Tigers tame Crusaders, collect playoff berth

By Chris Johnson
REPORTER
Another win is in the books for the Byron Tigers and another playoff appearance will now be scheduled.
Following a 41-6 victory over Rockford Lutheran on Friday night in their week seven game, the Tigers picked up their qualifying sixth win of the season and the automatic placement on the 3A post-season bracket.
Their 6-1 overall mark features week after week of dominance over Big Northern familiars, with just one exception. The State-ranked and undefeated Sillman Valley Cardinals gave Byron its only blemish of the season in week two, 18-16.
It was the only time this season that any team in the mid-sized school conference has given Byron any problems.
In each match this year, Byron’s offense has rolled over its competition by major margins.
Wins over teams such as Winnebago, 50-3, Oregon, 45-7 and North Boone 54-7 have more been the norm for the Tigers in 2019. Their only loss to date against Stillman Valley helped push the easterly neighbor to the top of the standings in the Big Northern.
The Cardinals have climbed to 7-0 on the season and only one other team stands with them, one game ahead of Byron in the Big Northern. Genoa-Kingston is similarly 7-0 and will be this Friday night’s opponent for Byron. The game will be played in Tigers country.
In the week seven winner, Byron rumbled over the Lutheran defenders and collected hundreds of yards of offense through the first half.
Control was gained in the early minutes of the first quarter as Byron struck first. Minutes later they scored again to push the total to 14-0 after one.
The second was no different for the host Crusaders. They could not apply enough pressure on the Byron backfield to prevent it from consistently collecting first downs and moving the ball across the end line, almost at will.
With 14 points added to the total heading into the half, the question became, would Byron get the running clock going in the second half. The 28-0 lead was bolstered in the third and the clock began to tick.
After three, the visiting Tigers were in front 41-0 and looking to rest a team full of starters. Byron would not score again, nor would need to to assure the win was secured.
Rockford Lutheran did get on the board in the fourth quarter. The six points added was well below their season average of over 20 per night though. The Crusaders offense never had a chance to take root against the line-crushing Tigers defensive front.
The win pushed the Tigers to 6-1 on the year and keeps them on pace for a strong close to the pre-post-season, season.
Byron takes the field with varsity action at 7 pm against State-ranked Genoa-Kingston this Friday night in their week eight game.
A win by Byron will most likely secure them a home game in the first round of the 3A State Tournament and could prep the squad for a game nine regular season closer at Dixon.
By running through the regular campaign with an 8-1 mark, the opening round match in the 3A State Tournament could be against another local team that could be entering the playoffs for the first time in its co-operative history, Durand-Pecatonica
A lot of things can still happen that impact how things actually shape up in two weeks, but it is a guarantee that the 2019 second season will feature Byron on its march towards State honors.