Featured photo caption: Defensive standout Fred Thomas leads the Warriors onto Sinclair-Vidoni Field Saturday night. Thomas finished the game with six tackles and a sack in the 35-0 playoff victory.

By Terri Cox | Staff Reporter

CASEY—The Casey-Westfield Warriors hosted the Red Hill Salukis in the opening round of the IHSA 1A Football Playoffs at Sinclair-Vidoni Field Saturday night, delivering an impressive 35-0 shutout to advance to the Sweet 16. The Warriors were the lone Little Illini Conference team to move on, as Olney, Mt. Carmel, Paris, and Marshall all exited the postseason with losses on Saturday.

The Salukis won the coin toss and deferred, putting the Casey-Westfield offense on the field to start the game. The Warriors capitalized immediately after Red Hill’s onside kick attempt was recovered by Will Moore, giving the Purple and Gold excellent field position.

Although their first play and a subsequent penalty moved them backward, the deficit was short-lived. Quarterback Nolan Clement hit Jack Julius in stride for a 50-yard gain, moving the ball deep into the Red Zone. After a five-yard offsides penalty on the defense, Kellen Sullivan weaved his way through the Red Hill line for a 14-yard touchdown run. Wyatt Erickson’s extra point was good, giving the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.

Red Hill started its first drive on their own 27-yard line, mixing runs and short passes to move the chains down to the Warrior 18-yard line. The drive stalled when Will Moore broke through for a huge quarterback sack, resulting in a 15-yard loss. The Warrior defense held strong, and on 4th-and-goal from the nine, Kai Davis and Owen Tate combined for a tackle for loss to force a turnover on downs.

After the Casey-Westfield offense went three-and-out, the defense came up big again. Red Hill fumbled on its next series but recovered, only for Nolan Clement to intercept a pass on the following play to give the ball back to the Warriors.

Casey-Westfield then mounted a methodical, 17-play drive that consumed a significant amount of the clock, overcoming two holding penalties that negated nice gains. The series ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by Gio Santillan. Erickson’s successful point-after extended the lead to 14-0.

Erickson’s ensuing kickoff sailed into the endzone for a touchback, pinning the Salukis on their own 20. Clement nearly secured his second interception of the night, breaking up a pass that forced a Red Hill punt.

Starting from their own 24-yard line, the Warriors needed only one play to score again. Clement launched a 76-yard bomb to Julius for a touchdown, and Erickson’s PAT pushed the lead to 21-0 as the first half wound down.

Red Hill received the ball to start the third quarter but was forced to punt. The Warriors’ first drive of the half also stalled due to penalties, leading to a punt of their own.

The Salukis moved the ball into Warrior territory and looked for a big play, but cornerback Nick Fouty jumped the route, intercepting the pass and returning it to the Warrior 43-yard line.

Though Casey-Westfield’s drive ended in a punt, the defense continued to stifle Red Hill. Back-to-back tackles by Fred Thomas forced another Saluki punt. On the very next offensive play, Kellen Sullivan broke free for a 44-yard run. He punched it in from two yards out on the next play for the score, and Erickson’s extra point made it 28-0 late in the third quarter.

Red Hill looked poised to finally get on the board, driving to the Warrior 24-yard line with a fresh set of downs. But a tackle by Niah Honselman and Riley Phillips, followed by a sack from Thomas, created a 3rd-and-13. The Saluki quarterback again looked to the air, but Fouty was there for his second interception of the game. A penalty on the return brought the ball back to the Warrior 15-yard line.

From there, Sullivan gained 24 yards on two carries to give the offense breathing room. Santillan then rumbled for 21 yards into Red Hill territory. Facing a 3rd-and-1, Wyatt Erickson took the handoff and powered through the defense for a 23-yard gain. Erickson got the call again from the four-yard line and drove through the defensive line for the final score of the game. He then booted the extra point to seal the 35-0 victory.

On the final kickoff, Bryce Hanley brought down the returner, and a combined tackle by Kian Davis and Brycen Ridge on the last play of the game preserved the shutout.

The Warriors improve to 8-2 and will travel to Nokomis on Saturday, November 4, to face the Redskins in the IHSA 1A Sweet 16. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. Per IHSA rules, tickets are $9 for everyone at the gate.

Jack Julius pulls in a 50-yard reception from quarterback Nolan Clement during the Warriors’ opening drive. The play set up Casey-Westfield’s first touchdown in their 35-0 first-round playoff win.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Quarter

  • CW: Kellen Sullivan 14-yard run (Wyatt Erickson kick)

• 2nd Quarter

  • CW: Gio Santillan 8-yard run (Erickson kick)

  • CW: Jack Julius 76-yard pass from Nolan Clement (Erickson kick)

• 3rd Quarter

  • CW: Kellen Sullivan 2-yard run (Erickson kick)

• 4th Quarter

  • CW: Wyatt Erickson 4-yard run (Erickson kick)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Kellen Sullivan 10-133, 2 TDs; Gio Santillan 9-57, 1 TD; Nolan Clement 9-39; Wyatt Erickson 3-30, 1 TD; Nick Fouty 2-11.

PASSING: Nolan Clement 4-for-8, 155 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING: Jack Julius 2-126, 1 TD; Kellen Sullivan 2-29.

TACKLES: Fred Thomas 6; Niah Honselman 6; Kai Davis 6; Hudson Rhoads 6; Daryn Hupp 5; Owen Tate 3; Will Moore 3; Wyatt Erickson 3; Nick Fouty 2; Drew Stutesman 2; Jett Self 2; Ayden Spittler 2; Nolan Clement 2; Bryce Hanley 2; Korbyn Bennett 1; Kellen Sullivan 1; Kyler Ratliff 1; Landon Rohr 1; Lucas Weinberger 1; Riley Phillips 1; Brycen Ridge 1.

SACKS: Fred Thomas 1; Will Moore 1.

INTERCEPTIONS: Nick Fouty 2; Nolan Clement 1.

Kicker Wyatt Erickson sends an extra point through the uprights. Erickson had a perfect night, going 5-for-5 on PATs, and also scored a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Kellen Sullivan weaves his way into the end zone for a Warrior touchdown. Sullivan led the Casey-Westfield offense with 133 rushing yards and two scores in the first-round playoff victory.

Warrior defender Niah Honselman wraps up a Red Hill ball carrier during Saturday’s playoff game. Honselman was a key part of the dominant defensive effort, tying for the team lead with six tackles in the 35-0 shutout victory.