Wilmington’s double-wing offense runs through Maroa-Forsyth for the Class 2A state title

NORMAL, Ill. — Wilmington coach Jeff Reents and Maroa-Forsyth coach Josh Jostes spoke about Wilmington’s offensive line in glowing terms after the Wildcats dominated the Class 2A state championship game in a 42-6 rout on Saturday at ISU’s Hancock Stadium

Jostes said the group was the best he’d seen in his 26 years as head coach. Reents, Wilmington’s coach for 31 years, said the overall execution of his double-wing offense was as good as it has ever been.

How did that happen? Senior offensive lineman Zach Ohlund said he believes the group’s overall speed was key. But then he stopped and struggled with how exactly to describe the closeness and cohesion he feels with Declan Moran, Jack Cutter, Logan Van Duyne, Evan Kuypers and Will Wilson.

There was a pause. Something he didn’t want to say in front of a room full of adults at a press conference. His teammates smiled, and the bond that dominated opponents on the field all season was in full view in a new setting.

“We are confident with each other, I would say,” Ohlund settled on. “We trust each other and we know what we are doing. And we’ve been running the same thing for 14 years. You catch on.”

Apparently, Wilmington kids start learning the double-wing offense almost as soon as they begin to walk.

For the past eleven years, Wilmington football games have featured an intense pregame ceremony. The football players run through the woods next to the stadium, and locals line the path to the field with motorcycles. The engines rev and the smoke rises as the Wildcats enter the field.

“A lot has been made of how we enter the field,” Reents said. “But the community relationship goes beyond that. The support is outstanding. Football, in Wilmington, is a special relationship. There is no doubt about that. It has a lot to do with us being up here.”

Senior Ryan Kettman had 11 carries for 137 yards and two TDs. Senior quarterback/defensive back Billy Moore ended Maroa-Forsyth’s first possession with an interception and then ripped off a 43-yard TD run the first time the Wildcats (13-1) had the ball.

Moore had six carries for 105 yards and did not attempt a pass. Wilmington completed just four passes and punted only eight times this season.

“I’m still trying to wrap my emotions around this,” Reents said. “The kids set the goal way back in the winter. They set these expectations. They improved all year long. Coming off the Coal City game and going into the playoffs we turned it up a notch. We played at a high level.”

Wilmington led 35-0 at halftime.

“I can’t be more proud of what [my players] have done and how they represent our community the right way,” Jostes said. “We ran into a buzz saw. We knew we were running into a buzz saw. It was pretty clear on film.”

It’s the fourth state title for Wilmington, which won the Class 2A title in 2023 and 2021 and the 3A title in 2014. Maroa-Forsyth (11-3) has now lost six title games since 2014. The Trojans won the Class 1A title in 2012 and the Class 2A title in 2006.