Blackcats remain undefeated, Warriors stopped by No. 1 Maplewood

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

FREDERICKTOWN - Joey Lewandowski increased his season touchdown total to 19 by finding the endzone four times Friday night, and the unbeaten Fredericktown football team rolled to a 41-20 conference win over Perryville.

Lewandowski finished with 195 yards on 22 carries, including an 83-yard scoring burst that gave the Blackcats a 34-13 lead in the third quarter. The senior tailback scored from 19 yards earlier in the stanza.

Quarterback A.P. Lewandowski completed 6-of-7 passes for 94 yards, and opened the scoring with an 8-yard scamper for Fredericktown (6-0). Ryan Gifford made four receptions and Jon O’Neal caught a 3-yard scoring pass to put the Blackcats ahead 19-13 with 37 seconds left before halftime.

Brylan Moore made nine solo tackles and Ethan Tidwell totaled 12 to lead the Fredericktown defense. Jeremy Ball recorded two sacks and Zach Sohn made an interception, while Jake Sikes and Adam Daniels recovered fumbles.

Perryville (1-5) had a productive night on the ground with two players rushing for triple figures, but committed the only three turnovers of the contest. Brent Roth ran 19 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns, and Josh Perreault tallied 100 yards on 24 carries.

Maplewood 39, Valle 0

STE. GENEVIEVE - Standout receiver Bryant Allen caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Les Williams, and added a dazzling 60-yard punt return for another score on Friday night, as Maplewood solidified its No. 1 state ranking in Class 2 with a 39-0 rout over conference rival Valle.

Williams completed 17-of-27 passes for 249 yards overall, including a 51-yard scoring strike to Allen early in the third quarter. Linebacker Devin Lindsey returned his own blocked punt for a touchdown late in the first half, and set up another TD moments later with a fumble recovery.

Maplewood (6-0), which built a 26-0 lead at intermission, recorded its third consecutive shutout behind an impressive defense that limited the normally potent Valle offense to just six first downs and 85 yards of total offense.

Valle quarterback Michael Greminger finished 6-of-25 passing for 42 yards, completing four throws to Jason Blum. Defensive lineman Josh Neel had four tackles and Blum added an interception for the Warriors (4-2).