CHAMPAIGN — Championship experience is overrated.
At least it was Friday at Memorial Stadium.
Before Phillips attempted to become the first Public League school to win a state title in the Class 4A final against Rochester, three first-time champions were crowned.
In Wilmington’s case, the difference was a final kick — Jordan Sarr’s 31-yard field goal as time expired — rather than a two-point conversion. Oregon used a late two-point conversion to beat Wilmington 22-21 in the first round of last year’s 3A playoffs.
Two years ago, Wilmington failed to convert a late two-point conversion in its 28-26 quarterfinal-round loss to Sterling Newman. But the tide began to turn two weeks ago when a missed extra point helped Wilmington slip past St. Joseph Ogden 20-19 in a quarterfinal.
“We’ve been on the other side of this many times,” Wilmington coach Jeff Reents said. “We had a barnburner this year with St. Joe. For whatever reason, this year it a came together. We needed a little luck and we got that luck.
“You get through so many big games, players and coaches, you become more patient. As any football coach will tell you, you have to keep an even keel. But maybe earlier in my career we weren’t patient at times.”
Jack be quick: Jack Hockaday had chances to reach 2,000 yards twice before staying on the other side of the ball for good.
Hockaday, an Iowa linebacker recruit who also played quarterback and special teams for Maroa-Forsyth, entered the Class 2A championship game 103 passing yards and 216 rushing yards shy of 2,000.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound senior had 46 passing yards and 201 rushing yards in the Trojans’ 41-12 loss to Eastland-Pearl City.
“You can’t go back on it and change the past,” Hockaday said. “It is what it is. We have to take pride in what we did this season.”
Mr. Tackles: Carrollton senior linebacker Cody Leonard recorded a Class 1A state-title game record 22 tackles in a 20-15 loss to Forreston. Leonard, who averaged 16 tackles per game before Friday, finished with 231 tackles this season.
“It was a nice accomplishment, but it would have felt better if we won the game,” he said.
Short bench: Class 2A champion Eastland had just 29 players listed on its roster, and though less than half were seniors, defending the title will be a huge challenge next season.
The Wildcatz had 10 two-way starters, seven of whom were seniors.
