Calhoun Powers Past Tuscola for Third Straight Class 1A Football Playoff Quarterfinal Trip

HARDIN — Calhoun secured a third consecutive trip to the IHSA Class 1A football quarterfinals Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, defeating Tuscola 22-6 behind a strong running game.

Calhoun improved to 10-1 and will face Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, also 10-1, on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Arthur.

Calhoun opened the scoring with 4:51 left in the first quarter on Easton Wallendorf’s 23-yard touchdown run. Will Lorton added the conversion run for an 8-0 lead.

Lorton caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Earl Elmore with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter. Elmore then connected with Wallendorf for the 2-point conversion, extending Calhoun’s lead to 16-0.

Tuscola answered with Myles McKinnie’s 1-yard touchdown run with 4:59 left in the second quarter. The conversion run failed, leaving Calhoun ahead 16-6 at halftime.

Jake Brannan rushed for 128 yards, bringing his season total to 1,004 after running for 1,330 yards as a junior. His 5-yard touchdown run with 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter provided the final 22-6 margin.

Neither team scored in the third quarter before Brannan’s fourth-quarter touchdown. Calhoun’s conversion pass failed.

CALHOUN 22, TUSCOLA 6

Tuscola 0 6 0 0 -- 6

Calhoun 8 8 0 6 -- 22

First Quarter

CAL – Easton Wallendorf 23 run (Will Lorton run), 4:51

Second Quarter

CAL – Lorton 34 pass from Earl Elmore (Wallendorf pass from Elmore), 10:05

TUS – Myles McKinnie 1 run (run failed), 4:59

Fourth Quarter

CAL – Brannan 5 run (pass failed), 4:59

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