Dream out of conference matchup

[4Afan]

Who is your dream matchup for your team for an out of conference game? Doesn't necessarily have to be LWE vs. Loyola, but who would you like to see your team play out of conference? An old rival, a neighboring town, a local public/private school?

With the Morris/Coal City matchup coming to an end and the Redskins playing the team from Grand Rapids this year and next year there's opportunity in the coming years. I've always said, and I stand by my stance, that I would love for Morris to rekindle the rivalries with the teams from the old Little 7 conference. While they wouldn't dominate like they used to due to the other schools enrollments being so much larger, I can still see them being competitive with every school, except for Batavia. Give me Morris vs. Minooka, Oswego, Geneva, Plainfield, or Kaneland.

The Coal City game was a good agreement in the beginning and Coal City is a successful program, but they've only beat Morris once and most of the games haven't been that close so I'm not sad that it's coming to an end. Would love to see Morris vs. Minooka in week 1 annually. They've had some success in past years and they're a good 8A program and would be a good challenge for Morris to start the year. Due to proximity it's a natural rival, but growing up I always felt Oswego was a bigger rival for Morris. Morris was the only team to beat them in 1992 when they won state and the Panthers beat multiple great Redskin teams.

 

[Swansa01]

For Sterling, I would be cool with seeing them play Dixon again. Not only old NCIC rivals, but gives a neighbor rivalry. Nothing against Sterling's neighbor to the south (Rock Falls) but I hope that neighbor rivalry stays dead for now.

I also would not mind seeing them play Sycamore/Morris/Kaneland. Also old conference foes, but also very tough games to give that early season test.

 

[4Afan]

For Sterling, I would be cool with seeing them play Dixon again. Not only old NCIC rivals, but gives a neighbor rivalry. Nothing against Sterling's neighbor to the south (Rock Falls) but I hope that neighbor rivalry stays dead for now.

I also would not mind seeing them play Sycamore/Morris/Kaneland. Also old conference foes, but also very tough games to give that early season test.

Would love a Morris/Sterling game.

 

[atrain97]

Cary Grove vs Barrington, proximity and diversity in style of play, would be great, 6A vs 8A, but CG is used to it with Huntley in the FVC.
the JR programs have a great rivalry, would love to see it continue at the HS level. Damn closed conference.

 

[cornerrat]

All.... Don't know about "dream" but tend to enjoy it when the Catholics mix it up. I will say for the Cycs, CCL teams. (have played some of course already) 5A and 6A and if SHG was lookng to be really loaded in a particular year a toe dip into 7A. One can learn much in a non con game before the postseason. Ratsy

 

[jthebro2]

Normal U-High vs Bloomington Central Catholic, they have a rich history in football and still have a fierce rivalry in every other sport, but haven’t played in football since the end of the Corn Belt conference in 2016. This matchup would be especially interesting after the 2023 season, where U-High had a good season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and Central Catholic made it all the way to the quarterfinals.

 

[crazylegs777]

Normal U-High vs Bloomington Central Catholic, they have a rich history in football and still have a fierce rivalry in every other sport, but haven’t played in football since the end of the Corn Belt conference in 2016. This matchup would be especially interesting after the 2023 season, where U-High had a good season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and Central Catholic made it all the way to the quarterfinals.

I remember the double headers they had at ISU. Normal vs Bloomington & Central Catholic vs U High

 

[doctor_d]

Wilmington v Seneca last year was great. It ended up being that the two best class 2A teams in the state got to play each other twice. I expect Seneca to step back a bit this year, though. Would still have been a good one to keep given the old conference rivalry. Aurora Christian was a good one last year also that wasn’t renewed. Hope Academy matchup this year is really interesting.
As far as dream matchup for Wilmo, all the 3A/4A teams that I think would be tough but reasonable seem to play in closed conferences. Maybe Unity or SJO would be good as their conference has one open (non-con) date

 

[missingwalter]

For personal reasons: East Aurora/Oswego

Nostalgia: Morris/Oswego

New matchup: Oswego/Huntley or South Elgin

 

[Silver Rain]

MC has had multiple non-con opponents in the upper five classes, Catholic and Public, city and suburbs, contenders or not. I can't think of a dream match-up. We get it in the Blue every year. There's no one I'd rather play than Rita, Rice, Marist, and Loyola. But maybe all those teams mentioned above would have some entertainment value.

 

[corey90]

MC has had multiple non-con opponents in the upper five classes, Catholic and Public, city and suburbs, contenders or not. I can't think of a dream match-up. We get it in the Blue every year. There's no one I'd rather play than Rita, Rice, Marist, and Loyola. But maybe all those teams mentioned above would have some entertainment value.

It’s boring. I would rather see them play teams they have never played before. I am not saying those are not good teams but it’s been there done that. Not a dream matchup.

 

[caravan8]

It’s boring. I would rather see them play teams they have never played before. I am not saying those are not good teams but it’s been there done that. Not a dream matchup.

MC vs SR is a game that I always look forward to and never want it off the schedule (figure it out and sign a lifetime agreement!). I agree with you though Corey, I like seeing different teams. MC has played ESL, they play most of the big programs in Illinois. If it wasn’t going to be LWE, I’d like to see them go out of state. The game against St. Joes of Philly was great in 2014. Maybe an MC class like last season would’ve been good to watch against one of the good NJ powerhouse teams (Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco, etc)

 

[guerinfbfan]

Hmmm...

I would love to see Holy Cross vs St. Patrick or Holy Cross vs Notre Dame one last time...

The younger generation would probably prefer Guerin vs Elmwood Park

Just for total fun with travel, let's see East Dubuque vs Massac County

 

[McCaravan]

I’d love to see MC play a National Power. Not an IMG that’s more of a travel program but a real school Power like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, or De La Salle in California or a Texas/Ohio Power. Maybe it ends up being a long night for MC but I’d love to see it and see how Lynch would have them ready.

 

[4Afan]

I’d love to see MC play a National Power. Not an IMG that’s more of a travel program but a real school Power like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, or De La Salle in California or a Texas/Ohio Power. Maybe it ends up being a long night for MC but I’d love to see it and see how Lynch would have them ready.

Would love to see a team like MC play a top level private school from a state that separates their public/private teams. Very curious to see what the level of competition is like in those states.

 

[McEvergreen]

I’d love to see MC play a National Power. Not an IMG that’s more of a travel program but a real school Power like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, or De La Salle in California or a Texas/Ohio Power. Maybe it ends up being a long night for MC but I’d love to see it and see how Lynch would have them ready.

MC should contact MO powerhouse CBC. They're always looking for a week 1 or 2. Most teams duck them. ESL used to play them and everyone in the St. Louis metro area would show up!

Would love to see Wilmington schedule Lena-Winslow or Forreston non conf.

 

[corey90]

I’d love to see MC play a National Power. Not an IMG that’s more of a travel program but a real school Power like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, or De La Salle in California or a Texas/Ohio Power. Maybe it ends up being a long night for MC but I’d love to see it and see how Lynch would have them ready.

LWE vs Mater Dei
This would be a great game for me. Mater Dei is the cream of the crop in Southern California. I grew up watching this program and it would certainly be fun for me to see. East might get rolled but it would definitely be a great learning experience.

 

[johnndoe]

Dream match-up might be overstated, but how about Richards and Kankakee?

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

I've been lucyk and have seen Tri Valley and Wilmington turn into a respectable non-con rivalry similar to SJO and Wilmington in the 00s. Had an added bonus of Wilmington and Maroa last year as well.

Would like to see...
Bloomington CC and Normal U High
Tolono vs. Wilmington and/or Coal City
Paxton vs Peotone
GCMS vs. Athens
Mahomet vs. Monticello
SJO vs. Coal City
Dee Mack vs. Clifton
Maroa vs. Roxana

 

[crusader_of_90]

Althoff v Belleville West.

I saw the principal of West at lunch a month ago and asked when the two schools would play again and he said it would be a while.

 

[Oddy]

Some years back CoM and Libertyville was a great rivalry. Lately both are on the upswing and would be good games I expect.

 

[mullin17]

Back to a 1980's Bloom vs. Marian

 

[King MJ]

Maine South / Loyola aka the Park Ridge football all star game.

 

[colin2229]

Would like to see Aurora Central & Marmion renew their rivalry.

Think Wheaton Acd vs Wheaton St Francis has potential to be a good rivalry.

 

[missingwalter]

There were some good ACC/Marmion games in the late 80’s/early 90’s

 

[crazylegs777]

Reavis & St.Laurence drew some crazy crowds back in the day when they were on fire. I would have loved to see them play back then. I recall in 1984 they had a JV game on Monday. I was in 8th grade & my school was about a mile from Reavis. When we got out of school a bunch of us all walked down to the game. A bunch of St.Laurence & Queen Of Peace students walked down with us. My school was across the street from St Laurence & Peace. The stadium was packed I mean packed & it was a great game. My mom & dad went in at midnight so they could get off so they could watch. Later when they finally played it was great. 2 years in a row & each team won a game. Both were hampered by crazy weather

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Would like to see Aurora Central & Marmion renew their rivalry.

Think Wheaton Acd vs Wheaton St Francis has potential to be a good rivalry.

Wouldn’t mind seeing WA being one of SF’s non-con opponents in future.

 

[colin2229]

Wouldn’t mind seeing WA being one of SF’s non-con opponents in future.

There’s some trying to get the suburban Catholic back together again. Would love to see it happen.

With the additions of Aurora Christian and Wheaton Academy

 

[Fishwater41]

LTHS VS NAZ, Should be the opener every year