Local Sports

Take a good look at them and you'll know right away that it's a badge of honor. Similar to a notch on the belt of a gunslinger in the old west.

It will be a clash for braggin' rights in the NCIC ... and to see what gets another chance to play next week.

The cliche says that to be the best, a team has to beat the best. The Minooka Indians will get their chance to beat the best this weekend.

For the seniors on both the Coal City and Richmond-Burton football teams, the memories are short. Memories of playoff football in Class 4A and a 31-0 win by the Coalers over the Rockets in 2007.

Of all the components that have contributed to the 8-2 showing by the Minooka Indians in 2009, coach Bert Kooi lists the play of his linebackers at the top of the list.

Raby quarterback Daniel Cleveland dropped back to pass on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium and found receiver Tyran Givens down field about 40 yards away and hit him in stride. It looked to be a game-changing play for sure.

MINOOKA — The last time the Minooka Indians allowed as many points as they did Friday night, they were routed 38-14 by Glenbrook South to open the season.

Dzuris Athletic Field had taken a beating. First from Mother Nature on Friday night, and then from the Dunlap and Coal City football teams on Saturday night.

Morris senior captain Kevin Henry stands 6-5 and weighs 265. It was his stature and athleticism which attracted Central Michigan to recruit the Redskins' lineman. While playing end, tackle and linebacker this year for the locals, Henry has been recruited by the Chippewas as a defensive end.

MINOOKA — Michael King Jr. is gone, the victim of a drowning accident in late May, but his memory lives on vividly for the Minooka Community High School football team.

Minooka qualified for the IHSA Class 3A Cross Country State Meet Saturday with its showing at the Normal Community West Sectional at Maxwell Park.

EAST PEORIA - Notre Dame senior C.J. Elward put another checkmark on his list of accomplishments by winning the East Peoria Sectional on Saturday, but his victory was almost an afterthought. That's because he and his teammates ran a dominating race to win the team title, 45-80 over Normal U-High.

COAL CITY — Things were pretty simple for Dunlap football coach Brett Cazalet to explain on Saturday night after his team's game at the Dzuris Athletic Complex. Standing on the soggy turf and with the scoreboard emblazoning a 30-7 final score in favor of the hosting Coalers, the Eagles' coach looked for a concluding thought about the Class 4A playoff contest.