Last Friday night, the Prairie Ridge football team, 6-0 on the season, showed their dominance once again in a 41-16 rout of rival Crystal Lake South.
The wolves started off strong jumping out to 20-0 lead at the half after a punt return by RB Jordan Getzelman and then a 45 yard run 1:32 later. The Gators fought their way back to a 20-10 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Brad Walovitch with 11:38 remaining in the fourth.
The Wolves’ lead seemed to be slipping away, but the Wolves’ defense pulled through once again. LB Collin Corcoran recovered a center-quarterback exchange fumble and then QB Nick Nissan scored a 19-yard touchdown just plays later. On the next play from scrimmage for the Gators, CB Johnny Borst forced a fumble and LB Corey Peterson returned it to the three yard line, and FB Connor Greenwald scored on the next play.
Sean Folliard later put the dagger on South returning an onside kick for a touchdown.
The Prairie Ridge defense allowed only sixteen points while turning South over 5 times. Gator QB Austin Fowler completed 17 of 27 passes for a career high 226 yards, but his interceptions may have cost the Gators.
Before the big win against South on Friday, the Wolves learned they achieved the number one ranking in class 6A of Illinois, something that hasn’t been done in Prairie Ridge history.
The Wolves played like it on Friday and look to continue their run at the 6-0 Jacobs Golden Eagles. Teams in the area must be asking themselves how to stop the PR offense and also score points against that defense, and so far, no one has the answer.