By CHARLIE HUST
McLean County broke open a scoreless game with three touchdowns in the second quarter and went on for an easy 43-7 victory Friday night over Webster County in both team’s regular-season finale at Trojan Field in Dixon.
The Cougars, who posted just one victory last season, finished with a 4-6 mark while the Trojans lost their ninth straight for a 1-9 record.
Most of McLean’s damage was done on the ground, led by Austin Gross and his 139 yards rushing on 18 carries. He also tossed a 68 yard touchdown pass to Thomas Cessna to help ignite the Cougar offense.
With defense ruling the first quarter on both ends, McLean got things going in the second period with a three-yard TD run from Brycen Parker. The 68-yard scoring strike to Gross made it 13-0 and then the speedy running back reeled off a 55-yard touchdown run on McLean’s next possession for a commanding 21-0 advantage after his two-point conversion run.
Webster’s only offensive highlight came on it’s third possession of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Dillon Baty hooked up with senior receiver Zach Bruce for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Ethan Drury booted the point-after to trim the lead to 21-7 at halftime.
McLean added a touchdown in the third quarter on a three-yard run from Cessna. The Cougars put the game out of reach in the final period on a 13-yard TD pass from Cessna to Gross and a nine-yard scoring run from Thomas Mitchell to set the final score.
Webster finished the contest with 212 total yards, 110 coming on the ground and 102 via the air as Baty was 10-of-23 passing with two interceptions. Peyton Bussell was his favorite target, catching eight passes for 69 yards. Bruce gained 59 yards on the ground.
McLean County finished with 334 total yards, 208 on the ground on 36 rushes.
The Trojans will now turn their sights on the school’s first playoff game in six years. Since Region 1, Class 3-A has just four teams, the Trojans will earn a playoff spot and they must take on one of the finest squads in the state, 5th-ranked South Warren in Bowling Green, the Region 2 winner.
The Spartans went undefeated in district play and sport an impressive 9-1 record. They have one of the top defenses in the Commonwealth, allowing just 25 total points scored the entire year, including six shutouts.