Byron advances to quarterfinal game with 42-14 win

By Doug Schroder
CORRESPONDENT
The Byron Tigers football team took another step in returning to state finals when they dismantled the DuPec Rivermen 42-14 in front of the home crowd on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Battle-tested Byron came in to the IHSA 3A Round 2 playoff game as heavy favorites over DuPec, a team formed just a few years ago when Pecatonica and Durand high schools combined football programs.
While Byron has experienced a rich playoff tradition for many years, this was DuPec’s first foray into playoff territory.
The Rivermen were able to hang with the “big boys” of Byron for a half before Byron took over the game.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff and marched right downfield. A long pass from QB Ben Carlson to Isaac Sticker set up the offense near DuPec’s goal line. Ian Palzkill then punched it into the end zone on a short run at the 8:52 mark of the first period to give Byron the 6-0 lead. The PAT was unsuccessful.
Undaunted, DuPec took the ensuing kickoff and marched downfield, reaching the Byron 13-yard line. A catch by DuPec’s Trevon Stifter resulted in a first down at the 4-yard line. After a couple of pass interference penalties by Byron’s defense kept the drive alive, DuPec’s Grant McCallips caught a pass in the end zone from QB Trevor Hoffman with 2:33 to go in the period. The extra point kick was good and the Rivermen had a lead they would take into the second quarter.
Byron mounted a 10 play 61-yard drive after receiving the kickoff, which ended when Drake Snodgrass scored on a seven yard counter run at the 9:48 mark of the second quarter. Carlson ran in the 2-point conversion to give Byron the 14-7 lead.
DuPec’s next drive stalled and they were forced to punt.
The Byron “O” then set up shop at their own 34-yard line. The drive almost stalled at the 48 when the Tigers were faced with a fourth-and-one. Coach Boyer decided to go for it. Byron picked up the first down yardage, then on the very next play Snodgrass picked up 42-yards on a run, taking the ball to the nine yard line. Then on third-and-goal from the two, Palzkill ran it into the end zone for his second TD of the day. The two-point conversion failed, making the score 20-7 Byron with 5:21 to go before the half.
DuPec’s next drive ended in a punt. Upon getting the ball back, Byron’s first play from scrimmage resulted in another Drake Snodgrass score when he found daylight all the way to the end zone on a 73-yard run with 3:09 left to go in the period. Twin brother Dayne Snodgrass ran in the two-point conversion giving the Tigers a 28-7 lead.
The next drive brought some tense moments to the game, and got the fans charged up, when Byron was called for three penalties on one play. Coach Boyer even drew a flag for protesting a bit too much.
DuPec capitalized on the situation when Stifter caught a 13-yard TD pass with 1:21 to go. The PAT kick was good, bringing the Rivermen to within 14, at 28-14 heading into halftime.
The second half was all Byron as the Rivermen would score no more as Byron tacked on two more touchdowns to bring the final score to 42-14.
DuPec ends the year at 7-3.
The 10-1 Tigers continue play this week when they face the 10-1 Wilmington Wildcats in another game at home.