Based on jr’s and soph’s who are the top teams for 2025
- Thread starter flyerforlife
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That would be great. If the IHSA moves to a seeding based on weighted competition, Rochester, Sycamore, Prairie Ridge, Rochelle’s of the world should start scheduling the non con games against the CCL.
Morris just played a schedule that consisted of non-con’s against Coal City (4a semis) Joliet West (8a playoffs), Peoria (5a qtrs), and Byron Center, MI (state final runner up).
Conference games against Sycamore (5a qtrs), Rochelle (5a qtrs), and Kaneland (6a playoffs). Yes, the difficult schedule prepared them for the deep playoff run. Playoff point wise, if not the top, has to be top 5 in the state….Still got a running clock put on them by JCA in the 5a semis.
Morris was also 11-0 last year and got clocked by JCA in the qtrs (as many other public schools did both years). There is clearly a bigger issue that isn’t solved by the “get better” or “schedule up” crowd. This may be a unique scenario compared to other public schools, but there is definitely a major problem that can not be ignored. Regardless of what side of the fence you’re on.
I betcha it was the sophs who took off their shirts for the air soft ritual who are starters now. Those are the ones with balls.
Just saying.
And, they get to play when the coaches are at their very best making halftime adjustments. It’s almost unfair to the starters.
And a few players to the All Stars in Florida as well.
Stop. I know you like to gloom and doom MC, maybe intentionally, but they had one off year defensively, a year that still resulted in them winning a State Championship, and now your thinking this has been a constant issue and something they need to "figure out"? How dominate was their defense the past two seasons before this? Probably one of the best in the state if not the best. How young was this years defense? Probably the youngest they ever put out there and, again, they are State Champions. Dont worry, I think they will dial it in for you. I swear you hear the Debbie Downer theme on most your posts about MC football, so your either a hater or just a real glass half full fan.
I do think the Morris-JC rivalry is an interesting canary in the coal mine.
Morris' enrollment has remained remarkably steady over the last 25 years. JC's enrollment is down from near 1,000 around the turn of the century to below 600 today.
Yet from the 1990s until 2007, Morris and JC engaged in a football rivalry that was almost guaranteed to produce a close, competitive, and dramatic game. From 99-06 there were 7 meetings with all but one being a one score game and JC winning four and Morris three of those meetings.
After a dominant 2007 JC win from an all time team of theirs, they have met 3 times (11, 23, 24) and each time was a men vs boys scenario where the score reflected that talent disparity. But this is all interesting in that this coincides with a time period where JC is actually less dominant on a state level than they were when they were locked in slobberknockers with the Redskins, yet they seem to dominate Morris in mismatches now.
Perhaps it is the Darlington/Dergo effect and it was only the master tactician coach or generational athlete that would give Morris a chance all those years? Or perhaps Morris conference hopping has hurt them, but it's not as if they were ever playing in elite level conferences. Just don't know how to explain the Morris-JC divide growing even as the JC vs the rest of the state divide seems to not have grown so much. It's an interesting dynamic.
Not sure what to make of these recent mismatches.
I've wondered what has happened to the rivalry of late as well. When Morris played the Southwest Prairie teams, they were much larger schools, back in the day. I do believe the enrollment disparity is even greater now, so I understand why Morris sought other conference affiliation. But, I also believe playing larger schools (even though they weren't the strongest football programs) prepared Morris very well for the playoffs. Their current conference has some good teams like Rochelle, Kaneland and Sycamore. I'm not sure if that's an issue or not.
The thing that's been obvious to me in the recent matchups is Morris has not competed at the LOS. I have no idea what's happened there. But, they always had very good linemen. That's where the biggest difference in the recent mismatches has been, IMO.
2007? Didn't Morris win that regular season matchup, or am I thinking of 2006? Also, not sure I'd consider the '11, '23, and '24 JCA runners up teams less dominant, they just ran into better teams in the finals.
You are correct in mentioning the coaching though. Darlington would and could go toe to toe with anyone and Dergo was too insane to ever know if he was overmatched and that translated to his teams. Thorson, however, not so much. He's had mostly regular season success with a couple of runner up finishes, but with Morris being a very close knit community and Thorson not being from Morris much of the community has never warmed up to him. Not saying that's fair, just my assessment.
To pjjp's point, conference hopping has definitely played a role in their success. While they could still compete with several of the Southwest Prairie teams and it makes the most geographical sense those schools have simply gotten too big. While they would be competitive in football that would not be the case in most every other sport which is what led to the conference jumping. Between Morris choosing to find a new conference, conferences dissolving, and realignment it has definitely had an effect.
I think Morris has started to realize they are in an above average 5A conference but that they need more to be successful so they scheduled Peoria in non conference as well as Joliet West and the team from Michigan who just finished as state runner up in their class. Will be interesting to see who they get to replace Coal City. Pretty sure they have Peoria at home next year and they play the team from Michigan at home as well. Would like to see them continue the trend of playing larger schools to replace Joliet West and potentially a former Little 7 conference or SPC foe to start the year like one of the Plainfield's, Yorkville, or a team like a Washington. Would love a regular season game with JCA, or Provi, but don't see those being realistic possibilities, not saying either side would shy away but with all the CCL/ESCC crossover commitments I don't know how feasible it would be.
JCA had a team from Iowa in Week 1 the last few years. I believe they have an opening in Week 1 next year. And Morris and JCA won’t meet in the playoffs the next few years, since JCA will be up in 6A. Not sure Morris would have any interest, but I don’t think JCA will be as good as the last few years. Would love to see the rivalry renewed in the regular season.
They're seniors and moving on, but QB Kyle Beaty and all-purpose back Calen Taylor deserve a mention for helping Normal Community give Carmel one of its best games of the year.
