Taking to the home field for the final time in 2025, the Bushnell-Prairie City High School football squad was aiming to go out on a winning note.
The visiting West Central Heat torched the Spartans hopes however, rolling to a 59-36 win in a game that was not as close as the final score might indicate.
West Central notched its seventh straight victory, improving to 7-1 overall, 6-0 in Illinois 8-Man Football Association (I8FA) West Division play.
B-PC slipped to 1-7 overall, 1-5 in West Division play.
West Central scored on five of its six first half possessions, along with adding an interception return for a score.
That helped the Heat build a 47-14 lead by halftime.
West Central scored on its third offensive play as Aidan Garner broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run.
Garner then connected with Cooper Gibb for the two-point conversion that gave the Heat an 8-0 lead just 66 seconds into the contest.
B-PC turned the ball over on its first offensive play. Quarterback Thomas Anderson fielded a high snap from center. But he was unable to make the handoff to Parker Guppy. That resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Jordan Kane at the Spartan 27.
West Central scored two plays later on a five-yard run by Garner. Garner then connected with Heat QB Colton Spence on the halfback pass for the two-point conversion that made it 16-0 at the 10:13 mark of the opening period.
The Spartans scored on their drive, covering 64 yards in 10 plays.
Anderson connected with Jonavan Harrell for a nine-yard touchdown pass with Harrell also adding the two-point conversion.
That allowed B-PC to close the gap to 16-8 with 5:08 left in the first quarter.
West Central answered with an eight-play, 62-yard drive that was capped by a 15-yard TD run by Cam Robinson.
Gibb booted the point-after- touchdown kick that made it 23-8 with 1:14 still to play in the opening 12 minutes.
On B-PC’s next possession, a 36-yard pass play from Anderson to Harrell moved the ball to the Heat 30.
But on the first play of the second period, Heat defender Cody Wade disrupted a handoff from Anderson to Harrell, who fumbled the ball. Kane recovered for West Central at its own 33-yard line.
The Heat used six plays to drive into B-PC territory, but Harrell intercepted a Spence pass at the Spartans seven to stop the Heat cold.
But two plays later, Spence returned the favor, intercepting Anderson and returning the ball 15 yards for a touchdown.
Graham Kelly added the two-point conversion, giving the visitors a 31-8 advantage with 9:02 remaining before halftime.
The Spartans reached the West Central 43 on their next drive. But from there, an illegal procedure penalty, an incomplete pass, a high snap over Anderson’s head and a QB sack eventually left B-PC with a fourth-and-41 from its own 26.
West Central scored the next two times it had the ball, increasing its lead to 47-8.
A nine-yard run by Spence with a Robinson run on the PAT made it 39-8 with 3:13 to go before halftime.
Spence then connected with Robinson for a 25-yard TD with 33.2 seconds left. Kelly added the conversion run, giving the Heat its 39-point lead.
But B-PC answered, scoring on the final play of the half as Anderson connected with Harrell for a 25-yard TD. The PAT pass failed, leaving the score 47-14 as halftime arrived.
The Heat scored twice in the third quarter to set the running clock in motion.
Spence had his second pick-six of the game, this one 34 yards in the opening minute of the second half.
Robinson then scored on a 15-yard run at the 4:05 mark that made it 59-14.
B-PC tallied three touchdowns in the final 13 minutes.
Anderson and Harrell connected for a 52-yard TD with Harrell adding the PAT run that made it 59-22 with 57.8 second left in the third frame.
Harrell scored on a 27-yard run with 8:43 to go before Charles Rudolph’s 23-yard TD with 4:35 remaining closed out the game’s scoring.
West Central finished with 331 yards rushing on 43 carries.
Robinson finished with 118 yards and two TDs on 10 carries, while Kelly added 95 yards on 13 carries.
Garner added 94 yards and two TDs on six carries.
Spencer ran for 23 yards and a score on four carries, while also completing 1-of-3 passes for 34 yards with one TD and one interception.
Anderson attempted 20 passes, completing 12 for 230 yards. He had three TDS and two INTs.
Harrell had six grabs for 149 yards and three TDs. Cam Shinn added five catches for 57 yards.
Guppy had 16 carries for 36 yards. Harrell added 71 yards on eight carries.
On defense, Rudolph recorded 10 total tackles, including five solos. Landon Lear and Haydin Hart added eight total tackles each.
Harrell added six tackles, followed by Andre Watts and Dylan King with five apiece.
The Spartans wrap up the season next week, heading to Flanagan to face Flanagan- Cornell/Woodland (5-3, 4-2 I8FA West).
West Central will host Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio (7-1, 6-0) in a game to determine the I8FA West Division champion.
