LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
VILLA GROVE – Friday, Oct. 25 marked the end of the football season for the Tri-County Titans, who traveled north up State Route 130 to Russ Ghere Field in Villa Grove for a conference contest against the Villa Grove Blue Devils. The Titans wanted to end the season on a high note, while the Blue Devils were hoping to snap a two-game losing streak. Both teams entered the matchup with youth and talent, looking to build toward the future in their final game of the season. After 48 minutes of football, it was a costly late mistake by Tri-County that helped Villa Grove hang on for a 29-18 win.
After both teams went three and out on their opening possessions, the Blue Devils struck first at the 6:13 mark. Noah Wilcoxon scampered in from three yards out before running in the two-point conversion to give Villa Grove an 8-0 lead. That was the only scoring drive of the first quarter by both teams.
In the second frame, the Blue Devils scored through the air with 9:09 left as Lukas Shadwick found Jacob Golightly for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Sophia Shaw hit the extra point to give the hosts a 15-0 lead.
The Titans bounced back in a big way late in the quarter when Garrett Pollock hit Myles Watson in stride for a 74-yard touchdown reception. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the deficit at 15-6. That score stood as both teams went into the locker room.
At the 7:11 mark of the third quarter, the Blue Devils finished off a strong drive when Shadwick plunged into the end zone from one yard out. Shaw hit the extra point to increase the Villa Grove lead to 22-6. Tri-County answered quickly on their very next possession, going to the ground game as Landon Paugh found a gap and carried the ball 28 yards for a touchdown with 3:15 left. The two-point conversion failed to make the score 22-12 going into the final twelve minutes.
In the fourth quarter, the Titans kept things interesting, striking paydirt again once Jimmy Dillon capped off a drive with a 17-yard touchdown run with 8:27 left. The extra point kick missed the mark, cutting the deficit to 22-18.
Villa Grove responded on their next possession, connecting through the air with 5:06 left as Shadwick found Wilcoxon for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Shaw hit the extra point to increase the advantage to 29-18. Tri-County had one last drive, but Villa Grove put the exclamation point on the game when Golightly intercepted a pass from Pollock deep in Blue Devil territory to end the Titans drive. The Blue Devils ran out the clock to seal the win.
Jimmy Dillon led the Titans with 25 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown while adding a sack on defense. Landen Paugh had seven carries for 50 yards and a score while adding three solo tackles.
Garrett Pollock completed three of nine passes for 91 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Myles Watson caught two passes for 83 yards and a score. Eain White had six solo tackles and Donnie Loveall added four solo tackles in the loss.
Lukas Shadwick was 11 of 21 for 186 yards and two passing touchdowns. Noah Wilcoxon had five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown. Hunter Butts had 20 carries for 91 yards on the ground in the win.
The Titans finish the 2024 season at 1-8 overall and 1-8 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference play.