No CGB varsity football this fall; Jv to play season
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By Mike Monahan
CERRO GORDO – In last week’s County Chronicle there was a brief on the fact that there will not be any Cerro Gordo/Bement varsity football this fall. CGB is in the Lincoln Prairie Conference, along with area schools, Arcola, Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond and Villa Grove.
The Broncos will have a junior varsity schedule.
A few of the CGB junior varsity games will be played on Friday nights, including both Homecoming games.
“This decision was not made lightly, as both high schools have strong football traditions, “ wrote Cerro Gordo Junior High/High School principal and CGB boys basketball head coach Brandon Willard. “However, student safety is our top priority, and with the current level of participation, we are unable to meet the physical and competitive demands of a varsity schedule.”
The CGB varsity has struggled recently and in fact have lost its last 17 games with the last win being 16-0 over Tri-County on Sept. 1, 2023. The Broncos did go 4-5 in 2021, but have not had a playoff team since going 5-5 in 2018. Early in the co-op CGB had success making the Class 2A playoffs in three of the first four seasons (2012-2015). Before the co-op the Broncos were a perennial playoff team, mainly under Illinois High School Football Association coach Paul Workman (17 times in 25 years).
Bement had success from 1982-89 when Jerry Lane led them to six playoff trips in eight seasons. Bement was part of the co-op called South Piatt, which included Atwood-Hammond from 1994-2011 and had success from 2000-2003 under John Hayden as the Wildcats made the playoffs three times.
“This (having a junior varsity but no varsity) will provide younger and developing athletes with valuable playing experience and the opportunity to continue building the program for the future,” wrote Willard. “CGB would like to thank the Lincoln Prairie Conference for their support. Many schools have been willing to move the Monday JV game to Friday night so that our athletes can take part in the “Friday Night” football experience. All LPC schools have agreed to let our few seniors participate in the JV game, so that they do not lose out on their senior season of football.”
Last fall the Broncos had 36 players (according to Maxpreps.com), including 11 seniors. One of the seniors was second team all-Lincoln Prairie Conference linebacker Mark Aubert and honorable mention punter, Michael Freese.
CGB is coached by Cerro Gordo graduate Chirs Ridgeway, a 2001 grad, who played under Workman. The Broncos were too late to apply for eight-man football as the deadline was Jan. 1.
The Cerro Gordo football program began in 1927 and the Bement football program began in 1895 and the Cerro Gordo/Bement sports co-op began in 2012 with a football enrollment of 343. Last fall the enrollment was 219. This year it is 210.
The Broncos officially go down as an 0-9 team for the 2025 varsity season as everyone on their schedule receives a forfeit win (1-0). This means they will enter the fall of 2026 on a 26-game losing streak.
“Our goal is to invest in our student-athletes and the long-term strength of our football program,” wrote Willard. “By focusing on a competitive JV season, we can foster growth, teamwork, and readiness for future varsity-level competition. CGB remains committed to supporting its athletes, coaching staff, and football communities.”.
The 2025 season is believed to be the first time either school has not had a varsity football team.
The last time the LPC did not have a varsity football squad was Sullivan/Okaw Valley. The Redskins did play the first two varsity games before forfeiting the last seven in 2021. They entered the 2022 season having lost the last 46 games before going 4-5 and made the playoffs in 2023, going 9-2.
Borntreger earns all-midwest conference honors
JACKSONVILLE – Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond grad and a recent Illinois College grad, Brady Borntreger, was among the 228 student-athletes on the Academic All-Midwest Conference for the 2024-25.
To earn Academic all-conference honors, student-athletes must have achieved a minimum 3.33 grade point average for the academic year, earned a varsity letter in one of the conference’s 18 sponsored sports, and competed on a team that completed in at least 50 percent of its scheduled contests. Honorees are named each year following the posting of the spring term grades.
Borntreger was in men’s track and field where he was in sprints and threw the javelin. He majored in marketing sports management.
The conference recognized 1,670 student-athletes for their success in both academics and athletics over the past athletic year.
Arcola High Power rained out
ARCOLA – Not only was the July 13 first Eastern Illinois Baseball League between the Royal Giants and Arcola rained out on Monday, but so was the second game as well as the July 20th scheduled doubleheader against the Buckley Dutchmasters, 9-5, at Scheiwe Field in Buckley was also rained out.
Arcola trailed Royal 9-0 in the top of the fifth with a runner on first and no one out when the game was stopped July 13. Royal is 9-3 and in first place in the five team league.
The 2-8 High Power is scheduled to play host to the Paxton Swedes, a team that is 9-5. The game is set for 1 p.m. (nine inning game) and 4 p.m. (seven inning game).