Recent content by rocketnation

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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    That was a crazy risk that paid off. He had a play against the Rockets that still sticks with me. Blitzed on a 3rd and long, Rochelle back pedaled at least 15-20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, avoided multiple sack chances, finally decided to run when a gap opened in the middle, and ended...
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Former Titan Coach David Hay will be on the staff of the Red team in the upcoming June 20th Shrine game at Illinois Wesleyan. Former CS8 players who will be on the Red team are DE Connor Broughton (Rochester), DB Chezno Cottone (U High), LB Tate McCue (Chatham), and OL Zach Poole (Lincoln).
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Former Springfield High QB Rashad Rochelle, who played first at Rutgers and then at Indiana State as a WR, has been invited to participate in the Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp.
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    2026 - 5A

    Rochester's days of flirting with 5A enrollment classification are gone. After years of being near the top of the 4A playoff schools in enrollment, Rochester was 21st out of the 32 4A playoff qualifiers last year with 682 students. If current trends hold up, they could be as low as 600 students...
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Hoped he might be the first Rocket to get drafted. Sean Robinson, Wes Lunt, Garrett Dooley, and Avante Cox were previously in camps with various teams as free agents. Dooley had the most success, being on the Lions practice squad for a season. As I felt when he went to the U of I, Beatty will...
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Hank Beatty has been signed as a free agent by the Tennessee Titans.
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    Illinois HS played football before the 2000’s… let’s hear all those draft picks….

    WR Jeff Query from Maroa, who played at D-3 Millikin, was a 5th round pick of Green Bay in 1989.
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Fair point. If the Titans struggle this year, there is a built-in excuse. After that, it will be harder to justify if they can't return to the top of the CS8.
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    2026 NFL Draft names from the State of Illinois?

    I've seen projections for Rochester/ U of I WR Hank Beatty for anywhere from the 6th round to UFA.
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    And who knows, maybe more to come.
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Chatham has an opportunity to play a lot of Juniors and maybe a few Sophomores in the fall. They will probably take their lumps for a season but should rebound by '27. Rochester's upcoming Senior class has been talked about since their JFL days but don't sleep on the Cycs either. Lots returning...
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Carterville also has a cannon. Somehow, I managed to forget a shot was coming after each Lions score and each time it was fired in the '22 playoff game with Rochester I jumped a foot (my total vertical at this point in life).
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    Montini Catholic QB Izzy Abrams to the Miami Hurricanes

    If he could somehow be an early admit, I wouldn't complain.
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    CS8 2026 Schedule (Complete)

    Ken's father was a longtime board member at the University of Illinois back when members were chosen by the voters. After leaving Chatham, Ken Jr played for several years as a TE at the U of I. In the championship game against Bishop Mac, Ken had both a Receiving TD and a Pick 6. If anyone has...