The Illinois Central Eight Conference title was on the line Friday night when Wilmington hosted Coal City in the regular season finale.

Both teams entered the contest at 7-1 overall and 5-0 in ICE play, but 509 rushing yards and six touchdowns later, it was Wilmington that had clinched its third straight ICE title and third straight unbeaten conference season with a 44-21 win.

Also for the third straight season, Coal City finished in second place with its lone ICE loss coming to the Wildcats.

Wilmington senior Ryan Kettman’s 15-yard touchdown with 1:07 left in the game, his third rushing touchdown, gave him 186 yards on 25 carries and served as the cherry on top of yet another big ICE win for the Wildcats.

“We knew what we had to be ready for, and we came out ready to play,” he sai

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