Playoff primer: Camp Point Central faces Althoff in Class 1A postseason rematch

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team finds itself in the state semifinals for a third consecutive season with arguably its toughest test as it heads to Belleville Althoff on Saturday.

Here’s a closer look at the matchup:

What: Class 1A state semifinal

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville, Ill.

Records: Camp Point Central — 11-1 (5-0, first in Western Illinois Valley Conference North). Belleville Althoff — 12-0 (independent).

Radio/livestream: NFHS Network.

Scouting the Panthers: This is the third consecutive season Central has reached the state semifinals, beating Colfax-Ridgeview 44-8 two years ago and Greenfield-Northwestern 54-20. The Panthers have won three of their five state semifinal berths. This also will be the first time this season Central has played on an artificial surface. The Panthers are 3-4 all-time on turf, last playing on turf in the state title game last November when they beat Lena-Winslow 14-0.

“I think our guys are confident in what we do and how we do it,” Central coach Brad Dixon said. “We don’t have to change anything we do to go play them. Obviously, they have athletes everywhere, but we’ve played spread teams. We’ve played big guys. We have a system in place.

“Our advantage is no one they played runs anything like we do. No one we play runs the spread as well as they do, but at least we’ve seen it and have some answers on how to line up.”

Attacking the Crusaders’ defense begins with senior quarterback Elijah Genenbacher sparking a steady move forward. Genenbacher has rushed for 947 yards and 19 touchdowns, while throwing for 505 yards and seven touchdowns. Fullback Kadin Niekamp has 649 yards and nine touchdowns as the Panthers average 6.7 yards per carry as a team.

“We have the opportunity to run it downhill and that’s kind of who we’ve been this year,” Dixon said. “We haven’t gotten to the edges much as we have in year’s past.”

Scouting the Crusaders: Althoff is the most dynamic offensive team in Class 1A, averaging 48.3 points per game. The Crusaders have scored 157 points in three playoff games and have scored more than 50 points six times this season.

University of Oregon recruit Dierre Hill Jr., a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior running back, has racked up 39 touchdowns and four two-point conversions, while 1,832 yards and catching 14 passes for 284 yards. His 16.5 yards-per-carry average is the best in the state regardless of class and he has one kick return and one punt return for a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Jayden Ellington has thrown for 1,941 yards and 34 touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Charleston Coldon, who has committed to Boston College, has caught 38 passes for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Defensive tackle Jason Dowell has committed to the University of Missouri and anchors a defense that allows just 12.6 points per game.