Alton Athletics
Alton High School
Boys Varsity Football
Game Summaries & Headlines.
5.0 years ago @ 9:04AM
East St. Louis downs Alton to claim third consecutive SWC championship
East St. Louis' Treven Swingler (10) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
East St. Louis' Tyler Macon (5) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
Alton's Terrance Walker (8) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
East St. Louis' Keantez Lewis (3) makes the reception during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
Alton's Andrew Jones (2) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
Alton's Terrance Walker (8) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
East St. Louis' DeMonta Witherspoon (4) runs with the ball during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
Alton's Terrance Walker (8) makes the reception during a football game on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Alton Public in Alton, Ill. Paul Halfacre | STLhighschoolsports.com
- Paul Halfacre
ALTON • East St. Louis junior running back DeMonta Witherspoon never hesitated when he saw the hole.
Senior running back Treven Swingler's eyes lit up every time he saw the hole and sophomore quarterback Tyler Macon ran free time and time again.
Witherspoon wasn't shy when asked about the running game's success on Friday.
"I think we've got the best offensive line in the state," Witherspoon said.
East St. Louis rolled up 547 rushing yards as the Flyers knocked off Alton 71-28 in the regular-season finale on Friday night at Alton Public Stadium.
"That's the game plan every week," East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett said. "We want to get out there and establish the run and have our play action pass off that. We've been doing a pretty good job of that all season. Hopefully, we can continue with the rushing attack throughout the playoffs."
East St. Louis (7-2, 6-0 Southwestern Conference), the No. 2 ranked large school in the STLhighschoolsports.com, pushed its conference winning streak to 20 games and clinched its third straight conference championship.
The Flyers offense racked up 737 yards. Both Swingler and Witherspoon topped the 200-yard barrier.
With the imposing linemen up front, Swingler knew his job was relatively easy once he got the ball.
"They were blowing up their man and creating the holes," Swingler said. "All I had to do was get past the first defender because my line is going to create the holes."
The potent rushing attack was on full display on the first drive of the game as the Flyers marched 70 yards, all on the ground, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Witherspoon.
The rushing attack was far from done.
Witherspoon got into the end zone three times, including a 74-yard touchdown run where he burst up the middle and went untouched late in the first half.
"I was just trying to get into the end zone as quickly as I could," Witherspoon said.
Witherspoon finished with 249 yards on 16 carries.
Swingler, making his return to a stadium where he used to run while he played for Alton Marquette, scored five times and rushed 216 yards on 28 carries.
"It felt like a home game," Swingler said. "I knew I had to score a touchdown because I already scored a lot of touchdowns on this field."
Macon rushed nine times for 82 yards and went 10-for-21 for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
All three topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season after Friday's performances.
"Those guys have done a tremendous job all season," Sunkett said. "Macon has done a great job with his arm also when it's time to throw the ball. If we can continue what we're doing offensively, I think we'll make some noise in the playoffs."
Alton (5-4, 3-3 SWC) got big plays four times in the game as junior quarterback Andrew Jones found senior receivers Terrance Walker and Ahmad Sanders four times for touchdown plays of 62, 29, 25 and 29.
"They've done it for us all year," Alton coach Eric Dickerson said. "We've got some playmakers and it's our job to get them the ball and it's fun to watch those guys with the ball in their hands in space."
Jones finished with 308 yards and four scores, going 20-for-37. He also threw two interceptions.
While the big play was there, East St. Louis was able to limit Alton to just 16 first downs, compared to the Flyers' 33.
"They're just a good team," Dickerson said. "They're very quick and get to their assignments quickly. Their D-line was able to get some pressure on us. We've got some things to get better at."
The defense scored on a pick-six by junior Lawaun Powell Jr. late in the game and held Alton without a score for much of the second quarter and third quarters.
"I think our problem defensively is that we're giving up the big play at the wrong time," Sunkett said. "If we can ever hold together for four straight quarters and stop giving up that one big play, we'll have a good defense."
