United Township survived a potential disaster, throwing interceptions on their first two pass attempts, setting up Rock Island in their territory. The Panthers kept the game scoreless until their offense could get going, while being helped with a defensive touchdown of their own. UT (3-3, 2-2 in Western Big 6 play) beat Rocky (0-6, 0-3) 34-7 to keep their playoff hopes alive. For Rock Island, celebrating 125 years of football, the 0-6 start is the worst in school history, surpassing the 1930 squad that began 0-5-1 and finished 1-7-2.
The Rocks, consistently starting first half drives in UT territory, were held without any first downs not achieved by defensive penalties until 1:21 left in the half. They got their second first down, to the UT 27, with 1:09 left, then used 31 seconds to throw an incomplete pass with :38 left. On the ensuing play, Isaiss Duarte was thrown for a 2-yard loss on a running play, and the Rocks did not use their final time out, draining the clock to :02 before the Panthers called time to get organized for a last-second play. Then the Rocks changed gears, missing a 46-yard field goal as time expired, trailing 13-0 at the half. The Panthers had scored on an Isaiah Navarette 12-yard run and a Prince Davis 59-yard fumble return.
UT put the game away in the third quarter, as Navarrette ran for his second TD, followed by a successful onside kickoff and a 50-yard catch and run by Jasiah Massey, on a ball thrown by Christian Peterson. That made the score 27-0 late in the period. Leo Sim added a 43-yard TD run before the Rocks got on the board in the fourth with a 31-yard TD strike from Jae’Vion Clark-Pugh to Dai’Shaun McCaw.
Navarrette finished with 132 yards on 26 carries. The Panthers were held to 244 total yards, but their defense was stellar, limiting Rock Island to a 112-yard output.
The Panthers need two wins in their last three games to reach playoff eligibility and perhaps make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. They visit 4-2 Moline next Friday, then go to Wisconsin to take on unbeaten small school Eau Claire Regis, before finishing at home against 1-5 Galesburg.
The Rocks host Galesburg next Friday, then finish up at Sterling and home vs Geneseo.