Not withstanding a big playoff run who are the biggest surprises & disappointments? Surprises? Argo & Chicago Christian were picked to be bottom of the barrell yet they are in the playoffs!!! Argo lower level teams look pretty good too.Disappointments? Kankakee underperformed so far especially getting that Mac transfer but hard to really pick.Any team who didn’t put a product on the field I’d have to say was a disappointment.Not the kids on those teams though who wanted to play.
Biggest surprises & disappointments
- Thread starter IlliniEight4ever
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5A Decatur MacArthur and 6A Springfield were the middle of the CS8 this year. Each beat the bottom 4 teams in the conference and lost badly to the top 4. In Week 6, they met in Decatur and Springfield led 28-12 late in the 3rd Quarter. Mac made an epic comeback and scored on the last play of the game to win 34-28. Their reward? Mac gets to play at Peoria next week and, in all likelihood, take a lopsided defeat.
Chicago Christian was a surprise to me, even after being around the program for the last 50 years. Lots of underclassmen playing this year. Congratulations on making the playoffs Knights ! However, heading down to Wilmington, I expect a severe beat down by the Wildcats. To me Wilmington is a model small school program that keeps the players local and are constantly at a high level. Will be an eye opener for CC
Be proud of the Knights.Won their last 4 to get in!!!
Montini not making the playoffs is a big bummer. Nothing to cheer for except St. Rita and all the CCL teams in the playoffs.
Disappointment for LW West. Started off 2-0 and wheels came off. Tough losses in winnable games vs Lockport, Bradley and a bad loss to LWC. First time in program history that LWW missed playoffs.
Which seems like a reoccurring theme, also put LW Central in the disappointment list. To cap off the year, the game Friday vs Sandburg was cancelled with 2 min left because of players fighting/shoving. Embarrassing. The Knight faithful are hoping next year brings a new HC.
Which seems like a reoccurring theme, also put LW Central in the disappointment list. To cap off the year, the game Friday vs Sandburg was cancelled with 2 min left because of players fighting/shoving. Embarrassing. The Knight faithful are hoping next year brings a new HC.
Cary-Grove dropping five in a row to finish 3-6 surprised me. Not really sure what's going on up there. Losing Friday night to (0-8) Hampshire shocked me.
Heard lots of injuries (significant = returning starters), forcing inexperienced players to take over.
And then maybe their competition is in an ‘up’ cycle? Happens.
And then maybe their competition is in an ‘up’ cycle? Happens.
I’m old.Lincoln Way Central no just Lincoln Way but I’m ok with Joliet Central lol
They may make the Prep Bowl playoffs & to all the haters tough squat.I love the Prep Bowl.Last year Niles Notre Dame went 3-6 but were a decent team.Won all 3 Catholic Prep Bowl playoff games & destroyed Kenwood in the Prep Bowl to finish 7-6
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I don’t think Montini has ever participated in the Prep Bowl playoffs. Many teams reject the invite now. I think they even changed the rules that if you make the playoffs you are not eligible, at least on the Catholic side. It used to be if you lost in the first two rounds you can jump back in but I’m not sure anymore. Once they stopped being able to play at Soldier Field and it stopped being televised, teams really lost all interest. I think for a team like Montini that had a disappointing season that something like this would be a good thing to end the he season on a high note and build on next year. It worked for ND last year, but for a team like Mount Carmel, it would be a huge let down.
Winning (or even doing fairly well) in the Prep Bowl or the NIT can work wonders for a team. Great experience to take with you the following year.
They were challenged with youth from the get go and lost most of their few returning starters to injuries.
Wow ... this is the only reference I have seen or heard about this incident in New Lenox.
Surprise - the improved programs at LT, DGN and OPRF.
Disappointment - the injury plague that seemed to run through Hinsdale Central this year, coupled with dismal offensive play calling. By week 9, I counted 4 week 1 starters on crutches, and 2 more with shoulder slings. HC started 2 freshman and 2 sophomores on offense week 9 - only 1 of the sophomores was a week 1 starter. The future looks bright, but this season was a HUGE disappointment.
Disappointment - the injury plague that seemed to run through Hinsdale Central this year, coupled with dismal offensive play calling. By week 9, I counted 4 week 1 starters on crutches, and 2 more with shoulder slings. HC started 2 freshman and 2 sophomores on offense week 9 - only 1 of the sophomores was a week 1 starter. The future looks bright, but this season was a HUGE disappointment.
Fast forward to 2:41:15. Didn't last long. But they called the game after as it was out of hand anyways.
I don’t mean to laugh at a serious situation but you can hear a fan yell “Kick his *** Sea Bass” from Dumb and Dumber and it was awesome!
At least 7 starters out the last 2 weeks, starting offensive backfield, 1 jr, 2 sophs, and 1 freshmen. Taking a rebuilding team and throw that many injuries on them....
bound to happen.
CG will be back.
I think you meant Prep bowl is the CIT. Thats the one even the NCAA and papers don't care about much like the Poop Bowl. It used to mean a lot to many and now it means nothing to everybody.
It's the invaluable experience gained from playing extra games as a team. True, the prestige s very low, but ... your knack for turning a clever phrase is right up there.
The same or more number of reps as spring ball. I'm not going to do it, but someone can figure out Prep Bowl advancement and correlate to the following season's success.
The curse of George Czart will haunt LWC forever.......