The Class 1A, 2A, and 3A state football finals all feature central Illinois teams as the finals kick off this morning from Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University.
The Arcola Purple Riders have cruised through their season largely unchallenged in almost every contest and take a high powered offense and a stellar defense up against Toulon Stark County today at 10 am.
Coming off a 42-0 victory over LeRoy last Saturday, head coach Zach Zehr will have to solve an equally impressive team lead by Coach Jade Noard.
Two more central Illinois teams will square off in DeKalb later in the afternoon when the undefeated Tri-Valley Vikings and Auburn Trojans square off for a 1 pm kick.
Coach Josh Roop and his team have rolled through their regular season and the postseason.
Today they'll be up against a group that may be as balanced of an offensive attack as they've seen this year.
Auburn gained a mere 400 yards more on the ground, oppsed to through the air, gaining better than 2000 yards both ways, nearly unheard of in small school high school football.
The Vikings will also face a front that averages better than 235 pounds.
While Coach Roop's squad may be undersized, their skill should play a major factor.
Three players rushed for over 1000 yards and quarterback Peyton Roop threw for 66% through the air, albeit on just 53 attempts.
Today's game kicks off at 1 pm.
And finally in Class 3A, Okaw Valley conference member Tolono Unity has found their stride after a mid-season scuffle as they head into a championship tilt with powerhouse Kankakee McNamara.
Coach Scott Hamilton's squad lost all three games against Monticello, St. Joseph-Ogden and Maroa-Forsyth, however, they wound up beating Monticello and St. Joe in consecutive weeks to reach the championship game.
Now the Rockets face a big, skilled and balanced Fightin' Irish team out of Chicago Catholic Conference.
The Fightin Irish and Rockets lines are nearly identical in average size, so the battle up front could be the deciding factor in this one.
Today's game gets underway at 4 pm.
Class 4A Championship
Chicago Phillips
Belleville Althoff Catholic 7pm
