STATE CHAMPIONS!

For the first time in school history, the are state champions.

The Wolves beat Peoria-Richwoods 35-14 in another display of power and balance.

With both teams struggling to score through the first two quarters the game started to open up for the Wolves in the second half.

Tied 7-7 with 7:12 left in the third quarter, the Wolves found a weakness on the Knights line. Prairie Ridge started to run left when Jordan Getzelman ran in from the 10-yard line to put the Wolves up 14-7.

Less than 90 seconds later, Wolves defensive end Erik Odden scooped up a fumble by Richwoods quarterback Jeremye Johnson and ran it into the end zone.

The Knights got back into it after Clayton Glasper hauled in 59-yard reception at the Prairie Ridge 1-yard line less than a minute later. The Knights' Kendrick Foster ran it in to bring Richwoods within a touchdown.

But it was all Prairie Ridge after that.

Highlights included:

• Jordan Getzelman 35-yard TD run to make it 28-14.
• Collin Corcoran sack on third and 13 with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.
• Nick Nissan 23-yard run to the Richwoods 20-yard line to end the third quarter.
• Brett Covers' interception with 4:17 left in the fourth quarter.
• Wolves' running back Steve Bashor ended the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown to make it 35-14.
• Prairie Ridge defensive back John Borst intercepted a pass to seal the deal for the Wolves.

Richwoods last championship was in 1989.

Check back to Crystal Lake Patch for complete game coverage!