Jared Birchfield – Shaw Local News Network correspondent

After relying on its ground game for most of the night, Burlington Central went airborne to pull out a thrilling 21-17 Class 6A opening round win over Libertyville Saturday night at Rocket Hill.

The York boys and girls cross country teams repeated as Class 3A Lake Park Sectional champions Saturday.

Sycamore retained possession of El Classicorn traveling trophy Tuesday after coming from behind during the last 13 minutes of the second half to beat archrival DeKalb 5-3.

Junior Sam Hill won the St. Charles North Invite on Saturday to lead the North Stars boys cross country team to first place. Sophomore Kara Glenn won the girls race for St. Charles North, and Glenbard West won the team title.

Elgin defeated Larkin 43 -21 in Upstate Eight West Division action Friday to keep custody of the Little Brown Jug traveling trophy.

Neuqua Valley pulled away from a three-point halftime lead for a 37-22 win at Metea Valley on Friday.

Lightning shortened Saturday's Dundee-Crown Charger Invite, which was won individually by Prairie Ridge's Jake Dahlem. The Wolves tied with Lake Park for the team title.

South Elgin came out on top over West Aurora 42-35 in a wild and woolly Upstate Eight Conference West Division football game Friday night.

Six times, Genoa-Kingston tied Rochelle in the second and deciding set of the contest, only to relinquish the lead. Finally, after pulling even for the seventh time, G-K rallied for a 6-1 run to win the set 25-20 and clinch the match.

Burlington Central QB Landon Arnold ran for 124 of his 157 rushing yards in the second half as the Rockets took control to beat Jacobs 21-12 Friday night. Jacobs RB Caden DuMelle set the school's all-time rushing record in the loss.

Geneva scored on all seven of its first-half possessions in overwhelming Larkin 56-0 on Friday.

Quinn Rooney's three-run home run capped off Benet's five-run fifth inning, as Benet rallied past Kaneland 5-4 to win the Class 3A Kaneland Regional title.

Once again, Kaneland’s combination of an explosive offense and an airtight defense delivered a positive result for the Knights on Saturday morning - a 6-0 Class 2A Kaneland Regional championship win over Woodstock. 

Prairie Ridge, Johnsburg, Genoa-Kingston and Woodstock rounded out the top five teams at the Class 2A Genoa-Kingston Sectional Friday behind team champion Rockford Boylan, with all four schools sending athletes to next week's state meet in Charleston.

Sycamore batters blasted three home runs, and Spartans junior Bella Jacobs pitched a two-hitter Friday as the squad cruised to a 10-0 nonconference win over Huntley.