‘Incredible’: Camp Point Central football team captures first state championship in school history

The Camp Point Central football team's captains hoist the Class 1A state championship trophy following their 14-0 victory over Lena-Winslow on Friday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

NORMAL, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football players viewed Friday’s appearance in the Class 1A state championship game as a business trip. It was more of a historic journey. “Incredible,” senior quarterback Nick Moore called it. Unforgettable, too. Behind arguably one of the most impressive defensive performances in program history and the continued postseason…

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Beyond the Boxscore: Defensive stand, Moore’s punts, Thompson’s catches play pivotal roles in Central’s state championship

Camp Point Central fullback Elijah Genenbacher dives for the end zone to finish an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter Friday in the Class 1A state championship game against Lena-Winslow at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

NORMAL, Ill. — At times, they seem like just another play. Other times, they define a championship. Friday at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, the Camp Point Central football team made a number of plays that would be easy to overlook on a stat sheet but proved to be pivotal moments in the 14-0 victory…

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Photo gallery: Camp Point Central wins Class 1A state championship by beating Lena-Winslow

Camp Point Central football coach Brad Dixon, right, embraces senior quarterback Nick Moore after Central beat Lena-Winslow 14-0 in the Class 1A state championship game Friday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

NORMAL, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team brought the first state championship trophy in school history back to Adams County on Friday. Central used a stone-solid defense and two Elijah Genenbacher touchdown runs to beat three-time defending Class 1A state champion Lena-Winslow 14-0 at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium. Photographer Mike Pritchard roamed…

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State champs: Dominant defensive effort carries Camp Point Central football team to Class 1A title

The Camp Point Central football team celebrates after winning the Class 1A state championship with a 14-0 victory over Lena-Winslow on Friday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium. | Photo courtesy IHSA

NORMAL, Ill. — A historic season deserved a historic ending. The Camp Point Central football team delivered in the most historic way. By shutting out three-time defending state champion Lena-Winslow with a 14-0 victory Friday in the Class 1A state championship game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, Central not only capped a 14-0 season…

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Bulldogged effort in Class 1A state title tilt by Central, but momentum, mojo never shift in its direction

Camp Point Central senior lineman Cole Pracht carries the Class 1A second-place trophy in the direction of the Central crowd following a 30-8 loss to Lena-Winslow on Friday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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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Schuckman: Memories become unforgettable, and Central football team’s legacy is equally undeniable

Flanked by Isaac Genenbacher, left, and Ross Riley, right, Central lineman Cole Pracht carries the Class 1A state runner-up trophy off the field Friday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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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Photo gallery: Central football team finishes as Class 1A state runner-up

Central senior Ross Riley reacts to a play during Friday's Class 1A state championship game against Lena-Winslow at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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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Schuck on a Truck: Central football team’s offensive line

Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman chats with the Central football team's offensive linemen for the latest episode of "Schuck on a Truck." | Muddy River Sports photo

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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Photo gallery: QND welcomes home Class 1A boys soccer state championship squad

Tanner Anderson, left, carries the Class 1A state championship trophy into The Pit as the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team celebrated its title run with Tuesday's fire truck ride and assembly. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Greg Reis replaced his silver, postseason beard with a dapper, clean-shaven look in time for a celebration fit for champions. The veteran Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach allowed his facial hair to grow throughout the Raiders’ postseason run, which culminated with last Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Belleville Althoff in the Class 1A…

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Four-star rating: QND soccer team scores three times in second half to upend Althoff and win Class 1A state championship

Quincy Notre Dame players congregate on teammate Deakon Schuette (center) as they celebrate a goal during the second half of the Raiders’ 4-1 victory over Belleville Althoff in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday night at EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Four days ago, Tanner Anderson sat his bag down on the grass, laid the super-sectional plaque on top of it and stopped to oblige a media request. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach Greg Reis suggested he’d take the plaque to the bus to expedite the Raiders’ departure, but Anderson intervened.…

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Schuckman: By choosing to be phenomenal, Raiders ensure they are never to be forgotten

Quincy Notre Dame teammates celebrate a goal by Tanner Anderson (center) on a penalty kick during the second half of the Raiders’ 4-1 victory over Belleville Althoff in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday night at EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Be phenomenal or be forgotten. Such an easy choice. “No one wants to live their life forgotten,” said Jake Hoyt, a senior center back on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team. “Doesn’t everyone want to be phenomenal?” When Raiders coach Greg Reis posed that challenge to his team on the…

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Schuck on a Truck: QND boys soccer team celebrates Class 1A state championship

The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team climbed into the bed of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman's truck after winning the Class 1A state championship to tape an episode of "Schuck on a Truck." | Muddy River Sports photo

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — They grew curious — possibly more concerned — whether the suspension on Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman’s pickup truck could hold the weight of the entire Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team piled into the truck’s bed. Much like the Raiders throughout the postseason, Schuck’s truck held up just fine.…

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Sixth sense: Keck’s game-winning goal, lockdown defensive effort carry QND girls soccer team to sixth state championship

The Quincy Notre Dame soccer players celebrate after receiving the Class 1A state championship trophy following their 1-0 victory over Richmond-Burton in Saturday's title game at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Randy Dickerman

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Annie Eaton’s tear-filled eyes and ear-to-ear smile told the same story. Her elation over helping the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team win the Class 1A state championship Saturday night was all-encompassing. “It’s every emotion you can think of,” Eaton said while standing in the courtyard outside North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium…

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Photo gallery: QND girls soccer team vs. Richmond-Burton in Class 1A state championship game

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer players celebrate their Class 1A state championship after beating Richmond-Burton 1-0 at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Randy Dickerman

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team won the sixth state championship in program history Saturday night, beating Richmond-Burton 1-0 on Avery Keck’s goal with 2 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in regulation of the Class 1A state title game at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Photographer Randy Dickerman captured the action and…

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