BEST GAMES: You might call this one the “Jackson five.” Hersey QB Matt Jackson tossed five TD passes and threw for 314 yards in sparking a 35-27 upset of No. 2-ranked Wheeling (8-1). Jackson’s favorite target was Jason McKinney who caught five passes for 131 yards and two TDs. . .No. 1 Downers Grove South remained unbeaten after a decisive 27-7 triumph over previously undefeated Willowbrook. The Mustangs caught No. 16 Willowbrook off guard with a passing game that had QB Gregg Richards connecting on TD passes of 9 and 76 yards. . .No. 12 Richards ran all over Shepard 50-0 to capturing the SICA North title, as backup TB Dwayne Goodrich rushed for 231 yards on only 10 carries with TD runs of 55, 48 and 58. Kenny Carrington also returned a punt 92 yards for a score. . .Waubonsie Valley won the Upstate Eight title with a 28-9 victory over Lake Park, as Tyrone Gooch rushed for 162 yards and a TD. . .No. 11 Providence overcame seven fumbles by star running back Joey Schley to edge No. 4 Joliet 10-7 on Matt Schultz’s 33-yard field goal. Schley still gained 216 yards and scored the Celtics’ only TD. . .Joliet Catholic ended St. Patrick’s valiant battle for a playoff spot with a 42-0 victory as Larry Whitgrove ran for two TDs and Mike Van Tassel tossed a 20-yard halfback-option TD pass to Jeff Ancel. Earlier in the day, Appellate Court Judge Robert Buckley refused to overturn a Circuit Court ruling that would’ve allowed St. Pat to compete in the playoffs, had it qualified.
SHINING STARS: How about Rich East QB Quincy Woods, who fired a 21-yard TD pass to Brian Gatch with :18 left to give the Rockets a 21-14 victory over Rich Central and the SICA South title.