Districts.....and more

I know the IHSA does the best they can, but what are the biggest issues preventing them providing a better product? Look at this highlight from Michigan. Bally's is an RSN that broadcasts these games and the quality is great, there appears to be several cameras, and what appears to be enthusiastic, knowledgeable announcers.

Is the IHSA that cash strapped or can they not sell more ad space other than the same 4-5 commercials they had? Would love to know what the numbers are, maybe outside of us degenerates there's not an overall interest in high school football in Illinois.


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With the finals behind us, I am curious as to what everyone’s Top 5 looks like

- combined 1-8A based on overall ability

So who’s got some info on how this game will play out? Any chance of the upset? How will Barrington travel down to the south burbs?

After dropping their opening game to Loyola by a score of 45-7, GRCC went on to run the table and win the MHSAA Division 5 state title. That means that Loyola beat two state champs this year.

4A Final-Friday 7pm
Rochester (13-0) vs Burbank St Laurence (10-3)
After several weeks of great weather, the high in Bloomington for Friday is projected to be only 38. By the end of the 4A game, the temperature will probably have dropped to the low 30's though the wind is projected to be only 5 to 10 mph.

Rochester regular season games versus playoff teams: Beat 5A Qualifier Peoria (40-14), Beat 5A Qualifier Decatur MacArthur (49-21), Beat 4A Qualifier Lincoln (55-0), Beat 6A Quarterfinalist Chatham Glenwood (63-21), and Beat 5A Round of 16 SHG (31-21).

Rochester playoff games: Beat Lincoln (59-14), Beat Coal City (45-3), Beat Breese Central (49-13), and Beat Murphysboro (42-14).

Burbank St Laurence regular season versus playoff teams: Lost to 5A Semifinalist Wheaton St Francis (42-28), Beat 5A Semifinalist Providence Catholic (31-24), Lost to 7A Qualifier Chicago St Rita (20-9), and lost to 3A Semifinalist Lombard Montini (24-17).

Burbank St Laurence playoff games: Beat Chicago Vocational (64-0), Beat Dixon (31-21), Beat IC Catholic (24-20), and Beat Wheaton Academy (31-30 2OT).

After much discussion this year of a potential IC Catholic vs Rochester 4A final, St Laurence scored a late TD in the Quarterfinals to pull off a 24-20 upset of IC. The Vikings followed that win up last week with another thriller, beating Wheaton Academy 31-30 by blocking an extra point in the second OT. St Laurence is led by RB Aaron Ball (1,484 yards rushing, 21 total TD's) and QB Evan Les (1,037 yards passing/9 TD's and 486 yards rushing/6 TD's). The Vikings have an additional weapon in K Colin Bagley, who has 10 Field Goals this year with a long of 48 yards.

Rochester has been led by RB Nolan Mrozowski (1,141 yards rushing, 24 total TD's), WR Henry Buecker (1,030 yards receiving, 17 total TD's), and QB Bryan Zulauf (2,234 yards passing/29 TD's and 289 yards rushing/5 TD's). After missing the first seven weeks of the season with a knee injury, WR/QB Parker Gillespie has a total of 7 TD's.

This is Rochester's first trip to the finals since 2019, when this year's Seniors were in 8th grade. St Laurence last was in the finals in 1979.

After losing in the semifinals the last two years to SHG and giving up a total of 105 points in those games, I said at the beginning of this season that the Rockets would go as far as their defense would take them. The 2010 championship team is generally regarded as Rochester's best ever defense, giving up 145 points in 14 games. Heading into the Friday final, the 2023 Rockets defense has given up only 127 points and has 30 Interceptions. The strength of the defense has been particularly helpful in games where the offense struggled with penalties and/or turnovers (SHG and Coal City). The defense has the chance to make a closing statement Friday but will be tested by an excellent Running Back in Aaron Ball. The Vikings stats indicate they prefer to run the ball, but their QB has also thrown for over 1,000 yards.

St Laurence played a difficult regular season schedule and won their last two playoff contests on the game's final play. I expect to them play at their best. Rochester came off the bus in Peoria Week 1 with a chip on their shoulder left over from the 2022 loss to SHG. With a few exceptions, they've performed at a consistently high level all season. Rochester 34 St Laurence 19 (Cal Preps: 35-24 Rochester, Massey: 42-28 Rochester).

ClownBaby said:

MC / DGN
The West Suburban seems to me to be the best public school conference and DGN is very hot right now. This game is a toss up to me.

Click to expand...

ClownBaby said:

I guess we will see but I’m not seeing it.

Click to expand...

Clown:

I'm most curious whether you have any reaction to MC's decisive win over DGN. Since memory does fade with age, I pasted your comments in the event you suffer from this affliction. I'd like to remind you, lest you did not watch the game, DGN was down 35-3 with four minutes remaining in the game. The game, as you may know, was out of reach very early.

In light of your prediction for the 7A game, I'd like to shift over and remind you of your projection WWS is certain to inflict five consecutive "prison rapes" (2024-28) on its north-side foe, WNHS. Our definition of precisely what consists of a "prison rape" may differ so I will set terms here.

Any game over the next five years in which WWS fails to defeat WHNS by fewer than three TDs (18 points) will result in you losing the bet. You accepted the bet last month. My offer of $1K still stands.

I look forward to the WWS-WHNS games over the next five years.

All results State Final results have been added and the leaderboard will be updated within minutes.

They are the best team in Illinois. I was out of town so got home today to watch the finals on tape. Got some updates from a few of you guys but man it was tough following. Hahahaha.
East will be back again next year but man like CG with ESL Loyola is the Griffins Cryptonite! Coach Z better adjust or we will be runner ups for a long time.
No one remembers a bridesmaid. Hahahaha
Anyway congratulations to the Ramblers and all the other State Champions.
2024 is on deck who will again rise to the occasion?
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and holiday!

From start to finish, always a top notch production done with class. Thank you for keeping IL high school football front and center. Cheers to a great year and many more to come.

New: Top Underclassmen to Watch: IHSA State Finals Class 6A thru Class 8A

Just a quick listing and some breakdown of some of the top underclassmen prospects I saw on Friday and Saturday. Again I was on the TV broadcast and I was not in person so in some cases I have not seen the player yet. Heights and weights are those listed in the IHSA game program.

Camp Point Central

FB/LB Elijah Genenbacher 6-foot-1, 205 pounds 2025- Two way grinder who showed good overall balance, quick feet and power at both positions.

DL Kadin Niekamp 6-foot-0, 195 pounds 2025- An undersized pain in the butt and a kid who at times was just unblockable. Not sure where or how high of a level he can play in college...buit this kid is a player no question.

Wilmington Wildcats

RB/DB Kyle Farrell 5-foot-11, 184 pounds 2025- Very good vision, runs with power and was able to get the corner more often than not in this win. Intriguing kid for sure.

RB/DB Ryan Kettman 6-foot-1, 195 pounds 2026- A sophomore who played like a much older player here. Has good size and tools, plys with a high motor and very good overall instincts. Another name to watch for sure

LB Ryan Nelson 6-foot-1, 195 pounds 2025 Another kid with good size and tools.

Byron Tigers

RB/LB Caden Considine 6-foot-0, 205 pounds 2026- One of players who I felt really shined on the biggest stage. Considine is the son of former Byron.Iowa and NFL saftey Sean Considine (Now a Byron assistant coach). Considine plays like a senior, runs hard has very good speed, power, quickness and is just a slippery runner carrying the football. Considine also lays the wood, has impressive instincts at linebacker and again his game is exceptionally advanced. Still has a bit of physical development to go but wow lots to like here already.

OL Nolan Brass 6-foot-3, 300 pounds 2025- Good sixe here and a kid who's a locked down run blocker.

WR/DB Brayden Knoll 5-foot-8, 165 pounds 2025- Impressive two way player with speed and quickness on either side of the football. Will definitely watch more video on Knoll.

QB/ATH Andrew Talbert 5-foot-8, 160 pounds 2027 Just a freshman who ended up rushing for 3 TD's in impressive fashion. Talbert has really impressive speed and burst and while he's undersized for now....just his speed, quickness and athletic ability caught my attention no question.

St. Laurence Vikings

DE Jace Chamberlain 6-foot-1, 225 pounds 2025- Plays DE and plays the position well...has more of a look of a kid who will add more weight and strength and then move inside.

LB Jacob Bylina 6-foot-0, 225 pounds 2025- Just looked like a very solid linebacker to watch.

SS Ja'Sean Mays 6-foot-0, 215 pounds 2025- Good sized looks to have good instincts and was also always around the football.

Rochester Rockets

OL Jake Milliron 6-foot-3, 300 pounds 2025- Big kid still has room to grow/add more strength. Part of what I felt was a very good OL for the Rockets this season.

Nazareth Academy Road Runners

WR/DB Jaden Fauske 6-foot-1, 195 pounds 2025- Also a high level baseball prospect as well. Fauske plays hard noised football and has very good physical tools and has room to grow and improve...if indeed he goes football and not baseball. Regardless of the path...a very good athlete here.

WR Jake Crestone 6-foot-1 165 pounds 2026- Underclassmen who really played strong all season.One of a handful of really impressive 2026's for the Runners.

WR James Penley 5-foot-10, 170 pounds 2025- Has really great hands and runs impressive routes, Kid plays like his hair is on fire and is no question a big time play makers.

WR Trenton Walker 6-foot-2, 175 pounds 2026 - Will end up being a highly sought after name in Illinois and the Midwest in the 2026 class, Has length, good hands and is a high level athlete who will just get better and better.

DB Garrett Reese 6-foot-2, 172 pounds 2025- Again one of several impressive all around football players for Naz.

DL Nolan Daly 6-foot-3, 225 pounds 2025- Made some big plays in this game and was able to win reps agaisnt a very big and physical JCA O line.

LB/RB Lesroy Tittle 6-foot-2, 200 pounds 2026- yet another high level 2026 recruit here. Tittle plays really well at linebacker and also stepped up and became a factor at RB this season for Naz. Will continue to draw higher level college attention this winter an spring.

OLB/DE Gabe Kaminski 6-foot-3, 230 pounds 2025- Power 5 kid who might be one of the biggest impact defenders in Illinois. Kaminski was all over the field in this state title win. Again not sure where he will play in college...and all I know is he will play at the Power 5 level and more likely become a major impact player. Wow....just wow watching this kid knife thru traffic to make tackles. An intense player as well.

Joliet Catholic

OL Michael Lynch 6-foot-5, 290 pounds 2025 Big strong physical linemen and a name on the rise in my opinion.

OL Jake Jakovich 6-foot-2, 260 pounds 2025- Plays guard and has very good quickness and feet....also has above average power and strength and again will become a very good interior OL at the next level.

OL Cam Juricich 6-foot-5, 310 pounds 2025- Big kid with good length and punchwho is also another name that will draw more looks starting next week when the colleges are back in recruiting mode.

TE/OL Ryan Yurisich 6-foot-2, 240 pounds 2025- As the position indicated he's sort of a tweener but showes to be a versatile player and a locked on blocker in thre JCA run game.

LB Daniel Rouse 5-foot-11, 200 pounds 2025 An experienced varsity player who was just a tackling machine in 2023.

S Zak Beitler 6-foot-1, 190 pounds 2025- Has some length and tools.....has had some very good games over the past season and I'll dig a bity deeper into his season video for sure.

Next: Class 6A thru Class 8A Top Underclassmen. State Finals

The 2023 Season Finale of WJOL's Pigskin Preview will be this Wednesday from 6-8PMCST as we wrap up the season. Guest list and show details are linked below


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A couple questions about the upcoming vote on districts.

Not looking to turn this into a thread about whether or not districts are a good or bad idea.

I've read the proposed by-law multiple times and a few things I'm still not clear on.

1. Does this proposal exclude all of the CPS Illini schools? its not mentioned at all. Obviously, this could impact brackets a ton

2. There are currently 525 playoff eligible schools. This would mean 65 teams per division. How would 9 team districts mean managed?

3. It says once 32 playoff teams are determined, then current playoff system is used for seeding. Does this mean there will be still North and South in 1A-4A?

Let me guess it got reckless???

Oh this is going to be good hearing about how the public and private should have separate playoffs

Yesterday at the WA/STL game the announcer said that the IHSA does not allow prayer before playoff games. But I do remember many years ago being at a SR/MC game where they prayed before the game during the regular season. Is this just a playoff rule? Why do they allow one and not the other?

thanks to all who participated for a great contest.

Final Standings

Snoozed during half time of 8A ... awoke to the post-game celebration.

At least I have something to "rewatch" before more football this afternoon!

Never too early to start thinking about next year. Here are the 2024 schedules for the 1 year SWSC/DVC football merger experiment. Still a couple of open dates that I couldn't nail down.

SWSC/DVC BLUE

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR
1: BOLINGBROOK (H)
2: MARIAN CATHOLIC (A)
3: SANDBURG (A)
4: NEUQUA VALLEY (H)
5: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (A)
6: METEA VALLEY (H)
7: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (A)
8: NAPERVILLE NORTH (H)
9: LOCKPORT (A)

LINCOLN-WAY EAST
1: OPEN
2: OPEN
3: STAGG (A)
4: NAPERVILLE NORTH (A)
5: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (H)
6: NEUQUA VALLEY (A)
7: LOCKPORT (H)
8: ANDREW (A)
9: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (H)

LOCKPORT
1: PLAINFIELD NORTH (H)
2: WHEATON NORTH (H)
3: NEUQUA VALLEY (A)
4: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (A)
5: NAPERVILLE NORTH (H)
6: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (H)
7: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (A)
8: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (H)
9: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (H)

NAPERVILLE NORTH
1: OPEN
2: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (H)
3: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (A)
4: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (H)
5: LOCKPORT (A)
6: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (A)
7: NEUQUA VALLEY (H)
8: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (A)
9: SANDBURG (H)

NEUQUA VALLEY
1: OSWEGO (A)
2: MINOOKA (A)
3: LOCKPORT (H)
4: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (A)
5: DEKALB (H)
6: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (H)
7: NAPERVILLE NORTH (A)
8: METEA VALLEY (H)
9: ANDREW (A)





SWSC/DVC RED

ANDREW
1: THORNWOOD (A)
2: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (A)
3: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (A)
4: METEA VALLEY (H)
5: HAMMOND CENTRAL (H)
6: DEKALB (A)
7: SANDBURG (A)
8: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (H)
9: NEUQUA VALLEY (H)

LINCOLN-WAY WEST
1: EISENHOWER (A)
2: ANDREW (H)
3: METEA VALLEY (A)
4: SANDBURG (H)
5: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (A)
6: NAPERVILLE NORTH (H)
7: OPEN
8: LOCKPORT (A)
9: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (H)

METEA VALLEY
1: DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH (A)
2: PLAINFIELD CENTRAL (H)
3: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (H)
4: ANDREW (A)
5: SANDBURG (A)
6: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (A)
7: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (H)
8: NEUQUA VALLEY (A)
9: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (H)

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
1: HINSDALE CENTRAL (H)
2: NAPERVILLE NORTH (A)
3: ANDREW (H)
4: STAGG (H)
5: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (H)
6: LOCKPORT (A)
7: METEA VALLEY (A)
8: SANDBURG (H)
9: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (A)

SANDBURG
1: ST. RITA (A)
2: OAK FOREST (H)
3: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (H)
4: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (A)
5: METEA VALLEY (H)
6: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (A)
7: ANDREW (H)
8: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (A)
9: NAPERVILLE NORTH (A)





SWSC/DVC GREEN

BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS
1: PLAINFIELD EAST (A)
2: THORNWOOD (H)
3: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (H)
4: OPEN
5: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (A)
6: STAGG (A)
7: HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (H)
8: DEKALB (H)
9: LINCOLN-WAY WEST (A)

DEKALB
1: SYCAMORE (H)
2: PLAINFIELD SOUTH (A)
3: KANELAND (H)
4: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (H)
5: NEUQUA VALLEY (A)
6: ANDREW (H)
7: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (A)
8: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (A)
9: STAGG (H)

LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL
1: ST. CHARLES EAST (A)
2: PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC (A)
3: NAPERVILLE NORTH (H)
4: DEKALB (A)
5: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (H)
6: SANDBURG (H)
7: STAGG (A)
8: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (A)
9: RICH TOWNSHIP (H)

STAGG
1: JOLIET CENTRAL (H)
2: OAK LAWN (A)
3: LINCOLN-WAY EAST (H)
4: NAPERVILLE CENTRAL (A)
5: WAUBONSIE VALLEY (H)
6: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (H)
7: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (H)
8: THORNWOOD (A)
9: DEKALB (A)

WAUBONSIE VALLEY
1: OSWEGO EAST (A)
2: OPEN
3: BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS (A)
4: LOCKPORT (H)
5: STAGG (A)
6: OPEN
7: DEKALB (H)
8: LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (H)
9: METEA VALLEY (A)

Does anyone know if the games are on demand or will be replayed at all.