Round 1 | Polo vs Princeville
Princeville -
The Polo Marcos made the round of 32, in what is going to be their last year in 11 man football for at least 2 years, and their last year in the NUIC conference for football. Considering the loss of participation numbers, the Marcos were not projected to make it this far into the season, but the players had a different idea, as they fought and clawed their way all season, and would not go down without a fight.
Princeville was returning the majority of their team off of a quarterfinal run last year, and finished the regular season as the champions of the Lincoln Trail conference. Behind the legs of Adam Snedden and Jack Arnett, the duo rushed for over 300 yards and scored 5 TD's on the night as the Princes took control in the 2nd quarter on their way to a 22-0 lead at the half.
The Princes would open the 2nd half with another Snedden TD run, his 4th of the night to extend their lead to 29-0 half way through the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Polo was able to get on the scoreboard with a 21 yard TD pass from Braiden Soltow to Ethan Phillips, but it was a little too late. Arnett would cap off the scoring later in the 4th quarter, extending the Princes lead to 35-7, which would become the final.
On the night, Snedden led the charge with 177 yards rushing and 4 TD's, while Arnett chipped in with 144 yards rushing and 1 TD.
Polo was led by Braiden Soltow, who finished the night with 93 yards rushing and 78 yards passing with 1 TD.
Polo's goal at the beginning of the year was to make the playoffs in their last year in the NUIC, before they leave the conference to go to 8 man football in 2019. They got the season kicked off on the right foot with a huge come from behind win over Orangeville in week 1, and seized more opportunity as they beat Aquin a few weeks later, both games that would propel the Marcos to this point of being in the playoffs. The Marcos finish the 2018 campaign with a record of 5-5, but the seniors can go out knowing they left everything on the field.