Sycamore Edges Mahomet-Seymour 21-13 in Hard-Fought Battle; Bulldogs Lose Senior Star Trey Peters to Injury
By FRED KRONER
Many of the numbers in Friday’s Class 5A high school football showdown at Frank Dutton Field between Class 5A heavyweights, fifth-ranked Sycamore and ninth-ranked Mahomet-Seymour, favored the Bulldogs.
M-S held possession of the ball for 30 minutes and 17 seconds, ran 79 plays and accumulated 22 first downs.
Sycamore had the ball for 17:23, managed 39 plays and generated eight first downs.
M-S was whistled for two penalties compared to eight for Sycamore. The visitors had no running play that gained more than 9 yards.
And yet, the most important of all numbers was not a mark on M-S’ side.
Sycamore secured a 21-13 non-conference victory.
The Bulldogs, however, didn’t just suffer a loss on the field. Senior receiver Trey Peters suffered what could potentially be a season-ending knee injury.
He had a reception over the middle and M-S coach Jon Adkins said, “did a jump-cut.”
The injury occurred on a non-contact play.
“What I hate the most is that bad things are not supposed to happen to great kids,” Adkins said. “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen and I’d do anything to have him play again his senior year, but there’s nothing I can do.
“He was unstoppable before he went down. It absolutely tears me up. It’s not fair. It’s not right.”
Peters had four catches against Sycamore and gained 82 yards, raising his three-game senior totals to 573 yards on 22 receptions, an average of more than 26 yards per catch.
“If I’m a college coach, I’m not giving up on him,” Adkins said. “He’ll work harder coming back and will continue to be an excellent teammate and leader.”
Sycamore scored the only two touchdowns of the first half and held a 14-0 edge until Cade Ashby scored on a run in the final minute of the third period.
Jackson Davis’ placement trimmed the Bulldogs’ deficit to 14-7.
That score remained in place for only 17 seconds.
Sycamore returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a TD that created a 21-7 score.
“We had him wrapped, but didn’t finish the tackle,” Adkins said. “He then ran to the opposite side of the field and down the sidelines.”
Ashby was the Bulldogs’ workhorse. He was called upon to carry the ball 39 times and rushed for 164 yards. For the third straight game, he scored a TD.
“Not having Trey changed our game plan, but they were giving us a five-man box (daring a run),” Adkins said. “We took advantage of what we were given.
“Our six guys up front, including (tight end) Channing Byers, did a great job blocking.”
As M-S moves forward without Peters, Adkins said, “I wouldn’t say we’ll throw less.
“We still have Lucas Dyer, who is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever coached. When the ball is in his hands, he makes things happen.
“We still have Mason Orton and Gavin Hammerschmidt. I feel incredibly confident in our passing game.”
Adkins expects to establish a rotation system at the other receiving position, including Wade Manuel, Owen Seymour and Bryson Tiefenthaler.
“It will be a rotation by committee with those three getting reps,” Adkins added.
Dyer completed 10 of 20 passes for 133 yards and became the first M-S quarterback to accumulate 1,000 passing yards in three games. His season total is 1,002 yards.
He hooked up with six different receivers with only Peters (four receptions) and Hammerschmidt (two receptions) having more than one catch.
The defensive leaders included Henry Wagner (12 tackles), Ethan Esker (11 tackles), Brock VanDeveer (six tackles), Beau Back (four tackles) and Jayvon Tompkins (four tackles).
VanDeveer also recovered an onsides kick.
M-S (1-2) returns to action on Friday (Sept. 20) in its homecoming game and Apollo Conference opener against Charleston (3-0) at Frank Dutton Field.
The Bulldogs have won 18 consecutive Apollo Conference games since their last loss (44-34 at Mount Zion) during the COVID season when football was switched to a spring sport. The Mount Zion game was played on March 26, 2021.
“We relish the fact that we got our three hard games out of the way,” Adkins said. “We grew up a lot, especially defensively, and made strides on both sides of the ball.”
Friday’s pre-game ceremony will include the induction of four Mahomet Schools Foundation Hall of Fame members: Mary Kelly, Bodie Reeder, Tom Shallenberger and Dick Watkins.
