Sweet and sour: Polo, AFC end 8-man football seasons after a 62-6 Marcos win in Polo

POLO – For the second year in a row, the Polo Marcos can say they ended the football season with a big win.

Last season’s finale saw the Marcos hoist the Illinois 8-man state championship trophy back in November of 2019, but with the way the sports season has been askew this year, their finale in the spring of 2021 came with a 62-6 Senior Night win over AFC.

Ending the season on a high note meant a lot to senior Cole Faivre, who will take his talents to Illinois Wesleyan next year – but not before a five-touchdown performance that involved three on offense and one each on defense and special teams.

“Obviously we wanted to repeat [as 8-man champions],” Faivre said. “In all honesty, it’s not the senior year we wanted, but we’re all just grateful to play. I’ll be honest, I don’t think a lot of people thought we were going to. We’re grateful to get six games in, and grateful to go out this way. It’s awesome.”

Faivre returned the game’s opening kickoff 83 yards for a quick lead, and the Marcos (4-2) never looked back. He ended the night with 190 yards on 21 rushes, all in front of an offensive line that stayed intact for almost all of the game’s 48 minutes. Polo dressed only 11 players.

“Our offensive line gave us huge holes,” Faivre said. “The running back can’t have a good game if the line doesn’t have a good game. I was on the line last year and I know how hard it is, and those kids really stepped up. They were tired, but they kept pushing.”

Faivre’s first rushing score came with 2:37 left in the opening quarter, and the Marcos led 16-0 after the first 8 minutes. Marcos junior quarterback Tyler Merdian connected with senior Joey Bardell for their team’s only pass attempt: an 8-yard TD play for a 22-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first half.

The only score for the Raiders (0-3) came on an 82-yard passing play from sophomore quarterback Carson Rueff to senior Matt Thompson, with the latter running the ball for most of the play. Rueff wound up with 214 passing yards, all but 9 coming in the first half, but couldn’t come close to the lead after a 28-6 halftime deficit.

Parker Wolber added three rushing TDs in the second half, and Faivre added a 54-yard interception return for a score.

“We knew coming in 24 [Faivre] was going to be a dog,” Thompson said. “We had a game plan to stop him up the gut; it didn’t work, obviously. I didn’t want to go out like this, but it happens, I guess.”

Logan Kindle healed from a fractured wrist just in time to play his only game of the season, his final as a Marco, and helped lead the defense with a sack, a tackle for loss and two pass deflections. Fellow senior Julian Warczak brought Rueff down twice for sacks.

“It’s really great. I just love these guys, and it was really fun playing with them,” Kindle said. “I haven’t played all season, and to have a game like this, especially on Senior Night, is amazing.”

While Polo has plenty of experience in the 8-man football game, Friday concluded AFC’s first season playing this type. The Raiders made an abrupt switch from 11-man before the season began due to low numbers, but dressed 17 in their final game.

“I thought we played the best first half we played all year,” Raiders coach John Kutz said. “We were right there with [Faivre].

“My kids never gave up. Their heart, their passion for the football game did a lot for our younger kids.”

Football

Polo 62, AFC 6

Star of the game: Cole Faivre, Polo, 21 for 190 rushing, 3 rushing TDs, kickoff return TD, interception return TD

Key performers: Parker Wolber, Polo, 12 for 79 rushing, 3 TDs; Logan Kindle, Polo, sack, tackle for loss, 2 pass deflections; Junion Warczak, Polo, 2 sacks; Carson Rueff, AFC, 14-for-30 passing, 214 yards