The Mercer County Golden Eagles are headed to the Class 2A State Championship game after stopping Clifton Central 26-7 at George Pratt Memorial Field Saturday afternoon.  For the second straight week, the Golden Eagles fell behind in the first quarter 7-0 after the Comets marched 74 yards on their second possession, scoring on a fourth and ten when J.R. Caspary hit Derrick Graham in the back of the end zone.  Mercer County quickly answered going 71 yards in two plays on a Tanner Matlick 58-yard screen pass and then connected with Payton Holmes on a 13-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7.  Mercer County then took the lead on their next possession driving 59 yards capped off by a Nelson two yard run. The extra point was blocked and the Eagles lead 13-7.  Clifton Central looked like they would take at least a tie or the outright lead when they drove to the Eagle’s four yard line, but on fourth and two, Caspary’s pass sailed over the end zone.  Mercer County came out in the second half and put together a 7o yard drive with Nelson going in from three yards out and the two point conversion failed to give the Eagles a 19-7 lead with 3:37 left in the third quarter.  Mercer County iced the win after Bryce Skiles returned an interception near midfield to the 7 yard line.  Mercer County quickly scored as Tanner Matlick turned the corner on the option going in for five yards out and with the two point conversion, but the Eagles up by 19.  Mercer County will now meet Belleville Althoff, a 28-7 winner over Camp Point Central-Southeastern, in the championship game at 1:00  P.M. Friday at the University of Illinois in Champaign.