Oh, what a night.
There was much to like and much to celebrate Friday night at Kewanee High School Stadium. The first order of business was for the Boilermakers was to score and to score often. They succeeded in that.
The second was to witness Braden Clark make history by becoming the highest-scoring football player in KHS history. Mission accomplished.
The third order of business for the team was to secure a coveted eighth win. Check. The result was a 50-0 victory over visiting Aurora Central Catholic.
On the Chargers’ first play of the game, quarterback Kevin Stanislo got a taste of the kind of pressure he’d be facing from Kewanee’s starting defensive line. He was forced out of the pocket and tackled by a throng of Boilermakers for a four-yard loss. The defense held for a quick three and out.
Shortly after, the offensive onslaught began in earnest for Kewanee. On a first and 10 from their own 33, Alex Duarte took the handoff and barreled his way upfield for a 48-yard gainer to the ACC 19-yard line.
On the second play, Duarte ran 11 yards to the eight. Clark finished off the 67-yard drive with an 8-yard keeper into the end zone. Clark’s PAT kick was good, which moved him within one point of the scoring record. The Kewanee lead was 7-0.
The Chargers showed some offensive prowess during their next possession. Conor Hickey ran for 39 yards, but on the ensuing play, Stanislo completed a short pass to Nathan Graham, but Tre Amos stripped the ball and Kewanee recovered it at their own 44 yard line.
Good, hard-nosed running by Clark, Duarte and Cruz Paredes moved the Boilers to the ACC 19-yard line. Duarte then powered his way through several defenders and in for a second Kewanee TD. Clark’s PAT kick cleared the uprights and the Boilers lead was 14-0. Clark was now tied with “The Great Dane” at 212 career points.
On Kewanee’s next drive, with 1:37 left in the first quarter, Clark found a wide open Draven Peterson in the end zone for a historic 25-yard TD pass. On that play, Braden Clark became Kewanee High School’s leading scorer. The Kewanee lead was 21-0.
The Chargers mounted a decent drive with just under a minute left in the first quarter. However, facing a fourth and six, ACC decided to go for the first down. That decision backfired when Duarte shot through the middle and wrapped up Stanislo for a sack and loss of 13 yards.
The Boilers capitalized on the short field and on the third play of the drive Clark passed to Ben Taylor, in stride, in the end zone for a 32-yard TD pass play. Clark tacked on another extra point kick for the 28-0 score.
Far from done, on their next possession the Boilers drove to the ACC 24-yard line. Tight end Brady Schiltz took the handoff and raced towards the left side pylon and into the end zone. The PAT was good, 35-0.
The next Kewanee highlight was a rocket pass from Clark to Davontae Jordan for a 53-yard pass play. Jordan made it to ACC’s 16-yard line. On following play, Landon Mason had an 11-yard run and he finished off the drive by hauling in a short pass from Clark for another Kewanee TD. After the PAT, the score was 42-0 with 3:56 left in the half.
Seconds later, Clark intercepted a Stanislo pass and carried it to the ACC nine-yard line. A few plays later, Paredes scored from two yards out. This time, the Boilers opted to try a two point conversion and Tre Amos ran it in for the final score of the night. The Kewanee halftime lead of 50-0 stood for the remainder of the game.
Clark’s career points total now stands at 240.
The Boilers accumulated 457 total yards of offense (305 on the ground and 152 through the air).
Alex Duarte had six carries for 120 yards, Clark had five carries for 47 yards, Landon Mason had six carries for 37, Cruz Paredes had six for 30 and Draven Peterson two carries for 18 yards.
Clark connected on four of six passes for 140 yards (four TDs).
Tonight at 8 p.m. the team will find out who their first round opponent will be in the playoffs.
