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BCR Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio vs. Ridgewood 8-Man State Championship Preview

Amboy’s Landon Whelchel fights for yards against Polo Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 during a semifinal 8-man football game in Polo.

8-Man Football Association Playoffs Championship

No. 2 Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio (12-0) vs. No. 9 Ridgewood (10-2)

When: 7 p.m., Friday, Monmouth College

Last matchup: A-L-O 48, Ridgewood 42 (Week 5 2023)

About the Clippers: The Clippers have made it back to the 8-Man Association State championship game and this time they’d like to take care of unfinished business. They fell in last year’s title game to Biggsville West Central, 68-30. .. The Clippers have outscored their first three playoff foes 156-19 (52-6.3), including a 40-6 rout over Polo in last week’s semifinals. ... A-L-O placed Brennan Blaine (TE/DL), Quinn Leffelman (RB/DL) and Landon Montavon (OL/DL) on the 8-Man Football Association All-State first team, while teammate Landon Whelchel (RB/LB) received honorable mention. Last week, Whelchel went over 3,000 career rushing yards (3,024) and 40 career TDs. ... Amboy won its only state title in 1984, defeating Paxton, 16-7, for the IHSA Class 2A title.

About the Spartans: The Spartans punched their ticket to the 8-Man finals by edging No. 5 Martinsville, 28-26, in Saturday’s semifinals. A-L-O beat Martinsville, 60-8, in Week 3. The week before, Ridgewood upset No. 1 Champaign St. Thomas More, 36-14, in the quarterfinals. ... The Spartans’ two losses came in back-to-back weeks with a 48-44 loss to Polo in Week 4 and a 48-42 loss to A-L-O in Week 5. ... Ridgewood is the co-op of Cambridge-Woodhull AlWood. Cambridge reached the IHSA Class 1A finals in 2005, falling to Freeport Aquin, 30-28.

How they got here: A-L-O beat No. 15 Hiawatha 54-0, No. 7 FCW 62-7; No. 6 Polo 40-6; Ridgewood beat No. 8 South Fork 42-30, No. 1 St. Thomas More 36-14, No. 5 Martinsville 28-26.

How you can watch/listen: Game will be streamed on the 8-Man Association YouTube channel. There will also be radio broadcasts at 101.7 WRCV and 102.3 WRMJ.

FND Pick: Amboy

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a regular contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals Magazine. He is a member of the IBCA and Illinois Valley Hall of Fames. He is one of 4 sportswriters from his tiny hometown Atlanta, IL