After a five year dry spell, Peoria is once again home of Championship Football. To make up for lost time, Peoria area schools won two state Champions. Peoria High School won 5A and Deer Creek Mackinaw won 2A – both for their first time in school history.

Peoria High School took their high scoring offense to the championship and were tested every step of the way against an evenly matched Vernon Hills team. The match was like watching two heavy weights go at it for 6 rounds. But in the end it was Peoria’s defense that took the ball from Vernon Hills in their last three possessions then marched on to outscore them 62-48. Junior running back Geno Hess ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns for Peoria High. Senior Jaleen James added 67 yards and a touchdown.

Watching Deer Creek Mackinaw seemed to me like watching the Jared Reese show. The senior sparked the Deer Creek-Mackinaw football team with his power running all season. The championship game was no different. Jared powered through the lines with ease with long run after long run. Midway through the first half when Moroa-Forsythe seemed to have Reese’ figured out, Deer Creek found Alex Kerner in the end zone for a touch down. Reese ended up with three rushing touchdownss and 139 rushing yards.

Metamora, our most dominant football team were state football champions 2009, 2007, 1975 and seven time runner up showings. In 2009, Metamora won its second state championship in three seasons, blocking, rushing and rolling past Geneseo 41-7 in the Class 4A title game. This was Metamora’s third state championship overall and 10th appearance in the state finals. By the way, those championships were in three different Classes, 3A in 1975, 4A in 2009 after winning 2nd four times, and 5A in 2007.

For the record, Peoria has dominated the State Football championships over the years for a small population. Metamora, Richwoods, Peoria HS, and Deer Creek have long track records of trips to the dance. GO P-Town!