Jefferson’s homecoming also was a special night for Belvidere North’s Keith Larson.

The junior quarterback returned to action after being sidelined since the season’s first game with an ankle sprain.

Larson showed little rust Friday, throwing two touchdown passes to Jacob Billon in a 48-13 victory over Jefferson.

“It felt great just to get back on the field,” Larson said. “There is no better feeling than to get out there on a Friday night and play football.”
Larson, who was the starting quarterback in Week 1, took over for Corey Wennmacher midway through the second quarter with the Blue Thunder leading 27-0.

On his first series, Larson threw a 13-yard TD pass to Billon.

After Belvidere North recovered a fumble on the Jefferson 37, Larson directed another scoring drive. He found Billon in the end zone with a 6-yard TD pass as time expired in the first half for a 41-0 advantage.

“It’s nice to get him back and get a feel of the ballgame,” said Blue Thunder coach Curt Tobin, whose team improved to 3-3. “Certainly that depth will be important as we go along.”

Wennmacher also had his share of success leading the Blue Thunder offense.

The senior rushed for two touchdowns (32 and 1 yard) and gained 67 yards on five carries. He didn’t play in the second half.

Belvidere North running back Kenny Anderson also ran for two first-quarter TDs (27 and 6 yards) and finished the night with a game-high 92 yards on eight carries.

Billon added a 14-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

Jefferson’s offense got untracked in the second half. Quarterback Jake Gorsuch connected with Mario Manns for an 85-yard TD, and then ran one in from 3 yards out for the J-Hawks (0-6).

“Jefferson is doing everything the right way in their program,” Tobin said. “The coaches have got the players doing things the right way. But it takes two or three years to turn something around so I applaud them.”

- Doug Goodman, rrstar.com