ICE Semis

[Wilmatucky]

As mentioned before, the ICE is not a deep conference, however it is pretty impressive to have two teams in the Semifinals from the same conference. Not just the same conference but essentially 5 miles apart. Good luck to the last two standing and represent our area well!

3A

#2 Wilmington (12-0) @ #9 Montini (10-2) - Wilmington has two keys to winning this game......Eliminate injuries and what is the injury status of Farrell? I was thinking Wilmington's season would be over here, however Montini did not look unbeatable against Princeton. Also, if you look at their results from the year, yes they beat Byron and 4A quarter team St. Laurence, but they don't really have any other win that looks overly impressive. I wouldn't bet my house on it, but for the sake of a message board, give me the Cats. Wilmo 24 Montini 21



4A

#9 Depaul (9-3) @ #7 Coal City (10-2) - Very impressed with how CC has done this year. I kind of thought they would just fizzle out by 2nd round or quarters, but they keep getting better. Same thing as Montini, Depaul hasn't really beat anyone of huge stature. Like Wilmo I wouldn't bet on this but for the Homer pick I'll take CC. CC 20 Depaul 13

Side note, what bars should be considered for a beer and lunch before the Wilmington game. Not a B-dubs or chain. Give me something with some character.

 

[brucealmighy]

Side note, what bars should be considered for a beer and lunch before the Wilmington game. Not a B-dubs or chain. Give me something with some character.

Go to Frankie’s Deli. Close to the field. Amazing Italian sandwiches. Wash it down with a Birra Moretti. If you want a traditional bar, Anyways on Roosevelt is close and decent.

 

[doctor_d]

I got both Wilmo and CC as underdogs. The upper echelon of the ICE has had memorable seasons, but the vaunted CCL/ESCC is no joke.

I will abstain from predictions this week, as I normally do for semifinals week. Instead I will just give some random data. More to come.

 

[doctor_d]

As stated before, both ICE teams are underdogs this week. Maybe CC was an underdog against Dixon, but I picked them to win and it wasn't total homerism.

Coalers took one on the chin week 1 and have done nothing besides get better ever since. They got through some mid season injury issues and are peaking at the right time. Their only other loss was @ Wilmo and if those two played each other 10 times it would probably be 5-5. The CC RB #45 is an absolute stud and does everything for the team, but the pass game has stepped up and QB #5 and WR #32 are both playmakers. CC is big and physical, but will absolutely be put to the test by DePaul. All these CCL/ESCC teams have already been there and done that. Based off the limited amount I saw vs Dixon, the Coalers will have to cut out the turnovers while still being aggressive on offense. Coalers are 2-5 all time in the semifinal round. DePaul is by all accounts an up and coming program that was a popular darkhorse pick to win 4A at the start of the playoffs. Coal City was basically on nobody's radar as a 4A contender.


Anyone who is paying attention will know that Wilmo is a fairly substantial underdog this week @ Montini. If the game was at Wilmo, I'd like it much better, but Wilmo would still be underdogs in the hypothetical situation. Wilmington is 4-1 all time in semifinal games, but they have never gone on the road for one. Wilmington is actually 1-0 all time vs Montini, having beaten them way back in coach Reents' first playoff run in 1996. This is Wilmo's first season in 3A since 2019 as they have skirted the 2A/3A border and landed on the 2A side the past 5 years.
Montini is by far Wilmington's most formidable opponent in quite a while. It is not often that the 'Cats are clear underdogs, but Montini is absolutely loaded. I'm pretty sure Montini's main RB #6 is bigger than any of Wilmo's lineman. Wilmo will have to play a very clean game to be in it. The offense will absolutely have to avoid turnovers and pre-snap penalties and stay ahead of the chains. Montini is huge up front and very stout against the run. I will be interested to see what wrinkles Barry and staff come up with. On defense it appears to be a pick your poison. Montini can pound the rock with the bowling ball RB and huge line, but they've also got a D1 dual threat QB and WR's that are lightning quick. Just a very formidable opponent. I feel like Wilmo needs to be +2 in the turnover situation. The 'Cats will need to play their best game of the year just to stay in the game, but I guess that's what it's all about.