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JCA scheduling woes

With DeLaSalle forfeiting their remaining games, JCA played it's final regular season home game on Sept 20th. No home games for the Hilltoppers in the final five weeks of the regular season. In addition, they will most likely finish 6-3 or 5-4, which means they will start the playoffs on the road. That's a tough route to navigate.
I'm willing to bet that JCA is totally fine starting the playoffs on the road......meaning they pretty much guarenteed getting a home game or two the following rounds.

Week 5: The Underclassmen Report

Each week I will prepare the Underclassmen Report which is a look at which underclassmen names I saw in person and makde a positive impression at each game I cover this season. This week I take a deeper look into some of the better underclassmen names for Prairie Ridge/Cary Grove and the Conant at Barrington game.


Prairie Ridge Wolves


2026 QB/ATH Luke Vanderwiel (5-foot-8, 170 pounds)- Vanderwiel had quite a showing in this loss to Cary Grove. Vanderwiel shows really good speed and quickness, has the ability to start and stop on a dime and can also run with very good power and is able to run with tremendous lean and good leverage. No question the bigger D1 level schools will see Vanderwiel as too short/small but I feel his overall tools and on the field production will get him several additional looks this winter then into the spring. Vanderwiel can and will also play defensive back and I can see schools taking a look at him as say a slot or as a corner at the higher college level.

2026 QB Owen Satterlee 6-foot-0, 170 pounds) Satteelee was able to get some reps and work in this loss to Cary Grove and he has good overall athletic ability and upside. Needs to add more good weight and strength but has the look and feel of a kid who will be much different looking in a year or two.

2027 FB Jake Wagler (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) Wagler is one of a handful of eyeball passing underclassmen here for Prairie Ridge. Wagler can and will play FB or TE this season and has the look and physical tools to draw additional looks this winter and spring from colleges.

2026 TE Zach Mason (6-foot-5, 230 pounds)- Yet another good sixed underclassmen who I can see projecting to play at a few different positions at the college level. Don't look for Mason to get a ton of pass receptions this season in the Wolves triple option, but he also has the frame and potential to play say DE/DT/TE at the next level in my opinion. I definitely will take a harder look at his 2024 season video fter seeing him in person.

2026 TE/WR Elijah Loeding (6-foot-3. 185 pounds) Again another kid who has eyeball passing looks and physical tools. I'll need to see more on Loeding on video this off season b ut again he was impressive enough to catch my attention in this game.

2026 DB Logan Thennes (6-foot-2, 170 pounds)- Has room to get bigger and stronger this winter and spring. I was impressed with Thennes tackling ability in the open field and his awareness.

Cary Grove Trojans

2026 FB/LB Logan Abrams (6-foot-3, 224 pounds)
Easily one of the more impressive names I've seen live this season. Abrams, who is playing both FB and OLB/DE this season for the Trojans is a big, strong and a highly physical player on either side of the football. Abrams has the look of a high level college recruit and the biggest question for him in the recruiting process is what position college see him playing. Abrams is a battering ram as a fullback in the Trojans offense and his strength and power, combined with possessing much more speed than you'd expect was really impressive in this win. Abrams I feel can play either as an inside linebacker or as a defensive end or tackle all depending upon his physical development over the next year or so. This kid has an Iowa recruit look and feel to me and a kid that Iowa for years has landed and developed then turn into a potential college All American.

2026 RB Landon Barnett (6-foot-0, 177 pounds)- Nice overall player and athlete here. Runs well, showed good speed and quickness and can develop into a nice player who will play on Saturday's down the line.

2026 RB Holden Boone (5-foot-11, 175 pounds)- Boone is another name to keep an eye on here. Boone has good speed and quickness, ran hard with every carry and is just as versatile athlete who has the athletic tools and ability to see action at several spots on the field.

2026 OL/DL
Ty Drayton (6-foot-1, 237 pounds)- Plays full time on both sides of the football and I really liked his work here on the defensive line. Drayton was able to use his power, strength and quickness to cause havoc inside and was able to use his hands well toi separate himself from the opposing blocker on a consisitent basis.

2026 S Brady Elbert (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) Another name I'll definitely go back and watch this winter on video. Showed to have good overall size and speed and was another impressive open field tackler.


Conant Cougars (I got heights/weights from Hudl)

2027 QB Tyler Marchese (6-foot-2, 167 pounds) Good sized kid who will also add much more good weight and size down the line. Really didn';t get much of a chance to showcase his throwing and was under duresss for most of the game but this is a young guy to keep an eye on.

2027 DL Jaiden Thorney (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) Really good sized kid here with some upside down the line. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any Hudl video for him just yet but I will definitely circle back later this fall and get a better look here.


Barrington Broncos


2027 WR Austin Coles (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) Big, athletic receiver who has the physical tools/frame that could see him wind up and develop into say a very good tight end at the higher college level. Was one of the main targets in the Broncos play action passing game and Coles has really good hands. runs pretty well and length and is a big time matchup issue for smaller high school defensive backs. Coles is no question a name that will hit my early watch list ASAP and a name who will draw much more college attention this winter and spring. I can see him landing at the higher D1 level.

2027 OL Owen Fors (6-foot-4, 295 pounds) Fors is already holding multiple Power 4 offers and I just really like a ton about his game here. Fors plays with a non stop motor. also looks to plays with a bit of a chip and has impressive hand usage, punch and is always seeking out second and third level blocks on every play. Fors to me looks like a higher D1 level OC/OG and he possesses very good quickness and mobility to pull effectively at the next level. Fors in many ways is already college ready physically but I can see him adding a bit more muscle over the next year plus. Fors I feel is a Top 25 name in the State of Illinois Class of 2026.

2026 LB Brooks Howard (6-foot-2, 20o pounds)- Need to see more here but the limited reps I was able to see showed me a very quick and athletic linebacker.

2026 RB Jackson Taylor (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) - Was one of a hndful of very good running backs at Barrington. Has a few seniors ahead of him but was able to find playing time and reps as bith a running back and also as a slot/receiver.

2026 SB Evan Nguyen (5-foot-10, 200 pounds)- Another solid looking player here who I will go back and watch more video this fall and winter.

JCA scheduling woes

With DeLaSalle forfeiting their remaining games, JCA played it's final regular season home game on Sept 20th. No home games for the Hilltoppers in the final five weeks of the regular season. In addition, they will most likely finish 6-3 or 5-4, which means they will start the playoffs on the road. That's a tough route to navigate.
Oh, JCA will be just fine in playoffs...

Bears

Your post makes sense. But, as you know, I have to disagree, slightly. Sitting here this morning, I just don't see the Bears going 3-3 in the division. They would have to split with everyone or sweep someone. I don't see them sweeping any of those teams. All three of those teams are better than the Bears...right now. I think the Bears will be no better than 2-4 in the division.

As for the 3-2 record as they move toward the stretch is very hard to say. ARI and WAS can be so damned hard to figure out. And both of those games are on the road. I think they will win one and lose the other. I see the Bears going 2-3 against those teams. But, I could certainly be wrong about that.

I do not view the Bears as a playoff team right now. That could change, of course. Actually I hope they do find their way into the playoffs. That is a good goal. You may end up being right, too. If I am wrong I will certainly come here and say so. I hope you do the same. I have no problem admitting it when I am wrong. But, unfortunately, I am in the minority here when it comes to that. Most guys here just can't admit being wrong about anything. Still wonder why. But, to me, it comes back to their little, fragile egos. This is exactly what you get from insecure guys. But, whatever.
That 3-3 or 2-4 swing in Div is the make or break, imo.
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JCA scheduling woes

With DeLaSalle forfeiting their remaining games, JCA played it's final regular season home game on Sept 20th. No home games for the Hilltoppers in the final five weeks of the regular season. In addition, they will most likely finish 6-3 or 5-4, which means they will start the playoffs on the road. That's a tough route to navigate.
Thornton & Thornridge have no home games. They’re playing at Blue Island Park

Bears

The London games are an issue due to the extremely irregular week. Yes, I'm aware that applies to both teams, but Jacksonville has played multiple games over there for a number of years so it's a little more normal for them. I still have that game as a win, but it's not an ideal spot.

I have the Bears winning the next two games, that gets them to 4-2 going into the bye. I have them going 3-3 in the division so that's 7-5. Then they need to go 3-2 against WAS, ARI, NE, SF, and SEA. I think they can do that. I'm not going to get specific with which games they win and which they lose because so much can change between now and when they play those 5 teams. They could upset SF or they could get knocked off by NE, that's all TBD but I think they will go 3-2 against those 5 teams.
Your post makes sense. But, as you know, I have to disagree, slightly. Sitting here this morning, I just don't see the Bears going 3-3 in the division. They would have to split with everyone or sweep someone. I don't see them sweeping any of those teams. All three of those teams are better than the Bears...right now. I think the Bears will be no better than 2-4 in the division.

As for the 3-2 record as they move toward the stretch is very hard to say. ARI and WAS can be so damned hard to figure out. And both of those games are on the road. I think they will win one and lose the other. I see the Bears going 2-3 against those teams. But, I could certainly be wrong about that.

I do not view the Bears as a playoff team right now. That could change, of course. Actually I hope they do find their way into the playoffs. That is a good goal. You may end up being right, too. If I am wrong I will certainly come here and say so. I hope you do the same. I have no problem admitting it when I am wrong. But, unfortunately, I am in the minority here when it comes to that. Most guys here just can't admit being wrong about anything. Still wonder why. But, to me, it comes back to their little, fragile egos. This is exactly what you get from insecure guys. But, whatever.
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PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

All I want to know is what does the IHSA say is the official ruling here. Did the refs make the right call or not so every coach can tell their players how to handle “taking a knee” situations.
I do hope a memo is sent out to all refs/AD(s) on how to handle this situation, so there is total clarity. Would hate to see this in a playoff game.

PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

It’s been said before but you can’t allow time to run off the clock and redo the down here.

St Francis could have done this numerous times and ran out the clock and it would still be 1st down.
But "delay of game" for this is not an NFHS penalty.
In all honesty a simple "hey you need to take an immediate knee, after 1st down play" would have been sufficient, no? It was clear SF QB was not trying to milk the clock.
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PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

I just don't get how everyone is all "the refs don't make mistakes, you lost the game yourself" until it's their team then we get whole threads about one play and lawyers getting involved.

When it's other teams they're just poorly coached and undisciplined who despite being "physically better" can't seem to stop holding and inversely never get held. And how can you tell they're undisciplined? By the zip code, silly.

Over it already, it's a L. Learn from it and move on.

PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

The one that gets me was the loss of down on delay of game. Gotta add that to the “never seen that before,” file.
It’s been said before but you can’t allow time to run off the clock and redo the down here.

St Francis could have done this numerous times and ran out the clock and it would still be 1st down.
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PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

I would like to upload the videos as part of this thread, but I unfortunately need some help. The video's are important to what I'm saying below so any help would be appreciated. Feel free to message me and tell me how.

I am starting this on a new thread because what’s included on this new thread is important and I don’t want it to get lost in the other thread, which is become a bit “off the rails”.

First and foremost, the Providence (“PC”)/St. Francis (“STF”) game was a very good game, and I think everyone needs to understand that fact. The players and coaches deserve better than this!

I had the good fortune to be on the sidelines for STF when all of this went down. I have good friends that are GREAT Coaches and better people at STF and I’m putting this on its own thread because it’s just that important.

I’m trying to included the video of the kneel-down for everyone’s reference. Watch it and you will agree that the young man at STF did absolutely nothing wrong, nor did anyone else on either side.

Facts are as follows:
  • Game was played at STF
  • 50 Seconds remained in the game
  • STF has the ball 1st and 10 at the PC 42 yard line
  • PC has two timeouts
  • The entire video clip is 29 seconds (+/-). .
  • At the 8 second mark, the Head Official can be seen signaling the start of the play clock
  • STF takes a knee at the 28 second mark.
  • Obviously, there is no play clock violation at 25 seconds (which is the change of possession play clock).
  • 2.2 seconds ran off the clock on 1st down when STF took a knee.
  • I think all who view the video will agree that the kneel-down was without issue.
  • PC made NO CONTACT with any STF Player.
What happened:
  • A flag was thrown against STF for “delay of game” and the clock was stopped by the Head Official.
  • STF was penalized 5 yards with a loss of down.
  • The Clock will NOT start again until the ball is snapped, WITHOUT PC calling a timeout.
  • STF was not made aware that they lost the down and took another knee.
    • The scoreboard read 1st down (see video)
    • The chains read 1st down until (see video)
    • both teams aligned to start the play
    • the Sideline Judge walks toward the “stick” on PC’s sideline and makes a motion to the chain-gang, and..
    • down is changed to 2nd on the chains just prior to the snap.
  • PC, again, makes no contact…why? They all thought it was 1st down again as well.
  • PC calls “Time Out” and has one time-out remaining
  • This 1st/2nd down, which was a kneel-down which took 2.8 seconds off the clock after the officials made the clock operator reset the clock from 42 seconds.
NOTE: BY THE OFFICIAL’S OWN ADMISSION AND INSTRUCTION TO THE CLOCK OPERATOR, THIS 2ND KNEEL DOWN TOOK LONGER THAT THE 1ST KNEEL DOWN, FOR WHICH STF WAS PENALIZED!
  • When STF inquired about the down, The Head Official (to Paraphrase) stated “I told Providence you were taking a knee so they wouldn’t hit, but your guy took too long to take the knee, so I penalized you for a delay of game and took the down away from you”. This can be verified by anyone on the STF sideline and was overheard by many. I heard the coaches stating this after the game as well.
  • 3rd down (which should be 2nd down), STF is forced to run a play, and NOT kneel-down to now try to gain a 1st down. They gain a few yards and now it’s full-on contact by PC.
  • Providence calls their last time out.
  • There remains 38.2 seconds left in the game.
NOTE: THAT MEANS STF RAN THREE PLAYS IN 11.8 SECONDS WHILE PROVIDENCE HAD ONLY TWO TIME OUTS.

STF is forced to punt, and Providence eventually gets awarded a touchdown to win on the final play of the game, despite the ball being on the ground and visible to all in attendance.​

Bottom Line:

  • STF should have been able to run out the clock, if not for the Head Official making up his own rules DURING a football game.
  • If not for the penalty, STF would’ve followed the following script, which is exactly what you should do with the clock starting at 50 seconds on the 1st down snap:
  • 1st and 2nd downs – kneel downs – 44..0 seconds remain on the play clock after down Providence used both time outs.
  • 3rd down – kneel down or short running play. Clock will run down until 3-5 seconds remaining depending on how long it takes the ref to set the ball and STF uses a time out and expends another second of clock time and takes the penalty. Let’s say 4 seconds remain
  • 4th down – STF can do ANY of the following
    • runs backwards and takes a knee as the clock expires
    • running play which will burn the time off the clock
    • punts the ball out of bounds
NOTE: ALL OF THIS IS ONLY IF PROVIDENCE IS COMING AFTER YOU ON 1ST AND 2ND DOWNS, WHICH THEY WERENT. PROVIDENCE HAD CONCEEDED THE GAME UNTIL THEY REALIZED WHAT THE OFFICIAL DID. IT WAS NOW 3RD DOWN, WHICH IS THE SAME TIME EVERYONE ELSE REALIZED. NOW THE KIDS ON PROVIDENCE ACTUALLY SNAPPED THEIR CHIN STRAPS ON.


Please, someone, answer me this:

  • HOW CAN OFFICIAL THROW A FLAG ON A TEAM FOR DELAY OF GAME, WHEN THERE IS NO DELAY?
  • WHY WOULD AN OFFICIAL TELL PROVIDENCE THAT STF WAS TAKING A KNEE AND NOT TO MAKE CONTACT? THIS I GET, BUT THIS BECAME THE ISSUE WITH WHAT THE HEAD OFFICIAL INTERPRETED AND WHY HE MADE UP HIS OWN RULES.
  • A DELAY OF GAME PENALTY DOES NOT CARRY A LOSS OF DOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW WAYS A TEAM CAN LOSE A DOWN VIA A PENALTY. DELAY OF GAME IS NOT ONE OF THEM…NOR IS OFFSIDES.
  • CAN A GAME OFFICIAL SIMPLY PENALIZE A TEAM BY TAKING AWAY A DOWN? DO THE RULES GIVE THEM THAT ABILITY? THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION!!
  • SHOULD OFFICIALS THAT DO THIS BE ALLOWED TO OFFICIATE A GAME AGAIN? IS THERE NO PENALTY? IS THERE EVER ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE OFFICIALS THAT MAKE HUGE ERRORS OR MISTAKES WITH “INTENT” LIKE THIS?
Last - Wouldn't it be nice to see someone in this sport do the right thing. Providence, through divine intervention, was awarded a win when it was a loss ...on so many levels. No way the HC at Providence would ever do the right thing. This guy knows and unfortunately, without his acknowledgement, the IHSA most likely wont do anything about this.

If nothing else, get rid of that officiating crew!
Tell me you are a lawyer without telling me you are a lawyer......

PROVIDENCE @ ST FRANCIS - Factual Read

I am a bit surprised that a ref would tell the defense to not make contact in that situation, when SF was taking a knee. Not saying that it didn't happen though. I was in a similar situation, with my team clearly taking a knee. The defense played it full go, & I asked the ref why he let that happen. He stated that as long as the score was within 8 points (a one score game), they had to allow the defense an opportunity to force a turnover. Once he explained it that way, it made sense, & we adjusted accordingly.
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