Six Friday night contests, with one CS8 vs Big 12 game (Lanphier at Champaign Central). The game of the week is SHG at Jacksonville.
Lanphier (0-2) at Champaign Central (0-2)
After two weeks, Lanphier has been outscored 118-8. Champaign Central has experienced a 104-13 deficit. Central has lost to Normal Community and Normal West, both state ranked teams. Lanphier has lost to Lincoln and Chatham. Chatham is ranked in 6A. I expect the Big 12 to get the win and move ahead 3-2 over the CS8 in non-conference play. Lanphier's best chance for a win could be next week against Eisenhower. Champaign Central 34 Lanphier 12
Southeast (0-2) at U High (1-1)
U High has played well in beating Springfield and were competitive in a 35-17 loss at SHG. Southeast lost 50-0 to MacArthur in Week 1 and 24-12 to Peoria Richwoods at home in what was a great chance to get their new coach a win. I think U High gets a pretty easy home victory. U High 39 Southeast 8
Eisenhower (0-2) at Chatham (2-0)
Chatham put up 77 points last week against Lanphier. Eisenhower is a similar opponent, who has been outscored 97-12 so far this season. Chatham should score early and often and get their reserves plenty of playing time. Eisenhower gets Lanphier at home next week in one of their best chances to get a win this season. Chatham 59 Eisenhower 0
Lincoln (2-0) at Springfield (0-2)
Lincoln, backed by the Carson twins at RB, has put up over 40 points in both games. Springfield is a step up in competition for them after playing Lanphier and Eisenhower. The Senators badly want to avoid an 0-3 start, which would make their playoff hopes start appear unlikely. The Senators offense was excellent for a half against U High, but they struggled in the second half and the entire game against Rochester. For Springfield to have a chance, they will need to contain the Railers running attack and sustain some long drives on offense. Lincoln seems to be farther along at this point. Lincoln 37 Springfield 19
Rochester (2-0) at MacArthur (1-1) Played at former Stephen Decatur HS
After facing 2 pass-first offenses, the Rockets travel to Decatur, where they will see a running QB and a highly touted Freshman RB who has gone for over 350 yards in two games. Mac had a very tough loss at Jacksonville last week 35-34, when the Crimson scored on a QB sneak in the last minute. Mac ended up with the ball but, after huddling, the referees ruled that the QB had crossed the plane before losing control. Mac had led 28-14 at halftime. Rochester played well both offensively and defensively last week beating Springfield 58-0. The Rockets continue to split snaps with QB's Bryan Zulauf and Eli Carlson. RB Nolan Mrozowski had a big game last week. Mac will need a better defensive performance to stay close. Hopefully, the Rockets will erase the memory of their 2014 loss which was also played at Stephen Decatur. Rochester 48 MacArthur 16
SHG (1-1) at Jacksonville (2-0)
The game of the week should draw a big crowd. Last year, Jacksonville kept the ball away from SHG almost the entire 1st quarter and led 7-0. They trailed only 28-14 at half before the Cyclones poured it on with the final score being 55-14. Coming off an important come from behind win last week, can the Crimsons get their first win against the Cyclones since the 2011 playoffs and go to 3-0? The rest of the conference will be watching this result closely to gauge both team's strength. After a rough Week 1, SHG played better Week 2 at home topping an improved U High 35-17. The Cyclones showed the potential for big plays both running and passing against U High. Jacksonville has only attempted 5 passes after two games. SHG would love to contain the running of RB Mitchell and QB Moore and force the Crimsons to throw the ball. The Jacksonville defense gave up multiple big plays last week to Mac, mostly long runs. They need to put pressure on QB Hanauer and not allow the Cyclones to score on short 1-2 play drives. I think this is very close, but the Cyclones prevail. SHG 31 Jacksonville 27
Lanphier (0-2) at Champaign Central (0-2)
After two weeks, Lanphier has been outscored 118-8. Champaign Central has experienced a 104-13 deficit. Central has lost to Normal Community and Normal West, both state ranked teams. Lanphier has lost to Lincoln and Chatham. Chatham is ranked in 6A. I expect the Big 12 to get the win and move ahead 3-2 over the CS8 in non-conference play. Lanphier's best chance for a win could be next week against Eisenhower. Champaign Central 34 Lanphier 12
Southeast (0-2) at U High (1-1)
U High has played well in beating Springfield and were competitive in a 35-17 loss at SHG. Southeast lost 50-0 to MacArthur in Week 1 and 24-12 to Peoria Richwoods at home in what was a great chance to get their new coach a win. I think U High gets a pretty easy home victory. U High 39 Southeast 8
Eisenhower (0-2) at Chatham (2-0)
Chatham put up 77 points last week against Lanphier. Eisenhower is a similar opponent, who has been outscored 97-12 so far this season. Chatham should score early and often and get their reserves plenty of playing time. Eisenhower gets Lanphier at home next week in one of their best chances to get a win this season. Chatham 59 Eisenhower 0
Lincoln (2-0) at Springfield (0-2)
Lincoln, backed by the Carson twins at RB, has put up over 40 points in both games. Springfield is a step up in competition for them after playing Lanphier and Eisenhower. The Senators badly want to avoid an 0-3 start, which would make their playoff hopes start appear unlikely. The Senators offense was excellent for a half against U High, but they struggled in the second half and the entire game against Rochester. For Springfield to have a chance, they will need to contain the Railers running attack and sustain some long drives on offense. Lincoln seems to be farther along at this point. Lincoln 37 Springfield 19
Rochester (2-0) at MacArthur (1-1) Played at former Stephen Decatur HS
After facing 2 pass-first offenses, the Rockets travel to Decatur, where they will see a running QB and a highly touted Freshman RB who has gone for over 350 yards in two games. Mac had a very tough loss at Jacksonville last week 35-34, when the Crimson scored on a QB sneak in the last minute. Mac ended up with the ball but, after huddling, the referees ruled that the QB had crossed the plane before losing control. Mac had led 28-14 at halftime. Rochester played well both offensively and defensively last week beating Springfield 58-0. The Rockets continue to split snaps with QB's Bryan Zulauf and Eli Carlson. RB Nolan Mrozowski had a big game last week. Mac will need a better defensive performance to stay close. Hopefully, the Rockets will erase the memory of their 2014 loss which was also played at Stephen Decatur. Rochester 48 MacArthur 16
SHG (1-1) at Jacksonville (2-0)
The game of the week should draw a big crowd. Last year, Jacksonville kept the ball away from SHG almost the entire 1st quarter and led 7-0. They trailed only 28-14 at half before the Cyclones poured it on with the final score being 55-14. Coming off an important come from behind win last week, can the Crimsons get their first win against the Cyclones since the 2011 playoffs and go to 3-0? The rest of the conference will be watching this result closely to gauge both team's strength. After a rough Week 1, SHG played better Week 2 at home topping an improved U High 35-17. The Cyclones showed the potential for big plays both running and passing against U High. Jacksonville has only attempted 5 passes after two games. SHG would love to contain the running of RB Mitchell and QB Moore and force the Crimsons to throw the ball. The Jacksonville defense gave up multiple big plays last week to Mac, mostly long runs. They need to put pressure on QB Hanauer and not allow the Cyclones to score on short 1-2 play drives. I think this is very close, but the Cyclones prevail. SHG 31 Jacksonville 27
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