January 1, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

SJO football bows out in first round of playoffs

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team saw its season end this past Saturday with a 54-26 loss at Williamsville in a Class 3A first-round playoff game.

The Spartans (5-5) never led in their season-ending loss, with the undefeated Bullets (10-0) jumping out to a 27-0 lead after the first quarter.

SJO managed its first touchdown in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from junior Crayton Burnett to freshman Ty Pence, but Williamsville enjoyed a 33-6 lead at that point.
The Bullets expanded their lead to 47-6 early in the third quarter, putting a running clock in effect for the rest of the game. Pence hauled in another touchdown pass from Burnett, this one from 44 yards out, that trimmed SJO’s deficit to 47-12 midway through the third quarter.

A 15-yard touchdown run by sophomore Keaton Nolan and subsequent two-point conversion run by senior Jarrett Stevenson made it 54-20 with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter and a 5-yard touchdown run by Stevenson with less than three minutes left accounted for the final 54-26 score.

Nolan led SJO with 91 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Stevenson finished with 51 rushing yards on 18 carries. Burnett went 8 of 17 for 111 passing yards, with Pence recording four catches for 86 yards. Senior Jaden Miller (13 yards) and sophomore Coby Miller (12 yards) also hauled in a reception.

Williamsville racked up 446 yards of total offense, with running back Grant Ripperda rushing for 128 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Quarterback Conor McCormick went 8 of 13 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two rushing touchdowns and 79 rushing yards to add to the Bullets’ offensive success.

Banner
Related Posts

Get to know SJO Volleyball player Helene Jones

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? Everyone on the team is so close outside of volleyball, so...

Knott named Student Athlete of the Month

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Hayden Knott had a stellar track and field season. The sophomore won the Illini Prairie Conference meet shot put and...

What could district format look like for SJO football?

July 26, 2019

July 26, 2019

This decade has seen plenty of different conference opponents for St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s football team. Playing in three conferences...

Weaver, Miller help SJO football stay unbeaten

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

A close game in the fourth quarter ended the way the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team wanted last Friday...

Get to know… SJO Tennis Player Lily Rice

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked SJO Tennis Player Lily Rice three questions. Here are her answers. Who is your favorite tennis player of...

Poe named male student-athlete of the month for August

September 20, 2019

September 20, 2019

Photo by Betty Lake Photography Eric Poe is a leader. St. Joseph-Ogden cross country head coach Jason Retz said Poe...

SJO football adjusts its routine this summer, picks up formidable Week 1 opponent

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

Life the last few months for St. Joseph-Ogden High School football coach Shawn Skinner has been much like it has...

‘I’m just glad to be playing my final year with my friends’

March 31, 2021

March 31, 2021

Looking forward.  The St. Joseph-Ogden football team is embracing the unique opportunity of playing football in March and April due...

SJO girls’ basketball wins regional title, sees season end in sectional semifinal defeat

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

The beginning of the season didn’t treat the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team well.The Spartans slogged through the first month...

Get to know SJO Volleyball Player Mikyla Haley

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? I think the way our team is so close is what...

5 questions with TANNER SIEMS

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

How would you describe your team?I would describe our team as a family. What is the biggest lesson you have...

Get to know SJO Volleyball player Emma Ward

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? Our ability to work well together What is your favorite thing...

SJO dances through adversity and earns date at state

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

On Friday afternoon, the St. Joseph-Ogden dance team thought its season was finished. Not because of how they performed. But...

SJO sets two dates for marquee events during 2019-2020 season

July 15, 2019

July 15, 2019

Two staples on the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball schedule are already set for the upcoming season. SJO will...

With Illini Prairie title in rearview, Duval and Spartans turn attention to the postseason

February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024

Playing against the likes of Bloomington Central Catholic, Chillicothe IVC, Monticello, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Pontiac, Prairie Central, Rantoul, St. Thomas More and...

Comments
Leave a Reply