The 8-week streak of wearing shorts to the game will end Friday as it finally feels like fall in Central Illinois. High Friday of only 62 and the wind has really picked up the last few days.
Playoff Outlook
In-Chatham (8-0, 5A/6A Bubble), Springfield (5-3, 5A), MacArthur (5-3, 4A/5A Bubble), SHG (6-2, 4A/5A Bubble), Rochester (7-1, 4A), QND (6-2, 4A).
Likely to Get In-U High (4-4, 5A) and Jacksonville (4-4, 4A).
Out-Southeast (2-6), Lanphier (1-7), Lincoln (1-7), and Eisenhower (1-7).
All Week 9 games are on Friday.
Eisenhower (1-7) at Southeast (2-6)
Eisenhower got its 1st win of the season last week beating Lanphier 27-21 by scoring on the final play of the game. Southeast beat Lanphier 19-18 Week 7. Southeast has also beat Lincoln, while Eisenhower lost to the Railers in Week 5. Considering that Eisenhower lost a 1,000-yard rusher to transfer to MacArthur, the Panthers have made some strides in the 2nd half of the season. The Spartans have been running clocked in all of their losses and have not scored more than 19 points in any game. Taking Southeast only because they're playing at home. Southeast 22 Eisenhower 20. Massey: Eisenhower 35-34.
Lanphier (1-7) at U High (4-4)
Lanphier has only narrowly missed out being 3-5 coming into Week 9 after going 0-9 last year and being running clocked 8 times. The Lions have lost the last two weeks to Southeast and Eisenhower by a total of 7 points. Both games came down to the final play. U High needs this game to clinch a playoff spot and should get the win at home. U High 42 Lanphier 12. Massey: U High 48-6.
Lincoln (1-7) at Jacksonville (4-4)
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Crimsons dug deep on the road last week and rallied to beat MacArthur 36-33. One of the best conference games of the year. The Railers have struggled this year after going 4-5 in '24 and making the playoffs in '23. Jacksonville should get their 5th win comfortably. Jacksonville 42 Lincoln 7. Massey: Jacksonville 42-7.
Chatham (8-0) at Springfield (5-3)
A contest between playoff qualifiers, one to be in 5A and the other on the bubble between 5A/6A. A Titans victory ensures a perfect 9-0 regular season. After sitting QB Brody Scheffler and several other key players for most of the contest against Rochester last week, will the Solons play everyone Friday or sit them for a 2nd week? Either way Chatham should be heavily favored. If Scheffler and his best Receivers play, the Senators have a chance to put up some points but would still be a major underdog. It would be nice to see Scheffler and Colten Knoedler, both 3-year starters with impressive numbers, compete. The Titans will go 9-0. Chatham 49-7 if the Senators sit their key players, 54-24 if Scheffler and others play. Massey: Chatham 49-18.
MacArthur (5-3) at QND (6-2)
Another matchup of playoff qualifiers, one to be in 4A and the other on the 4A/5A bubble. MacArthur has a running QB and a speedy RB. Both can cause defenses trouble if you allow them to get outside. They do not pass unless forced to and the Generals defense struggled to get stops against Chatham, Rochester, and were wore down by Jacksonville last week. QND has better offensive balance and is playing at home. They also shut out the Crimsons in Week 7. Waiting to hear from Roamin whether Mac actually kicks to Gavin Doellman. QND 37 MacArthur 14. Massey: QND 42-14.
Rochester (7-1) at SHG (6-2)
The final game between playoff qualifiers, with SHG on the bubble between 4A/5A and Rochester in 4A. Both teams led Chatham by multiple scores in the 4th Quarter but were unable to finish off the Titans. In Week 4, the Rockets led 35-21 at home with the ball before losing in OT 43-42. Last week, SHG led 24-7 on the road early in the 4th before eventually falling 35-31 when Chatham scored in the final 30 seconds. As in 2019, 2021, and 2022, there's a fair chance this could only be Round 1 between the two teams. The major difference would be that the initial contests those years were much earlier in the season than this one. Rochester is averaging 49 points per game; SHG 47. SHG QB Cam Brinkman has been very impressive his Junior year. Along with his passing abilities, Brinkman is a major running threat something that neither JP Leonard nor Tanner Beal do that often for the Rockets. Rochester hopes to avoid a slow start. In Week 2 on the road against Mt Zion, the Rockets were behind most of the game and rallying on the road isn't easy. KL Stadium has not treated Rochester well over the years, with the lone Rocket victory being in 2023. Both teams know each other very well. Turnover differential and a handful of big plays should decide the outcome. Rochester 31 SHG 30. Massey: Rochester 42-35.
Playoff Outlook
In-Chatham (8-0, 5A/6A Bubble), Springfield (5-3, 5A), MacArthur (5-3, 4A/5A Bubble), SHG (6-2, 4A/5A Bubble), Rochester (7-1, 4A), QND (6-2, 4A).
Likely to Get In-U High (4-4, 5A) and Jacksonville (4-4, 4A).
Out-Southeast (2-6), Lanphier (1-7), Lincoln (1-7), and Eisenhower (1-7).
All Week 9 games are on Friday.
Eisenhower (1-7) at Southeast (2-6)
Eisenhower got its 1st win of the season last week beating Lanphier 27-21 by scoring on the final play of the game. Southeast beat Lanphier 19-18 Week 7. Southeast has also beat Lincoln, while Eisenhower lost to the Railers in Week 5. Considering that Eisenhower lost a 1,000-yard rusher to transfer to MacArthur, the Panthers have made some strides in the 2nd half of the season. The Spartans have been running clocked in all of their losses and have not scored more than 19 points in any game. Taking Southeast only because they're playing at home. Southeast 22 Eisenhower 20. Massey: Eisenhower 35-34.
Lanphier (1-7) at U High (4-4)
Lanphier has only narrowly missed out being 3-5 coming into Week 9 after going 0-9 last year and being running clocked 8 times. The Lions have lost the last two weeks to Southeast and Eisenhower by a total of 7 points. Both games came down to the final play. U High needs this game to clinch a playoff spot and should get the win at home. U High 42 Lanphier 12. Massey: U High 48-6.
Lincoln (1-7) at Jacksonville (4-4)
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Crimsons dug deep on the road last week and rallied to beat MacArthur 36-33. One of the best conference games of the year. The Railers have struggled this year after going 4-5 in '24 and making the playoffs in '23. Jacksonville should get their 5th win comfortably. Jacksonville 42 Lincoln 7. Massey: Jacksonville 42-7.
Chatham (8-0) at Springfield (5-3)
A contest between playoff qualifiers, one to be in 5A and the other on the bubble between 5A/6A. A Titans victory ensures a perfect 9-0 regular season. After sitting QB Brody Scheffler and several other key players for most of the contest against Rochester last week, will the Solons play everyone Friday or sit them for a 2nd week? Either way Chatham should be heavily favored. If Scheffler and his best Receivers play, the Senators have a chance to put up some points but would still be a major underdog. It would be nice to see Scheffler and Colten Knoedler, both 3-year starters with impressive numbers, compete. The Titans will go 9-0. Chatham 49-7 if the Senators sit their key players, 54-24 if Scheffler and others play. Massey: Chatham 49-18.
MacArthur (5-3) at QND (6-2)
Another matchup of playoff qualifiers, one to be in 4A and the other on the 4A/5A bubble. MacArthur has a running QB and a speedy RB. Both can cause defenses trouble if you allow them to get outside. They do not pass unless forced to and the Generals defense struggled to get stops against Chatham, Rochester, and were wore down by Jacksonville last week. QND has better offensive balance and is playing at home. They also shut out the Crimsons in Week 7. Waiting to hear from Roamin whether Mac actually kicks to Gavin Doellman. QND 37 MacArthur 14. Massey: QND 42-14.
Rochester (7-1) at SHG (6-2)
The final game between playoff qualifiers, with SHG on the bubble between 4A/5A and Rochester in 4A. Both teams led Chatham by multiple scores in the 4th Quarter but were unable to finish off the Titans. In Week 4, the Rockets led 35-21 at home with the ball before losing in OT 43-42. Last week, SHG led 24-7 on the road early in the 4th before eventually falling 35-31 when Chatham scored in the final 30 seconds. As in 2019, 2021, and 2022, there's a fair chance this could only be Round 1 between the two teams. The major difference would be that the initial contests those years were much earlier in the season than this one. Rochester is averaging 49 points per game; SHG 47. SHG QB Cam Brinkman has been very impressive his Junior year. Along with his passing abilities, Brinkman is a major running threat something that neither JP Leonard nor Tanner Beal do that often for the Rockets. Rochester hopes to avoid a slow start. In Week 2 on the road against Mt Zion, the Rockets were behind most of the game and rallying on the road isn't easy. KL Stadium has not treated Rochester well over the years, with the lone Rocket victory being in 2023. Both teams know each other very well. Turnover differential and a handful of big plays should decide the outcome. Rochester 31 SHG 30. Massey: Rochester 42-35.
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Or, per the usual, just delusional hope.
