Unlike the last two years, which featured extreme heat plus thunderstorms, Week 1 looks to have outstanding weather.
3 games with out of state opponents and 1 CS8 vs CS8 contest (Lanphier vs Lincoln). 3 games also played on either Thursday or Saturday.
Remember, everyone has hope until at least 7:05 pm game night. Good luck to all.
Thursday
Springfield at Champaign Central (6 pm)
Springfield won 44-12 last year and perhaps have the most returning starters in the CS8. Central was 3-6 last year. They do return a QB with some starting experience and got a 1,000-yard RB transfer from Centennial. Springfield needs to rack up as many wins as possible in the first half of the season, as they end it with 5 teams in a row that made the playoffs last year. Springfield 38-20 (Massey: Springfield 35-14).
Friday (All Games at 7 PM)
Lincoln at Lanphier
Lincoln won 32-0 last year and ended with a 4-5 record. It was the closest contest of the year for the 0-9 Lions. Lincoln has a new QB and mostly new skill players with their most experience on the O-Line. Lanphier does return their same head coach and that should bring some stability to the program, but wins are still going to be hard to come by. Lincoln 30-6. (Massey: Lincoln 42-13).
East Peoria at Southeast
East Peoria came from behind at home last season to edge Southeast 28-26 in Coach Nate Borders first game. East Peoria went 4-5, while Southeast was 2-7. The Spartans return QB Tony Boyd who had a solid season in '24 and have a chance to win in the first home game at the renovated stadium. This should be another close contest. I've been burned before by being overly optimistic about Southeast. Here I go again. Southeast 33-30. (Massey: East Peoria 30-28).
Grandville Hillsboro (MO) at Quincy Notre Dame
I know nothing about Grandville other than they were 4-6 last season. QND had a great 1st season (10-2) in the CS8 but was hit pretty hard by graduation and will be starting a new QB. This is a good opportunity for him to gain needed experience. QND 35-10. (Massey: QND 46-6).
Christian Brothers (MO) at SHG
CBC was 9-2 last year and is ranked as the 4th best team in Missouri. They have multiple D-1 prospects. There's no doubt SHG has the most challenging Week 1 opponent of any CS8 school. CBC won 45-0 last year. SHG returns QB Cam Brinkman and RB-LB Mikey Groesch. They should both have big years, but this is a very difficult opponent. CBC 39-17. (Massey: CBC 42-7).
U High at Peoria Manual
U High won 64-28 last year. Peoria Manual ended the season 1-8. The Pioneers, which made it to the 4A semifinals last season, will miss elite QB Alek Weiland but should win this one easily. They do return WR Cade Cunnigham, who led the CS8 in Receiving last season. U High 49-12. (Massey: U High 44-10).
Mattoon at Decatur MacArthur
Mac won easily last season 47-6. Both teams went 2-7 in '24. That was a big drop off for the Generals, who were 6-4 in '23. The rumored return of elite RB Myson Johnson Cook from Texas turned out not to happen. Will MacArthur be closer to their '23 or '24 team this season? Regardless, they should start out 1-0. MacArthur 34-14. (Massey: MacArthur 35-16).
Decatur Eisenhower at Streator
Streator won 20-12 last year. They were 3-6 in '24, while Eisenhower was 1-8. This should be another competitive game. Ike returns RB Jaterryon Moore who rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 TD's last season. Streator should get a close home win. Streator 28-20. (Massey: Streator 35-21).
Chatham at Edwardsville
Chatham has a chance to make a statement to rest of the conference against a strong 7A/8A program. Edwardsville won at Chatham 14-7 last year, after the game was postponed a day due to lightning. The Tigers went on to a 6-4 season and a 1st round 8A playoff loss to eventual runner-up York. They return their starting QB and a dangerous WR but the Titans have the experience advantage this year. QB Colten Knoedler, RB Grady Mueller, and WR Blake Lehnen are all multi-year starters who should have big Senior seasons. I expect this to be a hard-fought game, but the Titans should come out on top. Chatham 35-24. (Massey: 41-14 Edwardsville).
Saturday
Gibson Southern (IN) at Rochester (2 PM)
Gibson Southern was 7-3 last year. They came from behind in the final minute last week to edge Danville (IN) at home 35-28. They have a QB who is a threat to both run and pass and had a big game last week. Having played a game already should be helpful to Gibson Southern. Rochester will be playing its 1st game at their renovated stadium. It appears that Senior Tanner Beal and Junior JP Leonard will share time at QB. Will it be a 50-50 split and could Sophomore Khordell Gregory also get some snaps? This will be a strong test for the Rockets and an indication particularly of the progress of the Defense. Rochester 38-27. (Massey: 36-26 Rochester).
Highland at Jacksonville (7 PM)
Highland was 7-4 last year and lost to Morris in the 2nd round of the 5A playoffs. The Crimsons also made the 5A playoffs and lost in the 1st round to Joliet Catholic. Jacksonville returns their starting QB and two experienced RB's. They will have an entirely new Offensive Line and will need to have a better run-pass balance this year to be successful. Highland is always a playoff contender but I'm not sure how much they return from last season. This is a winnable game for the Crimsons and would give them a huge boost to start the season. Jacksonville 30-28. (Massey: Highland 38-20).
3 games with out of state opponents and 1 CS8 vs CS8 contest (Lanphier vs Lincoln). 3 games also played on either Thursday or Saturday.
Remember, everyone has hope until at least 7:05 pm game night. Good luck to all.
Thursday
Springfield at Champaign Central (6 pm)
Springfield won 44-12 last year and perhaps have the most returning starters in the CS8. Central was 3-6 last year. They do return a QB with some starting experience and got a 1,000-yard RB transfer from Centennial. Springfield needs to rack up as many wins as possible in the first half of the season, as they end it with 5 teams in a row that made the playoffs last year. Springfield 38-20 (Massey: Springfield 35-14).
Friday (All Games at 7 PM)
Lincoln at Lanphier
Lincoln won 32-0 last year and ended with a 4-5 record. It was the closest contest of the year for the 0-9 Lions. Lincoln has a new QB and mostly new skill players with their most experience on the O-Line. Lanphier does return their same head coach and that should bring some stability to the program, but wins are still going to be hard to come by. Lincoln 30-6. (Massey: Lincoln 42-13).
East Peoria at Southeast
East Peoria came from behind at home last season to edge Southeast 28-26 in Coach Nate Borders first game. East Peoria went 4-5, while Southeast was 2-7. The Spartans return QB Tony Boyd who had a solid season in '24 and have a chance to win in the first home game at the renovated stadium. This should be another close contest. I've been burned before by being overly optimistic about Southeast. Here I go again. Southeast 33-30. (Massey: East Peoria 30-28).
Grandville Hillsboro (MO) at Quincy Notre Dame
I know nothing about Grandville other than they were 4-6 last season. QND had a great 1st season (10-2) in the CS8 but was hit pretty hard by graduation and will be starting a new QB. This is a good opportunity for him to gain needed experience. QND 35-10. (Massey: QND 46-6).
Christian Brothers (MO) at SHG
CBC was 9-2 last year and is ranked as the 4th best team in Missouri. They have multiple D-1 prospects. There's no doubt SHG has the most challenging Week 1 opponent of any CS8 school. CBC won 45-0 last year. SHG returns QB Cam Brinkman and RB-LB Mikey Groesch. They should both have big years, but this is a very difficult opponent. CBC 39-17. (Massey: CBC 42-7).
U High at Peoria Manual
U High won 64-28 last year. Peoria Manual ended the season 1-8. The Pioneers, which made it to the 4A semifinals last season, will miss elite QB Alek Weiland but should win this one easily. They do return WR Cade Cunnigham, who led the CS8 in Receiving last season. U High 49-12. (Massey: U High 44-10).
Mattoon at Decatur MacArthur
Mac won easily last season 47-6. Both teams went 2-7 in '24. That was a big drop off for the Generals, who were 6-4 in '23. The rumored return of elite RB Myson Johnson Cook from Texas turned out not to happen. Will MacArthur be closer to their '23 or '24 team this season? Regardless, they should start out 1-0. MacArthur 34-14. (Massey: MacArthur 35-16).
Decatur Eisenhower at Streator
Streator won 20-12 last year. They were 3-6 in '24, while Eisenhower was 1-8. This should be another competitive game. Ike returns RB Jaterryon Moore who rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 TD's last season. Streator should get a close home win. Streator 28-20. (Massey: Streator 35-21).
Chatham at Edwardsville
Chatham has a chance to make a statement to rest of the conference against a strong 7A/8A program. Edwardsville won at Chatham 14-7 last year, after the game was postponed a day due to lightning. The Tigers went on to a 6-4 season and a 1st round 8A playoff loss to eventual runner-up York. They return their starting QB and a dangerous WR but the Titans have the experience advantage this year. QB Colten Knoedler, RB Grady Mueller, and WR Blake Lehnen are all multi-year starters who should have big Senior seasons. I expect this to be a hard-fought game, but the Titans should come out on top. Chatham 35-24. (Massey: 41-14 Edwardsville).
Saturday
Gibson Southern (IN) at Rochester (2 PM)
Gibson Southern was 7-3 last year. They came from behind in the final minute last week to edge Danville (IN) at home 35-28. They have a QB who is a threat to both run and pass and had a big game last week. Having played a game already should be helpful to Gibson Southern. Rochester will be playing its 1st game at their renovated stadium. It appears that Senior Tanner Beal and Junior JP Leonard will share time at QB. Will it be a 50-50 split and could Sophomore Khordell Gregory also get some snaps? This will be a strong test for the Rockets and an indication particularly of the progress of the Defense. Rochester 38-27. (Massey: 36-26 Rochester).
Highland at Jacksonville (7 PM)
Highland was 7-4 last year and lost to Morris in the 2nd round of the 5A playoffs. The Crimsons also made the 5A playoffs and lost in the 1st round to Joliet Catholic. Jacksonville returns their starting QB and two experienced RB's. They will have an entirely new Offensive Line and will need to have a better run-pass balance this year to be successful. Highland is always a playoff contender but I'm not sure how much they return from last season. This is a winnable game for the Crimsons and would give them a huge boost to start the season. Jacksonville 30-28. (Massey: Highland 38-20).
Last edited:
