I'll be covering Barrington at LW East today at 1PM....then I have a family wedding tonight so I'll be heading back home immediately after the game, get dressed then head right out. Video from today's game will be out tomorrow and the Chicagoland Top 30 will also not be out until Sunday

I feel that if you're paying for their services. Why can't they use real audio from the game? I was watching the Washington vs Chatham Glenwood game. You have to guess what's going on. The time is off on the display screen. They might as well let the schools broadcast. Some you can hear the real game audio. But other's you can't.

Guess who crapped out? It rhymes with NFHS

For those of you who think that no playoff blowout is bad or that all teams should make the playoffs...

10-0 vs 1-9 playoff game

Marquee is going to cover live York at Loyola Sat 1PM

Soon as I hear about WCIU will post it here as well.My best guess would be Batavia at MC

If so, details, please

Down to 4 games per week

Rank them 12-10-8-6

Batavia @ MC
St Francis @ Naz
Cary grove at lake Zurich
Provi@JCA

Edgy, in your top semi-final games article, you pick St Francis over Naz, yet when you pick all the games, you pick Naz over St Francis. What gives?

Will be finalized tomorrow AM

Preliminary Week 13 Chicagoland Top 30

1. Loyola Academy 12-0 (1) Next: vs York
2. Lincoln Way East 12-0 (2) Next vs Barrington
3. Mount Carmel 11-1 (3) Next: vs Batavia
4. Batavia 11-1 (4) Next: @ Mount Carmel
5. Barrington 11-0 (7) Next: @ Lincoln Way East
6. York 11-1 (11) Next: @ Loyola Academy
7. St. Francis 10-2 (9) Next: @ Nazareth Academy
8. Lake Zurich 11-1 (10) Next: vs Cary Grove
9. Downers Grove North 10-2 (12) Next: vs Normal Community
10. Maine South 10-2 (5) Next: Season Completed
11. Kankakee 11-1 (6) Next: Season Completed
12. Warren Township 9-3 (8) Next: Season Completed
13. Nazareth Academy 7-5 (15) Next: vs St Francis
14. Joliet Catholic 9-3 (23) vs Providence Catholic
15. Cary Grove 10-2 (24) @ Lake Zurich
16. Hersey 10-1 (13) Next: Season Completed
17. Glenbard West 8-3 (16) Next: Season Completed
18. Morgan Park 10-2 (17) Next: Season Completed
19. Carmel 10-2 (19) Next: Season Completed
20 St Ignatius 8-4 (20) Next: Season Completed
21. St. Laurence 9-3 (29) vs Wheaton Academy
22. Providence Catholic 8-4 (30) @ Joliet Catholic
23. IC Catholic Prep 9-3 (22) Next: Season Completed
24. Morris 11-1 (14) Next:Season Completed
25. Geneva 9-3 (18) Next: Season Completed
26. Lincoln Way West 9-3 (21) Next: Season Completed
27. Wheaton North 7-4 (25) Next: Season Completed
28. Neuqua Valley 7-4 (26) Next: Season Completed
29. Prairie Ridge 9-1 (27) Next: Season Completed
30 Naperville Central 8-3 (28) Next: Season Completed

Out: None

Next In (in NO order): Wheaton Academy/Glenbard East/Montini Catholic/Wilmington/Chicago Hope Academy

There were some tough losses last week for 618 teams for teams such as Nashville, Edwardsville and Althoff. However, we still had four teams break through to semis: East St. Louis, Roxana, Mt. Carmel, and Murphysboro. Roxana and Mt. Carmel are both in 3A, so that means there will be at least one 618 representative next weekend.

6A
#4 East St. Louis (9-2) at #2 Washington (11-1) SATURDAY 1:00 pm
When the 6A brackets came out, the quarterfinal matchup between East Side and Kankakee jumped out to many. Some pre-game kickoff talk from the Kays added to the hype, but did the game live up to the anticipation? For at least a quarter it did, with neither team changing the scoreboard. Flyer quarterback "Pops" Battle broke the stalemate with a 32 rush into the endzone with four minutes remaining. Two minutes later, he connected with Jesse Watson for a 33 yard scoring pass to go ahead 12-0. Kankakee responded with a touchdown to pull withing 12-7 in the final seconds of the half before the Flyers zoomed away in a 39-13 final.
East St. Louis will hit the road again this weekend to take on a strong Panther lineup. Washington has now made 16 consecutive postseasons and has been bumped up to 6A for their last 5 runs. Their defense really jumps off the page, having kept 8 of their opponents to one score or less. Washington is also averaging over 41 ppg of offense on the year.
Scanning back to week 2, the Panthers took their lone loss in a 7-3 slugfest with Kankakee. Even with the 10 week gap, it's certainly concerning for Washington to see East Side take down Kankakee 39-13. I see Washington's defense keeping them in this for awhile, especially since the Flyers offense has started slow multiple times, but East Side should pull away.

4A
#1 Rochester (12-0) at #2 Murphysboro (11-1) SATURDAY 3:00 pm
Murphysboro's 25-20 win over Harrisburg may have been the best quarterfinal game. The halftime score was 7-0 for Murphy, who scored via a fumble returned to the end zone. These conference rivals found themselves tied at 13 late before the Red Devils regained the lead at 19-13 with 3 minutes to play. Harrisburg took a 20-19 advantage with 40 seconds to play, leading to a 33 yard touchdown pass as time expired for Murphysboro. Here's video of the winner- Login to view embedded media The question to ask now is, does Murphysboro have enough magic left to knockoff a heavily favorited Rochester lineup? It can't hurt that the Rockets will need to ride a bus for three hours. Still, it's hard to see Murphysboro making much of a game out of this one. The Red Devils have played a much weaker schedule and have less impressive results to show for it.

3A
#4 Mt. Carmel (11-1) at #3 Roxana (12-0) SATURDAY 3:00 pm
While both these teams are in Southern Illinois, Mt. Carmel is on the Eastern border of the state and Roxana is close to the Western border. These teams are also greatly separated by their offensive styles. On one hand, Roxana has two players over 1,000 yards rushing in Evan Wells (1526) and Andruw Ellis (1070). Terrel Graves isn't far off either with 921 ground yards.
Mt. Carmel has been led largely by quarterback Blayne Sisson. Sisson, who recently flipped his commitment from SIU to Illinois, has over 9000 career yards as a dual-threat snap taker. Understandably, people tend to favor rushing teams over their passing counterparts at this time of the year. Yet, the forecast is sunny and in the mid 50's for Roxana on gameday.
This is a tough game to pick for many reasons. As already said, these teams are on opposite sides of the state, so we don't have too much to go on. Both teams have played Paris this year, with Mt. Carmel winning 49-7 and Roxana winning 50-22. It's worth noting the Shells led 50-6 at halftime of their matchup. We can also look at what Massey's rankings that have Roxana as #111 in Illinois and Mt. Carmel at #112. Roxana has homefield in this advantage. Mt. Carmel has had much more postseason success in recent years.
This should be a very even game, but Roxana feels like a slight favorite with a marginally more impressive defense. Both teams can score some points, so this may be a game that can be won with 3-4 stops.

I have pitched this for years and I build it out people could see what this could look like.

Think of whipping around from game to game to see what's happening around the state, potential upsets, fabulous finishes, expert analysis on what their watching. Friday night dynamite appetizer in Frankfort. Ramblers start us off, they get the 20 minute exclusive. Loyola doesn't have lights, otherwise the window typically is like 2pm to 9pm, with a game featured in prime time. So slide it back earlier. Batavia Mt Carmel the feature game being the last of the night. A mixture of city and downstate feature windows.

Occasionally we hand it to on-site announcers when available and if they're good enough.

• *NFL Redzone
• *March Madness
• *Manningcast

All in one. I always tinker with the times, don't want to confuses schools in communicating their start time to much or I would stagger them even more. The idea is so that you get to watch every game finish statewide if it's close (just like March Madness)

I do this for the IHSA Basketball SuperSectionals too. It's fun!

I thought I'd share this years version and I ask you a simple question and be honest with yourself: Would you watch this?

2023 - IHSA FOOTBALL STATE SERIES - SEMIFINAL WEEKEND BROADCAST COVERAGE (PROPOSED)

If you would have asked me at the beginning of the season if the WSC would still have 2 teams playing this weekend, I would have said yes, and one of those teams I would have said would be York. And here we are, for the second straight season, with 2 teams from the WSS playing in the semi-final game. Right now, the WSC has to be in the conversation about the toughest conferences in the State.

DGN hosts Normal Community in the 7A Semis in Downers Grove on Saturday. The Trojans are, by most accounts, favorites but the game still needs to be played.

In 8A we get a rematch of last years Semifinal game. This year, York will travel to Loyola, and it will be no small task to come back down to Elmhurst with a victory.

Due to my personal/work life getting in the way of my HS Football addiction, I'm pretty late this week. But I've made sure to record the picks of @LakeCtyNewt, @Alexander32, and @WBWarriorWatcher .

Most veterans of this football board are aware of my annual rant about playoff mismatches. For those of you who are new to the board, suffice it to say that I feel that the playoff classification system is flawed in that the competitive level from top to bottom in each class is too wide, and that produces too many mismatches. No, I do not have a better system to propose in its place. @stonedlizard does, though.

The following data pertains to the 128 first round football playoff games recently completed. The numbers in brackets reflect similar data from 2022, 2021, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

There were 52 [54, 56, 52, 52] games decided by margins of 30 points or greater. A total of 33 [36, 33, 32, 31] games finished with margins of 40 points or greater. An additional 59, [54, 38, 15, 20] teams scored fewer than 10 points.

Of 128 first round games, 17% [17%, 22%, 15%, 12%] were shutouts of any margin.

This year's numbers all look to be pretty similar to previous years with one exception. The 59 teams scoring fewer than 10 points is interesting. One might have thought that last year's 54 teams were an aberration to previous years. Now it looks like mid/hi-50s is the new normal. Sixty something if the upward trend continues next year.

Right now, I guarantee that a handful of you Einsteins out there are thinking something along the lines of, "But don't CPS schools contribute to way more than their fair share of these mismatches?" Yes, they do. So what? They are members of the IHSA, and it's not their fault that they are mismatched. Rather, it's the classification system's fault, and that's my point. And, for the record, it's not just CPS schools being blown out, and neither is it just private schools blowing out public schools.

The end.

Let the debate begin.

I can’t stand that higher seeds don’t have home field in semi-finals. ……rant over.

The West Suburban Conference has 2 Quarterfinal teams, both from the Silver Division. In 7A, Downers Grove North will travel to Lincoln-Way West; while in 8A, York will host Edwardsville.

DGN had a rough 1st half against Hersey this past weekend. However, they came out and fought in the second half, clawing their way back into the game, and taking the lead late in the 4th qtr.

I don't know a ton about LWW, but I'll lay out what I know:
- They are 9-2, with their two loses coming to Belleville East (still playing) and Homewood-Flossmoor (1st Round loss)
- They won the Southwest Suburban Red.
- They handed Lincoln Way Central (lost to Batavia in Round 2) their sole regular season loss.
- They beat Bradley-Bourbonnais, who also was a Round 2 playoff team.
- Massey has their regular season schedule ranked at 73rd in the state (DGNs is ranked at 37).

York won one of the most intense games I've seen against a tough Lyons team. A walk-off field goal is both heartbreaking and exhilarating at the same time.

They now face an Edwardsville team that completely dismantled Glenbard West this past Saturday. Despite with GBWs Twitter page indicated, they were never in this game, and E=ville ran away with it. This will definetly be a tough matchup for the Dukes.

Rumour is LA lights are approved - with forthcoming restrictions. Nice to see! Will be interested to see what the "evening parking rates" will be at the local "parking spots"!!!!

Whilst I don't have a strong opinion, I do enjoy reading both sides of the blowout/ranking/classification threads. This seemed a bit wild to me though - not sure if Ohio does this every year.


The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the bracket pairings for next week’s football state semifinals. According to the OHSAA, the geography of the schools involved in each region is the primary factor in determining how the regional champions will be paired in the state semifinals.

A team’s won-lost record, regional seed and state rank do not factor into the state semifinal bracket pairings.

So I will be in Lake Zurich on Saturday 1PM on the NFHS Network. One camera (for now) and it won't be automated. There will be updated graphics so you don't have guess time and score, follow Twitter or listen hard to the PA announcer a few seats down.

Was supposed to be on the sideline for Batavia-Mt. Carmel on WCIU, but I have a flight at 8PM. A 4PM kickoff takes me out of that equation, which is too bad.

This is a great consolation prize and here's why...

What does everyone complain about with the state finals telecasts? "These guys don't know the teams, get the names wrong, etc."

So by getting to see this one live and in person, and call the game, I'll have some reps on stream that will help me call the Class 6A title game. Plus, I have serious context to add on the "journey to Normal."

I beg for this every year from NFHS: "Send me to the game that feeds into one of my Championship games." Some years I get my way. I'm pumped because I actually know both of these teams fairly well going in (saw CG smoke Geneva in person and against Central Week 1. Family ties to LZ keeps me very familiar with those guys) and if ESL gets there, I saw em last year, plus followed the Flyers all fall. Any mistakes or mispronunciations this week get corrected. Most of my detailed notes are done this week. That allows me more time to spend preparing for the 2A game, which I've done nothing in depth for because it could be any of those 4 teams!

. 8 teams and 16 sides of the ball is tough for Bernhard and I. We're always looking for a way to get a head start. Thought this might be a good "in the weeds" backstage conversation for your guys to think about

We've finally come to this. The last CPL vs CPL game of the year. In reality, it should be happening on a Thursday afternoon at a stadium without lights, but I digress. On to the picks!

Kenwood vs. Whitney Young 12pm Saturday at Lane
I'd say this is not the matchup I would have called at the beginning year for the CPL Championship. Of course, in the CPL you don't blink an eye when a team will forfeit two games in back to back weeks, then come back and win big over a previously undefeated team....ANYTHING can happen in the CPL. But this one? No chance. Should be a glorious late fall day at Lane Stadium. Bathrooms not working, and I'm betting the concessions will be open late...if at all. Real playoff atmosphere...But at the end of the day, this is the final CPL game of the year. And, Whitney is playing. So, it only seems appropriate to sing..

Bittersweet memories –
That is all I'm taking with me
So good-bye
Please don't cry:
We both know I'm not what you, you need

And I... will always love you CPL Foootballlllll
I... will always love you
You, CPL, oooooo

Wood!

Marist vs. St. Rita 7pm Friday at St. Rita
I'll fully admit I don't catch a lot of Prep Bowl games in person. However, I do remember catching St. Rita play Taft a few years back at Gately. It was sunny. It was freezing. Gately Dogs were on point. Those dudes had the BBQ fired up in the north end zone. It was a great day for Football. Unless you were Taft. St. Rita got up early and never took the foot off the gas. Rita went on to lose in the state championship next year to Rochester. It's why I never understand these CCL teams that choose not to play in the prep bowl playoffs, you can't tell me those practices for the entire month of November weren't important in developing that young Rita team for next year. Plus, I can't imagine making a choice not to play football for a few more weeks with my team. I guess if you don't want to play, you don't want to play... I will just dance with someone who loves me...

Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away

I've done alright up 'till now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls, loneliness calls

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves to play football...

Rita!

Make sure to join us we will talk #IHSA Semifinals here from 6-8PM


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Looks to me like 2A North, 3A North, and maybe 7A's bottom bracket are the real state championships in their respective brackets and will be played this weekend.

Robocamera at Warren.......someone get Micah Jones a microphone stat!

Biggest Toss Up = Batavia @ Mt Carmel

Best Lock = Rochester@ Murphysboro

Hbu?


**Murphysboro won last week on a last second go ball to the fullback. That’s a tough one to end your season on.**
MHS Walk Off

I will be headed out to Burbank Saturday to watch this game. Does WA have a chance? Thoughts?