CS 8 Predictions Week 8

[rocketnation]

Four Friday night contests which all may end in running clocks and a Saturday afternoon game of the week between Springfield and MacArthur.

Friday
Chatham (5-2) at Lanphier (0-7)
Chatham QB Jack Knudson was hurt last week late in the first half and was wearing a sling on the sidelines in the second half. I have not heard how serious is his injury, but he will not be needed against Lanphier. Chatham’s backup had some good moments against Rochester. He is a running threat, despite appearing to weigh about 135 pounds. Lanphier has been running clocked three weeks in a row and has only scored 1 TD since coming back from 2 COVID forfeits. Chatham 47 Lanphier 0

Jacksonville (3-4) at Eisenhower (0-7)
Jacksonville should get its fourth win pretty easily. Their Week 9 game against Mac will be very important for both teams. Since almost upsetting Southeast in Week 1, Eisenhower has been running clocked 6 straight weeks. Jacksonville 44 Eisenhower 6

U High (3-4) at SHG (6-1)
I think Coach Leonard’s 400th career win is a lock. U High has beat the bottom teams in the conference easily but has lost by at least 21 points to all of the top 6 teams they’ve faced so far. SHG should get the reserves in early and get the starters some rest in preparation for Week 9 at Chatham. SHG 51 U High 0

Southeast (3-4) at Rochester (6-1)
Southeast is playing a lot of Sophomores on offense, and they scored the most points of the season last week against Lanphier. This gives some hope that Southeast could be an improved team in 2022. Senior night for Rochester. Derek will try to get some of his senior reserves their first career TD. The passing attack in the second half last week against Chatham was the best it’s been all year. Hope to see more of the same this week. Rochester 55 Southeast 13

Saturday
MacArthur (3-4) at Springfield (5-2)
It’s not often you see a high school game featuring 2 4-year starting QB’s. Brylan Phillips started for Eisenhower for 2 years before transferring to Mac in 2020. Rashad Rochelle seems to have been Springfield’s QB forever. This is a huge game for Mac and a big game for Springfield that should be very close. In the spring season, Mac led 14-0 at home but didn’t score again. Springfield won 28-14. This season, Springfield beat Chatham by 3, while Mac lost to them by 8. However, it was Mac’s first game back from 2 COVID forfeits. Mac gave SHG a much tougher game last week than the 45 point blowout Springfield endured in Week 4. Mac needs a victory to have a shot at 5 wins, while Springfield is already in the playoffs and is trying to secure a first round home game. Penalties and turnovers have hurt both teams at times. I think Rochelle makes a big play late to get Springfield the win. Springfield 29 MacArthur 27

 

[cornerrat]

All.... Stormy weather forecasted for Springfield and surrounding areas might play a role on high end scoring. The extent of the injury to the Chatham qb was mentioned on the Saturday morning sports writers on the radio. It didn't sound good. Ratsy

 

[cornerrat]

All..... It's officially out now and talked about on the Wednesday afternoon local sports on the radio in Springfield. QB Jack Knudson from Chatham suffered a broken clavicle in last weeks game with the Rockets. Recovery time in adults is 8-12 weeks less for younger individuals.

Sophomore Jacob Ahlberg will be the Titans qb from here on out. Ratsy

 

[rocketnation]

All..... It's officially out now and talked about on the Wednesday afternoon local sports on the radio in Springfield. QB Jack Knudson from Chatham suffered a broken clavicle in last weeks game with the Rockets. Recovery time in adults is 8-12 weeks less for younger individuals.

Sophomore Jacob Ahlberg will be the Titans qb from here on out. Ratsy

Ahlberg played well against Rochester in the 2nd half. His style is more in line with previous Chatham QB’s Luke Lehnen and Jake Burris, run first and pass when needed. Ahlberg will be severely tested by the SHG defense next week. Chatham’s program lists him as 5’9” and 135 lbs and that might be generous.

 

[rocketnation]

SJR Staff Predictions
Chatham 56 Lanphier 6
Jacksonville 49 Eisenhower 7
SHG 58 U High 0
Rochester 60 Southeast 6
Springfield 38 MacArthur 35

 

[rocketnation]

All Finals
A miserable rainy night after 2 days of heavy rain ended with the expected four running clocks.
Chatham 48 Lanphier 6. Lanphier scored first but Chatham quickly took over.
Jacksonville 50 Eisenhower 0. Jacksonville is now 4-4.
SHG 49 U High 6. Congrats to Ken Leonard on his 400th career win.
Rochester 41 Southeast 13. Hank Beatty ran for 2 TD’s, threw for 2, and caught 1.

 

[cornerrat]

All..... Interesting game at SHG. Show and tell or maybe not. Haven't a clue of what went on while I was watching. Maybe the point. (lol) Cyclones need to get healthy. On to Chatham. Ratsy

 

[rocketnation]

MacArthur 42 Springfield 34
Mac QB Brylan Phillips had over 300 yards passing and over 100 yards rushing and threw or ran for all of their TD’s in an exciting back and forth contest. Mac led 28-14 at half. Springfield tied it at 34 early in the fourth quarter but never led. Mac retook the lead with about 4 minutes left and then got a stop to end it. Mac‘s only mistake was a blocked extra point, while Springfield threw an interception from a trick formation, had a TD and 2 point conversion both called back on penalties, and also had a blocked extra point. Rashad Rochelle had another big game, but Springfield’s defense was on its heels most of the time. If Mac can win at Jacksonville next week, they end at 5-4 and could be a difficult opponent in the 5a playoffs. With this loss, Springfield should end up 6-3 and probably has lost the chance to have a 1st round home game in 6a.

 

[net-se]

MacArthur 42 Springfield 34
Mac QB Brylan Phillips had over 300 yards passing and over 100 yards rushing and threw or ran for all of their TD’s in an exciting back and forth contest. Mac led 28-14 at half. Springfield tied it at 34 early in the fourth quarter but never led. Mac retook the lead with about 4 minutes left and then got a stop to end it. Mac‘s only mistake was a blocked extra point, while Springfield threw an interception from a trick formation, had a TD and 2 point conversion both called back on penalties, and also had a blocked extra point. Rashad Rochelle had another big game, but Springfield’s defense was on its heels most of the time. If Mac can win at Jacksonville next week, they end at 5-4 and could be a difficult opponent in the 5a playoffs. With this loss, Springfield should end up 6-3 and probably has lost the chance to have a 1st round home game in 6a.

just thinking out loud with absolutely no research. wondering if esl loses to img next week, if 6a southern bracket could match up (7-2) esl/(6-3)shs as a number 8 vs 9.

like i said, zero research involved. i wish had an email address for you..........

 

[rocketnation]

just thinking out loud with absolutely no research. wondering if esl loses to img next week, if 6a southern bracket could match up (7-2) esl/(6-3)shs as a number 8 vs 9.

like i said, zero research involved. i wish had an email address for you..........

Sent offline.

 

[cornerrat]

MacArthur 42 Springfield 34
Mac QB Brylan Phillips had over 300 yards passing and over 100 yards rushing and threw or ran for all of their TD’s in an exciting back and forth contest. Mac led 28-14 at half. Springfield tied it at 34 early in the fourth quarter but never led. Mac retook the lead with about 4 minutes left and then got a stop to end it. Mac‘s only mistake was a blocked extra point, while Springfield threw an interception from a trick formation, had a TD and 2 point conversion both called back on penalties, and also had a blocked extra point. Rashad Rochelle had another big game, but Springfield’s defense was on its heels most of the time. If Mac can win at Jacksonville next week, they end at 5-4 and could be a difficult opponent in the 5a playoffs. With this loss, Springfield should end up 6-3 and probably has lost the chance to have a 1s

All..... MacArthur even though they are on the road will be the favorite in that game next week. QB Phillips four years as a starter has given him exceptional decision making capability to make changes on the fly. The Crimsons are going to have their hands full with that athletic group of speedy Generals. Even the smallest of errors against them can cost a team greatly. Ratsy

 

[rocketnation]

All..... MacArthur even though they are on the road will be the favorite in that game next week. QB Phillips four years as a starter has given him exceptional decision making capability to make changes on the fly. The Crimsons are going to have their hands full with that athletic group of speedy Generals. Even the smallest of errors against them can cost a team greatly. Ratsy

Phillips really played well yesterday. They have 2 or 3 Receivers with the ability to take short completions and make them into long gains. Springfield DB’s had tackling issues throughout the game. MacArthur’s offense is better than their defense, which has given up 34, 41, and 42 points against CS 8 playoff qualifiers. Jacksonville’s best chance is to have long drives and keep Phillips and Company on the sidelines as much as possible.

 

[cornerrat]

All.... Yes , especially Karon Shelley. (WR/FS-CB) He can hurt you on defense as well. MacArthur with 10 or 15 more players on the team because they are light on overall numbers (40) would be real trouble for everyone. At times late in games they wear down. Sustained drives that you mentioned as it applies to the Crimsons would be a plan to achieve just that. Although listening to yesterdays game on the radio I didn't get the impression Mac wore down. Much of the Senators come back scoring was accomplished by the train. Tired or not he is very difficult to stop.

Both Jacksonville and Decatur are now 4-4. Neither one will hold anything back come Friday. Ratsy

 

[rocketnation]

CS 8 Standings and Week 9 Games
Rochester 7-1 at U High
SHG 7-1 at Chatham
Chatham 6-2 vs SHG
Springfield 5-3 vs Southeast
MacArthur 4-4 at Jacksonville
Jacksonville 4-4 vs MacArthur
U High 3-5 vs Rochester
Southeast 3-5 at Springfield
Eisenhower 0-8 vs Lanphier
Lanphier 0-8 at Eisenhower

The game with the most on the line will be MacArthur at Jacksonville. The winner will be in the 5a playoffs, while the loser is likely out. Chatham will be fired up to play SHG at home but how much have they closed the gap from the spring when they were blitzed 61-14? Either Eisenhower or Lanphier will get their 1st win of the season.

 

[cornerrat]

All..... SHG @ Chatham has really large playoff consequences for both the winner and the loser of that game with positioning. The Titans at 6-2 don't want to finish at 6-3 which would likely mean a first round road game against a 7-2 or 8-1 opponent in 6A. Having looked and worked some numbers in class 4A for about a week should the Cyclones prevail over the Titans this Friday they look to be a number three seed in the south bracket of 16. Unless Breese Central gets upset by Herrin (won't happen) then SHG should get a two . If the Cycs don't win it will cause a shift for several teams.

One and four rated teams are in the upper group of 8 and the 2 and 3 seeds in the lower 8 of the 16 school bracket. Rochester is a lock for the number 1 seed with their playoff points in the south.

I can't see enough movement after week nine for Rochester to get pushed up into 5A nor SHG getting dropped into 3A as one of the largest teams in that class. Although anything can happen. The CPL is driving me nuts in terms of figuring it out. Ratsy P.S. Haven't seen them but some feel Cahokia can be a big time player in postseason 4A.