High school football throughout the Illinois Valley area has gotten into full swing as summer turns to fall.
For Mendota Township High School, the season so far has been all about falling, unfortunately, as the Trojans opened with a huge loss to Dixon High School, 69-0, then followed up with three more losses.
Rock Falls topped the Trojans 22-15, the Winnebago Indians scored 21 straight points on their way to a 51-42 victory, and Rockford Christian beat Mendota 35-24.
There were some signs of progress, however, as the Trojans put up 21 points in the second quarter of their Rock Island matchup and the second half of the Rockford game.
On a somewhat opposite course, the Seneca High School Fighting Irish started with a 3-1 record, beginning with a close game against Dwight Gardner-South Wilmington High School. The game was scoreless going into the fourth quarter, when Seneca scored two touchdowns and held on to win, 14-6. Fighting Irish quarterback Kenneth Sangston ended with 134 passing yards and two touchdowns.
The Irish followed up with a 54-33 victory over the Dupo Tigers in a game in which they took a 32-0 lead into halftime. Sangston finished with 91 passing yards and one touchdown.
A wakeup call was waiting in week three, however, when Seneca was shutout, 48-0, by Lisle High School. The Lions took control early and never looked back.
SHS bounced back for an impressive 30-7 victory over the Westmont High School Sentinels. Junior running back Logan Bruss rushed for 233 yard, averaging nearly nine yards per carry.
Regular-season games continue through October.
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