Round 1 | Forreston vs Hiawatha
Forreston -
The IHSA playoffs kicked off Friday night for some school's, but for most it begins Saturday afternoon. When it comes to Forreston, they enjoy playing at night, which gives the area the opportunity to pick up more than one game in a day. Standing across the line, the Hiawatha Hawks, who were making their 4th playoff appearance in school history.
The Cardinals didn't waste any time getting on the board, as they quickly stopped the Hawks opening drive, started their first drive at the Hiawatha 47, and 4 carries later by the 4th different back saw Austin Mitchell put the Cards on the board. The two point conversion was good as Forreston jumped out to an 8-0 lead with 9:53 left in the 1st quarter.
The ensuing Hawks drive would show some potential, as a big pass play would move them deep into Forreston territory, but it wouldn't last long as the Cardinal defense stiffened and forced a 4th down stop at the 6. Just over 3 and a half minutes later, it was Ethan Mulder putting the Cards on the board again, and the two point try was good extending Forreston's lead to 16-0 with 2:43 left in the 1st quarter.
The second quarter would continue to be all Forreston, as Bailey Cullor, Hunter Rogers, and Evan Kelsey all scored for the Cards, while not a single back had more than 8 carries in the game while racking up 531 yards rushing on the day en route to a 48-0 opening round win.
Hiawatha was held to just 137 yards of total offense, with 27 yards rushing and 110 yards passing.
The Cards were led by Evan Kelsey's 127 yards rushing. Also pitching in on the team effort was Hunter Rogers with 86 yards rushing, Dom Christensen with 77 yards rushing, and Garett Badertscher with 58 yards rushing.
The Cards will square off with NUIC Upstate foe Milledgeville next week in round 2. The game will take place in Milledgeville with a time still to be determined.