CATLIN — The Salt Fork football team knew it would physical against Villa Grove, so it would just have to move them out of the way.
The Storm shut out the Blue Devils in the first half and would go on to win 35-21 on Saturday in an IHSA Class 1A first round game at Byerly-Hageman Field.
The Storm defense was in full effect early, shutting down a fourth-down attempt on Villa Grove’s first drive, and would take advantage on offense on a 59-yard run by Jamison Chambliss for the first points of the game.
The second quarter was more of the same with the Salt Fork defense holding up the Blue Devil offense and added another score with Weston Church hitting Jacob Downing for a 59-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 halftime lead.
It looked like it would start to be a blowout early in the third as Zayden Bromley scored on a 50-yard run for a 21-0 lead, but the Blue Devils bounced back with a one-yard run to cut the lead to 21-7.
Villa Grove would recover a fumble and scored again. But in the fourth quarter, Bromley made an interception, Church would go on a 46-yard run to get to the one before Chambliss scored on a run to make it 28-14.
The Blue Devils struck quickly to cut the lead to 28-21, but Church would end the scoring with a touchdown run and clinch the game for the Storm.
Salt Fork is now 8-2 and will travel to Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond next week for second round action.