It could be a wet Friday with highs in Springfield and Decatur around 70.
Playoff Update
In and Playing for a Week 10 Bye- Rochester, SHG, Jacksonville, MacArthur, and Chatham.
In but Playing Week 10- QND.
Out- Lanphier. Don't see how they can do better than 1-8.
Hanging By a Thread- Lincoln. The Railers have not scored an offensive TD since Week 1.
Needs Help- U High. Has to beat Springfield Week 9 to finish 2-7. That might get them in as they have the highest number of opponent wins in the CS8 (34).
Better than 50/50- Springfield and Southeast. Springfield has won the last 2 weeks and has 1-5 U High at home Week 9. Southeast will get a forfeit Week 8 and then faces Lincoln at home Week 9.
Lanphier (0-6) at SHG (5-1)
This should be a chance for the Cyclones to get the reserves in early. SHG 56 Lanphier 6. Massey: SHG 52-6.
U High (1-5) at Rochester (6-0)
Homecoming and Senior Night for the Rockets and their first home game since Week 2. An opportunity for Rochester to get significant time particularly for the non-starting Seniors. Rochester 49 U High 7. Massey: Rochester 49-8.
Southeast (1-5) at Jacksonville (5-1)
The Spartans have big play passing ability on offense but have struggled to hold most opponents under 50 points. The Crimsons have been able to run successfully against everyone but SHG this season. Jacksonville 58 Southeast 18. Massey: Jacksonville 48-8.
Hillsboro (6-0) at Lincoln (1-5)
Hillsboro, an unbeaten 3a school from the South Central Conference, replaces Eisenhower on the Railers schedule. Lincoln has struggled mightily since Week 1 and had several injuries last week against U High, including losing their starting QB. The Hilltoppers should improve to 7-0. Hillsboro 35 Lincoln 7. Massey: Hillsboro 42-21.
QND (3-3) at Springfield (2-4)
Springfield won last year 35-29 in Quincy after QND won in '24 14-7 at Springfield. After struggling to score points the first 4 Weeks, Springfield has scored 45 and 56 the last 2 games against Lanphier and Southeast. Each team has lost to Jacksonville and SHG. The Raiders lost by 15 and 19 points respectively, while the Senators losing margins were 35 and 41. While Springfield scored plenty of points in Weeks 5 and 6, the Raiders defense will be much more challenging and held a strong SHG offense to 19 last week. QND should improve to 4-3. QND 29 Springfield 16. Massey: QND 32-14.
Chatham (4-2) at MacArthur (5-1)
The Game of the Week. MacArthur is coming off a bye after getting a forfeit over Eisenhower Week 6. It could help them if their featured RB Cayden Brown returns healthy after missing several weeks of playing time. However, the layoff could also result in a slow start by the Generals. Both teams have won easily when playing weaker teams this season. The Titans 4 wins have come against opponents with a combined record of 3-21. Mac's 4 on the field wins have been against teams with a 4-20 record. For the Generals, a bubble 4a or 5a team in the playoffs, a win at home would help them to either a possible 7-2 or 8-1 regular season record. The Titans need a victory to have a chance at ending 6-3 and getting a Week 10 bye in 6a. If the game was at Chatham, I'd take the Titans but am going with the Generals in a very close call. MacArthur 26 Chatham 24. Massey: Chatham 40-21.
Playoff Update
In and Playing for a Week 10 Bye- Rochester, SHG, Jacksonville, MacArthur, and Chatham.
In but Playing Week 10- QND.
Out- Lanphier. Don't see how they can do better than 1-8.
Hanging By a Thread- Lincoln. The Railers have not scored an offensive TD since Week 1.
Needs Help- U High. Has to beat Springfield Week 9 to finish 2-7. That might get them in as they have the highest number of opponent wins in the CS8 (34).
Better than 50/50- Springfield and Southeast. Springfield has won the last 2 weeks and has 1-5 U High at home Week 9. Southeast will get a forfeit Week 8 and then faces Lincoln at home Week 9.
Lanphier (0-6) at SHG (5-1)
This should be a chance for the Cyclones to get the reserves in early. SHG 56 Lanphier 6. Massey: SHG 52-6.
U High (1-5) at Rochester (6-0)
Homecoming and Senior Night for the Rockets and their first home game since Week 2. An opportunity for Rochester to get significant time particularly for the non-starting Seniors. Rochester 49 U High 7. Massey: Rochester 49-8.
Southeast (1-5) at Jacksonville (5-1)
The Spartans have big play passing ability on offense but have struggled to hold most opponents under 50 points. The Crimsons have been able to run successfully against everyone but SHG this season. Jacksonville 58 Southeast 18. Massey: Jacksonville 48-8.
Hillsboro (6-0) at Lincoln (1-5)
Hillsboro, an unbeaten 3a school from the South Central Conference, replaces Eisenhower on the Railers schedule. Lincoln has struggled mightily since Week 1 and had several injuries last week against U High, including losing their starting QB. The Hilltoppers should improve to 7-0. Hillsboro 35 Lincoln 7. Massey: Hillsboro 42-21.
QND (3-3) at Springfield (2-4)
Springfield won last year 35-29 in Quincy after QND won in '24 14-7 at Springfield. After struggling to score points the first 4 Weeks, Springfield has scored 45 and 56 the last 2 games against Lanphier and Southeast. Each team has lost to Jacksonville and SHG. The Raiders lost by 15 and 19 points respectively, while the Senators losing margins were 35 and 41. While Springfield scored plenty of points in Weeks 5 and 6, the Raiders defense will be much more challenging and held a strong SHG offense to 19 last week. QND should improve to 4-3. QND 29 Springfield 16. Massey: QND 32-14.
Chatham (4-2) at MacArthur (5-1)
The Game of the Week. MacArthur is coming off a bye after getting a forfeit over Eisenhower Week 6. It could help them if their featured RB Cayden Brown returns healthy after missing several weeks of playing time. However, the layoff could also result in a slow start by the Generals. Both teams have won easily when playing weaker teams this season. The Titans 4 wins have come against opponents with a combined record of 3-21. Mac's 4 on the field wins have been against teams with a 4-20 record. For the Generals, a bubble 4a or 5a team in the playoffs, a win at home would help them to either a possible 7-2 or 8-1 regular season record. The Titans need a victory to have a chance at ending 6-3 and getting a Week 10 bye in 6a. If the game was at Chatham, I'd take the Titans but am going with the Generals in a very close call. MacArthur 26 Chatham 24. Massey: Chatham 40-21.
