Wildcats score big win
It was definitely quarterback Conner Jerolds’ time to shine.
The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School quarterback had his best effort this season to lead the Wildcats to a 56-28 win over visiting West Frankfort at The Pit Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27.
“He played about as well as you could hope for,” A-J coach Brett Detering said. “He made some good drives and made some calls at the line of scrimmage. He doubled what he normally has rushing.”
Jerolds led A-J’s 465-yard rushing attack with 252 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Illinois High School Association Class 3A first-round playoff game.
Detering said Jerolds accomplished all that despite not feeling well.
The win avenged an earlier 24-21 loss to the Rangers in the first game of the season.
“We had the opportunity to play a team we didn’t play well against before,” Detering said. “We had a second chance and I thought we really played well.”
It didn’t look very promising for the Wildcats when the game began.
A halfback option pass from the Redbirds’ Sam Cooksey to Mason Clay went for a 61-yard touchdown on the first play of the game.
Trenton Schach’s extra point kick put West Frankfort ahead 7-0 with 11:43 remaining in the opening quarter.
“That’s a sign of respect for our team,” Detering said, who noted that West Frankfort even tried trick plays in an attempt to slow down the Wildcats
The Wildcats came right back to score on Reid Morrison’s 19-yard run at the end of a 7-play drive.
Noah Treece’s extra point tied the game 7-7 with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter.
After the Redbirds punted, A-J was on the move again.
Jerolds scored on a 32-yard run after a three play drive.
Teece’s extra point kick boosted A-J ahead 14-7 with 4:47 left in the first quarter.
West Frankfort fumbled on its next drive and A-J’s Nick Sanders recovered at the Redbirds’ 20-yard line.
Morrison then scored on the next play. Treece’s extra point kick put A-J ahead 21-7 with 3:12 remaining in the first quarter.
On the next play, West Frankfort quarterback Connor Eaton drove the length of the field for a 74-yard run before being tackled on the 1-yard line by Devon Toliver.
On the next play, Eaton scored. Schach kicked the extra point and West Frankfort pulled to 21-14 with 2:42 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats came right back and Jerolds scored on a 1-yard run after a five-play drive.
Treece’s extra point kick put A-J ahead 28-14 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.
Both teams traded punts and then A-J’s Damian Chrisp intercepted an Eaton pass to thwart their next drive.
A-J fumbled on the first play and Zack Leschke recovered to set up the Redbirds’ next score.
Fullback Madison Allen scored on a 1-yard run after a six-play drive.
Schach’s extra point kick pulled West Frankfort to 28-21 with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter.
After a good kickoff return by A-J’s Nate Kisat, Jerolds scored on a 67-yard run.
Treece’s extra point kick pushed the Wildcats ahead 35-21 with 2:25 remaining in the first half.
West Frankfort bounced back with Eaton connecting with Matt Reiger for an 18-yard TD pass after a seven-play drive.
Schach’s extra point kick pulled West Frankfort to 35-28 with 50.3 remaining in the first half.
Kyle Hammers intercepted Connors’s pass to end the first half.
“We had a great first quarter,” Detering said. “We didn’t play well in the second quarter. We only ran six or eight plays.”
But the Wildcats made up for it in the second half.
A-J’s Kisat scored on a 4-yard run after a lengthy 12-play drive.
Treece’s extra point kick boosted A-J to a 42-28 lead with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
An incomplete pass on fourth down stymied the Redbirds’ next drive.
A-J’s Morrison scored then on a 33-yard run after a seven-play drive.
Treece’s kick boosted A-J to a 49-28 advantage with 11:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Another incomplete pass on fourth down thwarted the next Redbird drive.
Morrison came back to score then on a 15-yard run after a 11-play drive.
Treece’s kick closed out the scoring with 3:59 left in the game.
“At halftime, we told them we felt like there were opportunities to distance ourselves a little from them in the second half,” Detering said. “The third quarter was big for us. We felt like we played well in the second half.”
Morrison added 125 yards rushing on 12 carries. Chrisp had 82 yards on 20 carries. Kisat added 8 yards on 2 carries.
The Redbirds’ Eaton, who hadn’t played the last couple of games because of an injury, finished with 138 yards rushing on 21 carries and was 8 of 19 passing for 109 yards with one interception.
“He wasn’t at full strength, but he was still pretty good,” Detering said. “He’s only a junior so we will see him next year.”