Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs Surge into Playoffs on a Six-Game Win Streak
By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour Football
Mahomet-Seymour’s state-ranked football team enters the postseason with a six-game winning streak. Four of those games were played with a running clock in the second half.
The Bulldogs concluded the regular season on Friday (Oct. 25) with a 42-13 win at Peoria Richwoods.
M-S has more than momentum on its side as they prepare for their Class 5A playoff opener – on Friday (Nov. 1) at home against Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin.
With the Bulldog starters playing for about a half most of the past six weeks, it’s a squad that is virtually at full strength and ready to embark on the postseason.
“It’s probably the only time in my career we’ve gone into the postseason as healthy as we are,” M-S coach Jon Adkins said.
Except for receiver Trey Peters – who underwent knee surgery last week – Adkins should have the rest of his roster ready.
The ninth-ranked Bulldogs scored early at Richwoods, taking a 7-0 lead on its first possession when Cade Ashby roared into the end zone at the 9:40 mark of the first period for the first of his two touchdowns.
Jackson Davis, who raised his school-record streak of consecutive extra points made to 39, converted the first of six.
“Any time you can start the game 7-0 before the defense takes the field, it’s a good start,” Adkins said.
Lucas Dyer threw scoring strikes to Ray Long twice in the first half, the first one covering 38 yards with 5:18 to go in the first quarter.
Dyer also passed to Wade Manuel for a 19-yard TD and Brock VanDeveer rushed 1 yard to the end zone.
Following Manuel’s score, Davis executed another onsides kick that M-S recovered and that set up VanDeveer for his short burst into the end zone.
In the final 2 ½ minutes of the half, the Bulldogs tallied twice to create the running clock.
Ashby’s 2-yard scoring run came with 2:21 before the halftime horn. Davis’ ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Richwoods.
The fumble was one of three M-S latched onto. Eighteen seconds later, Dyer hit Long on a 13-yard TD pass.
In the four games since his return to action, Long has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in receiving three times. He snared five passes for a game-high 107 yards.
Six of his last nine receptions have resulted in TDs.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Long is more valuable to the Bulldog offense than as a pass-catcher.
“He’s a special kid who loves to block,” Adkins said. “With his big frame, he runs well. Teams underestimate his speed.”
Dyer completed 10 of 16 passes for 228 yards, raising his season totals to 2,386 passing yards and a 65.2 percent completion rate.
“Lucas passing for 228 yards in one half is pretty special,” Adkins said.
While Adkins oversees the entire M-S program, he doesn’t take credit for the performance of Davis, who has emerged as a bonafide all-conference specialist.
“I don’t know the first thing about kicking,” Adkins said, “But all the extra work him and his dad (Jeremy) put in is paying off.
“I credit the soccer background, the extra work and Jeremy’s expertise.”
When needed, Davis can kick deep, too. Seven of his kickoffs this season have sailed into the end zone for touchbacks.
Ashby was the workhorse offensively, carrying the ball 17 times for 56 yards. Manuel rushed for 12 yards.
Mason Orton snared two passes for 61 yards. Gavin Hammerschmidt had a 30-yard catch. Besides Manuel’s 19-yard reception, Bryson Tiefenthaler logged 11 yards on his one catch.
“We did what we expected,” Adkins said, “but you can have a game plan and the way you think things will go, but the kids have to execute and get it done.”
Richwoods finished with 236 total yards of offense and was the seventh straight M-S opponent to be held to less than 250 total yards.
Many of the Knights’ yards – and both TDs – came in the second half after the Bulldogs pulled their starters and Richwoods kept its regulars on the field.
Beau Back collected a team-high six tackles for M-S. He recovered a fumble as did teammates Henry Wagner and Ethan Esker.
Wagner and A.J. Demos both contributed four tackles. Talon Decker had three stops. Credited with two tackles apiece were Aiden Banister, Coy Benway, Cade Harrell, Jayvon Tompkins and Connor Wilson.
Back has taken over the middle linebacker slot, allowing VanDeveer to play back as an anchor in the secondary.
“Since Week 2, we have only given up one explosive touchdown (against Sycamore),” Adkins said. “That is due, in large part, to Brock being in the middle of the field.”
Adkins was not surprised by the Bulldogs’ postseason draw.
“I had a good idea who it would be Friday night,” he said. “Early Saturday, I called their coach and talked to him about a day and time.”
M-S officially learned its playoff fate at 8:35 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 26). Ten minutes later, athletic director Matt Hensley sent out an email to media members confirming the date and starting time.
“They like playing on Friday and for our kids, it’s nothing out of routine,” Adkins said. “We’re looking forward to another big crowd. I can’t wait to see a packed ‘Dawg-house’ Friday night.”
The Bulldogs’ opponent is one of the state’s all-time elite in Class 5A.
Sacred Heart-Griffin has made 44 playoff appearances (including 24 in a row). In 12 different years, the Cyclones have advanced into a state championship game.
“I love it,” Adkins said. “I’m excited about the opportunity.
“They are a historic program who know what it’s like. I tell our kids, ‘respect everybody, but fear nobody.’
“They have talented kids in many positions, big, strong, physical, athletic kids. They are 5-4, but a good 5-4. This is exactly what we have been preparing for.”
Third-seeded M-S is 7-2 with a six-game winning streak. Sacred Heart Griffin is the No. 14 seed after losing its final two games of the regular season.
Of all 5A qualifiers, M-S has the second-best scoring average at 44.3 points per game. Sacred Heart is averaging 34.1 points per game.
The M-S/Sacred Heart winner will face a second-round game against either sixth-seeded Joliet Catholic or 11th-seeded Jacksonville, each of whom are currently 6-3.
Joliet Catholic’s program is also one of the best-ever in Class 5A. The Hilltoppers have been in the playoffs 45 times and have played for a state championship in 20 of those years.
