Blue Ridge Football Loses to Maurer Brothers, Dee-Mack on Senior Night

DEER CREEK-MACKINAW 52, BLUE RIDGE 6

(Senior football players from left: J.D. Strum, Devin Voyles, Kenny Dunn, West Foulks, Jon Berger, Aaron Lytel, Trenor Hildreth, James Risler, Drew Miller, Calen Potter, Zach Norris, Jordan Schrock and Jamie Potter.)

FARMER CITY, Ill. -- In the early moments of their final home game of the season, the Knights did not look completely outmatched by the Chiefs, who were the No. 5-ranked Class 2A team.

James Risler (pictured below) intercepted a Zach Hild pass intended for Brandon Stiers and returned it to the Blue Ridge 40-yard line. Risler was one of 13 seniors honored before the game for Senior Night.

Two plays later, Risler took an option pitch from Johnny Bruden and picked up 11 yards, starting what seemed like a potential scoring drive.

Bruden took the drive to the Dee-Mack 35-yard line by converting on a fourth-and-1 on a quarterback sneak.

However, the drive stalled after Jon Berger and Dylan Kirkpatrick were stopped for losses of two and three yards, respectively, and Bruden (No. 14, pictured below) threw a pass on third-and-15 that went through the hands of Jordan Schrock.

What followed was an 80-yard drive that ended with a touchdown run by Stevie Maurer. After Danny Maurer rumbled into the end zone for the two-point conversion, the Chiefs led 8-0 with 1:48 left in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out on the Knights' ensuing possession, Schrock (pictured below) looked to launch his second punt of the game. However, the snap was mishandled, causing the pigskin to be downed at Blue Ridge's 23-yard line.

That led to another Dee-Mack touchdown, as Brandon Evans ran into the end zone with 11:30 left in the second quarter to increase the Chiefs' lead to 14-0.

From there, Dee-Mack went on a roll that could not be stopped by the Knights. The Chiefs scored another touchdown and a two-point conversion to make the score 22-0 with 8:11 left in the second quarter and never looked back.

With the loss, Blue Ridge falls to a record of 0-7 overall and 0-6 in the Heart of Illinois Conference. The Knights will try to get their fist win of the season at Fieldcrest next week.

Dee-Mack, meanwhile, clinched at least a share of the HOIC crown with the win. The Chiefs (7-0, 7-0) will host Ridgeview next Friday.