Worrels romps to Princeton's all-time rushing record

Ronde Worrels overtook the Princeton High School football record books by rush Friday night.

The PHS junior running back romped for 252 yards and five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 61-26 win over Poplar Grove North Boone. He now has 1,447 yards for the season, and according to BCR files, which have been shared with PHS, now stands as the Tigers’ all-time leading rusher with 3,460 career yards.

On Friday night, he passed up Cory Scott to become No. 1 at PHS. Scott rushed for 3,230 in just two seasons (1999-2000).

Worrels, who gained 1,325 yards last year and 788 as a freshman, has also passed up six other former Tigers this season, including PHS assistant coach Nathan Norman, who stands No. 3 with 2,672 yards from 1995-97.

Worrels (31) also surpassed Norman’s single-season touchdown record of 27.

Other PHS top rushers overtaken by Worrels are Pete Roth (2,720, 1977-79), Braden Norman (2,436, 2001-02), Jim Douglass (2,264, 1971-72), Jacob “Bubba” Smith (2,029, 2014-15) and Blake Pratt (2,025, 2002-03).

Scott holds both the single-season rushing record with 1,807 in 2000 and single-game rushing records with highs of 356 in 1999 and 341 in 2000. Nathan Norman went for 307 yards in the 1997 opener vs. IVC.

Playoff high 61

Princeton’s 61-point barrage Friday night against Poplar Grove North Boone was the program’s highest tally in 22 playoff games. PHS’ previous playoff high was 49 points vs. Macomb in the 2002 opener. They also scored 48 vs. Rochester in the quarterfinals in 2002. Both games were at home.

The Tigers reached the 3A semifinals in 2002, falling to Addison Driscoll 23-3, Driscoll went on to win its second of seven straight state titles from 2001-07, but saw its reign end by the hands of the diocese, which closed the school.

Strong showing for Three Rivers

The Three Rivers was well represented in the playoffs with seven teams making the postseason. Five of them won opening-round games.

No. 4-ranked 1A Morrison marked its return to the playoffs for the first time in seven years by running roughshod over Cambridge Ridgewood 58-6. The No. 4 seed Mustangs will host No. 5 seed Kirkland Hiawatha (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In 2A, Newman knocked out Rock Division rival Orion 28-13 on Saturday. The Comets will host Gibson City-Melvin Sibley this week at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Falcons have knocked the Comets out in each of the past two years in the playoffs.

In 3A, Princeton bombed North Boone 61-26 while Hall shut out Peotone 20-0. Those two Bureau County rivals will square off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Richard Nesti Stadium in Spring Valley.

It will be the third second-round meeting between Princeton and Hall in Spring Valley with the Tigers winning 13-7 in 1989 and the Red Devils winning 21-13 in 1993.

In 4A, No. 8 seed Kewanee boiled over No. 9 Chicago Agricultural Science 50-0 Saturday in Kewanee. It was the Boilermakers’ first playoff victory since 1999. Kewanee (7-3) will travel to #1 Coal City (10-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In other games, Fulton lost at Freeport Aquin 55-38 in 1A.

Second-round showdowns

Saturday’s upcoming Princeton at Hall second-round clash at Nesti Stadium stirs up memories of past playoff showdowns in Spring Valley between the Bureau County rivals.

In 1989, Princeton edged the Red Devils 13-7 in the second round of the 3A playoffs (then 6 classes) and went on to finish as state runner-up. The Tigers also beat Hall 14-7 during the regular season in NCIC play that year.

They met again four years in Spring Valley in the second round of the 1993 playoffs with Hall winning 21-13.

Tickets on sale

Hall playoff tickets will be on sale Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the school lobby.