2007 Schedule

8/24 7:00 H
Hazel Green (Southwestern), WI.
8/31 7:30 @
*Lena (L.-Winslow)
9/7 7:30 H
*Savanna (West Carroll)
9/14 7:30 @
*South Beloit
9/21 7:30 H
*Pearl City [Eastland-P.C. Coop]
9/28 7:30 @
*Warren [W.-River Ridge Coop]
10/5 7:00 H
Orangeville
10/12 7:30 H
*Pecatonica
10/19 7:30 @
*Forreston
### football enrollment
Stadium Directions

2A State Finals vs. Aledo (12-2)
11/25/2005

Matt Wenger swats away a last second pass from Aledo's Adam Hines to Darin Blaser to help make sure Dakota won the Illinois 2A State Finals 20-15.

Defense, Turnovers Help Dakota

Champaign (Memorial Stadium) - Defense was the name of the game as fans were treated to some big hitting defenses normally reserved for the bigger classes.

Dakota benefited from 4 Aledo turnover as the Dragons held the Indians to 243 total offensive yards. Dakota returned the favor by holding Aledo to 237, 219 of which came from QB Adam Hines.

Matt Wenger (5'11" 185 sr.) of the Dakota was the hero of the day for the Indians, scoring all 3 of the Dakota touchdowns while rushing for 163 of the teams 243 total yards. On top of that, Wenger lead the team in tackles and of course swatted away an Aledo pass with no time left in the game. Had that pass been completed it could have changed the final score from 20-15 Dakota, to 21-20 in favor of Aledo.

To open the 2nd half of the game, they scored at the end of an almost 9 minute long drive on a 1 yard run by Wenger to go up 14-8. They intercepted Hines for the first time on Aledo's next possession, scoring 6 plays later on a 1 yard run by Wenger again, putting them up 20-8, with 2 minutes left the 3rd.

The lead would carry over to the 4th quarter and leave Dakota sitting pretty. Add to the fact that they had held the Aledo passing game to just 59 yards of 73 yards total and the smiles on the Dakota sideline were starting to blossom.

Aledo started began the 4th quarter with the ball, but on 1 & 10 at the Dakota 26, Jared Benedetto picked off an Aledo pass at the 2 yard line with 10:26 left to play. The in suing Dakota drive would stall out, but not after chewing up 6 minutes of the clock. With Luke Winterhalter's punt downed at the the Aledo 3 yard line with 4 minutes left to play Dakota could almost rest easily.

But the Dragons wouldn't go down that easy. Hines found Davis Bysinger open and Bysinger took the ball 97 yards to pay dirt. A Tyler Catey PAT meant that if the Dragons could score again within the next 4 minutes, they wouldn't tie the game up, but put themselves ahead.

Dakota took the ball at their own 33, after Tyler Olsen had an 11 yard kick return. Wenger got the call, as the Indians would look for a nail in the coffin drive.

Aledo gave up 2 first downs, but used a 3 of their timeouts to get the ball back after Dakota's drive stalled after 7 plays & 23 yards.

The Dragons would start their comeback drive at their own 22 yard line. Hines hit Blaser on 3 of his 5 completions in the final drive, but on 3 & 2 from the Dakota 38, Hines' last pass to Blaser would get deflected by Wenger as time expired. Giving Dakota their first football championship and the second championship of the day for the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference, asFreeport (Aquin)had won the 1A Championship a game earlier.

by Vincent Johnson

Dakota's team captains hold up the championship trophy.

Team leaders

Dakota
Rushing
Matt Wenger 28 carries 163 yards 3 TD
Tyler Olsen 19 carries 53 yards
Passing
Darren Olsen 2 of 6 8 yards
Tackles
Matt Wenger 8 solo 5 asst. 3 TFL 1 sack
Paul Graybill 7 solo 3 asst. 1 int 20yrds
tyler Olsen 5 solo 3 asst.
Jared benedetto 6 solo
B Houghton 2 solo 1 asst. 2 TFL, 1 sack

Aledo
Rushing
Justin Allen 15 carries 36 yards
Trevon Dunn 2 carries 10 yards 1 TD
Darin Blaser 2 carries 3 yards
Adam Hines 3 carries -31 yards
Passing
Adam Hines 17 of 25 for 219 yards 2 Ints
Darin Blaser 0 of 1
Tackles
Cordel Gray 1 solo 9 asst.
Daniel Witt 4 solo 5 asst.
Cody Brown 1 solo 8 asst.
Kane thompson 3 solo 5 asst.

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Related Stories:
-2005 2A State Finals

Photo Archieve:
-2005 2A State Finals

Photo Ordering

Team Accomplishments

State Champs
2005 2A

Runner up
None

Semifinals
2005 2A

Conference Champs
Northwest Upstate Illini (North)
2005, 2004*, 2003, 2001*

*co-champs

School Facts

Football Enrollment:
311.00

Conference:
Northwest Upstate Illini (Northwest)

Class:
1A

Colors:
Maroon/White

Nickname:
Indians

Head Coach:
Jerry Lano

Last Season's Record:
7-4

First Varsity Season:
####

2006 Schedule

8/25 7:15 @
Orangeville 184.00
9/1 7:30 H
Freeport (Aquin) 184.80
9/8 7:30 @
Stockton 214.00
9/15 7:30 H
*Forreston 342.00
9/22 7:30 @
*Lena (L.-Winslow) 359.00
9/29 7:30 H
*Warren 160.00
10/6 7:00 @
*South Beloit 325.00
10/13 7:30 @
*Savanna (West Carroll) 470.00
10/20 7:30 H
*Pecatonica 273.00

2005 Schedule

8/26 7:30 @
Savanna (West Carroll) 467.00
9/2 7:30 H
Pearl City [Eastland-P.C. Coop] 382.00
9/9 7:30 H
*Galena (H.S.) 257.00
9/16 7:30 @
Forreston 327.00
9/23 7:30 H
*Stockton 220.00
9/30 7:30 @
*East Dubuque 189.00
10/7 7:30 @
*Warren [W.-River Ridge Coop] 342.00
10/14 7:30 H
*Lena (L.-Winslow) 367.00
10/21 7:30 @
*Orangeville 158.00

2004 Schedule

8/27 7:30 H
Savanna [West Carroll Coop] 474
9/3 7:30 @
Lanark (Eastland) [E.-Pearl City Coop] 396
@ Pearl City
9/10 7:30 @ *
Galena (H.S.) 260
9/17 7:30 H
Forreston 320
9/24 7:30 @ *
Stockton 217
10/1 7:30 H *
East Dubuque 189
10/8 7:30 H *
Warren [W.-River Ridge Coop] 333
10/15 7:30 @ *
Lena (L.-Winslow) 376
10/22 7:30 H *
Orangeville 162

2003 Schedule

8/29 7:30 @
Mt. Carroll [West Carroll Coop] 485
@ Mt. Carroll
9/5 7:30 H
Lanark (Eastland) [E.-Pearl City Coop] 388
9/12 7:30 H *
Galena (H.S.) 261
9/19 7:30 @
Forreston 313
9/26 7:30 H *
Stockton 204
10/3 7:30 @ *
East Dubuque 191
10/10 7:30 @ *
Warren [W.-River Ridge Coop] 329
10/17 7:30 H *
Lena (L.-Winslow) 386
10/24 7:30 @ *
Orangeville 156

2002 Schedule

8/30 7:30 H
Savanna 227
9/6 7:30 @
Mt. Carroll [Coop] 244
9/13 7:30 @ *
Galena (H.S.) 271
9/20 7:00 H *
Warren [W.-River Ridge Coop] 331
9/27 7:30 H
Polo 247
10/4 7:30 H *
East Dubuque 193
10/11 7:00 @ *
Lena (L.-Winslow) 377
10/18 7:00 H *
Orangeville 152
10/25 7:00 @ *
Stockton 198
#### - Enrollment
*Conference Game