ICE Week 1 Thread

[Wilmatucky]

It's finally game week! Not a monster slate of games, but there are a few critical matchups for ICE teams. Hopefully the heat subsides a little bit and we can dip back into the beautiful fall weather that we had last week. As always feel free to share your thoughts.

Records listed are 2023 final total.

El Paso-Gridley (6-4 2023 @ Reed-Custer (3-6) - I think this is a very important game for the Comets to get to 5 wins. IF they lose it's not impossible to reach the playoffs, but this week could help to take some of the pressure of must win games off later in the season. I think this matchup is a slightly below average 3a against a similar strength 2A opponent. This game should help get a better understanding on Braidwood. If they win at least we know they may be somewhat competent, and if they lose then it could mean a long season. I'm not sure often EPG plays on turf so that could help the Comets out and if it is crazy hot out still not riding an hour on the bus helps them too. I like Braidwood in a tight one. Give me RC 27 - EPG 21

Coal City (8-3) @ Morris (11-1) - In the last rendition of this restored rivalry it's sad to think that the Coalers don't have much of a shot. I do think that this should be their only loss until they reach the last third of the season against Wilmington. This also seems to be the only real challenge for CC leading up to that game, so it should be beneficial to have that experience under their belt. Morris wins with ease. Morris 35 Coal City 14

Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) (5-5) @ Herscher (2-7) - I honestly do not know much about either team. If Chicago Christian is in a down year and Herscher is improved I think they could hang here, however I do not see that as the case.

 

[forlouann]

It's finally game week! Not a monster slate of games, but there are a few critical matchups for ICE teams. Hopefully the heat subsides a little bit and we can dip back into the beautiful fall weather that we had last week. As always feel free to share your thoughts.

Records listed are 2023 final total.

El Paso-Gridley (6-4 2023 @ Reed-Custer (3-6) - I think this is a very important game for the Comets to get to 5 wins. IF they lose it's not impossible to reach the playoffs, but this week could help to take some of the pressure of must win games off later in the season. I think this matchup is a slightly below average 3a against a similar strength 2A opponent. This game should help get a better understanding on Braidwood. If they win at least we know they may be somewhat competent, and if they lose then it could mean a long season. I'm not sure often EPG plays on turf so that could help the Comets out and if it is crazy hot out still not riding an hour on the bus helps them too. I like Braidwood in a tight one. Give me RC 27 - EPG 21

Coal City (8-3) @ Morris (11-1) - In the last rendition of this restored rivalry it's sad to think that the Coalers don't have much of a shot. I do think that this should be their only loss until they reach the last third of the season against Wilmington. This also seems to be the only real challenge for CC leading up to that game, so it should be beneficial to have that experience under their belt. Morris wins with ease. Morris 35 Coal City 14

Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) (5-5) @ Herscher (2-7) - I honestly do not know much about either team. If Chicago Christian is in a down year and Herscher is improved I think they could hang here, however I do not see that as the case.

Chicago Christian should be on the upswing this year. A new, highly regarded coach and a Senior heavy team. Expectations are high for this team. I'll be heading down to Herscher to check things out. We will see

 

[Wilmatucky]

It's finally game week! Not a monster slate of games, but there are a few critical matchups for ICE teams. Hopefully the heat subsides a little bit and we can dip back into the beautiful fall weather that we had last week. As always feel free to share your thoughts.

Records listed are 2023 final total.

El Paso-Gridley (6-4 2023 @ Reed-Custer (3-6) - I think this is a very important game for the Comets to get to 5 wins. IF they lose it's not impossible to reach the playoffs, but this week could help to take some of the pressure of must win games off later in the season. I think this matchup is a slightly below average 3a against a similar strength 2A opponent. This game should help get a better understanding on Braidwood. If they win at least we know they may be somewhat competent, and if they lose then it could mean a long season. I'm not sure often EPG plays on turf so that could help the Comets out and if it is crazy hot out still not riding an hour on the bus helps them too. I like Braidwood in a tight one. Give me RC 27 - EPG 21

Coal City (8-3) @ Morris (11-1) - In the last rendition of this restored rivalry it's sad to think that the Coalers don't have much of a shot. I do think that this should be their only loss until they reach the last third of the season against Wilmington. This also seems to be the only real challenge for CC leading up to that game, so it should be beneficial to have that experience under their belt. Morris wins with ease. Morris 35 Coal City 14

Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) (5-5) @ Herscher (2-7) - I honestly do not know much about either team. If Chicago Christian is in a down year and Herscher is improved I think they could hang here, however I do not see that as the case.

That's weird my whole post didn't go through

 

[doctor_d]

I honestly don’t have much idea how week 1 will go.
I feel very confident that Morris will take care of business vs CC and Peotone will beat the CPS school that they are playing.

Wilmo should be considered the favorite at home, but Hope was really good last year and Wilmo is replacing most of both O and D lines.

The other games look like toss ups at best.

Harvard has been pretty bad for a while, but Lisle was really rough last year.

R-C v EPG is a toss up as was previously mentioned. I didn’t get a lot of optimism from my R-C friends about this season. Maybe they were sandbagging, but I don’t think so.

Manteno got handled by Sandwich last year, so this shapes up to be a tough one for the Panthers.

Herscher v Chicago Christian… ? Is Herscher on the rebound after some lean years?

5-3 record for the conference might be a good week.

 

[McEvergreen]

The only game worth watching is in Wilmington, IL

CATS over Hope
Morris over CC
Gridley over RC
Lisle over Harvard
Sandwich over Manteno
Peotone over Noble
Decatur Ike over Streator
CC over Herscher

 

[Wilmatucky]

Since it only posted half my original here are the picks

wilmo
morris
RC
Lisle
Peotone
Chicago Christian
Streator
Sandwich

 

[IceConGuy]

Winners-
Wilmo and Peotone by 3+ TD
Morris Runs the Clock
RC, Lisle, Streator win close. Could be some bad games overall.
Manteno loss in a shootout. They didn't stop the run last year at all. I like their passing game to keep up though.
Hersher just loses.

 

[Bobby Boucher 9]

EPG has had turf since 2010

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

EPG @ Reed-Custer - on paper this game looks like a pretty even matchup. EPG is a staple at the top of the HOI conference and this season looks to be no different. EPG always has good athletes and they have played on turf for several years and their speed could cause the Comets some problems. Read that RC has a returning QB but are nowhere close to where they were a few years ago. EPG 33 RC 28

Coal City @ Morris - two perennial playoff teams in their prospective classes and I would expect this to be a very physical game. Morris has more weapons on offense and they have very good WR that may cause the Coalers some issues. CC battles early but struggles to maintain the speed, athleticism, and physicalness of The Morris Football Team.

Harvard @ Lisle - both programs struggled last year and this is a must win for both programs to build some momentum for the season. There is potential that this might be the only winnable game for both programs but with HS football you never know. Lisle 28 Harvard 18

Streator @ Decatur IKE - Eisenhower will have the better athletes, Streator has a new coach. Ike has a pretty good QB but tend to struggle a on the LOS, similar to what I have read about Streator on this board. Streator's HC however knows a thing or two about running the ball, which is not something the Bulldogs have done, well in the past. Just Streator 20 Ike 12

Chicago Christian @ Herscher - no information at all about either of these programs except that Herscher has fell on some tough times and Chicago Christian seems to be a program that is on the rise, at least based on the past few seasons. Chicago Christian 32 Herscher 18

Peotone vs. Munchin College Prep - obviously not much of a matchup and the Devils should be able to score at will in this one. Would like to see a tougher opponent for a team trying to join CC and Wilmington at the top of the conference but we all know how tough scheduling can be. Peotone 56 Munchin 0

Sandwich @ Manteno - I think Sandwich surprised a lot of people last year qualifying for the playoffs then making it to the Quarterfinals. Their early season wins last year over Manteno and Petone helped them gain confidence in conference play. Hearing Manteno is much improved from last season with some new coaches and a few new players but will they be able to stop the ground and pound of Sandwich is the question. Sandwich 34 Manteno 33

Chicago Hope vs. Wilmington - easily the best game among ICE teams this week. The Wildcats coming off a State Title win and Hope who was only a few feet from playing in Hancock stadium. I am sure both teams lost key players from last year but probably return some key players as well. A great test for both of these programs and both will walk away a better team than when the game stated. Two opposite styles of play should make this an entertaining game. Wilmington 35 Hope Academy 26