Washington High School (10-1) led early and held on to defeat Rich East (7-4) 15-12 at Lombardi Field in Park Forest, IL. The Panthers scored 91 seconds into the game on a one yard touchdown run by QB Isaac Fisher, three plays after Dakota Bullard returned the opening kickoff 87 yards. J.D. Eddy kicked a 24-yard field goal at the end of the first half for Washington giving them a 9-0 lead at the break. The Rockets scored on a 11-yard pass play on a 44-yard pass from wide receiver Herbert Davis to Richard White. The Panthers will host next Saturday’s Class 5A quarterfinal game against IHSA perennial power Joliet Catholic Academy at Babcook Field.
-Bob
The Houston Aeros eliminated the Peoria Rivermen from the Calder Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night at Carver Arena in front of 3,009 fans with a 2-1 win to sweep the best-of-seven series. Peoria scored the first goal of the game in all four games only to see the Aeros come back and earn the victory. The Rivermen scored staked themselves a 1-0 lead on their first man advantage of the game at 8:03 of the first. Nathan Oystrick’s first of the playoffs came after Hensick sent him a cross-ice pass on the right faceoff dot and he snapped a deflected shot along the ice through the legs of Matt Hackett. The Rivermen outshot the Aeros for the first time in the series 24-19.
-Bob
The Houston Aeros came from behind and scored four unanswered goals, for the second time in the series, to win 5-3 and take 3-0 lead over the Peoria Rivermen in the West Division Semifinal. Akim Aliu scored 19 seconds into the game for the Rivermen and T.J. Hensick scored twice, but the Aeros held Peoria to just 15 shots on goal in the game. Game 4 will be played at Carver Arena on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. and if Peoria can force Game 5 it will be on Wednesday. The Rivermen were outshot 30-15 in the game and have been outshot in each game of the series. The Aeros scored once in on six power plays while the Rivermen finished 1-for-2 on the man advantage. Attendance for game 3 was 3,064.
-Bob
