As Rock Island continues to play one state-rated team after another, they had to look for silver linings in a 49-14 loss at Bradley-Bourbonnais in a non-conference contest Friday night. The Rocks remain winless, while the 9th-ranked (in Class 7A) Boilermakers improved to 4-0.
Trailing just 7-0 after the first quarter, the Rocks gave up three scores in the second, offset only by Jae’Vion Clark-Pugh’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Venegas. The only Rock Island score of the second half was a 1-yard TD run by Isaiss Duarte. The Rocks played turnover-free football, but allowed a 93-yard kickoff return for touchdown. Offensively, the running game managed an average of just 2.3 yards on 23 carries, and the Rocks were just 3-for-16 on third-down conversions.
Clark-Pugh finished 12-of-23 passing for 121 yards before giving way to backup Myles Duster (1-of-2, 5 yards). Sophomore WR Evan Ellis led the team with 54 receiving yards on 4 catches. Venegas added 40 yards on 5 receptions.
Homecoming awaits next Friday, as Rock Island (0-4, 0-1 in Western Big 6 play) welcomes archrival Moline (2-2, 1-1). Live coverage on QCSportsNet.com is set for 7:00 p.m.