Yellow Banana brings Homecoming spirit to Pecatonica

By Chris Johnson

Sports Correspondent

On Friday night, Sept. 16, fans of Pecatonica football gathered, overflowing parking lots and driving sound through the stadium as Homecoming was celebrated. The evening however wasn’t kind to the host Pecatonica Indians as they fell to the West Carroll Thunder 48-12.

The contest started as many have for Pecatonica this season. They played tough defense and they moved the ball at a pace that allowed field position changes favoring the home team early. As the pounding continued inside, lines began to break and West Carroll started finding the Pecatonica backfield, along with quarterback Ryan Viel coming out of the snap by the later moments in the game.

West Carroll would start the scoring, but Pecatonica was quick to follow in the first quarter of play. With a little under 8:50 to go in the opening period, Thunder quarterback Kody Plattenberger faked a hand-off to junior Cory Simpson and shoved it into the breadbasket of fellow junior Kaleb Hartman. The tailback spun off right tackle and into the end zone from nine yards away. The extra point play failed, as the Thunder grabbed the 6-0 lead.

With Homecoming comes spirit. In 2016, fewer of the Pecatonica business fronts carried the identifiable purple and gold, but fans still came to the sides of the road on Thursday night as the Homecoming floats moved south on Main Street towards the High School. A pep rally followed. Into the game Friday night, some of the Homecoming spirit followed. Following the West Carroll score, spirit become more noticeable in the bleachers.

A fan dressed as a yellow banana stood up in the Pecatonica stands and began to try to call the offense to arms. His chanting met an intrigued stadium.

After the West Carroll score, the Indians struggled to move the ball, punting from their own 38-yard line. The kick was taken back to the West Carroll 27. Three plays later and looking at a fourth-and-nine, a high snap recovered by the host Indians offered the ball at the West Carroll 19. One play later, tailback Rahim Hunt slipped away from the line and across the goal for the score. The extra point attempt failed, as the game became tied at six with 5:06 to go in the first quarter. Solitary cheering built into a stadium-roar following the score.

Neither team would score again in the opening period. Into the second quarter, West Carroll started making some noise. After being forced to punt, Pecatonica lost the handle on the ball. It was recovered by West Carroll at its own 14 yard line. A chop block penalty by the Thunder pushed the ball back to the nine. Looking at a third-and-five, West Carroll connected on the biggest play of the game at the time. A pass play to senior Luke Jones got the Thunder out of trouble.

With a first and ten from their own 34 yard line, running back Kaleb Plattenberger busted loose and scored from 66-yards away. The extra point was good as the visitors grabbed the 14-6 edge, with 6:50 to go in the half.

A little over two minutes later, West Carroll scored again. With the lead at 22-6, Pecatonica got the ball back. The yardage would not come, as Pecatonica once again was forced to punt. With just under 90 seconds to go in the half, the Thunder started another drive. A minute later, they were in the end zone. At the half, Pecatonica trailed 30-6.

The spirit never left the stands, however, as the Pecatonica band took the stage. The yellow banana began singing with the student artists. A few rows away, another joined in.

As the second half began, the Indians were looking at a four score deficit. With under four minutes elapsed in the third quarter, the lead became 30 for West Carroll. Running from the three-yard line, Plattenberger pushed the lead to 36-6. The extra point failed.

On the snap following score, the Indians lost the ball. The snap was never collected and the Thunder recovered. Two plays later, West Carroll was across the goal line. The lead was 42-6 in favor of the Thunder.

The fourth quarter began with a running clock looming. It would never appear. As singing and chanting built in the final frame, the Indians got back on the board. With 3:02 to go in the game, Matt Jones took one home. The pitch from Viel was clean and the blocking was solid. The score counted as Pecatonica added to its total, though still trailing 42-12. The yellow banana joined the entire home audience and celebrated the Homecoming spirit and the Pecatonica tally.

Scoring would occur once more for the Thunder. On a second and goal from the Pecatonica five yard line, Logan Barker cut through the pack with 35 seconds to go in the game. The extra point failed as the final score achieved was 48-12 in favor of West Carroll. Fans emptied the stands. The yellow banana slipped away as the clean-up crews took to the field.

The loss dropped Pecatonica a game farther from the leaders to 0-4 on the season. Galena lost its contest on Friday night and remains in the basement of the NUIC Northwest with Pecatonica.

This Friday night, there is no let-up in store. The Indians host one of the State of Illinois’ top-ranked programs, the Stockton Blackhawks.

On Friday, Sept. 30, the Indians head back on the road for a match at Galena.

2016 closes with home matches against Dakota in week seven followed by Amboy-LaMoille on Oct. 14. The regular season comes to an end following the Friday night, Oct. 21. clash with the NUIC’s top 1A program, Forreston.

Pecatonica Cheerleaders perform at their Homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 16.

Rahim Hunt (22) scores the first touchdown for Pecatonica at their Homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 16.