Featured image caption: Senior Fred Thomas delivers a game-changing play, sacking the Olney quarterback, stripping the ball, and making the recovery to give the Warriors possession in the second quarter.

By Terri Cox

CASEY – In a classic “David vs. Goliath” matchup for the Little Illini Conference crown, the Casey-Westfield Warriors, the smallest school in the conference, fell just short in a thrilling 28-27 loss to the league’s largest school, the Olney Tigers. The battle of unbeatens at Sinclair-Vidoni Field on Friday night came down to the final minutes, decided by a failed two-point conversion that preserved the Tigers’ perfect season.

After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, the Warriors kicked off to start the game. Olney’s offense wasted no time, striking with a 43-yard pass on their first play from scrimmage to move deep into Warrior territory. Despite back-to-back tackles from Luke Karras, the Olney quarterback scrambled on third-and-eight and found an open receiver in the end zone for the game’s first score. The extra point was good, giving the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

The Warriors’ offense responded immediately. Nick Fouty returned the ensuing kickoff to the Tiger 40-yard line, setting up excellent field position. A seven-yard run by Kellen Sullivan and a penalty against Olney moved the chains. A few plays later, Sullivan followed a wall of blockers for a 25-yard touchdown run. Wyatt Erickson’s successful point-after kick knotted the score at 7-7.

The Warrior defense stepped up on the next possession. Tackles for loss by Daryn Hupp and Will Moore, followed by a Sullivan pass breakup in the end zone on fourth-and-21, forced a turnover on downs at the CW 28-yard line.

Casey-Westfield’s offense methodically moved the ball downfield as the first quarter came to a close. Powered by first-down runs from Fouty and Karras and a 12-yard pass from quarterback Nolan Clement, the Warriors drove into the red zone to start the second quarter. From there, a series of Clement runs set up Fouty for a touchdown plunge at the goal line. Erickson’s kick gave the Warriors their first lead, 14-7.

Olney answered with a six-play, 64-yard drive, capped by a 10-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.

Later in the quarter, the Warrior defense delivered a pivotal play. After a Clement punt pinned the Tigers at their own 27, a pair of holding penalties created a third-and-long situation. Senior Fred Thomas capitalized, sacking the quarterback and stripping the ball, which he then recovered himself. On the very next play, Karras rumbled 12 yards for a touchdown. Erickson’s kick was good, and the Warriors surged ahead 21-14. The defense forced another turnover on downs before halftime, with Jack Julius swatting away a key pass. The Warriors ran out of time on their final drive of the half, ending the second quarter with a 22-yard reception by Fouty as the clock expired.

The third quarter saw a shift in momentum. The Warriors were driving on their opening possession when a fumble gave the ball back to the Tigers. However, the Warrior defense responded when Karras forced a fumble that was recovered by Will Moore. Casey-Westfield was unable to capitalize, and on their next possession, the Tigers broke free for a 63-yard rushing touchdown. The successful PAT tied the score once again at 21-21.

After the teams traded punts, Olney took the lead in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard touchdown run, going up 28-21.

Facing a deficit with time winding down, the Warriors answered with an explosive play. Clement hit Julius in stride down the middle of the field for a 77-yard touchdown completion. With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Casey-Westfield opted to go for a two-point conversion to take the lead, but Sullivan was stopped just short of the goal line, leaving the Warriors trailing 28-27.

The Warrior defense, needing one more stop, came through again. Nolan Clement knocked the ball loose from an Olney runner, and Niah Honselman recovered the fumble at the Tigers’ 42-yard line, giving the offense one last chance. A pass interference call on Olney kept the drive alive, setting up a fourth-and-eight with under 90 seconds to play. Clement dropped back and looked for Julius again downfield, but the pass bounced off his fingertips, turning the ball over on downs. Olney then entered the victory formation to run out the clock.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Warriors (7-1) have secured their 35th playoff appearance in program history. They will conclude the regular season on the road against Paris next Friday. First-round playoff matchups will be announced Saturday night.

Luke Karras rumbles in from 12 yards out for a Warrior touchdown, giving Casey-Westfield a 21-14 lead just before halftime.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Quarter

  • OLN: 16-yard touchdown pass (kick good)

  • CW: Kellen Sullivan 25-yard run (Wyatt Erickson kick)

• 2nd Quarter

  • CW: Nick Fouty 12-yard run (Erickson kick)

  • OLN: 10-yard run (kick good)

  • CW: Luke Karras 12-yard run (Erickson kick)

• 3rd Quarter

  • OLN: 63-yard run (kick good)

• 4th Quarter

  • OLN: 17-yard run (kick good)

  • CW: Jack Julius 77-yard pass from Nolan Clement (conversion run failed)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING:
CW: Nick Fouty 11-89, 1 TD; Kellen Sullivan 10-70, 1 TD; Luke Karras 5-32, 1 TD; Nolan Clement 9-22; Gio Santillan 3-20; Jack Julius 1-3; Wyatt Erickson 1-2.

PASSING:
CW: Nolan Clement 4-for-10, 123 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING:
CW: Jack Julius 2-89, 1 TD; Nick Fouty 1-22; Wyatt Erickson 1-12.

PATs:
CW: Erickson 3-for-3.

DEFENSE:
TACKLES: Luke Karras 12, Fred Thomas 7, Daryn Hupp 6, Nick Fouty 5, Kai Davis 4, Weston Hupp 3, Niah Honselman 2, Nolan Clement 2, Landon Rohr 2, Will Moore 2, Wyatt Erickson 1, Korbyn Bennett 1.
SACKS: Fred Thomas 2, Will Moore 1.
FORCED FUMBLES: Fred Thomas, Nolan Clement, Luke Karras.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Will Moore, Niah Honselman, Fred Thomas.

Nick Fouty powers his way through the Olney defense and bounces off tacklers for a touchdown, putting the Warriors ahead 14-7 in the second quarter.

Kellen Sullivan finds a seam and races 25 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, tying the game 7-7 after a successful PAT.

Luke Karras forces a key turnover in the third quarter by stripping the ball from an Olney runner, with teammate Will Moore quickly covering it up for the fumble recovery.