No state teams, but a lot of area ties

The nearly-all Bureau County crew of Al Corwin of Sheffield, Ken Wilcoxen of Walnut, Don Hulin of Cambridge, Dave Mueller of Neponset and Jon Pickering of Neponset will officiate the 1A state championship game in Champaign at 10 a.m. Friday. (Photo contributed)

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No area football team has advanced to the state championship game this year or semis. But folks with Bureau County ties sure have.

Doug Bruyn, quarterback of Princeton’s 1989 state runners-up, is on the staff of the Morris Redskins, who will face Metamora in the 5A finals at 10 a.m. Friday in Champaign. Morris beat Woodstock Marian 10-9 in Saturday’s semis.

Bruyn serves as offensive coordinator for the sophomore team, that went 7-2 with his son, Jordan, at quarterback. Young Bruyn comes to the sidelines for each play and it’s fun to watch their interaction, says Rodger Bruyn, dad and grandfather.

“They don’t always agree, but of course dad’s always right,” Rodger says with a laugh.

Another prodigy of a Bureau County football star will be on the opposite sidelines in the 5A title game. Caleb TerBush, whose father Kenny, was a standout wide receiver/defensive end on Walnut’s 1982 state runners-up, is the Metamora quarterback. He has led the Redbirds to an undefeated season under the direction of coach Pat Ryan, brother of former Princeton coach, Joe Ryan.

The young TerBush will play for Purdue next year.

Kenny TerBush was an acrobatic receiver for the Blue Raiders. He caught a crucial touchdown pass in Walnut’s 1982 19-14 semifinal win over Wethersfield. The Blue Raiders fell to Zeingler-Royalton 7-6 in the finals.

TerBush is pastor of Elmridge Southern Baptist Church In East Peoria.

Doug Bruyn played for Aurora University after graduating from PHS and got his start coaching at Sterling, helping his former high school coach, Max Gaumer. He also coached at Annawan when he sold insurance there before moving to Morris.

• The 2007 state finals won’t kick off until a set of Bureau County officials take the field for the 1A championship in Memorial. The county crew includes line judge Al Corwin of Sheffield, back judge Ken Wilcoxen of Walnut, referee Dave Mueller of Neponset, line judge Jon Pickering of Neponset and umpire Don Hulin of Cambridge.

It will be the first title game for the crew, which has been working together since 1998 and has a combined 125 years of football officiating experience. Saturday’s 3A contest between Aurora Christian and Plano was their fourth semifinal as a crew. Friday’s final will be their 32nd playoff game together.

Wilcoxen will have to hustle back to work the tournament basketball games at Kewanee Wethersfield.

• The state finals will end with ties to Princeton on the sidelines for Naperville North in the 8A title game at 7 p.m. Saturday. Mike Ellberg is the offensive coach for Naperville. He is the son of Ron Ellberg (PHS Class of ’53) and Hazel (Conkling) Ellberg. His grandmother, Florence Ellberg, age 93, still lives Princeton.

The Huskies (12-1) take on upstart Glenbard North, which reached the playoffs with a 5-4 record and now stands 9-4 after upsetting Chicago Mount Carmel.

• Although there are no area teams playing this weekend, we’ve had our share over the years. What school has the most state title appearances?

Have you thought it over. It’s ......... Hall. The Red Devils have been to the big dance three times and won twice.

Bureau Valley has two appearance (2nd in 3A ’04; 1st in 3A, ’05), and Walnut (2nd in 1A, ’82) and Princeton (2nd in 3A, ’89) one each.

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