EAST ST. LOUIS - Quarterback Reece Shanklin threw for two touchdowns, while running back Ahmad Coleman ran for two more as East St. Louis opened up a big halftime lead in going on to a 49-0 win over Chicago Simeon in the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 6A football playoffs Saturday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2025, at Clyde C. Jordan Memorial Stadium.
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The Flyers advance to the semifinals and will play on the road in Chicagoland, taking on Burbank St. Laurence Catholic, a 28-14 winner over Dunlap in their quarterfinal game, also on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
The Flyers jumped out to a 13-0 lead early on in the opening quarter, their second touchdown on a short run, then went ahead 20-0 on a three-yard touchdown run by Amir Tillman. Shanklin then threw 30 yards to Jahmoni Ware for the quarter's final touchdown to put East Side up 27-0 after the opening period.
In the second quarter, Coleman ran for his first touchdown of the day, from five yards out, to extend the advantage to 34-0, and later in the quarter, Shanklin struck again, with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Kortez Rupert to make the halftime score 41-0, triggering the second-half running clock rule.
In the third quarter, the Flyer defense rose to the occasion and scored a safety to make it 43-0, and Coleman capped the scoring with a 15-yard run for the final touchdown, but the conversion was missed, giving East Side a 49-0 lead. The final quarter was scoreless, resulting in a 49-0 final.
The Flyers are now 9-3 and advance to the semifinal game against the Vikings on the road, with the date and kickoff time to be announced Monday at the IHSA office in Bloomington-Normal. The Wolverines end their season at 7-5.
Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.
