Mt. Zion and Taylorville battled Friday night in a matchup that featured a strong ground game, explosive special teams play, and a defensive effort from both sides. The Braves ultimately secured a 28-10 victory over the Tornadoes.
Mt. Zion struck first in the second quarter when Kellen Bollhorst powered his way into the end zone on a 13-yard run. Taylorville responded with a 39-yard field goal from Wyatt Younker, sending the game into halftime with Mt. Zion holding a 7-3 lead.
The Braves extended their advantage early in the third quarter when Brody Lipa returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter, Noah Schmahl connected with Jaxon Good on a 33-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Mt. Zion lead to 21-3.
Taylorville answered in the fourth quarter with a heads-up play. Isaac Repscher connected with Younker for a 20-yard completion before the ball came loose. Maddex Havera recovered the fumble and returned it 10 yards for a Tornadoes touchdown. Ben Peabody added the extra point to cut the deficit to 21-10.
Mt. Zion added another score late in the fourth quarter to close out the 28-10 victory.
By the Numbers
For Mt. Zion, Bollhorst finished with 85 net rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Connor Fox added 75 net yards and a rushing touchdown on 19 carries. Schmahl’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Good and Lipa’s 87-yard kickoff return provided two major momentum swings for the Braves.
Taylorville was led through the air by Repscher, who completed 9 of 21 passes for 125 yards. Blake Ladage hauled in five receptions for 77 yards, while Younker recorded a 20-yard reception and connected on a 39-yard field goal. Havera contributed both as a receiver and on the defensive turnover recovery that resulted in a touchdown.
Mt. Zion made the most of its explosive plays, while Taylorville continued to compete and found the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Braves came away with the 28-10 win after a competitive night between the two Central Illinois programs.
