Bulldogs win back-to-back Apollo Conference championships

By Fred Kroner

Wyatt Bohm threw five touchdown passes for the second week in a row, leading Mahomet-Seymour to a 47-14 football victory at Mattoon, a win which clinched a repeat outright Apollo Conference championship for the Bulldogs.

Bohm connected on 14 of 17 passes – without an interception – and has completed 84.2 percent of his passes the past two weeks (32 of 38).

“Wyatt had his best game all season,” M-S coach Jon Adkins said. “He did so many things well.

“Our tempo was good because of him. He was delivering the ball and I’m proud of his leadership and the way he commanded the offense.”

Quenton Rogers was the go-to receiver. He caught five passes and turned four into touchdowns on plays of 92, 13, 33 and 15 yards. He totaled 165 yards through the air.

“When you get Quenton the ball, he will make things happen,” Adkins said.

Rogers continues to rewrite the M-S record book. He already owns the marks for career receiving yards (2.086 and counting) and career TD receptions (25 and counting) – both set earlier this season – and tied the record for TD catches in a season (14, held by Cully Day since 2013) by hauling in the four scoring strikes at Mattoon.

Rogers needs 169 more receiving yards this year to become the first M-S athlete to put up back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving.

M-S held a 454-262 edge in total yards at Mattoon and limited its seventh straight opponent to fewer than 90 yards rushing.

The Green Wave gained 68 yards rushing on 26 attempts.

Adkins said one reason explains why M-S has averaged 414 yards of total offense through eight games.

“For the eighth week in a row, we were very good upfront,” Adkins said. “It’s due to those five guys on the offensive line.

“They had an awesome game and were giving Wyatt all the time to throw the ball.”

M-S needed just 3 minutes and 6 seconds to get on the scoreboard. The first score came on a 23-yard pass from Bohm to Trey Peters.

Mattoon responded by effectively marching downfield.

“They put together a nice drive and had a first-and-goal from our 1,” Adkins said. “For four consecutive plays, our defense shut them down.

“Three plays later, Quenton scored on the long TD (92-yard pass play).”

Though Mattoon passed for 194 yards, Bulldogs Jake Waldinger and Braden Houchin garnered interceptions.

“Our game plan was to shut down the run and we knew if we did, they would have to throw to be in the game,” Adkins said. “Our DBs were ready. Those (interceptions) were two great plays on the defensive side.”

Luke Johnson was the Bulldogs’ rushing leader, churning out 82 yards on 13 carries. Ryken Kirby gained 59 yards on 12 carries and ran for one TD.

Valient Walsh also reached the end zone, scoring on a 2-yard run.

M-S created a running clock with 10 minutes and 9 seconds left in the third quarter on a 15-yard pass from Bohm to Rogers.

“What makes us so dynamic is that we have so many weapons,” Adkins said.

Placekicker Kyle Walmer converted 5 of 7 extra-point attempts.

Defensively, Brennan Houser set the tone with a game-high eight tackles. Other team leaders were Nick Golden (five tackles), Dayten Eisenmann (four tackles), Jack Gallier (four tackles) and Tallen Pawlak (three tackles).

The Bulldogs didn’t let wind and rainy conditions play a factor in the outcome.

“They were not favorable conditions,” Adkins said, “but we never let weather be an excuse.

“The other team is playing in the same conditions as we are.”

Though Mattoon put up 14 points against the Bulldogs, none of the points were scored with M-S’ first unit on the field.

M-S (8-0) puts its 18-game regular-season winning streak on the line on Friday (Oct. 21) with a non-conference game at Bloomington (3-5), which snapped a three-game losing streak in its most recent game by blasting Champaign Central, 37-7.

The all-time series between the Bulldogs and Bloomington is tied, 1-1, though the games were played 100 years apart. The first one was in 1921 and the second was in 2021.

The Purple Raiders are coming off a school-record performance by quarterback A.J. Codron, who tied Bloomington’s single-game record for TD passes in a game with five. Codron threw for 237 yards against Central, pushing his season total to 808 yards.

The win at Mattoon enabled the Bulldogs to complete a second consecutive unbeaten Apollo Conference season.

“That’s incredible. It’s history,” Adkins said. “The last time Mahomet-Seymour has gone back-to-back undefeated in the conference was in 1961 and ‘62 (60 years ago).

“I’m happy and proud that this group got it and etched it in stone.”

After his players hoisted the Apollo championship trophy on Friday, they heard a message from Adkins.

“This is a great trophy, and as happy as I am, and I am happy, we’re not done yet,” Adkins said. “Let’s get the ultimate (state championship) trophy.”