Central A&M/Okaw Valley entered Friday night having put together an impressive start to the 2026 football season, but a physical Eureka defense brought that early momentum to a halt.
The Hornets controlled the matchup defensively and leaned on a steady rushing attack to defeat the Raiders 14-0, handing Central A&M/Okaw Valley its first loss of the season. The final score was also reported among Friday night’s Illinois high school football results.
Central A&M/Okaw Valley entered the game at 2-0 after opening the year with a 33-6 victory over Deer Creek-Mackinaw and following it with a 33-0 win over Tremont. Friday’s matchup presented a different type of challenge, however, as Eureka kept the Raiders off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
The Hornets’ ability to control possession proved to be one of the biggest factors in the game. Finn Hoffman carried the ball 29 times for 135 yards, consistently giving Eureka production on the ground and helping the Hornets dictate the pace.
Hoffman’s impact wasn’t limited to offense. The junior running back and linebacker also recorded 10 tackles defensively, making him a significant contributor on both sides of the football.
Eureka’s defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the young season. Dax Wiegand joined Hoffman with 10 tackles, while the Hornets’ secondary came away with two interceptions against the Raiders.
Senior Colt Leman accounted for one of those two interceptions as Eureka repeatedly prevented Central A&M/Okaw Valley from finding the explosive plays that had helped fuel its first two victories.
Just as important for Eureka was its ability to protect the football. The Hornets finished the night with zero turnovers, allowing them to maintain possession and avoid giving the Raiders additional opportunities.
For Central A&M/Okaw Valley, Friday was a difficult offensive night after scoring 33 points in each of its first two games. The Raiders entered the matchup having shown the ability to move the football both through the air and on the ground, including 249 passing yards and 105 rushing yards in their previous victory over Tremont.
Eureka’s defense never allowed that offense to settle into the same rhythm.
Still, the Raiders remained within striking distance in a game where their defense kept the margin manageable. Allowing just 14 points gave Central A&M/Okaw Valley opportunities to get back into the contest, but the offense was unable to finish drives with points.
Senior Emett Stenger, a running back and linebacker for the Raiders, was recognized as the Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game for Central A&M/Okaw Valley.
Stenger entered Friday as one of the Raiders’ leading offensive contributors and an important piece of the team’s defense. Through Central A&M’s opening games, he had been the team’s leading rusher on a per-game basis.
The matchup also marked an early test for Central A&M/Okaw Valley under first-year head coach Trevor Higgins, who returned to his alma mater this season after spending the previous 10 seasons leading Pana. Higgins entered the year emphasizing attention to detail, leadership and establishing a new culture within the program.
Friday’s result moves Central A&M/Okaw Valley to 2-1, but the Raiders’ first three games have still featured encouraging work on the defensive side. After allowing six points in the opener and shutting out Tremont in Week 2, Central A&M/Okaw Valley has surrendered only 20 total points through three games.
Eureka, meanwhile, improved to 2-1 after bouncing back from a 26-14 loss to Sandwich the previous week. The Hornets’ formula Friday was straightforward but effective: run the football, protect possession and play disciplined defense.
Central A&M/Okaw Valley will now have an opportunity to respond to its first setback. The Raiders are scheduled to travel to Tri-Valley on Friday, Sept. 11, as they look to get back into the win column.
For a team that opened the season with consecutive victories, Friday night provided a different kind of early-season test. The Raiders weren’t able to solve Eureka’s defense, but with six regular-season games remaining, Central A&M/Okaw Valley will have plenty of opportunities to build from its 2-1 start.
