Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
Russell Conwell/River Radio Sports Central
NORMAL — The Mt. Carmel Golden Aces ran into a buzzsaw at Hancock Stadium in the 3A State Championship game Friday. The Byron Tigers rushed for 530 yards and scored touchdowns on their first 10 possessions on the way to a 69-7 win, breaking the IHSA’s single season scoring record in the process.
The Tigers’ only possession without a touchdown was their final one, used to run out the clock.
Byron freshman quarterback Andrew Talbert rushed for 154 yards and scored three touchdowns. Sophomore running back Caden Considine ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, with junior Brayden Knoll also surpassing 100 yards, finishing with 103 and also scoring two touchdowns.
Byron’s defense also shut down Mt. Carmel’s high-powered offense that had averaged 54 points a game over their last three playoff wins. The Aces turned it over five times and managed only 125 yards other than Blayne Sisson’s 81-yard third quarter touchdown run. Sisson finished with 150 yards rushing for the day.
The Aces finished the season 12-2 and brought home the school’s sixth football state trophy, fifth runner up.
