Other than Lincoln vs Lanphier, the rest of the CS8 has non-conference opponents for Week 1. This could result in some big swings and misses on my picks, but that's OK because it's the start of another season. Every team has hope until at least 7:05 Friday night. While hot now, high temperatures seem to be only in the 80's this weekend, unlike last year's horrendous Week 1 that pushed some games to Saturday.
West Division Games
Jacksonville at Pittsfield
This game came together only recently after Riverton cancelled their varsity season and the Crimson's opponent from Missouri bowed out. It's going to be tough for the 2A Saukees to matchup with 5A Jacksonville's size, particularly on the Offensive Line. Jacksonville 41 Pittsfield 6 (No Massey pick, still shows Jacksonville playing the Missouri team).
Quincy at Quincy Notre Dame
A tough start for 2A Quincy Notre Dame vs 7A quarterfinalist Quincy. Quincy won 55-12 last season and returns much of their offense. QND should not see teams with both the size and speed of the Blue Devils once they begin playing within the conference. Quincy 45 QND 16 (Massey: Quincy 40 QND 14).
Champaign Central at Springfield
Central was 2-7 last season and was only close in one of their losses. Springfield was 3-6 after I thought they would be back in the playoffs after barely missing in '22. Springfield needs a fast start to the season, and I think with returning QB Brody Scheffler they get it with a Week 1 win. Springfield 34 Central 14 (Massey: Springfield 41 Central 14).
Lanphier at Lincoln
The one CS8 vs CS8 contest. Lincoln won its welcome back to the CS8 game against the Lions 41-8 last season. The Railers then made the playoffs for the first time since 1984 but have to replace several key skill players. They do return some size on both sides of the ball. Lanphier was 0-9 last year and now has an interim head coach after their new coach resigned recently. Lincoln 40 Lanphier 0 (Massey: Lincoln 42 Lanphier 7).
SHG at St Louis Christian Brothers
A very tough road game for the Cyclones against a major Missouri program, though the Cycs return much more experience than last year. The scrimmage with East St Louis did give them a good idea of the speed they'll be facing. SHG needs to avoid a bad start and then play ball control but a win will be very difficult. Christian Brothers 39 SHG 20 (Massey: Christian Brothers 49 SHG 14).
Southeast at East Peoria
Can the Spartans get a win for 23-year old head coach Nate Borders in his first game? Like Southeast, East Peoria was 2-7 last year and they gave up over 400 points. I've been overly optimistic at the start of past seasons about the Spartans. Now, I'm doing it again. This should be a close, high scoring contest. Southeast 35 East Peoria 33 (Massey: Southeast 28 East Peoria 27).
East Division Games
Friday
Lanphier at Lincoln (See Above).
Edwardsville at Chatham
While this game will help the Titans down the road, they are a heavy underdog, even at home, to the 7A/8A Tigers. Chatham's offense should be able to score some points, maybe even enough to win against other teams. However, whether their defense will be able to get more than 1 or 2 stops against the much bigger Tigers Offense is questionable. The Titans need a fast start to stay close. I'll be at this one since the Rockets don't play until Saturday. Edwardsville 42 Chatham 24 (Massey: Edwardsville 43 Chatham 14).
Streator at Eisenhower
A chance for Eisenhower, who was 1-8 last year, to show if they've improved against a Streator team that was 2-7. Ike was very young last year. If they were able to keep most of those young players in the program, this will help the Panthers be more competitive. Think Streator does enough, though, to win. Streator 41 Eisenhower 28 (Massey: Streator 38 Eisenhower 21).
MacArthur at Mattoon
Mattoon, who plays in the Apollo Conference, was 2-7 last year but faced 7 playoff teams and were competitive in some of their defeats. Mac was 6-4 and made the 5A playoffs before losing to Metamora. However, RB Myson Johnson Cook is now playing in Texas and that is a huge blow to the Generals. Mac isn't a great road team, but I think they pull this one out. MacArthur 29 Mattoon 19 (Massey: MacArthur 35 Mattoon 14).
Peoria Manual at U High
To the best of my knowledge, U High returns more starters than any other CS8 team. Manual was 2-7 last year and lost 48-12 to Lincoln. Should be an easy win for U High before they face Bloomington Week 2. U High 43 Manual 8 (Massey: U High 42 Manual 6).
Saturday
Rochester at Chicago Simeon
The Rockets underwhelmed in their Week 0 scrimmage with Belleville West. The best that can be said is perhaps some of the usual Week 1 mistakes were made last Friday and now the team can adjust and move forward. A 3-hour Saturday morning bus ride to start the season is not typical. Simeon made the 6A playoffs last year before losing to Normal West and does have two touted Defensive Linemen. The Rockets O-Line needs to be much better than last week and give Bryan Zulauf time to throw the ball. I expect this to be a 4-quarter contest. Rochester 37 Simeon 18 (Massey: Rochester 42 Simeon 12).
West Division Games
Jacksonville at Pittsfield
This game came together only recently after Riverton cancelled their varsity season and the Crimson's opponent from Missouri bowed out. It's going to be tough for the 2A Saukees to matchup with 5A Jacksonville's size, particularly on the Offensive Line. Jacksonville 41 Pittsfield 6 (No Massey pick, still shows Jacksonville playing the Missouri team).
Quincy at Quincy Notre Dame
A tough start for 2A Quincy Notre Dame vs 7A quarterfinalist Quincy. Quincy won 55-12 last season and returns much of their offense. QND should not see teams with both the size and speed of the Blue Devils once they begin playing within the conference. Quincy 45 QND 16 (Massey: Quincy 40 QND 14).
Champaign Central at Springfield
Central was 2-7 last season and was only close in one of their losses. Springfield was 3-6 after I thought they would be back in the playoffs after barely missing in '22. Springfield needs a fast start to the season, and I think with returning QB Brody Scheffler they get it with a Week 1 win. Springfield 34 Central 14 (Massey: Springfield 41 Central 14).
Lanphier at Lincoln
The one CS8 vs CS8 contest. Lincoln won its welcome back to the CS8 game against the Lions 41-8 last season. The Railers then made the playoffs for the first time since 1984 but have to replace several key skill players. They do return some size on both sides of the ball. Lanphier was 0-9 last year and now has an interim head coach after their new coach resigned recently. Lincoln 40 Lanphier 0 (Massey: Lincoln 42 Lanphier 7).
SHG at St Louis Christian Brothers
A very tough road game for the Cyclones against a major Missouri program, though the Cycs return much more experience than last year. The scrimmage with East St Louis did give them a good idea of the speed they'll be facing. SHG needs to avoid a bad start and then play ball control but a win will be very difficult. Christian Brothers 39 SHG 20 (Massey: Christian Brothers 49 SHG 14).
Southeast at East Peoria
Can the Spartans get a win for 23-year old head coach Nate Borders in his first game? Like Southeast, East Peoria was 2-7 last year and they gave up over 400 points. I've been overly optimistic at the start of past seasons about the Spartans. Now, I'm doing it again. This should be a close, high scoring contest. Southeast 35 East Peoria 33 (Massey: Southeast 28 East Peoria 27).
East Division Games
Friday
Lanphier at Lincoln (See Above).
Edwardsville at Chatham
While this game will help the Titans down the road, they are a heavy underdog, even at home, to the 7A/8A Tigers. Chatham's offense should be able to score some points, maybe even enough to win against other teams. However, whether their defense will be able to get more than 1 or 2 stops against the much bigger Tigers Offense is questionable. The Titans need a fast start to stay close. I'll be at this one since the Rockets don't play until Saturday. Edwardsville 42 Chatham 24 (Massey: Edwardsville 43 Chatham 14).
Streator at Eisenhower
A chance for Eisenhower, who was 1-8 last year, to show if they've improved against a Streator team that was 2-7. Ike was very young last year. If they were able to keep most of those young players in the program, this will help the Panthers be more competitive. Think Streator does enough, though, to win. Streator 41 Eisenhower 28 (Massey: Streator 38 Eisenhower 21).
MacArthur at Mattoon
Mattoon, who plays in the Apollo Conference, was 2-7 last year but faced 7 playoff teams and were competitive in some of their defeats. Mac was 6-4 and made the 5A playoffs before losing to Metamora. However, RB Myson Johnson Cook is now playing in Texas and that is a huge blow to the Generals. Mac isn't a great road team, but I think they pull this one out. MacArthur 29 Mattoon 19 (Massey: MacArthur 35 Mattoon 14).
Peoria Manual at U High
To the best of my knowledge, U High returns more starters than any other CS8 team. Manual was 2-7 last year and lost 48-12 to Lincoln. Should be an easy win for U High before they face Bloomington Week 2. U High 43 Manual 8 (Massey: U High 42 Manual 6).
Saturday
Rochester at Chicago Simeon
The Rockets underwhelmed in their Week 0 scrimmage with Belleville West. The best that can be said is perhaps some of the usual Week 1 mistakes were made last Friday and now the team can adjust and move forward. A 3-hour Saturday morning bus ride to start the season is not typical. Simeon made the 6A playoffs last year before losing to Normal West and does have two touted Defensive Linemen. The Rockets O-Line needs to be much better than last week and give Bryan Zulauf time to throw the ball. I expect this to be a 4-quarter contest. Rochester 37 Simeon 18 (Massey: Rochester 42 Simeon 12).
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