3A south is proving to not be very good outside of the Illini Prairie. Hillsboro gone the sleeper Olympia nearly clocked by Monticello. Williamsville escapes Sparta who imo isn’t that good. (I’m a harsh grader so my good and everyone else’s is different sorry) I’m willing to bet good money it’s an Illini Prairie semifinal I felt this way when the bracket broke.
Small School Classes
- Thread starter 1A Football Guy
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Probably Monticello vs. winner of SJO and Tolono for the Semis
The Illini Prairie was loaded this year - we used to play against a couple of those teams in the old Okaw Conference, and they were tough then too.
It's a great conference. Even Pontiac is making waves this year
I was going say, seemed like you turned into a Maroa fan for a second. Ya I think with MF traveling up to AC definitely helps AC. Should be a good game. But I also think it could get ugly. It's Hard to gauge this game seeing no common opponents. I do love the fact that MF with this new playoff system will be North more times than not. Wonder what Air Jordans the HC for MF will be wearing? I haven't caught the press conference on that topic.
Nah, not a fan of MF by any means. We'll be seeing him (QND) again someday soon. But they'd take ACC to the pond next to Boyd Field and toss em in slower than they'd beat them by 40+. AC will be a different animal...
Undoubtedly the game being at AC makes a big difference. Not a lot of teams come out of playing a game at the wind-soaked Walter-Boyd, trashy tornado ruined solar farm views and all, saying "that was fun!" A true "we got homered" type of place is what I mean.
Jostes (MF HC) is... uh... interesting. Pompous, naturally, I guess that's what being the 2nd place darling of the state will do for you... Catch me on another day I'll let my real thoughts on him fly.... maybe
If I had to guess though, he's likely more concerned about someone scratching his bright blue jeep or stealing one of his 7Brew Cult Collector items from the windshield.
Will you focus Roamin.... Its not rocket science!!!!
I have to see BYRON losing.... Easy to suggest they will lose... People thought Tolono would beat Byron, and to their credit, they played well enough to beat Byron... When was the last time Bryon lost to a team from the Illini Prairie?
Monticello in the 2018 finals. If I remember correctly, very few expected Monticello to win.
Williamsville beat Byron in the finals the year after in 2019 also. Not Illini Prairie but ….
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Bigger question is when a Illini Prairie beat a CCL team?
IC walking into a state championship.
Thinking this game will be close and over 80 points will be scored.
AC has some nice skill guys but they are young.
AC by 2 since they are at home
MF traveling to unfamiliar territory defintely helps AC but Jostes will turn it into something about everyone being against MF, a common theme of his, along with the Jordans.
As always, MF has a dual threat QB, some speed at WR, and some really good athletes on the field. I know little about Aurora Christian but I would assume they see more physicality in their league that MF does in the Sangamo. It will be interesting to see how MF does in this game. AC could play spoiler to the Wilmington/EPG game everyone assumes will happen.
Byron beat IC last year. IC also probably loses points for being on the road playing on natural grass.
Would love to see Byron challenge this year, but I think IC got a lot better and while Byron is still very good, it's hard to believe they are better than last year.
Big trap game for SJO this weekend. Tolono has had their number in the playoffs including numerous years where SJO won the regular season meeting.
You ain't kidding... Unity is absolutely SJO's kryptonite in 2nd season football.
AC traditionally struggles vs power running teams. Add in a grass field and that struggle grows. Why I think they can’t be competitive vs a potential Wilmington
AC matches up very well with MF and AC is much better at home.
AC will have the best player on the field in Jalen Calloway who I think is the best football player the school has ever had. Yes, even better than Anthony Maddie. Jalen is a very fast RB/WR/FS and plays extremely physical. He set the school record for rushing yards in a career a few weeks ago and is only a junior.
AC has a very talented QB who has had a tremendous year. However he is a sophomore and we’ll see how it performs as the games get bigger and bigger
I remember they had a couple talented young kids when they played @ Wilmo, but that was 3 years ago, so I think anyone still left would have been freshman back then.
I went to every Monticello post season game that year. That Monticello team was fantastic and I couldn't stop watching. The year prior they lost to Byron by a point and had quite a few return.
The current SJO team has a equivalent offense (likely better) but is far from the 2018 Monticello defense.
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I'll take the 2 home teams.
Oakwood has 3 players on defense that are 130#'s, and that might be in uniform. 2 of the 3 do bring it as best they can.
Tough RB, short, good power and excellent balance. He's tough to bring down. Overall an interesting offense but they don't have enough to beat BC, IMO.
Oakwood is very interesting team to watch. Their Starting QB was pretty solid and he went down vs Westville in week 6. Their Back up has played better than the Starter completing 70% of his passes and 11 TDs to just 1 INT. He is also a threat to run the ball which is just another element to defend. Johnson kid is a load at RB, They got 2 big targets at WR. The Perez kid in the slot is dynamic. They are going to put a lot of stress on the Brown County defense like they probably havent seen all year.
I wouldnt count Oakwood out by any means this might be the best game in 1A on Saturday
I wouldnt count Oakwood out by any means this might be the best game in 1A on Saturday
This has become a nice post season rivalry and will be the 5th time in 6 years that these two have played.
Tri-Valley went into Wilmo in 2022 and knocked off the Cats.
AC's best players are 2 sophomores and a junior. Their junior high program is thriving. The HS program should really take off these next few years.
Wilmington 2026 reminds me of Wilmington 2022. Not one of their better teams talent wise, but still solid. TV should be favored imo so if they pull it off, I don't think it's an upset.
If my memory serves correctly Wilmington had some very unlike Wilmo turnovers in that 2022 game. I agree on the comparision of the make up of this 2026 team to 2022 though. I think as long as Wilmington takes care of ball and plays a clean game they will be fine but if they turn the ball over and give TV some extra chances could be anyones game.
Tri-Valley delivers clutch plays to topple Wilmington in Class 2A second round – Shaw Local
Trip down memory lane... this article says 3 second half Wilmo turnovers and TV hit some big plays from the QB both on the ground and through the air. TV had a beast of RB that year and Wilmo held him in check, but the QB burned them.
The 2022 TV team was very different than this one, they had the ability to play the physical style of football you need to beat Wilmington. I believe that TV was on the ropes on 2022 and a Wilmington turnover and a quick TD gave TV all the momentum which they rode all the way to the championship game.
This season they beat some quality opponents in Tuscola and Warrensburg, hung tight with EPG, and their usual pounding of BH last week. Wilmington has one loss to a very good and possible 4A semi final team. They have rolled through their schedule and
The QB for TV is good at running their option and their defense has been solid for the HoI but Wilmington's offense is a whole different beast and they have had the Vikings number the past 3 meetings, outscoring them 41-21 the last 2 meetings.
Don't get me wrong, TV definitely has a shot at this one and I expect it to be much closer than the past few years, and with a break here or there TV could come out victorious.
I'm a believer that the champ has to be taken down before I think someone will beat them. Lena was that way to start the season but I watched 3 games and knew Lena was not going all the way. Byron on the other hand has been just as dominate as they usually are and until someone drops the king I will ride with the Tigers!~~~ IC is exceptionally good against RPO teams.... An average JCA gave IC everything they could handle... If IC doesn't have the ball they can't score! What team handles the pressure will be the winner... Staying within themselves is the key...
Familiar foes, so it should be a great game
I'm thinking the winner probably gets Peotone. Lanark plays in a great conference, but all their losses are to physical teams.
