photo by Greg Floyd. Aiden Ballinger tracks the ball carrier during last Friday’s SOV game against Sangamon Valley/Tri-City.

•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Redskins traveled to Niantic last Friday to spoil the homecoming festivities for Sangamon Valley/Tri-City. The shutout victory moved SOV to 6-0 on the season.

As they have all season, the Redskins wasted no time getting to work in the first half. Aian Fryman helped put SOV on the board in the first quarter with a seven yard rushing touchdown. The Storm started to put together a decent drive that came to an abrupt halt when their running back lost control of the ball. Fryman added a 14 yard rushing touchdown on SOV’s next possession. The junior running back had 71 yards rushing for the game. Read More

•September 27, 2023•

The Lincoln Prairie Conference (LPC) Golf Meet for both boys and girls golf was held on Tuesday, September 19 at Moweaqua Golf Course. Teams that competed were Sullivan, Arcola, Blue Ridge, Okaw Valley, Villa Grove and Tri-County. Okaw Valley Girls Golfers were Rissa Montgomery, a senior with a 96, Kaya Forlines, a freshman with 110, Brylee Baker, a sophomore with 117, Kate Stauder, a sophomore at 129,  Annabelle Cheathan, a junior with 137 and Erin Harris, a freshman with 138. The final team score for the OV girls was 452. An all conference award went to Montgomery of Okaw Valley in fifth. Okaw Valley girls golf came in second during the meet. 

In the boys LPC meet schools competing were Sullivan, Arcola, Blue Ridge, Cerro Gordo, Heritage, Okaw Valley, Villa Grove, LSA and Tri-County. Okaw Valley had Gibson Dickens, a senior with 85, Braden Montgomery, a sophomore with a 92, Tucker Montgomery, a sophomore with a 99, Chase Creviston, a junior and Grady Sparks, a junior both with a 100, Cannon Bernstein, a senior with 108. An all conference award was given to Dickens of Okaw Valley in fourth.

photo by Greg Floyd
Dexter Parrish with one of his three runs. He had 63 yards rushing in the game.

•September 27, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan-Okaw Valley Redskins put the Cerro Gordo-Bement Broncos to pasture last Friday with a dominant win of 59-7. The stampede by the Redskin offense started early and continued all four quarters with 7 different players finding the end zone throughout the night.

On just the second play of SOV’s first possession, junior ball carrier Aian Fryman did what he does best, taking his first carry of the night 82 yards for the first of his three touchdowns. The Broncos tried to respond with a methodical offensive possession that moved them down the field 72 yards within their own five yard line. The Redskin defense held strong with key tackles coming from seniors Landry Still and Hayden Moody and junior Elijah Beeler. The drive would result in a turnover on downs. Read More

•September 27, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan Redskins XC teams took to the streets of St. Joseph, Illinois to compete in the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartan Classic last Saturday. Twenty-eight teams brought a total of 313 runners for the traditionally fast road course. It looked like a repeat for team results as the Tolono (Unity) girls once again took first in the meet while Tuscola again secured the win for the boys. Read More

photo by Greg Floyd
SOV’s Hayden Moody (25) completing one of his ten total tackles of the evening during the football game against Argenta-Oreana held at Okaw Valley High School for Homecoming.

•September 20, 2023•

by E. Scott England

Argenta-Oreana Bombers, coming off a win last week, stormed into Bethany looking to hand the Redskins their first loss of the season. A-O’s plan was diffused by Sullivan-Okaw Valley on Bethany’s homecoming, extending their record to 4-0.

Both teams came out with strong defensive stands, forcing each other to punt after a three and out. However, on the Bombers’ second possession, SOV’s defense stayed persistent, eventually forcing a failed fourth down attempt. The Redskins’ offense came alive on their second possession, driving 75 yards to set up Aiden Ballinger for an 8-yard touchdown reception. 

The defense got back to work with senior Kaden Guest forcing a second A-O fumble. With the ball back in their possession, the Redskins only needed one play to extend their lead. Ballinger took a shovel pass 84 yards to the endzone. Junior signal caller Cooper Christensen completed 8 passes on 13 attempts for 231 yards. Senior kicker Easton England tacked on his second of three extra points for the evening. The Bombers attempted to close the gap in the second quarter with a touchdown run by senior running back Michael Spurling. The point after attempt was no good.  Read More