Forreston captures Northwest Conference crown

By Chris Johnson

Sports Correspondent

The Forreston Cardinals tamed the EPC Wildcats in the game of the week in the NUIC Northwest. With both teams entering the night with 7-0 marks, only the Cardinals exited with the perfect mark in place. EPC fell to 7-1 on the season with the 21-7 loss.

Forreston is 8-0 and looks to be a top seed in the upcoming Class 1A Tournament. The Cardinals host winless Pecatonica this Friday night and know they will already be home on Oct. 28 when the State Playoffs begin. EPC takes on the 4-4 East Dubuque Warriors who started hot but could now be on the outside looking in when Oct. 28 comes.

It wouldn’t take long for Forreston’s offense to take root. The players were bustling to the line and the snaps were coming in succession. The yardage began to accumulate. Following a time out call at the 6:29 mark in the first, Aj Christensen took advantage of misdirection and a shifting line of blockers in front of him. His reverse pushed EPC out of position as he cut through the alleys. The Cardinals were in front 6-0 following the nine-yard scamper. The extra point kick attempt was good. With 5:42 to go in the first quarter, Forreston was in front 7-0.

The Cardinals’ swarming defense would make the Wildcats worry minutes later. On a second-and-eight play from the Forreston 31-yard line, EPC gave it away. The Cardinals started their drive, deep in their own territory. The run was working. Mistakes were hurting Forreston. Big runs by Haverlin and Christensen were negated by a personal foul penalty. A drive pushing into EPC territory was shifted back across the midfield stripe.

The drive kept moving for Forreston, with under 40 seconds to go in the period another score came. The Cardinals went to the reverse again. Quarterback Hunter Dawes got the ball back and carried it across the goal line. The 53-yard touchdown run was paired with the successful extra point kick. The Forreston lead was 14-0 with 20 seconds to go in the first period.

Neither team would find offensive success again in the first half. EPC found moderate success on the ground. As the siren sounded though, the Cardinals held the 14-0 edge.

In the third quarter a defensive stand by Forreston reaped rewards. As the Wildcats were looking at a fourth-and-two from the Cardinals’ 17-yard line, they failed to get the necessary two yards. The turnover on downs gave Forreston the ball back deep in their own territory again.

On the first play from scrimmage following the stop, Forreston let the ball go. EPC recovered the fumble. Four plays and two first downs later, Keegan Shubert broke through traffic and scored on a five-yard strike. The extra point kick was successful. Forreston’s lead was cut in half. At the end of three quarters, Forreston led 14-7.

It has been noted it is difficult to stop the Forreston offense. EPC held them to 14 with only minutes to play. The streak came to a close, midway through the final period. Christensen crossed the line with 6:21 to go. The kick gave Forreston the 21-7 edge. They would not yield the lead and held on for the two-score win, 21-7.

This Friday night the Cardinals take on the Pecatonica Indians. A ninth win will more than likely issue Forreston a number one seed as the Class 1A Tournament begins. If Pecatonica upsets Forreston, the Cardinals could see their top-ranking slip to a two.

Forreston’s Lane Henneman returns an interception during the first quarter of their game against Eastland-Pearl City in Lanark Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Forreston beat the undefeated Wildcatz 21-7 to take first place in the NUIC.