6A is very interesting
- Thread starter ODirty1
- Start date
Fenwick was the biggest school in 6A last week. Both Libertyville and Fenwick have now been pushed into 7A according to the IHSA playoff outlook.
6A North is stacked with Libertyville and Fenwick in it, without them it should be fairly resistance free until Geneva and CG meet. It will be interesting to see where these two schools end up, personally I like them both in 6A sets up some great games.
Antioch recent history vs. Catholic schools in playoffs:
5A) 2023—lost 50-7 to Carmel
6A) 2022—lost 28-7 to Notre Dame
6A) 2018—lost 17-10 to Notre Dame
5A) 2017—lost 31-9 to Marian Central
In the past 4 playoff seasons (19-21-22-23) Antioch's only two playoff wins are running-clock games over teams from the Chicago Public League.
That said, Antioch is a perennial playoff participant, appearing in 11 of the last 13 postseasons.
I have zero facts behind this but I did watch last November's second-round playoff game in which the Sequoits were taken to the woodshed by Carmel 50-7, and I think that was the tipping point in terms of public-school Antioch getting KO'd in the playoffs by a Catholic school.
Last year, in going 10-0 before the Carmel slaughter, Antioch was averaging 53 points a game and beat its first 10 points by margins ranging from 21 to 70.
The excitement for that Antioch team had to be off the charts in that community. Yet, against Carmel, the running clock was inevitable, and in the aftermath, I suspect parents and school personnel and the large fan base in the community complained to each other about the perceived public vs. private non-fairness and this was the result.
Because of the relatively new rule change about private schools moving up in class via the success factor and/or receiving waivers from the dreaded enrollment multiplier, as luck would have it, it appears that a large number of Chicago Catholic League schools are now falling into the Class 5A enrollment range for the postseason.
So, I can understand the Antioch position of wanting to bow out while losing to a better team on what the Sequoits perceive more of an even playing field than what they've encountered in recent postseasons.
And after all this, I admit to being confused about the Fenwick Class 6A thing. The IHSA has them currently listed as a 7A team and there are two schools already with five wins that are listed in the IHSA's 7A list that are smaller than Fenwick (St. Rita is smaller than Fenwick but doesn't count as it has volunteered to play 7A). So, right now, it's not certain that Fenwick will even be a 6A team.
Plus, Antioch is pretty much a lock to finish 8-1 and Fenwick, even with a loss to Mt. Carmel, would surely finish 7-2.
In the last five postseasons in Class 6A, in the northern 16-bracket, there have been nine teams enter the postseason 8-1. In those nine game, the 8-1 team's opponent had a 5-4 record seven of the times and a 6-3 record the other two times.
A 8-1 team vs. a 7-2 team in Round 1 of the 6A playoffs just doesn't happen. And as the number of schools playing football shrinks and the number of 5-4 teams that actually get into the postseason increases (remember when some 5-4 teams didn't get in? Now, even a 4-5 team can possibly get in!) the odds of an 8-1 team playing a 7-2 team in Round 1 of the 16-team Class 6A postseason seems extremely extremely extremely remote.
Impossible. Antioch will finish 8-1 and Cary-Grove 9-0. Impossible for them to meet in Round 1 of 6A playoffs.
I think playing through adversity is very underrated in these schools nowadays, so many just want to get in. I have found the schools that come in battle tested more often than not will beat the schools with soft schedules. The risk in this philosophy is not always making the playoffs, but I believe programs get built by learning how to win the tough games. Case in point 2023 NAZ.
Glenbard South is also very similar to Antioch, they play in the Upstate 8 against very weak competition, most games starters are out by half time. This year they got to play 3 out of conference games but they scheduled 2 games against competition ranked 411 & 491 in the state, sorry but you are not learning how to win when playing competition like that. I have always said GBS is middle of road 4A or high end 3A team. They are in a unique spot being a 5A public surrounded by big 7A & 8A publics. Petitioning to 6A is going to be interesting to see how it all works out. I suspect if lucky they get winable first game and run into trouble game two.
I would love to see a Antioch vs GBS match up.
Would like to see Fenwick and Libertyville stay in 6A, make one heck of a North bracket.
If Fenwick stays 7A, I really don’t see anyone stopping CG in the north.
I saw Geneva against Batavia, Also caught a CG game this year, My money is still on CG.
And talent. No amount of tough scheduling overcomes superior talent. i.e. Driscoll, Naz, MtC, Loyola, BR, etc. The years they win, they have more talent amassed than their opponents.
Geneva is small up front; it would be interesting how they handle CG. I know Batavia is more of a ground game as well but not like CG.
I think there is some definite doubt. . Last year is last year, but 41-7 in the quarters.
Looking forward to see that game if it comes about.
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