Game Preview

Class 4A State Finals
Fairbury (Prairie Central) (13-0) vs.Addison (Driscoll)(13-0)

Nov. 28th 7pm @ Memorial Stadium U of I

Fairbury (Prairie Central) :
Prairie Central's Hawks could be the most underrated team to make the State Finals, with a 13-0 record attributed to an off year in the Corn Belt the fact that this Hawks team has faced 6 playoff teams in the regular season & has averaged 39 points a game may have fallen on deaf ears.

While a lot of attention went to the other undefeated teams as the playoffs started in 4A, the Hawks have withstood the test of time and are now poised to have a shot atknocking off two time defending State ChampsAddison (Driscoll).

Prairie Central's offense is run on the arm of QB Dylan Ward. The 6'3 200 lbs senior has lead his team throughout the season. A week 5 victory against 2002 5A runner up 6-4 Pontiac, may have been the wind that lifted the Hawks all the way to Champaign. Seeing as how Pontiac has been the Corn Belt Champs longer than the Hawks' team has been in high school.

Ward's 3,881 yards passing this season puts him just behind last years 8A Champion QB Steve Walker (3,971), who's third on the all time list for Illinois season records. If Dustin Stephens, Will Barsema or Nathan Wenger get open, Ward just might pass Walker & the Hawks might pass their way around a tough Highlanders team who's no stranger to the big game.

The Hawks will need all they have from Michael Kilgus (137 tackles) & Curtis Bunch (116 tackles, 22 sacks) if they have any intention of holding down a Highlander offense that scores quickly in the air or on the ground.

Prairie Central Varsity Roster & Starters

Addison (Driscoll):
The Highlanders are back for a third go at the title with a squad that may be almost as good as the one they had last year.

The Highlanders biggest threat is their ability to strike quickly. Senior QB Dan Cwick (108/187 for 1803 yards) is going to be looking to hit wide out Greg Turner who has the speed and ability to bring the ball to the endzone everytime he touches the ball. Part of the reason Turner has been so deadly all season is because Cwick has been on the money almost 60% of the time and has only thrown 3 interceptions in 187 attempts.

Greg Turner, chases down a QB on a corner blitz.He is just as quick on the defnsive side of the ball as he is on offense.

Turner's speed gets used on the ground as well, the Highlanders will give the ball to him on a reverse every now and again, helping him stack up 9 rushing TDs on 38 carries to add on to his 22 TDs he has through the air.

Jim Tranchitella leads the team in tackles & sacks (137 tackles 14 sacks) and is backed up by a solid senior core with some support by underclasmen, including sophomore Kyle Jenkins (LB 6'3 185).

Overall this 4A Finals matchup may not be the most defensive battle as both of these teams will be bringing in high powered offenses who can air the ball out while not taking a lot of time of the clock.

Driscoll Varsity Roster & Starters

by Vincent Johnson