Minonk (Fieldcrest)
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So the community situation in Stockton is identical to Minonk? Why do you assume every small town community throughout the state is identical and should reflect that on a football field?
It's down right comical if you believe the community is lacking something just because they can't field a high school football team. It's also sad that you're so narrow minded that you believe just because there's successful small town programs around the state that they all must be the exact same.
What if I said, jeez, why can't Leo be just as good as MC? They're both CCL schools who can recruit. It really is a shame that Leo can't figure it out. Those parents, teachers, coaches, administrators, and those with any pride should be ashamed of themselves!
Maybe the kids don't want to play football, maybe there's not enough teachers or parents to fill out a coaching staff. They won 7 total games in the last 4 years, they must not be that tough and hard nosed.
You said yourself that they have a solid basketball team, so why can't the community rally around that? Why does it have to be football? Haven't you seen Hoosiers?
All.... In the mix as well that has effected all size schools with all the national attention which included movies is the head injury and concussion issue. I know of several hs kids in town (good athletes) not playing because their parents said no way. Ratsy
I did. Your turn. What are your reasons why you feel that Minonk, regardless of their situation, should field a team? Simply because that's how it was 30-40 years ago?
There's any number of reasons Stockton can do it and Minonk can't. Do boys even want to play football? Being that they can't field a team I think you know the answer to that one. Do they have people that want to coach? Do they have the funding required to field a team? The answer to all of these questions for Stockton is yes. Can Minonk say the same?
You think that all it takes is a good coach, kids who want nothing more than to play HS football, and pride in community to be a successful program for years to come, I bet some of the people of Alleman had the same thinking.
Your assumption is that all small towns exist in a vacuum and since one school, which didn't exist before 1992, and has 9 all time playoff wins should automatically be able to have the same type of program as a school like Stockton who's first season of football was 1919 simply because they're also a small community.
Outside of maybe 10-15ish small (1A to 2A) schools who have consistent success across the state the rest are all either cyclical or are never successful. Which leads to schools not fielding teams or going to 8 man. You previously mentioned Dwight, we'll they can't field a team by themselves, they co-op for football.
Generally agree with all this, except I don’t think Dwight has their co-op with Gardner anymore. Their enrollment went from 403 in 2024 to 210 in 2025 and they are not listed as a co-op per IHSA.org.
I believe they weren’t getting enough kids from G-SW to justify nearly doubling their enrollment and going from 1A to 2A (and awfully close to 3A.) Pretty sure they were the largest 2A in 2024 and Wilmo was smallest 3A.
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I think that may have been the reason for the breakup of the old Villa Grove/Heritage coop (which is apparently back on this year). I've seen similar things happen in Iowa.
How exactly do you know that these small towns are filled with "hard noses kids?"
The issue with Fieldcrest is a multitude of small things.
1. These hard nosed kids haven't been very successful the past few years so losing games usually doesn't help get kids they don't play to play.
2. JFL program has struggled the past few years getting enough kids to field teams, you are now seeing those groups enter high school.
3. They all have a slight downward trend on enrollment the next few years. Dropped by 25 students from 24-25. For a small school, that's the entire program.
4. I could be wrong but either there Soph or Junior class is pretty smaller, something like 40 or so kids, assume half are girls, so they gives you a pool of 20 to pull from. And if half play, that's 10 kids from that class.
5. HS sports are not as important as they once were and some kids and families don't see the value in sports for their child.
6. Fieldcrest has great support from the community and the administration but they can't force kids to play against their will if they don't want to.
#5 is what some don't understand. HS sports is just not very important to a large % of kids, parents, etc...
Minonk has seen their enrollment drop from 337 in their semi final season in 2019 to 244 last year.
I will say I have found no information for anyone else. Clifton Central has the "easiest" time because they could play Tuscola, which is a reasonable drive, but Tuscola needs the home game as it's their homecoming and I know Clifton Central had a home matchup that week.
I see very few reasonable games otherwise. Some will doubtless be calling Westmont.
Oakwood and Dwight will meet in Week 4 now.
I've seen no official release but would say that I'm 99.9% sure Watseka isn't playing Varsity this fall.
I've seen no official release but would say that I'm 99.9% sure Watseka isn't playing Varsity this fall.
There are numerous teams with worse enrollment decline still playing football.
Stockton only has 29 kids in their senior class this year and somehow beat Lena.
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It's also Central's homecoming as well. Who will budge first. Maybe they can go Neutral and play at U of I
100% they notified the conference schools. Their HC also took a job as an assistant at Tri Valley where he was at before. I honestly dont know if Watseka ever gets back to 11 man football. Time will tell.
Congrats to Stockton! How many of those Seniors played football id guess over 10 seniors in this class which is fantastic.
You cannot just count kids, with that small a class, what is the mix? If Fieldcrest has 29 kids, but 18 are girls and 4 of the boys aren't FB players, where does that leave them?