Free Press Advocate

Wildcats get ready for bigger Monmouth in the first round

Published by admin on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 6:58pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Wildcats secured their 23rd straight playoff berth Friday with  37-20 win over Plano. Now the road gets even tougher
    Wilmington (6-3) is the No. 11 seed in the north bracket of the Class 3A playoffs, looking at a team that is bigger on the line in No. 6 seed Monmouth-Roseville.
    “We’re facing a good team,” said Wilmington coach Jeff Reents. “They’re 7-2 for a reason and in the playoffs.”

Perfect all the way

Published by admin on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 6:56pm

    Wilmington’s football  future continues to look bright with two youth football teams winning their Super Bowl divisions on Saturday.
    The Wilmington Bobcats won Super Bowl trophies at the Superlight and Lightweight levels in games played in 30 mph winds and even snow. The Junior Varsity trophy was won by Coal City while the Varsity trophy was claimed by Reed-Custer.
    Both the Bobcat teams finished their seasons undefeated at 10-0
    The Superlight Bobcats defeated the Sandwich Indians 12-7 to claim the championship trophy.

Coalers host Friday, Wildcats to travel Saturday

Published by admin on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 10:00am

Coal City earned the #2 seed in the top bracket of the 4A football playoffs, drawing #15 Wheaton Academy of West Chicago in the first round.

The 8-1 Coalers will host Wheaton Academy, a 5-4 team who plays in the Metro Suburban (Blue) conference that includes four other teams who made the playoffs. 

The Warriors will come to Coal Cityon Friday at 7 p.m.. A first round victory would pair the Coalers against the winner of #7 Agricultural Science (7-2) vs. #10 Johnsburg (6-3) in the second round.

WILDCATS HIT THE ROAD

Coalers upset Lisle, Wildcats get their win, Comets done in by Indians

Published by admin on Sat, 10/20/2018 - 10:01am

The Coal City varsity football team never trailed Friday night when Lisle, who had yet to lose a game, came to town. The Coalers built a 24-14 lead by half-time before holding the Lions scoreless the final two quarters to improve to 8-1 overall and raise their seed in next week's playoffs.

Coal City quarterback Payton Hutchings  found Austin Pullara from 12 yards out with 5:03 left in the first quarter to go up 6-0. Coaler running back Daniel Jezik plunged into the end zone from one yard out to make it 12-0 Coalers 5:45 2q.

Bobcat teams advance to Super Bowl

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 3:20pm

Two Wilmington teams are among the final eight football teams that will play in the Illinois 8 Youth Football League’s SuperBowl at Plano on Saturday.
    The Superlight and Lightweight Bobcats won in the second round of the playoffs to advance.
    The Superlight Bobcat offense came out firing, shutting out Manteno (4-5), 26-0 to improve to 9-0 on the season.
    Hunter Kaitschuck led the way for the ‘Cats scoring two  touchdowns. Colton Schultz and Jackson Findley added touchdowns as they were running all over the Manteno defense.

Lady ‘Cats polish off regular season, prepare to host regional on Monday

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 3:16pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Lady ‘Cats traveled to Bourbonnais Saturday to polish off their game at the Bradley Volleyball Invite and finished strong during the 33rd Annual Moldenhaur/Boilmaker Classic.
    Claire Rink led Wilmington with 17 kills on the day. Chloe Sanford added nine kills and 10 aces. Taylor Sliwski, Becca Horton and Halle Haga each added six kills.
    Maysie Feil had six kills, six aces, four solo blocks and 15 digs.
    Carley Wilkerson set them all up with 81 assists. She also had 19 digs.

Wildcats need to solidify a playoff spot at Plano

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 3:14pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    For 22 years in a row the Wildcats have made the football playoffs. That could all change Friday night if Wilmington lose at Plano.
    At 5-3, the Wildcats don’t want to end up 5-4 on Friday and watch from the outside when the 3A pairings are announced on Saturday night.

Wildcats beat the Bulldogs

Published by admin on Sat, 10/13/2018 - 1:11pm

Two touchdowns each for Wildcats Conner Dempsay and Sam Hafner were enough to shutout the Streator Bulldogs as the Wilmington varsity football team kept their playoff hopes alive.

Wilmington racked up 354 yards of offense before a Senior Night crowd, while limiting Streator to 128 yards, 93 on the ground.

The Cat's went up 20-0 before the half thanks to a pair of interceptions and added an insurance touchdown in the fourth to win it 27-0.

Two in a row, two more to go

Published by admin on Tue, 10/09/2018 - 3:52pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    Seems odd that Wilmington is celebrating something as trivial as two wins in a row, but considering their 4-3 record, two in a row have been hard to come by this season.
    Friday’s 38-13 win over Reed-Custer keeps Wilmington’s playoff hopes alive, now they need to get by Streator Friday at home to enter the playoff threshold.
    The Streator Bulldogs are coming off a 23-20 loss to undefeated Lisle, a close score that surprised other teams in the I-8.

Regional pairings are out

Published by admin on Tue, 10/09/2018 - 3:47pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The regular season is nearing its end and the playoff picturing is coming into fruition with the volleyball sub-sectionals starting this coming week for Wilmington, Reed-Custer and Coal City volleyball teams.
    The Lady Comets (6-16-1, 1-6 conference) will have a new mindset when they enter the Class 2A Seneca Regional  Tuesday, Oct. 23.