything else three games into the season. Sophomore quarterback Nick Moore delivered one of those plays to help the Panthers build an insurmountable lead Friday night. Facing third…
Read Full Article Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Naperville Central (3) …
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Here are the Illinois high school football state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and compiled by the Associated Press. The rankings were released Tuesday afternoon: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Gurnee Warren (7) (1-0) 79 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (1) (1-0) 72 2 3. Chicago (Marist) (1-0) 62 3…
Read Full Article A fourth-quarter rally cannot become epic unless there is an exclamation point. Friday night in Camp Point, Isaac Genenbacher punctuated the Central football team’s 22-point fourth quarter with a game-winning dash to the end zone. Panthers sophomore safety Gavin Blewett forced a fourth-quarter fumble and Genenbacher scored on a 61-yard run on the next play,…
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MENDON, Ill. — Matt Woodworth found it easy to pinpoint what he enjoyed most about his head coaching debut. “The aggression we played with,” the Unity-Payson football coach said. The Mustangs made Woodworth’s first game memorable, holding North Greene to minus-33 yards rushing in a 58-0 whitewashing Friday night. The Mustangs outgained the Spartans 484-119…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The luxury of having an all-state running back to hand the ball to in tough situations is gone. For now. Central football coach Brad Dixon believes his stable of capable backs — the Panthers may employ six or seven guys to run the ball in a given game — will create…
Read Full Article Here are the preseason state rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School, points 1. Gurnee Warren (6) 78 2. Lincoln-Way East (2) 73 3. Chicago Marist 54 4. Maine South 50 5. Hinsdale Central 47 6. Naperville Neuqua Valley 30 7.…
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