The 2-0 Kewanee Boilermakers are hoping to keep the momentum going Friday night when they host the 0-2 Mendota Trojans.
Kewanee is fresh off a 28-0 win over Erie-Prophetstown, while Mendota suffered a lopsided 56-8 loss to Orion.
KHS Head Coach Matt Taylor had high praise for his team’s defensive efforts against the Panthers.
“We’re happy for the shutout win. We bent a little at times, but we didn’t break,” said Taylor. The Boilers’ stingy defense has allowed just 164 yards rushing in their first two outings.
The senior trio of Dan Boswell, Jackson Hawkins and Blake Johnston; junior Kashen Ellerbrock; and sophomore Aries Simmons have combined for 20 tackles and 18 assists. Senior linebackers Draven Peterson and Cruz Paredes and junior Alex Duarte have combined for 20 tackles and 21 assists.
Kewanee defensive end, Blake Johnston, recorded his sixth career sack during last Friday’s win over E-P.
The Boilermaker offense continued its consistent play, tallying 384 yards total offense. They had 18 first downs (11 rushing and 7 through the air).
Senior QB Braden Clark completed 8 of 14 passes for 166 yards. The longest was a 53-yarder gainer to Colson Welgat.
Welgat had 3 catches for 74 yards. Junior receiver Brady Schultz caught two passes for 43 yards, and fellow junior, Davontae Jordan, had two catches for 29 yards.
Eleven KHS players carried the ball 33 times for 218 yards. Duarte had 5 carries 67 yards, junior Greyden Lewis had one carry for 38 yards and Clark had 8 carries for 30 yards.
The Boilermakers will be facing a very young and inexperienced Mendota squad that’s comprised of 16 freshmen, 10 sophomores, one junior and two seniors (including quarterback Justin Randolph).
Mendota is a familiar foe for the Boilers. The two teams have met 36 times (34 of those in the former NCIC). MHS has won 22 of the meetings and KHS has won 14.
The Trojans joined the TRAC East Division in 2021. Kewanee was victorious in both TRAC East games.
Kickoff time is 7 p.m. at Kewanee High School Stadium.
(KHS stats courtesy of Jerry Salisbury)
