It’s hard to argue.
Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi believes senior Jackson Alcorn may be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state.
The takeaway here following Alcorn’s performance in Friday’s stunning 52-21 win over Prairie Ridge that drew statewide attention?
Iossi is definitely onto something. And playoffs await these for-real Rockets
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Alcorn completed 24 of 35 passes for 469 yards and six touchdowns against the Wolves, who were ranked fourth in The Associated Press’ Class 5A poll. He added a seventh TD on a 9-yard run.
“As far as we know, it’s a school record for passing yards and TDs in a game,” said Iossi, in his seventh year at Burlington Central and third leading the program. “We can’t find anyone remotely close.”
Alcron, a third-year starter, has completed 65% of his passes (93 of 144) for 1,482 yards and 16 TDs with no interceptions this season.
More importantly, Friday’s win was the fifth of the season for the Rockets and makes them playoff eligible for the first time since 2014. They seem to be a virtual lock considering a handful of 4-5 teams made the playoffs the past two seasons and are expected to do so again.
Burlington Central finished 4-5 each of the last two seasons, playing on the final day with a chance to make the playoffs both years.
With two games remaining, including Friday at home against rival Hampshire and then next week at Huntley, the Rockets can lock up a playoff berth and improve their postseason seed.
“I actually think they’re still pretty focused,” Iossi said. “I don’t think they’re satisfied after coming up one game short the past two years and getting a taste of it.”
The Rockets have had a tough time with Prairie Ridge since joining the Fox Valley Conference in 2019. The Wolves won the previous four meetings by a combined score of 202-65, powered by a double-wing attack that since 2011 has helped them win five state trophies, including three titles.
This time, Iossi flipped the script and had Alcorn air it out.
“We usually darn near a 50-50 split between run and pass,” Iossi said.
After calling a run to open the game, Iossi went with 22 straight pass plays to close the first half.
“That’s definitely not our MO,” Iossi said, adding that his team’s defense also was overlooked.
Prairie Ridge fumbled eight times, six caused by hits, and turned the ball over on four.
In his first season at the helm, Iossi brought up 16 sophomores, starting eight and rotating the rest. He’s hoping to continue collecting the dividends of that early move.
“I think we could make some noise in the playoffs,” he said.
A Geneva letdown? Hardly
After moving into the No. 1 spot in our rankings the previous week with a win over Batavia, Geneva held on with a strong defensive stand in the final minute to hold off Wheaton North 28-24.
It was highlighted by linebackers Sean Lane and Troy Velez teaming up on a sack and receiver/defensive back Talyn Taylor closing it out with a pass deflection to end the threat.
“As I said to the players, it was an extremely tough DuKane Conference game,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “We played really hard and did enough to win.”
Thorgensen pointed out that Wheaton North, maybe now unsung with a 3-4 record, started the season with come-from-behind, one-point wins over traditionally tough Lockport and Providence.
Quarterbacks step up, stand tall
Aurora Christian junior Asa Johnson threw three TD passes to senior wide receiver Jonan Miceli as he rallied the Eagles from a 20-0 first-half deficit for a 34-27 win over Marian Central Catholic.
“He directed the biggest comeback in school history,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said.
Johnson threw for 329 yards and four TDs to lead the Eagles (5-2)
Meanwhile, West Aurora continues rolling in the Upstate Eight Conference.
Junior quarterback Mason Atkins completed 10 of 11 passes for 233 yards and five TDs. He also ran for 66 yards and two more TDs in a 57-0 rout of Larkin.
Equally important, Atkins has taken care of the ball, throwing no interceptions in 93 pass attempts.
