A week after losing 47-6 at North Baltimore, Elgin not only rebounded, but it shook up the Northwest Central Conference standings.
The Comets (2-2, 2-1) gave Ridgemont (3-1, 2-1) its first loss of the season, beating the Golden Gophers 30-29 in a Week 4 matchup on Sept. 12.
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Archer Johnston was a force for Elgin, running 27 times for 205 yards, a touchdown and two 2-point conversions, as well as adding seven tackles on defense and recovering a fumble.
Jack VanGundy had 15 carries for 65 yards, two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, while Zack Bowers ran nine times for 101 yards and a score for the Comets.
Elgin’s defense recovered a pair of fumbles and made 15 tackles for loss as 17 players had at least one tackle. T.J. Britton led with 10 tackles, while VanGundy added nine with five tackles for loss, and Cooper Lykins had nine tackles, three for loss and a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Here are other results from around the Marion area in Week 4 games Friday night:
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Mount Gilead 26, Danville 22
At 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, Mount Gilead is off to its best start since 2011. Coupled with two wins to end last year, the team is on its first six-game winning streak since 1996.
MG did it by beating a squad that went to the Division VII state semifinal last year and won the KMAC championship in 2023. Danville (2-2, 0-1) has had just one losing season in the seven years competing in the KMAC.
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Mount Gilead led the Blue Devils 12-0 after the first quarter but fell behind 16-12 in the third quarter. MG responded with a 21-yard touchdown run by Tyler Harr, his second of the game, and a 59-yard interception return for a TD by Wyatt Long.
MG mounted 350 total yards with 231 total for Danville. Harr finished with 126 yards on 15 rushes, while Carson Barnum had 166 yards on 29 runs.
“This is a huge victory for our team. Beating a team of Danville’s caliber is huge in that it builds so much confidence,” MG coach Mike Reid said. “It was a complete team victory.”
Elgin’s offense gets off the line during a Week 1 high school football game at home against River Valley Aug. 21, 2025.
Highland 12, Marion Harding 6 (OT)
It was scoreless at halftime, but to start the second half, Highland’s Zach Church ran in a 3-yard touchdown in the initial series for a 6-0 lead. The Presidents (1-3, 0-1) tied it at 6-6 with 1:31 left in the game, but Church blocked the extra point and the game went to overtime.
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In OT, Highland’s Kane Stover got a stop on fourth down, then the Scots (2-2, 1-0) converted a fourth-and-2 when it had the ball. Robby Schmidt finished the game-winning drive with a 9-yard TD run.
Centerburg 44, Northmor 27
Northmor (2-2, 0-1) lost two games in a row for the first time since ending the 2022 season with a four-game losing skid.
Centerburg (3-1, 1-0) ran it 42 times for 383 yards and ended with 438 total yards, while holding the Golden Knights to 207 yards of offense. Tanner Miley was 19-for-35 passing for 159 yards with a pair of touchdowns and interceptions. Conner Stockdale had five catches for 62 yards and a TD, while Brady Carr had six receptions for 56 yards. Brad Bowlin caught a touchdown pass, threw a TD pass and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD.
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Northmor was 1 of 14 on third downs and lost three turnovers, while the Trojans lost four turnovers and had 72 yards in penalties. Garrett Deisch led Northmor’s defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Jonathan Alder 42, North Union 23
Alder (4-0) ran out to a 35-7 lead by halftime. The Wildcats (2-2) committed four turnovers and were flagged 13 times for 131 yards durng the game.
NU’s Nickolas Hajjar was 19 of 27 passing for 229 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Wyatt Arver ran for 61 yards on eight carries. Griffin Osborne caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, plus made 10 tackles and picked off a pass. Dainon Lindsey had five receptions for 58 yards and a score. On defense, Brycen Delawder recorded 11 tackles, Ethan Miller 10 tackles and Nick VanHoose nine tackles and a recovered fumble.
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Other games
Huron beat Ridgedale 56-7 in nonleague play, while Fredericktown topped Cardington 21-0. No other details were available.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Week 4 Football Roundup: Elgin, MG, Highland earn gutsy wins
