Eagles Suffer Heartbreaker, Rockets Roll, Harriers Advance to State

Mercer County came up an extra point short and fell to Bloomington Central Catholic 27-26 in overtime in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A playoffs at George Pratt Memorial Field.  The Golden Eagles led 14-13 at halftime thanks to an Owen Relander 98 yard kick off return on their first possession and a 47-yard Colby Cox to William Frederickson pass play.  Mercer County took the lead 20-13 with 4:42 left in the game but their failure to convert the extra point proved costly. The Saints took the ball and marched down the field and scored with :55 left to tie the game.  Mercer County scored on a Frederickson 5 yard run but one again failed to convert the extra point. Central Catholic matched that score kicked the extra point to win the game.

The Rockridge Rockets rolled over Sterling Newman 42-12 in another Class 2A opener.  The Rockets scored late in the first half for a 21-6 lead at intermission and extended that margin to 35-12 after three quarters.  Peyton Locke had a big day for Rockridge running for 170 yards on 12 carries and scoring four touchdowns.  The Rockets now advance to the second round at Bloomington Central Catholic.  The day and time of the game has yet to be announced.

At the Class 1A Oregon Cross Country Sectional the Mercer County boys finished 5th to advance to the state finals at Detweiler Park on Saturday. The Sherrard girls also finished fifth to move on to state.  Mercer County’s Eden Mueller finished fifth overall and she will be running in Peoria on Saturday.