Illinois
IHSA football scores | Top playoff performers for second round around Peoria, Illinois, area
Each week, the Journal Star will spotlight the top-performing teams and players from weekend playoff football games across the Peoria area.
Players from Dunlap and Farmington lead our list from second-round games.
IHSA football playoffs second round: Live updates | Peoria-area scores | Statewide scores
Jayden Schmick, Dunlap
The running back scored four touchdowns, including one from 47 yards out, to lead the Eagles past Crete-Monee 28-21 in Class 6A. The Eagles (9-2) are in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2017 and will host Burbank St. Laurence next weekend.
Breon Greene, Peoria High
The quarterback accounted for four touchdowns including the game-winning score in a 38-34 win over Morton in Class 5A. His five-yard TD with 28 seconds left in the game proved to be the score that sealed it. He finished with 94 rushing yards and another TD, while throwing for 227 with two TDs — one to Jaylen Rayford (66 yards) and the other to Dereon Mays (74 yards).
Carson Noy, Farmington
The freshman quarterback scored the go-ahead touchdown, running 45 yards on fourth down to send the unbeaten Farmers (11-0) into the Class 2A quarterfinals on the road at fellow unbeaten El Paso-Gridley.
AJ Jones, Washington
The dynamic receiver scored three touchdowns to help the Panthers to a 38-14 victory over Mahomet-Seymour in Class 5A. His only two catches were a pair of TDs of 15 and 47 yards from Noah Garcia. Jones also rushed for one score, finishing with 76 yards on six carries. The Panthers (10-1) advance to face state power New Lenox Providence in a road quarterfinal next weekend.
Devon Horrie, Annawan/Wethersfield
The running back ran for 111 yards and two TDs — including the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, helping the Titans (11-0) remain unbeaten and hold off upset-minded Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 33-26, in Class 1A. Quarterback Maddux Heitzler added 167 rushing yards and three TDs for Annawan, which faces Lena-Winslow in the state quarterfinals.
Aaden Adams, El Paso-Gridley
The running back ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns to led the unbeaten Titans (11-0) past Sterling Newman in Class 2A. EP-G now has won six in a row by three touchdowns or more, making their first quarterfinal trip since 2017. The Titans will host Farmington next weekend.
Silas Steffen, Morton
The athlete was all over the field in Morton’s 38-34 loss to Peoria High. He rushed for 175 yards on 25 carries highlighted by 100 yards and two TDs in the first quarter alone. Steffen also caught six balls for 58 yards including a 30-yard score to put Morton up late in the fourth quarter.
Shaun Denniston, Dee-Mack
The senior running back ran 36 times for 268 yards and three touchdowns, but Deer Creek-Mackinaw came up short in an upset bid vs. unbeaten Annawan/Wethersfield, 33-26. Zack Day added 92 rush yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Chiefs, who end the season at 7-4.
Stephen Petri, Metamora
The quarterback was 7-for-10 with 201 yards passing and three TDs, adding another 72-yard rushing score for Metamora in its 64-50 loss to rival Morris in Class 5A. Petri had TD passes to Brayden Bitner (two catches for 56 yards), Kylan McMillen (two catches for 33 yards) and Jaiduan Cranford (131 rushing yards, 68 receiving), who also added a 57-yards rushing and 86-yard kick return touchdowns for the Redbirds (8-3).
This story will be updated.
Police are investigating after a motorcyclist was killed in a crash in suburban Oswego on Saturday afternoon.
Officers responded to the 4000 block of Route 34 near Wolf Road for the crash around 1:42 p.m. The motorcyclist was unconscious and was receiving CPR when officers arrived.
They took over medical care until paramedics arrived and took the victim, identified as a 20-year-old man, to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The victim’s identity is being withheld pending an autopsy scheduled for Monday, police said.
Initial reports say the victim was traveling eastbound on Route 34 when he hit an enclosed trailer being towed by a van. According to the police, the van was also traveling eastbound and was attempting to make a right turn into a driveway when the crash occurred.
The driver and passenger in the van were not hurt, police said.
Route 34 was closed between Wolf Road and Boulder Hill Pass for four hours for crash reconstruction.
The crash remains under investigation pending completion of the traffic crash reconstruction report.
Illinois
Man arrested after barricading himself inside vape shop in Des Plaines, Illinois, police say
A man was arrested after police say he barricaded himself inside a business in Des Plaines on Saturday morning.
The incident happened just before 9 a.m. in the 1500 block of Rand Road.
Des Plaines police said officers responded to Vortex Vapes, located inside a strip mall in the 1500 block of Rand Road, just before 9 a.m. for a report of a suspect, a 26-year-old man from Des Plaines, armed with a box cutter, who confronted the shop employee.
The employee was able to escape the business, but the suspect stayed and barricaded himself inside, police said.
The Tactical Response Team responded to the business and arrested the suspect, who surrendered without incident.
The business was closed for about four hours. Police said the area is now safe for travel, and the business has since reopened.
This incident is still under investigation. Des Plaines police said they will provide additional information once it becomes available.
An Illinois high school football assistant coach has been arrested on criminal sexual abuse charges.
High School on SI previously reported that John “Jake” Wakey had been placed on leave and was being investigated after the FBI received a tip accusing an employee of inappropriate sexual conduct involving a former student over a year ago.
From that tip, investigators confirmed that at least eight students from 2013 to 2015 were abused by Wakey, according to a report by Capitol News Illinois. Thursday, he was arrested and charged with nine Class 2 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Illinois Assistant Football Coach Was Investigated By FBI, Local Law Enforcement
The charges involve victims aged 13-to-17 by a person in a position of trust during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 school years. Four former students provided statements to Williamson County detectives, with eight total potential victims being connected to the investigation.
“Of those eight identifiable victims, four individuals have presently memorialized the facts of their experiences on the records with investigators, which ultimately formed the basis for the charges announced,” Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich said during a press conference. “In cases involving criminal sexual abuse, it frequently requires a victim-survivor to come forward, disclose what occurred and allow investigators to memorialize those facts for prosecution.
“For many victims, that process can take months or even years, as appears to have occurred in this investigation.”
It was also reported that the offenses involved members of the Carterville High School football team, where Wakey served as an assistant coach.
John “Jake” Wakey Has Previously Been In Trouble As Teacher, Coach
Wakey was placed on paid administrative leave back in February 2026 once the school district received word that he was involved in an investigation. He had worked for the Carterville School District since 2003 as both a teacher and as an assistant football coach.
Previously, Wakey had been suspended for 10 days in 2009 after being accused of inappropriately texting students, allowing students at his home and drinking in front of students. He was not charged at the time. He also received a misdemeanor conviction for providing liquor to minors in 2003 before joining Carterville.
“The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is aware of longstanding community concerns, suspicions, rumors and allegations involving inappropriate conduct, including allegations related to alcohol, student-teacher contact and the sharing of images involving students and/or faculty members,” Diederich said.
Wakey is set to be held at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office after being transferred from the Livingston County Jail. The Carterville Board of Education is expected to hold a special meeting to take action on the “discipline and/or dismissal of a licensed employee of the District.”
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