Carlinville High School Football: SJ-R Articles

But the Trojans responded with one of their methodical drives, mixing the run and pass effectively despite the muddy conditions. It allowed the host team to regain control as Maroa-Forsyth pulled away for a 31-7 victory in a first-round Class 2A playoff game.

“We still thought we were in good position at halftime,” said Carlinville head coach Chad Easterday. “But they did a good job of moving the ball, and their third-down conversions killed us on that next series.

“They did a real nice job of throwing the ball tonight. They have some good receivers, and they’re just a very good team.”

Maroa-Forsyth (8-2) advanced to a second-round playoff game next weekend against the winner of today’s game between Bismarck-Henning (5-4) and the Staunton Bulldogs (8-1). If area team Staunton wins today, the Bulldogs would host Maroa in Round Two.

The Cavaliers, who finished 6-4, suffered a first-round playoff loss for the fifth time in their last six postseason appearances. Despite moving down to Class 2A after playing in 3A in recent years, Carlinville ran into a superior team on Friday.

Easterday admitted the muddy field hindered the Cavaliers’ speed-oriented attack that thrives on running the ball outside. But he credited the Trojans for their offensive execution and swarming defense.

Maroa totaled 25 first downs (16 in the first half) while Carlinville was held to eight.

“They kept the field as dry as they could,” said Easterday, noting that Maroa applied sand in the area between the hash marks — after covering the same area with a tarp on Friday.

“Obviously, the mud was a factor for us. But their defensive line did a lot of damage and caused some confusion that we didn’t get adjusted to.”

Maroa got 111 yards rushing on 19 carries from fullback Dalton Coventry, while sophomore quarterback Logan Stelzriede — who moved into the starting spot midway through the season — was 16-for-27 for 117 yards and one interception.

Elusive wide receiver Wyatt Washburn had 10 receptions for 140 yards for Maroa, including 9 for 125 in the first half.

Maroa built the 17-0 halftime lead on an 8-yard touchdown run by Coventry; a 4-yard scoring pass from Stelzriede to Justin Barnes (on a fourth-down play) and a 27-yard field goal by Alex Chiligiris just before halftime.

Carlinville broke the shutout on its first possession of the second half, with speedy Josh Rives doing most of the damage.

Rives returned the kickoff 46 yards to his own 47-yard line; he gained 4 yards and then absorbed a late hit that tacked on 15 more yards to the Maroa 30; he gained 21 yards on a sweep, and he finally scored from 9 yards out with 10 minutes 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Maroa stole the momentum right back, moving 64 yards on 12 plays and converting four third-down plays in the process. The drive was capped on Stelzriede’s 12-yard keeper for a touchdown with 4:35 left.

“We needed to answer that touchdown (by Rives),” said Maroa head coach Josh Jostes. “We had a little letdown, and we can’t have that. But I was proud of the way our kids responded.”

Easterday, too, was proud of his team despite bowing out in the first round. The Cavaliers were hindered early in the season by several players who were sidelined for disciplinary reasons.

“I thought we battled back late in the season after a tough start,” Easterday said. “We made the playoffs again, but we just couldn’t get over that hump.”

Dave Kane can be reached at 788-1544.