Storm on the road to Aledo
For the 34th time in the 35-year history of the Illinois High School Association state playoffs, and for the 33rd straight season, Bureau County football will continue to play into the postseason.
But for the first time in nine seasons, there will be just one playoff team based in Bureau County.
The Bureau Valley Storm qualified for an at-large berth with a 7-2 record, drawing a first-round road 2A game at 1 p.m. at Aledo Mercer County (7-2). The Storm is a 10 seed; Aledo a 7.
Between them, the Manlius and Aledo based programs have played for seven state championships in the past decade. BV played for the 3A crown in 2004 and won it in 2005. Aledo, which consolidated with the former Joy Westmer district this year, won state titles in 1998, 2001, 2002 and took seconds in 2005 and 2006, all in 2A.
Bureau Valley has much local company around Bureau County, even if it’s not from within.
Amboy/LaMoille (8-1), a co-op with a Bureau County school, but not in Bureau County, will play host Oneida ROWVA (6-3).
The winner of their game will get the winner between the first round contest pitting No. 11 Clifton Central (7-2) at No. 6 Kewanee Wethersfield/Annawan (8-1), a school including Bureau County players from Mineral.
Bureau Valley and Amboy/LaMoille are joined in the playoffs by three Big Rivers Conference teams — Morrison, Sterling Newman and Port Byron Riverdale.
Big Rivers champ Morrison (9-0), a top seed and No. 1 ranked in 2A, will host 16 No. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (5-4)
No. 6 Sterling Newman will play at No. 3 Sherrard (8-1), who is coached by former Bureau Valley coach Jason Kirby.
No. 15 Riverdale (5-4) will travel to No. 2 Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (8-1).
NCIC Lincoln champ Chillicothe IVC (9-0) drew a No. 1 seed and home game vs. No. 16 Kankakee McNamara (5-4). Lincoln runner-up Mendota (7-2) drew a 5 seed and a home game vs. No. 12 Elgin St. Edward (6-3).
NCIC Reagan foes LaSalle-Peru and Sterling will have an instant replay of Friday’s game won by Sterling 27-7 when the No. 7 seeded Golden Warriors (7-2) host 10 seeded L-P (7-2).
Two former Princeton coaches have taken their teams into the playoffs. Joe Ryan and his Sycamore Indians (6-3) drew a 9 seed and opening round game vs. Western Sun foe Maple Park Kaneland. Dave Smith’s undefeated Mt. Zion Braves are third seeded in 4A with a home game vs. No. 14 Freeburg (6-3).
• Notes: The last time there was just one playoff team from within Bureau County lines was 2000 when Hall went all alone. Since then, Bureau County has averaged 2.7 playoff teams, topped in 2003 when all four remaining county teams qualified — Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede.
There has only been one year, Bureau County failed to qualify a team for the playoffs — 1975. LaMoille was the first to go in 1974 in the initial postseason season.
