Niekamp’s big runs in Central’s victory over Brown County help him make case for more carries

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Kadin Niekamp is already thinking ahead to next season.

Niekamp is admittedly salivating at the chance to move into the Camp Point Central football team’s offensive backfield on a full-time basis, but has no problem waiting his turn in a program that produces effective running backs in the same fashion Nabisco does cookies.

At Central, the running backs simply have to wait their turn. And Niekamp, who is a two-way lineman, is perfectly OK with that.

Niekamp and his No. 52 — which, of course, is rather awkward looking for a ball carrier — showed Friday night why his long-term roster position could very well be at running back. Niekamp ran for two long touchdowns, triggering the Panthers’ 30-14 Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division victory over backyard rival Brown County.

Niekamp, who is one of 12 players who have carried the ball this season for the Panthers, powered his way to touchdown runs of 66 and 82 yards en route to rushing for a game-best 157 yards on just five attempts. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior has now carried the ball 14 times this season and is averaging 15.7 yards per carry.

“Oh, man, I hope so,” Niekamp said about eventually moving to the backfield on a full-time basis. “I’ve been working  on (refining my technique as a running back) all year. It really means a lot for me to (get a chance) in the offensive backfield — but I love being a lineman, too.” 

And about that number …

If, at some point, Niekamp would become a full-time ball carrier, that No. 52 would have to be dispatched.

“I would like to wear 0 or 99,” Niekamp said. “My favorite is 6, but (running back) Curtis Rigg already has that number, and he is the fastest guy on the team … but I’m second fastest.”

Niekamp’s long scoring bursts twice lit a fire under Central’s offense. His 66-yard run in the first quarter tied the score at 6, and his 82-yard touchdown sprint early in the fourth quarter gave Central a 22-6 advantage.

“Brown County made us earn this win,” said Central coach Brad Dixon, whose team is ranked fourth in the Class 1A state poll. “We’re going to be concentrating next week on cleaning up some penalties and other mistakes.”

Plenty of positives emerged, however, in the victory that boosted Central to 3-0 in the WIVC North and 4-1 overall. The Panthers’ win was their third straight over Brown County and gives them an 11-2 record against the Hornets since both have been WIVC North members.

“I felt we locked (Brown County) down most of the game,” Dixon said. “Minus the two big plays, I was pleased with the way we handled the line of scrimmage.”

Brown County (2-1, 2-3) scored on the opening kickoff when Jack Sefton outran the Central defense for an 85-yard touchdown return. The Hornets’ other score came via a 71-yard pass in the third quarter from quarterback Vince Little to Hayden Hurley.

Brown County’s normally effective ground game was limited to 3 yards or less on 17 of its 29 rushes, forcing the Hornets to go to the air more frequently than normal. Little was 4 of 10 throwing the ball for 100 yards, but most of those yards came on the touchdown pass to Hurley.

Central, which has scored in 95 straight games, earned its other touchdowns from a 2-yard sneak by quarterback Elijah Genenbacher and a 30-yard run compliments of Konnor Bush. Genenbacher’s score gave Central a 13-6 lead midway through the second quarter. The Panthers led the final 32 minutes of the game.

“We played hard, and we played well, but Central just had more big plays,” Hornets coach Tom Little said. “We both know what each other does. This game is kind of like brother vs. brother.”

Brown County will need to win three of its final four games to become playoff eligible.

“We just have to concentrate on getting the next win,” Little said.

Central travels to Jacksonville Routt next Saturday for a 1 p.m. date that could decide the WIVC North title. Routt (4-1) matches Central’s 3-0 conference record following a 44-0 win over Unity-Payson (0-3, 0-5) on Friday night. 

Central, which is 11-0 against Routt since both schools have been in the WIVC North, has stretched its conference win streak to 16 games. Its last league loss came in the Covid-shortened 2020 season.

“The game against Routt should be something,” Dixon said. “They like to throw the ball all over the place.”

And Central doesn’t.

The Panthers have completed just 3 of 10 passes all season.