The Illinois "Man It Is Way Too Early For This" HS Football Predictions Thread

[PhotoGuy]

Basketball wars are raging across the Tri-States. Wrestlers are throwing each other around. Girls are starting to shop for their prom dresses, and their boyfriends are thinking about.... well, you KNOW what their boyfriends are thinking about, don't ya? Campus bowl teams are frying their noodles, and glee clubs are getting ready for whatever it is they do. What does all this mean?

All of these activities are just something to waste time until football season starts.

Ah, the glare of the Friday Night Lights. Can't get here soon enough, can it?

Well, fellow TriStaters... lets talk about some football.

Specifically, I want you to talk about your own high school teams and the ones you know about. What do they have returning, what do you know about their opponents, and what news have you heard about next year's football schedule that is of interest to the rest of us?

I am starting one of these threads for both Missouri and Illinois, so we can talk about it on each side of the river.

Spill the beans!

[Titanfan89]

Well, I think it is safe to say that Illini West will reload but I think they lose quite a bit after this year. Probably a playoff team but don't know how far. I saw a preliminary look at West Hancock's proposed new schedule with the conference and all I can say is that it is loaded, no breaks anywhere I don't think, and I believe their first 3 or 4 conference games are road games. Also saw a non-conference game with Scotland County, MO I believe.

[wolverine55]

IMHO, it's never too early for football predictions!!

[Titanfan89]

Give me the rams to win the state championship.

[TheDog]

What does everyone think about the WIVC?

[Bulldogge]

Where can we view next years schedules at?

[wolverine55]

I can post WH's in the near future but don't know if there's a place where they can all be seen yet. If WH was playing the same teams they played last year, I think they would be a 5 or 6 win team. I don't know how they will fare this year as I really don't know a whole lot about the Olympic teams that are joining the new and improved WCC. WH will have a bigger senior class than last year, but will still be mostly sophomores and juniors I believe.

[radiowaves]

I have an opinion concerning Pittsfield/gp and CSE for the future. I believe CSE should explore the possiblity of playing in the WIVC without Souheastern or the conference Beardstown adn Rushville are headed to if they retain Southeastern in co-op. ON the PGP side of the ocin. Please consider the Sangamo, where they are going to be adding the consolidation of Girard/Virden and going to need another team. NewBerlin Co-op, Athens, Pleasant Plains, Porta, Auburn, Riverton, Sangamon Valley, Williamsville, Virden-Girard and PGP would make a great series of teams who look to see each other in basketball also, and in most sports they could play with the interstate connecting them all. yes, Pittsfield would be the farthest west team, but it looks to be very simple and you could have and east and west in other sports except football. Makes much more sense than PGP traveling to Rockridge, Orion, Monmouth, Sherrard as example. And Sophomore games could be played either early Friday night, Saturday morings or Monday nights depending on preference. I know this makes too much common sense to do, but please consider it.

[wolverine55]

But, Pittsfield would, hopefully, be only traveling to two of those four places every season. And, in basketball, I believe the conference is going to have two divisions so they may not be traveling to those places at all. In terms of CSE, even with the SE part of it, I believe they would be significantly bigger enrollment-wise than most of the WIVC. To be honest, in this day and age of co-ops and consolidations, it's almost fruitless to search out plans that don't involve a lot of traveling. Traveling is pretty much necessity now.

[tiredoldman]

The oly does play the JV games before varsity, JV games start at six and varsity about 30 minutes after the first game.

[RadioGuy]

The oly does play the JV games before varsity, JV games start at six and varsity about 30 minutes after the first game.

Hey, Tired. With the formation of the new West Central Conference, not all schools will play their JV prior to the Varsity game. From what I understand, Sherrard, Orion & Rockridge (and maybe Mon-Rose) will play a prelim game on Friday nights. Macomb, however, will not unless they are playing Sherrard, Orion or Rockridge (whether home or away).

Radiowaves ... I'd hate to see Pittsfield leave the WCC. I'm looking forward to some great Macomb/Pittsfield battles over the next few years. I think Pittsfield/GP will wind up much more battle-tested and prepared for the playoffs by staying put (as would any team in the new WCC). If you come away with a winning record in the WCC, you're a good team ... no ifs, ands, or buts.

[wolverine55]

In the new WCC, most teams are basing the JV gametime on how far the travel is. For instance, WH will play the JV game the same night as varsity for Sherrard, Orion, and Rockridge I believe. Personally, I don't like this, but I understand that with some travel distances, it is a necessity.

[wolverine55]

Here is that WH schedule I promised earlier. Again, I don't know if these are available online anywhere yet or not. I'm not going to make any predictions; I'm just mainly posting so people know exactly who's in the new WCC in case some don't know yet. All of these games are conference except for Week 3

Week 1--at Macomb (JV is the following Monday)
Week 2--at CSE (JV is following Tuesday)
Week 3--Home nonconference against a still to be determined opponent.
Week 4--at PGP (JV the following Monday)
Week 5--Home Illini West (JV following Monday)
Week 6--Home Sherrard (Saturday game with JV prior to Varsity)
Week 7--At Orion (Saturday game with JV prior to Varsity)
Week 8--Home Rockridge (Saturday game with JV prior to Varsity)
Week 9--at Monmouth-Roseville (JV following Monday)

[illinois sports schwab]

The new Virden-Girard consalidation will be the North Mac Panthers with baby blue and black colors. I'm thinking they will be 3A, but not totally sure. There is a good chance that they will be a pretty good team. Virden and Girard usually aren't the greatest teams but putting together the handful of good athletes that both teams have could make for a good team.

[Titanfan89]

In the new WCC, most teams are basing the JV gametime on how far the travel is. For instance, WH will play the JV game the same night as varsity for Sherrard, Orion, and Rockridge I believe. Personally, I don't like this, but I understand that with some travel distances, it is a necessity.

That is going to be awfully tough on teams without a lot of numbers but I can understand why it is done. Is WH going to have enough numbers for both games? Is there any limit on number of quarters a kid can play in one day for football?

[wolverine55]

Rumor has it, WH has found Northwest Academy (from STL, MO) for a home game week 3 to complete the schedule.

[wolverine55]

titanfan, I don't anticipate numbers being a huge problem for WH this year, but I don't have a definitive answer to either of your above questions.

[German/Irish_67_9]

I know none of you want to hear it but QND is going to be stacked next season. Returning 17 starters on O and D as well as a new "wave" of outstanding lineman and a "new" Weiman to deal with.
Returning letter winners and starters : Daniel Weiman, Kramer Barnes, Brandon Lee, Luke Stamerjohn, Mark Grawe, Anthony Bruns, Matt Hugenberg, Ryan Terstreip, Ian Hinkamper and thats just to mention a few.

BTW i was at the QND/WH girls sectional game last week or so and saw a few boys with some size standing across the gym.. When is QND going to get a chance to play WH as well.. We'll just make it the every other year alternate home/away Hancock County Tour..

[PhotoGuy]

Time for updates, guys, spill the beans!

[TheDog]

Alright, who are everyones Preseason Top 10 teams? Any class can be included, just like basketball.

[broadcaster]

It should be interesting to see who Illini West will have to step in to fill the shoes of QB Michael Lefferty & FB Stephan Flynn. Usually this team reloads, rather than rebuild, but those are some very big holes to fill in both talent and experience.

[TheDog]

I hear tell that IW may be 2A next year. This might mean they won't have to rebuild as much as you might think to make a run.

[guest07]

It should be interesting to see who Illini West will have to step in to fill the shoes of QB Michael Lefferty & FB Stephan Flynn. Usually this team reloads, rather than rebuild, but those are some very big holes to fill in both talent and experience.

They've still got plenty of weapons, starting with Ser Whitaker, who might be the most dangerous player in the area.

[broadcaster]

Ser Whitaker is gonna be very fun to watch, a big time game breaker. But the backbone of that team, in my opinion has been Steph Flynn and Michael Lafferty. In that offense I think the two biggest keys are ball fakes and establishing that running game with the fullback.

If they drop down to 2A, that would be huge.

[broadcaster]

I hear tell that IW may be 2A next year. This might mean they won't have to rebuild as much as you might think to make a run.

What have you been hearing about this? Illini West would be a monster in 2A, a scary thought for other contenders in that class. Is the enrollment dropping at IW, or does it look like the changing enrollments of other schools are the reason?

[German/Irish_67_9]

Alright, who are everyones Preseason Top 10 teams? Any class can be included, just like basketball.

1. QND (of course - especially if IW drops to 2a ;) )
2. Illini West
3. CSE
4. QHS
5. Macomb

just a mock rough draft.. i'm still workin on my official list..

[German/Irish_67_9]

They've still got plenty of weapons, starting with Ser Whitaker, who might be the most dangerous player in the area.

I will be the first to admit that Ser is most definately going to be a superstar in Carthage this year. He's a stud, but a leader, that i dont know about. Lafferty seemed to be the image and voice of that team for a few years and its time that Ser does the same this year.

[Bulldogge]

I don't think the Chargers will have much drop in production from the fullback position. The Huss kid is as hard a runner as I've seen in awhile, I felt he performed better than Flynn last year. Flynn just never seemed to have the form he did as a junior, maybe the bum ankle was the reason.

[arod14]

The system that IW (Carthage in the past) runs has had other "irreplacable" players in the past. It seems they always find somebody to plug in--w/at least good results. IMO, if the line play is good, whomever they use to replace Lafferty and Flynn will be just fine. Ser Whitaker may be the best highschool back that I have ever seen in person. He is a TD waiting to happen. I hope/think that he gets more touches this year, w/the departure of some of the weapons from last year.

[broadcaster]

What is the QB situation in Charger country heading into August?

[German/Irish_67_9]

The system that IW (Carthage in the past) runs has had other "irreplacable" players in the past. It seems they always find somebody to plug in--w/at least good results. IMO, if the line play is good, whomever they use to replace Lafferty and Flynn will be just fine. Ser Whitaker may be the best highschool back that I have ever seen in person. He is a TD waiting to happen. I hope/think that he gets more touches this year, w/the departure of some of the weapons from last year.

Two of the best backs in the state reside right here in the west central area.. Weiman and Whittaker. Problem is with all the hype behind both of them is whether or not they can A. stay healthy and B. live up to it.
(sir) Ser Whittaker is a speedy more elusive back while Daniel Weiman remains the "run you over" type of power back. Both IW and QND routinely put up above average lines that make it easy for boys like this. Both Weiman and Whittaker need more touches. I'm going to go out early and say both exceed the 1500+ rushing mark they should.. heck they may even push 2000 if they stay healthy.

[German/Irish_67_9]

***I see Pittsfield is going to play Peoria Manual week 5. To all P'field faithful..... you should, no, you better be stomping them by 30+.

The Peoria schools do always have some kid who just blazes up and down the field so that'll be good for the Saukees to see.

****WH is playing NW Academy??? Never heard of them. Hopefully they offer a good match-up for the Titans. (side-note: Regular post season long runners Mascoutah are also playing this Northwest Academy out of St. Louis so i suppose maybe this might be a decent football program we're talking about.)

[wolverine55]

I have IW, worst case scenario, 7-2 this fall. I do think QND beats them and I could possibly see them losing to CSE, Orion, or Macomb. I know Macomb and CSE have strong junior classes, but I really don't know what Orion returns from their deep run last year. Good post earlier about the Huss kid. As good as Flynn was, the FB always puts up huge numbers in the Unruh Wing T, so I don't think there will be much, if any, dropoff there.

[arod14]

Two of the best backs in the state reside right here in the west central area.. Weiman and Whittaker. Problem is with all the hype behind both of them is whether or not they can A. stay healthy and B. live up to it.
(sir) Ser Whittaker is a speedy more elusive back while Daniel Weiman remains the "run you over" type of power back. Both IW and QND routinely put up above average lines that make it easy for boys like this. Both Weiman and Whittaker need more touches. I'm going to go out early and say both exceed the 1500+ rushing mark they should.. heck they may even push 2000 if they stay healthy.

I agree with you G/I. If healthy both guys will put up huge numbers. I am looking forward to going over home and watching that showdown between IW and QND--it will be my first time to see Weiman in person. The only worry for either, like you said is the injury bug. Big Stefan Flynn is proof of that. A huge Jr season was followed by an injury marred Sr season, where, even when playing, he never seemed like the player he was the year before. I hope that the IW coaching staff does w/Whittaker what the Carthage staff did w/Wyatt Green years ago--plenty of carries to give the game breaker a chance to do just that.
All this football talk makes me ask: Is it Fall yet?