Smith, Spartans on roll entering playoffs

Hosting home football playoff games became common for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team in the past.

In fact, the Spartans hosted 39 playoff games from 1987 through 2015.

But none since 2015 when SJO beat Carlinville 42-7 in a Class 3A second-round playoff game en route to a state semifinal appearance.

That changes this Saturday. Behind a dynamic passing game and a late-season resurgence, the Spartans finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, earned a seventh seed in the 3A playoffs and will host 10th-seeded Robinson (6-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Dick Duval Field for the 40th home playoff game in SJO football history.

Here’s a look at what has transpired the past four weeks for coach Shawn Skinner’s program to get the Spartans to this spot:

Spartans hold off PBL
Junior quarterback Logan Smith threw four touchdown passes, helping SJO defeat Paxton-Buckley-Loda 34-20 this past Friday night at Dick Duval Field in St. Joseph. The Illini Prairie Conference win ensured the Spartans would finish with a 5-3 league record after SJO went ahead 12-0 at the end of the first quarter, led 26-6 at halftime and maintained a 26-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Smith completed 19 of 28 passes for 279 yards, connecting often with senior Ty Pence and sophomore Coy Taylor. Pence caught nine passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns, while Taylor had eight receptions for 58 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Justice Wertz had a team-high 35 rushing yards on 10 carries, while seniors Tyler Burch (29 rushing yards on four carries, one touchdown) and Alex Funk (27 rushing yards on four carries) also contributed.

Senior Aiden McCorkle and junior Garrett Denhart led the defensive effort for the Spartans. McCorkle registered 10 tackles, including two for loss, and Denhart recorded two interceptions.

Spartans cruise by Eagles
A dominant first half saw SJO take a commanding lead and never look back during a 57-14 Illini Prairie road win against Rantoul at Bill Walsh Field on Oct. 14.

The Spartans took a 28-0 lead after the first quarter and expanded it to 50-0 by halftime.
Big plays highlighted the effort by SJO, with Smith completing 9 of 10 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Burch also topped 100 rushing yards, finishing with 109 on nine carries and two touchdowns. Wertz chipped in with 75 rushing yards on five carries and one touchdown.

Pence (four catches for 70 yards), Taylor (three catches for 71 yards) and senior Aidan Moberg (two catches for 33 yards) each hauled in a touchdown pass from Smith.

Taylor came through with an interception on defense, while junior Rowan Musselman added a fumble recovery. Sophomore Nolan Early had a team-high eight tackles for SJO.

Defense leads the way against Pontiac
The Spartans recorded their first shutout of the season and avoided a two-game losing streak with a convincing 42-0 home win against Pontiac at Dick Duval Field on Oct. 7.
The Illini Prairie triumph saw SJO lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, 21-0 at halftime and 42-0 to start the fourth quarter.

Smith threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns, completing 11 of 20 passes. Taylor was the recipient of most of them, collecting seven catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Pence (three catches for 26 yards) had the other touchdown catch and Moberg chipped in with an 11-yard reception.

Wertz paced the Spartans’ run game with 124 rushing yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
SJO’s defense compiled six sacks, with McCorkle finishing with 2 1/2 sacks. Sophomore Holden Brazelton and senior Owen Birth also had one sack apiece. McCorkle, junior Collin Wayland and junior Corbin Wells tied for the team lead in tackles with seven, with Denhart contributing an interception.

Saints outlast Spartans
An early lead at Bloomington Central Catholic didn’t hold up for SJO, with the Spartans losing 42-20 in the Illini Prairie game on Sept. 30.

Smith went 13 of 20 for 181 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Taylor had the majority of receptions for SJO by finishing with 12 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Wertz contributed in the run game with 95 rushing yards on 10 carries, while Burch had a four-yard touchdown run.

The Spartans led the Saints 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, but trailed 21-14 at halftime and 28-14 to start the fourth quarter.

Wells and Wayland each made 11 tackles for SJO, with Birt adding 10 tackles.

Odds and ends
— If SJO beats Robinson — the two teams have never met in the playoffs — then a road game awaits the Spartans in the second round either in Benton or Stanford. Second-seeded Benton (8-1) hosts Olympia (5-4) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Benton. If the host Rangers and SJO win, the game would be in Benton since both teams hosted first-round playoff games and Benton has the better seed. If Olypmia pulls the upset of Benton and SJO wins, the Spartans would head to Stanford to play on Olympia’s home field since Olympia didn’t host a first-round playoff game.
— Skinner is looking for his first playoff win in charge of SJO. The Spartans have made four previous playoff appearances in Skinner’s tenure, but have sustained first-round road playoff losses each time.
— The next playoff win for SJO would be the 50th in program history. The Spartans are 49-31 all-time in playoff games.