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Friday Night Lights, Galesburg, Galesburg High School, Galesburg Silver Streaks, High School Football
GALESBURG — The Galesburg High School football team opened the 2022 season with a 27-13 road loss to Dunlap last Friday night.
And the Silver Streaks (0-1) are hopeful a different result occurs against the Wildcats of Thornton (0-1) in non-conference action this Friday night at Van Dyke Field in Galesburg.
“There were a lot of positives in that game (against Dunlap). Unfortunately for us, the negatives outweighed the positives, so it just looked like a nasty game,” Silver Streaks coach Derrek Blackwell said after Tuesday’s practice. “Our focus this week is fixing all those negative things that we did. It wasn’t an effort thing. It was just more or less not doing what they’ve been coached.
“The kids had all the effort that they could. They played hard. It could have been first game jitters. It could have been a lot of things but they just weren’t executing like they were told,” added Blackwell, a 2003 Galesburg grad. “This week, we’re honing in on making sure we’re doing all the fundamentals correctly.”
The Silver Streaks are going to have to do that all fall in order to get a better result than last season’s 4-5 overall mark, and Galesburg has the pieces in place to do that. It’s just going to be a matter of putting them together. Like a jigsaw puzzle, perhaps.
What’s the key for the Silver Streaks against the Wildcats? It’s the same for all of Galesburg’s foes.
“The key against them is just going to be fundamental football,” Blackwell said of Thornton. “It’s going to be making the tackles, making the blocks, sustaining blocks, filling our gaps — just fundamental football. That’s what killed us last week is we didn’t play fundamental football.
“If we can get the fundamentals down and eliminate penalties then we’ll be good,” Blackwell added. “Thornton is a very fast team. They’re a very athletic team, and they’re going to come here and try to use their burners against us. They have some burners, so it’s going to be on us to eliminate those big plays, and if a big play happens we have to respond well.
“The kids would like to see a big home crowd out. I’d like to see a big home crowd out. That would be great.”
By the numbers
Streaks senior quarterback Tristan Legate completed 13 of 25 passes for 231 yards against the Eagles. He threw two interceptions, and Legate connected with junior Amarie Richardson for a 73-yard touchdown.
Richardson had five grabs for 88 yards and the score. Senior wideout Mikey Eiker had three receptions for 79 yards. Senior running back Cam Aguirre had 12 carries for 46 yards, and he caught a couple passes for 24 yards. Junior kicker Sam Satisky had a 32-yard field goal and a 38-yard field goal for Galesburg.
Dunlap’s offense racked up 203 passing yards and 191 yards on the ground. The Silver Streaks’ defensive unit blocked two extra point kicks in the game. In all, Galesburg committed 15 penalties for 169 yards.
Galesburg’s roster
Seniors: Nolan Carl (TE/OLB), Mikey Eiker (WR/DB), Jon Sibley III (RB/DB), Tristan Legate (QB/ILB), Cam Aguirre (RB/LB), Bryce Harter (RB/ILB), Carter Clary (OL/DL), Noah Wright (OL/DL), Grant Rees (OL/DL), Aaron Kelley (OL/DL), Dishon Nolen (OL/DL), Gavin West (OL/DL), Treyson Hardges (WR/DB), Mason Kimmitt (WR/DB), Graham Peterson (WR/DB), Xavier Van Dyke (TE/DE), Jerry Taylor (TE/OLB).
Juniors: Gino Williams (WR/DB), Amarie Richardson (RB/DB), Adrien Phillips (WR/DB), Markis Lewis (WR/DB), Izaiah Coleman (RB/ILB), Nicholas Curtis (RB/OLB), Sam Satisky (K), Keyondre Harrison (TE/OLB), John Willis (OL/ILB), Gavin Kaden (OL/DL), Jamari McDonald (OL/DL), Bradley Pearce (OL/DL).
Sophomores: DeAmiyn Elston (WR/OLB), Darius Walker (RB/DB), Easton Reed (QB/OLB), Lyxander Cauthon (WR/DB), Caden Ashby (WR/DB), Kenneth Ward (RB/ILB), Saxen Patrick (WR/DB), Jamar Range (RB/DB), Aguy Isala (WR/DB), Don Patrick, Jr. (WR/DB), Josiah Carter (WR/DB), Ashton Bane (OL/ILB), Keaton Bane (OL/ILB), Nathan Maloy (OL/DL), Masen Iams (TE/OLB), Schuylur Sturgeon (OL/DL), Gilbert Lemus (OL/DL), Asher Whitcomb (OL/DL), David Bernhart, Jr. (OL/DL), Sal Kisler (OL/DL).
Streaks’ schedule
Week 1: Dunlap 27, Galesburg 13
Fri., Sept. 2 vs Thornton, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 vs Sterling, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 16 at Geneseo, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 vs Quincy, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 30 at Rock Island, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 vs Moline, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 at United Township, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 21 vs Alleman, 7 p.m.
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