Wilmington Wildcats Crush Tri-Valley 49-7 in Quarterfinal Showdown

UPDATE: The Wilmington Wildcats have delivered a stunning performance, defeating the Tri-Valley Vikings 49-7 in the IHSA Class 2A quarterfinals on Saturday night. This victory marks a significant milestone, propelling the Wildcats to the semifinals for the ninth time in program history and the third consecutive year.

Wilmington’s explosive offense and imposing defense overwhelmed Tri-Valley from the start. The Wildcats (12-1) executed their game plan flawlessly, forcing a punt on Tri-Valley’s opening drive. Just moments later, senior running back and defensive back Ryan Kettman electrified the crowd with a 56-yard touchdown, setting the tone for a dominating night.

Kettman, who scored three touchdowns, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform under pressure. “We thought it was going to be a good game,” he said. “We knew we needed to come out and if we played our best ball, we’d get the job done.”

Wilmington quickly extended their lead to 14-0 when quarterback Billy Moore showcased his speed with a 77-yard touchdown run just five minutes into the game. “With Billy back there it’s like another running back,” Kettman noted, highlighting the multiple threats on the field.

The Wildcats added another touchdown before the first quarter closed, finishing the frame with a 24-yard scoring run to lead 21-0. Tri-Valley struggled to respond and faced a fourth-and-1 situation deep in Wilmington territory just before halftime. The Wildcats’ defense held strong, stopping the Vikings and allowing Wilmington to capitalize with a quick score, ending the half with a staggering 35-0 advantage.

The second half saw Wilmington maintain their momentum with a 60-yard touchdown from Hunter Kaitschuck on the first play, introducing a running clock. Tri-Valley managed to score only once, with a 12-yard run from Kix Yaklich, but it was too little, too late.

Wilmington’s offensive statistics were impressive: they racked up 505 yards on the ground without attempting a single pass. Kettman led the charge with 184 yards on just six carries, while Kaitschuck added 119 yards and two touchdowns. Moore contributed with 81 yards and a touchdown, showcasing the depth of talent on this team.

The Wildcats’ formidable defense limited Tri-Valley to just 167 yards of offense, a stark contrast to their season average of 33.5 points per game. Head coach Jeff Reents praised his team’s performance, stating, “Defensively I was happy with the way we held Tri-Valley pretty good there and kept getting our offense the ball.”

Looking ahead, Wilmington will face undefeated El Paso-Gridley in the semifinals next weekend. The Wildcats’ seniors are eager to make their last home game memorable, with Logan Van Duyne sharing his excitement about their traditional entrance. “To run downhill, the motorcycles, the fireworks, that’ll be a dream come true,” he said.

As the Wildcats prepare for this crucial matchup, the anticipation builds among fans and players alike, eager to see if Wilmington can continue their impressive playoff run.