BELLEVILLE - Jadon Gabriel scored twice, one as a running back, and a second on an interception return, and quarterback Dean Williams also ran for a pair of touchdowns as Edwardsville defeated Belleville West 42-0 in a Southwestern Conference football game Friday night at Bob Goalby Field.
The win improved the Tigers' record to 3-5, and will allow Edwardsville to play for an IHSA playoff berth in the regular-season finale next Friday at Collinsville.
After the Maroons lost a touchdown due to penalty and a missed field goal, Edwardsville went on a first-quarter drive that climaxed with a one-yard run with 5:15 left in the period to give Edwardsville a 7-0 lead. On the next West possession, Gabriel picked off a pass and ran in back 32 yards for a defensive touchdown that doubled the Tigers' lead to 14-0.
Right before the end of the first half, Williams connected with Gage Homann from 18 yards away to give Edwardsville a 21-0 halftime lead. Brandon Houston, Jr. then ran in from seven yards out to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead with exactly 6:00 to go in the third quarters.
Williams scored the final two touchdowns of the game, on a 60-yard run late in the third quarter, then scored from five yards out with 4:52 left in the game to make the final score 42-0 in favor of Edwardsville.
West is now 1-7 on the season, and concludes the regular season at Triad next Friday, while Edwardsville is now 3-5, and plays at Collinsville next Friday, with both games kicking off at 7 p.m.
