It was vintage Peotone football when the Blue Devils hosted Illini West in a Class 2A first-round game on Oct. 31.
The Devils didn’t throw a pass, didn’t punt once and averaged almost 10 yards per carry en route to a 51-8 victory.
“It’s hard to imagine a time we’ve been playing better during my time here,” said coach Tolly Tsiamas, who is in his 12th season. “I think the thing I’m the most happy with … is we’ve progressively got better as the season has gone on.”
Declan McMaster led the way with 12 runs for 136 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s been a lot of Nick (Cronin) and Eli (Chenoweth) this year with Declan sprinkled in,” Tsiamas said. “He had one of his best games.”
Eli Chenoweth had five carries for 98 yards and two scores, while Cronin added nine runs for 82 yards and a TD. Alex Chenoweth ran for a score and Tyler Walker returned the second-half kickoff for a score.
Though the Devils limited Illini West to one touchdown, Tsiamas said, “defensively, I didn’t think it was one of our better games. They were a big, physical team and got downhill in a hurry.”
But Peotone (8-2) moves on with its first playoff win since 2023. Up next is a trip to play Eastland-Pearl City (6-5) at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Eastland is coming off an 11-8 upset of previously unbeaten Riverdale.
“They played a brutal schedule and they’re taking advantage of it (now),” Tsiamas said.
Crete-Monee 47, Corliss 0: Dominic Jackson had touchdown runs of 85 yards and 1 yard as Crete (8-2) rolled in the Class 5A first round on Oct. 31 at home.
Nate Jones returned the opening kickoff 65 yards for a TD and Isaiah Jordan scored on a 72-yard run for the Warriors, who led 40-0 at halftime.
Crete also had rushing TDs from Shamaje Kizer, Kamal Bryant and Kamaree Ahonto.
The Warriors play at Mahomet-Seymour (10-0) in the second round. 1
Manteno 41, St. Bede 14: Logan Bufford ran for three touchdowns and threw two TD passes to Briggs Cann on Oct. 30 as Manteno (8-3) won on the road in the Class 3A first round.
Bufford’s scoring runs covered 44, 2 and 20 yards, while his TD passes to Cann went for 72 and 25 yards. Bufford was 9 of 14 passing for 221 yards with one interception and had 96 yards on 11 carries. Cann had six catches for 157 yards, while Nick Honkisz ran 20 times for 116 yards and a 4-yard TD.
Franklin Jordan led the Panthers’ defense with 10 total tackles. Honkisz had nine tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Tommy Lawlor also had a sack and two TFLs.
Manteno goes on the road to play Richmond-Burton (10-0) at 1 p.m. Nov. 7.