Saturday, November 13, 2010
Lancers strike back in fourth quarter of 7A quarterfinal football matchup, put end to Indians' season.
Heading into the fourth quarter leading 17-7, it seemed like Minooka had total control of a Class 7A football quarterfinal game Saturday night against Belleville East. That's when the Lancers turned the tables in a hurry. Darnell Stevenson and Kevin Gettis each ran for touchdowns on successive plays to turn a 17-7 deficit into a 21-17 victory. The win puts No. 5 Belleville East (10-2) in the Class 7A semifinals for the first time in school history. The Lancers will host No. 1 Wheaton-Warrenville South (11-0) next week in Belleville. "I'm really proud of our kids," Minooka coach Bert Kooi said. "I don't remember a game we weren't winning. They gave a great effort all year and tonight was no different. I don't know what else to say." …
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Minooka Jr High School
333 W McEvilly Rd, Minooka, IL
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Indians play host to Belleville East in 7A quarterfinal round game at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it. What about those trying to make history? Minooka, which is playing in its third state football quarterfinal game, never has advanced to the state semifinals. Belleville East never has won a second-round playoff game. That means Minooka will try to end one historic run and make some history of its own Saturday night when the two tangle. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Minooka. It's the site of the Class 7A quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 Minooka (10-1) and No. 5 Belleville East (9-2). The winner will advance to the state semifinals for the first time in its history. "It's pretty crazy around here," junior running back Taylor Salazar said. "The community has been supportive. The game is going to be…
41.448081
-88.257587
Minooka Jr High School
333 W McEvilly Rd, Minooka, IL
/articles/football-history-in-making-at-minooka
1352685
/locations/2402620
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Hill rushes for three touchdowns to push Indians to the Class 7A state football quarterfinals.
Saturday night's Class 7A second-round playoff game between No. 2 seed Plainfield South and No. 3 Minooka lived up to the hype — and then some. After a fierce struggle that featured plenty of twists and turns, Minooka junior Douglas Sachtleben intercepted a pass from Plainfield South's Sheldon Magee near the goal line to preserve the Indians' 41-38 upset of the host Cougars. Minooka (10-1) advances to the state quarterfinal round to host No. 5 Belleville East (9-2) next weekend. The time and date will be released Monday afternoon. "There were a lot of heroes tonight," Minooka coach Bert Kooi said. "In a football game like that, I guess there has to be." "We weren't at full strength tonight, and it's been that way most of the year," …
41.564211
-88.27213
7800 Caton Farm Rd, Plainfield, IL
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Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cougars play host to Indians in second-round Class 7A football playoff tussle.
Although it's in its infancy, the Ridge Road Rivalry has taken off. Plainfield South earned bragging rights and ownership of the street sign by posting a 41-31 victory over Minooka a month ago in Plainfield. Now, Minooka wants revenge and the sign back. The Indians (9-1) will get their chance during a Class 7A second-round matchup against the Cougars (9-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Plainfield South. "There are a lot of things that go into this game and there always is when Plainfield South and Minooka play," Minooka coach Bert Kooi said. "It's a rivalry game to begin with, it's a conference game and it's the Ridge Road Rivalry. It'll be a great high school football game." "Right now it's up in the air, it's anyone's game and we'll see what …
41.447772
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The Village Christian Church
333 McEvilly Rd, Minooka, IL
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1353427
/locations/2352778
Monday, November 1, 2010
Indians' coach learned Xs and Os from his father, mourned his loss when he died of cancer earlier this season.
As Minooka prepared for its 26-7 victory over Quincy in the first round of the Class 7A football playoffs, head coach Bert Kooi readied himself for his first postseason game without his father on the sideline. Bert B. Kooi, 75, died days after the start of the 2010 high school football season after a long battle with cancer. The elder Kooi not only coached youth football in his hometown of Lansing, he spent a lot of time supporting his sons — Bert at Minooka and Bret at Lockport —during their football coaching careers. "Unfortunately, when I got to Minooka, my dad was sick for a while, so these kids didn't get to know him as much as some other kids before," said Bert Kooi, who is in his seventh season as coach of the Indians. "He, …
41.447772
-88.269269
The Village Christian Church
333 McEvilly Rd, Minooka, IL
/articles/minookas-kooi-reserves-sky-box-seat-for-his-old-man
1353427
/locations/2383970
Rick Nagel
10:22 am on Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Very well-written story by Dennis. Excellent action shot, too. Good luck to Minooka in the quarterfinal against Belleville East! more ›