Prairie Ridge claims Class 6A crown
CHAMPAIGN — It took Prairie Ridge three cracks to reach a state championship football game. Once there, the Wolves made no mistake.
Prairie Ridge beat Peoria Richwoods 35-14 Saturday at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium, winning the Class 6A state title in their first state appearance.
Once past that semifinal stumbling block it was full speed ahead.
“Definitely,” said senior running back Connor Greenwald, who scored on a 1-yard run to even the score, 7-7, at 11:19 of the second quarter. He made all 5 extra points as well.
“We felt great after that win against Batavia,” Greenwald said. The senior class, we didn’t want to stop, We wanted to come out here and get that win. It’s so incredible, with especially all those seniors. It’s such a great group of guys. It’s just a good blessing to have.”
Backfield mate Jordan Getzelman ran for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns to pace the Wolves’ option ground game.
His first touchdown, Prairie Ridge’s first possession of the third quarter, came on a 13-yard run around left end for a 14-7 lead.
Getzelman’s second score, on a 35-yard run around left end late in the third quarter, stymied the Knights, who had pulled within 21-14 on a Kendrick Foster run at 5:05 of the third.
“They attacked the middle a little bit,” Getzelman said of Richwoods. “Connor took some hard hits. They really wanted to stop him and I was fortunate enough to be on the outside some times and our offensive line did a great job of getting downfield and getting their blocks around the edge.
“I have to be thankful for those guys, and my wide receivers and tight ends for getting out there and keeping with their guys to seal the edge.
Prairie Ridge (13-1) compiled 357 yards rushing behind Getzelman, Greenwald, quarterback Nick Nissen and Steve Bashor, who secured win with a 27-yard touchdown run with 1:24 to play.
On defense, Richwoods (10-4) mustered 69 yards rushing, led by Foster’s 59, and 123 passing.
“Their ’backers do a great job flowing to the football,” said Richwoods coach Roland Brown. “We’d get to the hole but by the time we got to the hole their ’backers really did a nice job filling and running past and getting where they needed to be.”
Collin Corcoran led Prairie Ridge with 11 tackles, and fellow linebacker Brad Simms caused a fumble which defensive linemen Erik Odden scooped and ran in end zone from 15 yards out.
“If you had told me before that I would score a touchdown in a state championship game, I would have called you crazy,” Odden said.
After two years of being driven crazy by losses at the doorstep, Prairie Ridge made a championship game — and sealed the deal.
“What an awesome life lesson, of you work hard, and these guys do things the right way,” said Wolves coach Chris Schremp. “And they won it. All the credit to those guys.”