It all comes down to 48 more minutes of football – six seconds at a time as head coach Tim Thornton would say – for the record-setting, high-scoring Peoria High football team. The Lions came from behind in the second half at blustery, cold Morris last week in the Class 5A semifinal game to earn a berth in the 5A finals Saturday morning at Champaign’s Memorial Stadium against Vernon Hills.
Hear the home team call of the state championship game, with former Peoria Pirates head coach Bruce Cowdrey and me, along with veteran Tom Meredith reporting from the sidelines, on GLO radio, online at this site and with your smart phone anywhere in the world by downloading our free GLO station app. This will be the Lions fifth appearance this season on the Illinois National Bank Red Zone game of the week presented by OSF Healthcare, also a record, so we know the Lions.
If you missed our call of the 5A semifinal at frigid Morris last Saturday, you missed a dandy. On a day when the wind was blowing at a stready 30 mph in cold 30-degree temperatures, Peoria High jumped to a 21-7 lead, using their familiar read option ground attack, led by quarterback Coran Taylor and running backs Geno Hess and Jaleen James. But tradition-rich Morris proved to be a tough out. The Redskins got their 3-back T formation running game going and took the lead late in the third quarter, 28-21.
Peoria High regrouped, taking advantage of two second half Morris fumbles, and won, 43-35. Geno Hess ran for five touchdowns to go over the 40 mark on the season. Both Hess and James were hobbled by injuries in the second half, but both bounced back to carry the Lions to their second-ever state football title game. The Lions lost in 1988 in their only championship game appearance since the IHSA playoffs began in 1974.
While 12-1 Peoria High has played football since the 1890’s, Vernon Hills is a relative newcomer, having just opened its doors in 2000. The 10-3 Cougars had not advanced past the quarterfinals in their 16-year existence until this fall.
Tune in Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for our pregame show, featuring the interview I’ll do with the Lions head coach Tim Thornton. During the game, you’ll hear expert analysis from a 40-year college and pro football coaching lifer, Bruce Cowdrey, and veteran broadcaster Tom Meredith will roam the Memorial Stadium sidelines and interview some interesting football folks.
Big thanks to our supporting sponsors this season: Starcrest Cleaners, Heartland Apartments and Rocket Tire Service. Saturday morning, if you’re going to watch the game on cable TV, turn down the volume and turn our hometown call of the championship game up! Saturday morning, it’s the Illinois National Bank Red Zone game of the week presented by OSF Healthcare on Peoria’s home of classic rock and football, 95.5, GLO.
Doc Watson
