Pekin football continues winning ways

The Pekin Panthers faced off against Davis County last Friday, looking for a third straight win to start the season.  

Scoring came early and often for the Panthers, beginning with an 81-yard kickoff return by Chandler Eckley. They were just getting started, getting a 7-yard receiving score from Monico Requena and another 10-yard reception by Eckley.  

Keaton Baayen concluded the up-tempo quarter with a 31-yard run, putting the score at 29-0. 

Pekin didn't let up at any point, getting two more touchdowns from Requena, one from a 55-yard run. 

Davis County ended the shutout with a long 80-yard run, the only big mistake the Panthers had. Pekin tacked on one more score in the final quarter, capping a 50-6 blow-out of Davis County.

The ground game was a big part in the win, a common element in the two wins prior. The Panthers ran all over Davis County, accumulating 295 yards, with a healthy balance between a handful of running backs.  

As good as the Pekin offense was, the defense played just as important a role. Cameron Millikin and Eckley each hauled in an interception to limit Davis County's chances. Baayen also had a big play when he recovered a fumble.  

Kaden Baker and Dayne Eckley each recorded a tackle for loss, Dayne also sacked the quarterback once. 

Pekin will look to stay perfect when they host Montezuma on Friday.