Cat's advance in playoffs

The Wilmington Wildcats upended Elmwood-Brimfield 30-14 to advance to round two of the Class 3A playoffs.

The Wildcats took advantage of three Trojans fumbles and held the visitors to just 83 total offensive yards to improve to 9-1 overall. Wilmington quarterback Keaton Hopwood completed three of eight passes but two of them were for touchdowns, the first to Conner Dempsay for 21 yards, followed by a 35-yard screen pass to Josh Jones to build a 13-0 first quarter lead.

The Trojans were gifted a touchdown midway through the second quarter when Wilmington fumbled the ball in the end zone. But a Trey Shaw 29-yard field goal just before the half gave Wilmington a 16-7 lead. 

The Wildcats got some breathing room in the third quarter when running back Matteo Lombardi scampered four yards for the touchdown to make it 23-7.

Elmwood-Brimfield started the fourth quarter with a 69-yard punt return by Nehemiah Butler to narrow Wilmington's lead to 23-14, but that was the closest they would get as Dempsay added a TD run from four yards out to seal the win.

Wilmington travels to Farmington southwest of Peoria on Saturday to face the undefeated Farmers at 2 p.m.