Peotone stuns Plano

PEOTONE -- What a way to begin a football season.

Peotone High School used a great all-around effort Friday to defeat two-time state champion Plano 21-19 in an Interstate Eight Conference crossover game.

"This is a big win for us," Peotone coach Kevin Greene said. "Any time your team can knock off a two-time defending state champion, it has to make a coach awfully proud."

The Reapers scored with 33 seconds left in the game to narrow Peotone's lead to 21-19. But the Blue Devils stopped the 2-point conversion attempt.

"We were able to stuff the conversion attempt," Greene said. " I can't say enough good things about how we played."

Senior Tony Salerno, who had 9 tackles at his linebacker position, finished with 56 yards rushing on 15 attempts. He turned in the game's biggest play when he returned a third-quarter kickoff 87 yards for a TD.

Salerno's return made it 21-10.

Peotone junior quarterback Nic Romanchik completed 6-of-10 passes for 89 yards. He threw a 19-yard touchdown pass tom Joe Kottmeyer with 1:30 remaining in the first half.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Romanchik also had a solid defensive effort with 10 tackles, including 9 solos, from his free safety position. He also scored on a 6-yard run.

"Nic's a great athlete," Greene said. "Both Nic and Tony played outstanding defefnsive games."

Coal City 10, Seneca 7 (OT) -- At Coal City, senior Dan Marlin kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime to give the Coalers (1-0) the Interstate Eight crossover victory over the Irish (0-1).

Coal City's touchdown came in the second quarter. Quarterback Colt Smith, who completed 8-of-13 passes for 134 yards, threw a 42-yard TD pass to Andrew Rankovich.

Rankovich led Coal City rushers with 56 yards. Bobby Kroeger finished with 55, helping Coal City to 228 yards.

"It was a battle," Coal City coach Lenny Onsen said. "Seneca is much improved and we're young in some spots. "But this was a good way to begin the season."

Senior middle linebacker Robert McLuckie had quite a game for the Coalers. The 5-9, 185-pound McLuckie finished with 18 tackles (4 solos).