Photo gallery: Camp Point Central punches ticket to state semifinals by bouncing Calhoun

Camp Point Central football coach Brad Dixon reacts to the Panthers' 16-7 victory over Calhoun in Saturday's Class 1A quarterfinal matchup in Hardin, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

HARDIN, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team is making a spot in the state semifinals a yearly occurrence. Saturday, the Panthers found their way back to the Class 1A semifinals for the third straight season with a 16-7 victory over Hardin Calhoun. Freelance photographer Mike Pritchard spent time in Calhoun County and put…

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Panthers earn another shot at Warriors after posting shutout in Class 1A playoff game

Camp Point Central's Jasper Flesner, center, and teammates react to a play during Saturday's 40-0 trouncing of Toledo Cumberland in the Class 2A second-round playoff game in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The defending Class 1A state football champion remains alive and has a little revenge in mind. Camp Point Central was dominant in all phases in rainy, windswept conditions Saturday afternoon, scoring all five of its touchdowns on as many possessions in the first half to roll to a 40-0 victory over…

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Hornets see season end when Warriors score twice in two-minute span of fourth quarter

Brown County quarterback Vince Little turns to hand the ball off to fullback Trey Fullerton during Saturday's Class 1A playoff game against Casey Westfield in Mt. Sterling, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MT. STERLING, Ill. — Two minutes decided the outcome, but it doesn’t change what two and a half months revealed. That’s the character of the Brown County football players. And that’s why Tom Little had to pause, fight back tears and collect himself before talking about the postgame huddle with the Hornets following Saturday’s 16-0…

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Photo gallery: Central football team reaches state semifinals after emphatic start

Camp Point Central's Elijah Genenbacher dives into the end zone during Saturday's Class 1A state quarterfinal victory over Belleville Althoff in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team is back in the state semifinals, and the Panthers got there with a burst. Central outscored Belleville Althoff 30-0 in the first quarter of Saturday’s Class 1A state quarterfinal and rode the momentum to a 42-22 victory. Photographer Mike Pritchard put together this gallery of…

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Off and running: Genenbacher’s first-play touchdown sets stage for Central’s playoff win

Camp Point Central running back Elijah Genenbacher runs throw a gaping hole on the left side of the line on the Panthers' first offensive play in a 54-0 rout of Bridgeport Red Hill in the opening round of the Class 1A playoffs Saturday in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The first time Elijah Genenbacher touched the ball proved to be a harbinger of things to come Saturday afternoon. For both Genenbacher and the Camp Point Central football team. Genenbacher, a junior running back whose true passion is playing linebacker on defense, was handed the ball on Central’s first offensive play…

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Photo gallery: Camp Point Central runs roughshod to victory in Class 1A first-round playoff game

The Camp Point Central football team prepares to kick off during Saturday's Class 1A first-round playoff game against Bridgeport Red Hill in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Once the Camp Point Central football team’s offense took the field, a spot in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs seemed secure. Elijah Genenbacher scored on a 68-yard run on the Panthers’ first play and they rolled to a 54-0 victory over Bridgeport Red Hill on Saturday. Next up…

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Schuck on a Truck: Central football coach Brad Dixon discusses program success heading into state semifinals

Central football coach Brad Dixon, left, and Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman discuss playoff football for this episode of "Schuck on a Truck." | Muddy River Sports photo

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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Stick to what you know: Central rushes for more than 300 yards once again, reaches state quarterfinals

Central defensive tackle Cole Pracht and the Panthers celebrate after a 24-0 victory over Sesser-Valier-Waltonville in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs Saturday in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Don’t kid yourself, that well-grounded approach to offense employed by Central’s football team is by no means an accident or simple happenstance. Yep, there’s a specific method to the successful madness on those wind-swept plains just outside of Camp Point. “We’ve always been a running team here,” junior two-way lineman Reese…

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Central football team makes quick work of Dupo to start Class 1A playoff run

The Central football team put the clamps on Dupo's offense during a 66-0 victory in the opening round of the Class 1A state playoffs on Saturday in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Camp Point was up 38-0 early in the second quarter and their second scoop-and-score defensive touchdown of the first half made it 54-0 going into halftime. The running clock made the second half a little less painful for Dupo before the 66-0 final.

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