Category Archives: Sports Feature

Redskins Late Game Surge Not Enough to Overcome the Warriors

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Photo by Darian Hays Tuscola Warriors were strong on offense and defense at last Friday’s game. They managed to force the SOV Redskins into more than one turnover situation such as the one above.

Photo by Darian Hays
Tuscola Warriors were strong on offense and defense at last Friday’s game. They managed to force the SOV Redskins into more than one turnover situation such as the one above.

•September 16, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Before Friday night’s contest Tuscola announced it had been voted the number one ISHA football team in class 2A. The Warriors looked like a number one rushing out to a 35-0 halftime lead and holding on for the impressive win. After the loss SOV head coach Gerald Temples was blunt about what he saw, “We just got whipped up front. Offensively and defensively, we didn’t get the job done. We turned the ball over, gave up some big plays in the passing game. You do all that against a good football team and good things are not going to happen.”

Sullivan received the opening kick and managed a first down, getting near midfield before being forced to punt. Tuscola took over on their own 21 yard line at the nine minute mark in the first quarter. The Warriors proceeded to go on a 14 play six minute scoring drive that paid off on a fourth and nine from the 18 yard line. Evan Barker had just sacked the Warriors QB on third down putting them in a no man’s land, being too close to punt and too far out to try a field goal. On fourth down Warriors wide out Dalton Hoel got man coverage and ran an ankle breaking out route to the left corner of the end zone for the game’s first score. Trailing 7-0 at the three minute mark Sullivan had bad field position starting from their own 10 yard line. An illegal motion penalty made it first and 15 from the five, and the Redskins could not convert. The Redskins forced to punt out of their own end zone setup the Warriors at midfield. On the first play of the Warriors’ second drive Nick Bates ripped off a 45 yard touchdown run. The all-conference quarterback from Tuscola put one foot in the ground made a cut and was gone sprinting down the left sideline for a big score to put the Warriors on top 14-0 with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter.  Read More

Knights Outlast Blue Streaks during Weekend Victory

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•September 9, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP sports writer

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond scored three touchdowns in the first four minutes jumping all over Martinsville on Friday night.  Due to lightning strikes the game was postponed in the third quarter with the score at 36-22.

When play resumed Saturday, the Knights were able to shut out the Blue Streaks notching their first victory of the 2015 season.  Head coach Dale Schuring thought his team took the adversity in stride.  “We responded better today than Martinsville did. That is the reason we ended up holding onto the lead and finished out the game on a pretty strong effort.”

ALAH won the coin toss deciding to receive the opening kick. With the first offensive play from scrimmage senior quarterback Teddy Poe connected for a 75 yard touchdown pass on a go route to Marcus Vanausdoll.  The long touchdown  quieted the Martinsville sideline and would be the first of three first half touchdowns, for Poe.  The ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Knights before the Blue Streaks could get on the ball, stealing back possession for the offense.  Again Poe and Vanausdoll went to work.  On first and 10 from the Martinsville 40 yard line, Poe ripped off a 20 yard run on a quarterback option.  Four plays later Poe connected with Vanausdoll again for a 25 yard pass and catch on the same go route.  Facing first and goal from the five yard line Poe finished the drive off with a quarterback keeper over the right side for the second touchdown of the contest with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.   Read More

Redskins Never Look Back on Wildcats

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Photo by Mike Brothers Redskin Jake Eaton (27) rolls down the sideline with the end zone in sight as SOV football dominates last Friday’s away game.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Redskin Jake Eaton (27) rolls down the sideline with the end zone in sight as SOV football dominates last Friday’s away game.

•September 9, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Although the Mt. Olive-Sullivan Okaw Valley football game stopped with 9:40 left in the third quarter there was plenty of action for Redskin fans in the 42-0 victory.

The tide turned for the SOV team early with Redskin Dalace Ray sacking the Wildcat quarterback at 9:18 in the first quarter. SOV took control and never looked back, until the lights went out on the field during the third quarter.

After stopping the Wildcats midfield the Redskins’ Ty Molzen found Alec Ballinger open on the left side, who covered 45 yards down the sideline for the first score.

A little more than a minute passed before Jake Eaton took the same route down the left side on a 45 yard run to the goal line, putting the Redskins up 14-0 after extra point kicks by Brett Tuttle. Tuttle would provide six extra points during the shortened game.

Eaton followed with a two yard TD run just before the end of the first quarter giving SOV a 21-0 lead. Read More

Opportunistic Redskins Defeat Hoopeston 56-3

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Photo by RR Best

Photo by RR Best

•September 2, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP sports reporter

In their season opener Sullivan Okaw-Valley rushed out to a 42-0 halftime lead thanks in part to a strong defensive effort.

Ty Molzen was sharp in limited action hitting on four of seven passing for three touchdowns and 110 yards in the first half. Head coach Gerald Temples thought overall it was a good start to the season. “We got some details we need to work on, but our defense played hard. We did not tackle exceptionally well so we got to get that corrected, but for the first ball game they did a nice job.”

After forcing a quick three and out on Hoopeston’s opening possession, the Redskins offense took over on the Cornjerker 34 yard line. On the first play Molzen plowed around the right end for an 18 yard gain. The Redskins then flipped it outside to Alec Ballinger who found space taking it 18 yards for the score with 10:16 remaining in the first quarter. Ballinger, who has game changing speed, received a pancake block from Blake Stewart to open his alley. The score was the first of three touchdown catches by Ballinger who finished with 105 yards receiving on the night. Coach Temples was pleased with the quick strike aspect of the offense. “Alex Ballinger is a pretty talented young man. When he gets in some space, he can make things happen. He did a nice job; our kids did a nice job getting it there.” Read More

New Athletic Director Takes Over with Some Help From Friends

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Photo by Mike Brothers New Athletic and Activities Director for Sullivan Schools Ryan Aikman is on the job.

Photo by Mike Brothers
New Athletic and Activities Director for Sullivan Schools Ryan Aikman is on the job.

•August 26, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Ryan Aikman is Sullivan Schools athletic and activities director and is getting into the new job with a little help from some friends.

“One my best resources has been Charlie Brown” Aikman said of former Sullivan athletic director , now A&M principal.

Another advisor is Mt. Zion athletic director Mike Mose. “When your head is spinning like a tornado, seasoned veterans such as Mose and Brown are a big help,” he reflected.

As athletic and activities director Aikman schedules all sports for junior high and high school teams in addition to other extra curricular activities, including show choir.

“Strengthening all activities through good communication,’”Aikman said is his goal. “ I would like to build camaraderie among the coaching staff.”
Read More

Post 429 Splits Two Games to Open District Tourney

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Advanced to Tuesday’s must-win game

•July 22, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Moultrie Douglas Legion ball took a disappointing 14-2 loss versus Shelby County Saturday in the first game of the district tournament. However, the team rebounded thanks to a double elimination format, beating Macon County 9-4 Sunday advancing to Tuesday night’s matchup versus the loser of Mattoon and tournament host Rantoul.
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Mo-Do Baseball Takes Two in District Preview

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Now prepare for district tournament

•July 15, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Moultrie-Douglas County American Legion baseball swept a double header against rival Shelby County winning 9-4 and 9-5 in a Sunday matinée hosted by Windsor.
The stifling heat was shrugged off by both squads with Legion Post 479 racking up 18 total runs in back to back come from behind wins.
Mo-Do jr. legion head coach Duff Hoel knew that his team was facing a tough opponent going into the contest.
“We told the kids before the game that we were facing a good pitcher who is from Windsor originally and is pitching in college right now. So he is going to try and get ahead of you early so look for the fastball and shoot it the other way because he is going to have some velocity. Dylan Hart started us off with a big home run. That was nice since we were down two to nothing before Dylan hit a ball into the trees in right field. That got us going and the other guys picked it up behind him.” Read More

Still Playing

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OV baseballer to continue sport at Lake Land

Photo by Keith Stewart Recent Okaw Valley graduate Devon still signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Lake Land College during a May 19 ceremony. Pictured, left to right, back row are: Lake Land head baseball coach Bill Jackson and OV head baseball coach Andrew Hagerman. Front row: father Jeff Still, Devon Still, and mother Rachel Still.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Recent Okaw Valley graduate Devon still signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Lake Land College during a May 19 ceremony. Pictured, left to right, back row are: Lake Land head baseball coach Bill Jackson and OV head baseball coach Andrew Hagerman. Front row: father Jeff Still, Devon Still, and mother Rachel Still.

June 17, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

It’s true that Devon Still has played golf and basketball throughout his high school career and excelled in both. But neither compares to his love for baseball. The sport is less a game to him than more a necessity.
And for the recent Okaw Valley graduate, not to mention member of the school’s fourth place state finishing team, that necessity has been extended two more years.
“I’ve always loved baseball. It was a couple years ago that I figured out if I worked hard enough I would be able to keep playing baseball, which is exactly what I wanted to do,” said Still. “I wanted to play in college, whether it was just playing or for a scholarship. I just wanted to play. So it was really nice getting an offer from Lake Land.”
That offer came relatively late into Still’s career, however. A fact that surprised his high school head coach Andrew Hagerman. Read More

Not the Best, but Close to It

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Photo by RR Best Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth place state trophy from this past weekend’s tournament in Peoria. Pictured, left to right, are Peyton Hagerman, Joe Jeffers, and Devon Still.

Photo by RR Best
Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth place state trophy from this past weekend’s tournament in Peoria. Pictured, left to right, are Peyton Hagerman, Joe Jeffers, and Devon Still.

Timberwolves bring home fourth place hardware after historic run

June 10, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Out of 169 class 1A baseball teams just four made it to this past weekend’s ISHA state tourney in Peoria. The Timberwolves fell in two competitive contests, first against state runner up Okawville 5-3 Friday, and then against Fulton 11-7 Saturday. After all was said and done the Timberwolves took home a gigantic fourth place trophy along with some memories that will last a lifetime. The 26-9 record to end the season secured the deepest postseason run of any area squad in more than a decade.

Trying to Hold On

Peyton Hagerman took the ball in the Timberwolves first matchup on Friday afternoon. Dozer Park, the Cardinals single A minor league affiliate, had the radar gun working and both teams’ eyes were locked on the scoreboard early on. Hagerman showed no signs of fatigue despite a long season of work, popping the mitt at 86mph to start the game. His opposite from Okawville respectably registered 81 miles per hour, but had an impressive command of the strike zone. Both pitchers dominated through the first three innings, and with the game tied 0-0 heading to the top of the fourth inning it would be Okawville who would draw first blood. Read More

ALL Business

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Photo by Keith Stewart Okaw Valley senior Devon Still hoists the team’s super-sectional plaque into the air for the home crowd to see Tuesday night in Champaign after he and the Timberwolves defeated Princeville 6-5.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley senior Devon Still hoists the team’s super-sectional plaque into the air for the home crowd to see Tuesday night in Champaign after he and the Timberwolves defeated Princeville 6-5.

Still going, OV baseball wins super-sectional Tuesday 6-5 to advance to state

June 3, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Lefty Devon Still had a game to remember Tuesday night in Champaign, pitching all seven innings to tally 14 punch-outs and earning his 11th victory on the season. Still also drove home the game winning run in walk-off fashion sending Okaw Valley to the team’s first final four state qualifier.
“Now having kids will be the second happiest day of my life,” said Still. “I can’t believe it. It’s something I dreamed of as a kid, but I never really pictured me in that position, but now we’re here.”
Leading by one run, 5-4, heading in to the top of the seventh inning Okaw Valley was three outs from advancing, but Princeville had other ideas.
The Princes got the lead-off runner on due to a throwing error and brought him around to score on a swinging bunt with two outs to tie the game and put the pressure back on Okaw Valley.
“It was more motivating actually,” said Peyton Hagerman. “There were a few people with their heads down. Fritz and I were ripping their heads back up. Garrett walked up to me and said, ‘You’re getting on, and I’m hitting you in.’ And I said, ‘Deal.’ Then I got on, Taylor got on, Garrett got on, and then Devon, he had himself a day.” Read More