What did we learn week 9?!?

LakeCtyNewt

All-Conference
Nov 13, 2002
8,150
4,614
63
And just like that the season is over. Now the fun starts.

Here is our last regular season installment until the playoffs

1 - That Palatine soared to the top of the MSL just like no one predicted
2 - That many familiar faces are not playing - GBW, IC Prep, Carmel Cath, LZ.
3 - That ESL showed nationally and that’s good for Illinois
4 - That a round 2 of St Francis and Naz will be fun if we get it
5 - That the lowest number of total unbeatens in a season since edgy and I were in HS should make for a fun postseason
6 - That Lockport came on a little too late
7 - That what is rumored to have occurred at Rochester isn’t funny, isn’t football and isn’t good.
8 - That Libertyville and Stevenson closed the tab on the NSC
9 - That teams that chose to sandbag in week 9 may choose to regret it later.
10 - That despite the outcry of some, NO, NOT EVERY TEAM SHOULD MAKE THE PLAYOFFS- leave my football as is!

See you all after the post season.
 

FB1976

Junior
Aug 26, 2023
268
378
63
You are right-on with #7 LC, but this s#!$ is not confined to one school. It's staggering...the amount of parents/kids from other schools who've come up to me since this story broke saying "If they only knew about (so and so)" or "I hope they don't find out about (so and so)".

I don't say this to excuse anything that has occurred...all I'm saying, people, is check on your kids and their programs. There's probably stuff going on you don't know about. And whether you think it's harmless fun or not, it can get your program in a heap of trouble.

Nip this tomfoolery in the bud before the IHSA is forced to do something drastic.
 

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,807
7,553
113
I learned what I kind of always knew but the MC Homer in me didn't want to admit. That despite having an extremely difficult schedule, and having some very talented players, that this just might not be MC's year. They had a very big reload after losing numerous D1 starters, including the Sun Times POY in Dupree. While I saw some outstanding young talent in Sophomores Burrell, Harrington, Igwebuike, Harris and Freshman Marshaun Thorton and Caleb "Bonecrusher" Tucker, there is some major issues in the secondary. Teams with strong passing games just picked them apart, and the RB position, which has always been a strong point at MC, was missing this year. Jack Elliott has been an absolute Warrior and had he remained fully healthy I might be a little more optimistic but unless he's able to start using his running ability to go with his passing ability it could be a difficult road to getting Title #16 this season with SCN and their strong passing game in round 2, a possible rematch with rival SR in the semis and the probable likelihood of DGN, Batavia or BR in the Title game. I WILL GLADLY EAT MY WORDS and have a slice of crow pie but this is the realist in me thinking with my head and not my heart.
 

crusader_of_90

All-American
Nov 1, 2003
11,366
9,315
113
3.1) that some guy named Anthony S posted this on social media posts about the Flyer game: East St. Louis has lost 2of the last 3 times they played Cary Grove, including last year when Cary Grove beat them for the 6A championship. Same thing will happen this year if they meet again. No one is beating Cary Grove this year!
 

GoRamblers18

Sophomore
Sep 30, 2022
98
107
33
3.1) that some guy named Anthony S posted this on social media posts about the Flyer game: East St. Louis has lost 2of the last 3 times they played Cary Grove, including last year when Cary Grove beat them for the 6A championship. Same thing will happen this year if they meet again. No one is beating Cary Grove this year!
ESL’s speed is elite from what I saw week 1, there is no way in hell Cary-grove makes it a game. Hopefully, I’m wrong.
 

PowerI66_

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2012
3,943
2,894
0
I learned what I kind of always knew but the MC Homer in me didn't want to admit. That despite having an extremely difficult schedule, and having some very talented players, that this just might not be MC's year. They had a very big reload after losing numerous D1 starters, including the Sun Times POY in Dupree. While I saw some outstanding young talent in Sophomores Burrell, Harrington, Igwebuike, Harris and Freshman Marshaun Thorton and Caleb "Bonecrusher" Tucker, there is some major issues in the secondary. Teams with strong passing games just picked them apart, and the RB position, which has always been a strong point at MC, was missing this year. Jack Elliott has been an absolute Warrior and had he remained fully healthy I might be a little more optimistic but unless he's able to start using his running ability to go with his passing ability it could be a difficult road to getting Title #16 this season with SCN and their strong passing game in round 2, a possible rematch with rival SR in the semis and the probable likelihood of DGN, Batavia or BR in the Title game. I WILL GLADLY EAT MY WORDS and have a slice of crow pie but this is the realist in me thinking with my head and not my heart.
MC will level out with SCN when it comes to the trenches. I won't derail this thread too much though 🤣
 

greatgig13

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2014
2,369
2,754
0
3.1) that some guy named Anthony S posted this on social media posts about the Flyer game: East St. Louis has lost 2of the last 3 times they played Cary Grove, including last year when Cary Grove beat them for the 6A championship. Same thing will happen this year if they meet again. No one is beating Cary Grove this year!
I take comments like that with a grain of salt. Could be anybody stirring the pot. Not that I’ve ever seen that before in here from non CG fans. :rolleyes: It’s a journey to the finals and it’s anyone’s to get there, at least from the north.
 

CCHS-Fan

Senior
Oct 4, 2001
2,038
600
66
12. You really do still need 5 wins to make the playoffs and the 4 win & playoff points qualifying of 2023 may be a true outlier

You also had a final week of the season where ZERO 4-4 teams (57 total) went head-to-head.

That was an outlier situation, too.

Crazy odds of that happening.
 

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,416
1,818
113
I learned what I kind of always knew but the MC Homer in me didn't want to admit. That despite having an extremely difficult schedule, and having some very talented players, that this just might not be MC's year. They had a very big reload after losing numerous D1 starters, including the Sun Times POY in Dupree. While I saw some outstanding young talent in Sophomores Burrell, Harrington, Igwebuike, Harris and Freshman Marshaun Thorton and Caleb "Bonecrusher" Tucker, there is some major issues in the secondary. Teams with strong passing games just picked them apart, and the RB position, which has always been a strong point at MC, was missing this year. Jack Elliott has been an absolute Warrior and had he remained fully healthy I might be a little more optimistic but unless he's able to start using his running ability to go with his passing ability it could be a difficult road to getting Title #16 this season with SCN and their strong passing game in round 2, a possible rematch with rival SR in the semis and the probable likelihood of DGN, Batavia or BR in the Title game. I WILL GLADLY EAT MY WORDS and have a slice of crow pie but this is the realist in me thinking with my head and not my heart.
I've learned that I know you well enough that you are being sincere here, and MC certainly has had such a great run the last several years. Expectations are very high. Edgy still has MC as rated #1 in 7A, and we all know, Edgy knows his stuff. All your points are very valid and well-taken, but until someone actually knocks MC out of the playoffs, I feel (especially as a Rita fan) the Caravan is still the team to beat.

As Power166 pointed out, the game is won in the trenches. In the end, SCN may have the lines of scrimmages to compete, but beating MC in Chicago is going to be a very difficult task. If it does get to MC vs. SR, I do think SR will play a better game than she did in Week 2. I know Nazareth humbled SR a few weeks ago, but the growth is there. It will be a lot closer, but MC has had the edge the last several years.

Appreciate the honesty, and it will certainly be an interesting ride from now until the Championship games for all classes.
 

Silver Rain

All-Conference
Jun 6, 2022
1,327
1,463
78
That MC, even after being demolished on Dante, is still, according to Mike O'Brien, "heavily favored" to win out in 7A. He says that neither DGN or Batavia pose much of a threat. Nor does he show any love to SCN, who beat Geneva but can't crack the Top 25. That leaves Rice and Rita, which is as it should be. This is the natural order of things. Lastly, if Eliott has been playing conservatively in games he could afford to lose, then he has a lot left in reserve. Can I get an "Amen" here, Jenny?
 
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kpjasion

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
1,190
919
113
And just like that the season is over. Now the fun starts.

Here is our last regular season installment until the playoffs

1 - That Palatine soared to the top of the MSL just like no one predicted
Well, I wouldn't say "no one" :p

Everyone outside the Palatine faithful wrote them off after week one, and it did take them the first few weeks to find their identity. But since they did - they've very quietly been very good.