Excitement is running wild in both of the towns of Amboy and LaMoille as the football playoffs continue after a first round victory over the Oneida-Rowva Bulldogs only to play host to another team from south of I-80 and Rt. 40 in the Kewanee Wethersfield-Annawan co-op for the second round match-up for the Class 2A playoffs.

The Wethersfield-Annawan co-op is a member of the West Prairie Trail Conference that features predominately IHSA Class 1A schools. The conference is split into four divisions and Wethersfield-Annawan is a member of the Northwest Division. The Northeast Division features the Clippers’ opponent from last week Oneida-Rowva. Both schools of the second-year football co-op are predominately known for their play on the hard court on both the girls’ and boys’ side but finished the 2008 season with a 8-3 record and go into the second round match-up with identical records 9-1 records.

Wethersfield-Annawan is led by first-year head coach Brandon Johnston while Amboy-LaMoille is led by veteran Clipper boss Gary Jones, who is in his 15th season as the head coach of his alma-mater. One of Wethersfield-Annawan’s opponents and only loss to was Mercer County, which defeated Big Rivers opponent Bureau Valley 22-19 last week on a score with 17.1 seconds left in the game. Mercer County defeated Kewanee Wethersfield-Annawan by a score of 33-0 in the second week of the season while the Clippers defeated Bureau Valley 23-14 in a week three match-up.

To be successful in round two, the Clippers will have to continue to have their successful play from the defensive and offensive line to assist in the rushing and passing game. Amboy will have to have successful play from the line that includes Tyler Behrends, Danny Bontz, Levi Kaleel, Chad Henkel, Brian Appleman, Matt Bickett along with LaMoille seniors Johnny and William Longmire. The offensive side of the ball will have to see success from quarterback Steven Apple again this weekend to open up backs Appleman and Cody Richardson for scores or to throw the ball to Westin Montavon, C.J. Shields or Jake Lytle. Amboy will look to find the continued success that they have had from kicker and punter Taylor Doege after having his four of five PAT kicks last weekend.

Kewanee Wethersfield-Annawan, which finished the season as the No. 10 ranked team in Class 2A for the final poll of the season, will ride the play of talented senior quarterback Sean Walker. Last week, Walker scored twice for the Titans and also threw a TD pass to Matt DeDecker. Philip Przybyla kicked a 24-yard field goal early in the game. The other quarterback for the Titans is Jake DeJaeger. The two quarterbacks are complimented on defense by Jared Spivey and Shayne Neubert.

According to Clipper assistant coach Jeramey Wittenauer, Clipper fans can expect to see much of the same type of game like last week in that Wethersfield-Annawan will attempt to spread out the field and use a shot-gun formation behind Walker.

“If Walker is in as the quarterback, he will run the ball while the other quarterback gives the team more of a passing option,” said Wittenauer of the Titans who are the smallest school in 2A compared to Amboy that is the third largest of the field of 32.

The game will start at 1 p.m. at Amboy High School with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. and ticket sales beginning at 11:00. Tickets are $5.00 to enter and there will be no pre-ticket sales.

FAMILIAR FACES: For LaMoille players Tom Orozco, Johnny and William Longmire, they may see some familiar faces across the other side of the field as the three competed against athletes from Annawan when they were in junior high as members of the Bureau Valley Elementary Conference playing as a Cub compared to the Braves of Annawan.

PLAYOFF T-SHIRTS: Playoff T-shirts are available in the AHS office during normal school hours and the Clipper Clothing store will be open during the game again this weekend.

PARKING: Fans that are attending the game should note to make sure that they follow the postings of where they may park around the football field at Amboy High School.