Fast start leaves Galesburg reeling
Moline put on an offensive and defensive showcase to demonstrate why it has won eight straight games, crushing visiting Galesburg 63-6 in the regular-season finale Oct. 24.

The Maroons scored on each of their first six possessions, and only a penalty on their seventh drive kept it from being eight straight. The Western Big 6 champions (8-1, 7-0 WB6) raced to a 28-0 first-quarter lead and extended it to 49-0 by halftime.

In his postgame interview, Moline coach Mike Morrissey said his team was peaking at the right time heading into the IHSA playoffs.

Galesburg, missing its top two offensive threats — quarterback Grady Hickey and receiver Antwon Walker — struggled to move the ball. The Silver Streaks managed just one first down in the first half, which came on a roughing-the-passer penalty against Moline.

Ground game fuels Maroons’ surge
Meanwhile, the Maroons piled up 386 yards in the first half, including 228 on the ground. Marc Cary had a 69-yard touchdown run, and Stanlee Golden broke a 52-yard run on the final play of the second quarter. Only a saving tackle by defensive back Shawn Taylor kept him out of the end zone.

Moline opened the scoring with a 2-yard run by Amarii Scurlock after a 53-yard drive on three plays. Then came a series of quick strikes:

• Quarterback Kasen Ponder connected with Nolan Ducey for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
• Cary broke through for his 69-yard score to push it to 21-0.
• Ponder and Ducey hooked up again for a 40-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Galesburg appeared to get a break when defensive back Joshua Larkin appeared to have intercepted a pass, but officials overturned the call, allowing Moline to retain possession after a 39-yard completion. The Maroons converted that into a 1-yard touchdown run by Elijah Warren for a 35-0 advantage.

Ponder later threw his third touchdown pass, a 21-yard strike to Zak Sierra midway through the quarter.

Even as Moline began substituting, the scoring continued. Running back Junior Tximina came in and sprinted 40 yards for a touchdown, capping the first half with Moline up 49-0.

On the first drive of the second half, Golden broke through the middle on fourth-and-1 and ran 50 yards for another score, extending the lead to 56-0.

Silver Streaks find late spark
The running clock — which began at the start of the second half when the outcome was no longer in doubt — helped speed up play until Galesburg caught a break late in the third quarter, recovering a fumble at its own 49-yard line.

Day’vion Jones, who replaced starting quarterback Bradley Eaton in the second half, connected with Eaton on a couple of passes to spark a drive that was later backed up by a 15-yard penalty. On fourth-and-19, Jones found Eaton again for a 49-yard touchdown, avoiding the shutout. The 2-point conversion failed.

Conference champs look ahead
On its final drive, Moline used a series of short runs before Golden broke free for a 39-yard touchdown — his third of the night. The extra point gave Moline a season-high 63 points and handed Galesburg its highest point total allowed this season.

Moline finished with 544 total yards, including 391 rushing, according to Network1 Sports. Galesburg managed 90 passing yards and minus-33 rushing yards, much of it from sacks.

Galesburg closed its season 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the Western Big 6, good for seventh place. Moline claimed the conference title at 7-0 and awaits its IHSA playoff opponent and location.