2007 Schedule

8/25 3:00 @
Hamilton [West Hancock Coop]
8/31 7:00 H
Havana
9/7 7:00 H
*Oneida (ROWVA) [A & R Coop]
@ Aledo
9/14 7:00 H
Carthage (Illini West)
9/21 7:00 @
*Elmwood [E.-Brimfield Coop]
9/28 7:00 @
*Cuba [North Fulton Coop]
10/5 7:00 H
*Alexis (United)
10/12 7:00 @
*Biggsville (West Central)
10/19 7:00 H
*Toulon (Stark County)
### football enrollment
Stadium Directions

2A State Finals vs. Dakota (14-0)
11/25/2005

Adam Hines passes for some of 219 yards in the 1st quarter, but that wasn't enough as Dakota scored 20 consecutive points to win 20-15.

Turnovers Hurt Aledo's Quest For 4th Title

Champaign (Memorial Stadium) - Defense was the name of the game as fans were treated to some big hitting defenses normally reserved for the bigger classes.

Dakota benefited from 4 Aledo turnover, as the Dragons held the Indians to 243 total offensive yards. Dakota returned the favor by holding Aledo to 237, 219 of which came from QB Adam Hines.

Matt Wenger (5'11" 185 sr.) of the Dakota was the hero of the day for the Indians, scoring all 3 of the Dakota touchdowns while rushing for 163 of the teams 243 total yards. On top of that, Wenger lead the team in tackles and of course swatted away an Aledo pass with no time left in the game. Had that pass been completed it could have changed the final score from 20-15 Dakota, to 21-20 in favor of Aledo.

To open the 2nd half of the game, they scored at the end of an almost 9 minute long drive on a 1 yard run by Wenger to go up 14-8. They intercepted Hines for the first time on Aledo's next possession, scoring 6 plays later on a 1 yard run by Wenger again, putting them up 20-8, with 2 minutes left the 3rd.

The lead would carry over to the 4th quarter and leave Dakota sitting pretty. Add to the fact that they had held the Aledo passing game to just 59 yards of 73 yards total and the smiles on the Dakota sideline were starting to blossom.

Aledo started began the 4th quarter with the ball, but on 1 & 10 at the Dakota 26, Jared Benedetto picked off an Aledo pass at the 2 yard line with 10:26 left to play. The in suing Dakota drive would stall out, but not after chewing up 6 minutes of the clock. With Luke Winterhalter's punt downed at the the Aledo 3 yard line with 4 minutes left to play Dakota could almost rest easily.

But the Dragons wouldn't go down that easy. Hines found Davis Bysinger open and Bysinger took the ball 97 yards to pay dirt. A Tyler Catey PAT meant that if the Dragons could score again within the next 4 minutes, they wouldn't tie the game up, but put themselves ahead.

Dakota took the ball at their own 33, after Tyler Olsen had an 11 yard kick return. Wenger got the call, as the Indians would look for a nail in the coffin drive.

Aledo gave up 2 first downs, but used a 3 of their timeouts to get the ball back after Dakota's drive stalled after 7 plays & 23 yards.

The Dragons would start their comeback drive at their own 22 yard line. Hines hit Blaser on 3 of his 5 completions in the final drive, but on 3 & 2 from the Dakota 38, Hines' last pass to Blaser would get deflected by Wenger as time expired. Giving Dakota their first football championship and the second championship of the day for the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference, asFreeport (Aquin)had won the 1A Championship a game earlier.

by Vincent Johnson

Trevor Dunn puts a hit on a Dakota runner at the line of scrimmage. Aledo managed to hold the Indian's to 61 total yard in the first half.

Team leaders

Dakota
Rushing
Matt Wenger 28 carries 163 yards 3 TD
Tyler Olsen 19 carries 53 yards
Passing
Darren Olsen 2 of 6 8 yards
Tackles
Matt Wenger 8 solo 5 asst. 3 TFL 1 sack
Paul Graybill 7 solo 3 asst. 1 int 20yrds
tyler Olsen 5 solo 3 asst.
Jared benedetto 6 solo
B Houghton 2 solo 1 asst. 2 TFL, 1 sack

Aledo
Rushing
Justin Allen 15 carries 36 yards
Trevon Dunn 2 carries 10 yards 1 TD
Darin Blaser 2 carries 3 yards
Adam Hines 3 carries -31 yards
Passing
Adam Hines 17 of 25 for 219 yards 2 Ints
Darin Blaser 0 of 1
Tackles
Cordel Gray 1 solo 9 asst.
Daniel Witt 4 solo 5 asst.
Cody Brown 1 solo 8 asst.
Kane thompson 3 solo 5 asst.

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Related Stories:
-2006 Week #1 recap
-2005 2A State Finals recap
-2005 State Finals preview

Photo Archieve:
-2005 2A State Finals
-2002 2A State Finals
-2001 2A State Finals

Photo Ordering

Team Accomplishments

State Champs
2002 2A, 2001 2A, 1998 2A,

Runner up
2006 2A, -2005 2A, 1988 2A,

Semifinals
2006 1A, 2005 2A, 2002 2A, 2001 2A, 1998 2A, 1996 2A, 1993 2A, 1992 2A, 1988 2A,

Conference Champs
West Prairie Trail (West)
2006
Olympic
2002, 2000, 1999, 1996*, 1993, 1992, 1988

*co-champs

School Facts

Football Enrollment:
477.00

Conference:
West Prairie Trail (Northwest)

Class:
1A

Colors:
Green/White

Nickname:
Green Dragons

Head Coach:
Cullen Welter

Last Season's Record:
13-1

First Varsity Season:
1915

2006 Schedule

8/25 7:00 @
Abingdon 232.00
9/1 7:00 H
Peoria Heights 255.00
9/8 7:00 H
*Bushnell (B.-Prairie City) [B.-P.C.-Avo 237.00
9/15 7:00 @
*Carthage 268.00
9/22 7:00 H
*Monmouth (Yorkwood) [Westwood Coop] 110.00
9/29 7:00 @
*Astoria [South Fulton Coop] 107.00
@ VIT
10/6 7:00 @
*Lewistown 235.00
10/13 7:00 H
*Cuba [North Fulton Coop] 166.00
10/20 7:00 @
*Toulon (Stark County) 287.00

2005 Schedule

8/27 3:00 H
Chicago (CICS-Longwood) 260.00
9/3 3:00 H
Hamilton [West Hancock Coop] 607.00
9/9 7:30 @
*Macomb 673.00
9/16 7:30 H
*Farmington 429.00
9/23 7:30 H
*Orion 359.00
9/30 7:30 @
*Sherrard 542.00
10/7 7:30 @
*Monmouth (M.-Roseville) 546.00
10/14 7:30 H
*Knoxville 338.00
10/21 7:30 @
*Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 424.00

2004 Schedule

8/28 11:00 @
Chicago (CICS-Longwood) 659
@ St. Rita
9/4 2:30 @
Pleasant Plains 395
9/10 7:30 H *
Knoxville 345
9/17 7:30 @ *
Macomb 694
9/24 7:30 H *
Orion 366
10/1 7:30 @ *
Farmington 369
10/8 7:30 H *
Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 439
10/15 7:30 @ *
Monmouth (H.S.) 448
10/22 7:30 H *
Sherrard 557

2003 Schedule

8/30 4:00 @
Knoxville 339
9/6 3:30 H
Pleasant Plains 373
9/12 7:30 @ *
Orion 377
9/19 7:30 H *
Knoxville 339
9/26 7:30 @ *
Monmouth (H.S.) 461
10/3 7:30 H *
Sherrard 564
10/10 7:30 H *
Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 428
10/17 7:30 @ *
Farmington 390
10/24 7:30 H *
Macomb 656

2002 Schedule

8/31 4:00 H
Knoxville 331
9/7 2:00 @
Springfield (Ursuline) 195
9/13 7:30 H *
Orion 380
9/20 7:45 @ *
Knoxville 331
9/27 7:30 H *
Monmouth (H.S.) 456
10/5 7:30 @ *
Sherrard 528
10/11 7:30 @ *
Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 446
10/18 7:30 H *
Farmington 399
10/25 7:30 @ *
Macomb 644
#### - Enrollment
*Conference Game