East St. Louis takes out frustration of two losses on Belleville West

Returning home after two road losses to nationally ranked teams, East St. Louis dominated Belleville West, 67-0, in its home opener Friday at Clyde C. Jordan Memorial Stadium.

Senior receiver Ronnie GoMiller scored twice, junior transfer running back Myson Johnson-Cook added a touchdown and the Flyers’ defense posted its first shutout of the season in a running-clock victory on homecoming night.

“It wasn’t the fast start we wanted, but we came out offensively and set the tone,” coach Darren Sunkett said. “After halftime, we talked about playing four quarters, and in the second half we dominated the way we’re capable of.”

GoMiller opened the scoring less than two minutes in with a 26-yard punt return. Johnson-Cook sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown later in the first quarter, and Ahmad Coleman’s 2-yard run made it 21-0. GoMiller added a 4-yard jet sweep score before halftime.

Quarterback Jadon Wilson connected with Indiana recruit Kortez Rupert for a 34-yard TD to make it 35-0 at halftime. Wilson and Rupert hooked up again for a 36-yard score early in the third, triggering a running clock.

“It’s all love all around,” GoMiller said of the Flyers’ offense. “We don’t cry about the ball. We just love each other.”

East St. Louis added four touchdowns down the stretch. The Flyers’ defense held Belleville West standout and Illinois recruit Nick Hankins in check as East St. Louis (2-2, 2-0 Southwestern Conference) evened its record.

In other action:

Althoff dropped its third game in a row, 29-28, on the road in Mount Vernon.

Running back Steven Brown scored twice, Logan Thompson caught a touchdown, and quarterback Jayden Ellington found the endzone for the Crusaders. But Mount Vernon scored late on a 59-yard run by JaShawn Staples and a Nolan Mast touchdown pass to upend the defending 1A state champions..

Both teams are now 2-3.

Belleville East fell in its bid for a 5-0 start with a 41-39 loss to resurgent Edwardsville.