It's finally here.....game week. A very intriguing week 1 with some old conference foes meeting once again. Good luck to all teams and players this year.
Elmwood Park @ Reed-Custer - I know it's cliche to say "this game will tell us a lot about a team", but I think that saying fits better here than any other week 1 matchup. EP has been pretty bad the last couple of years. RC wants to continue their momentum and continue to show they can be competitive. If RC struggles with EP, I think that will be a sign of a rough season. If they can come out and handle them then it should be an indicator that RC has a shot of being decent this year. I will give RC the benefit of doubt until proven otherwise. I think RC wins by 2 scores. RC 35 EP 21
Morris @ Coal City - Love that CC isn't scared to keep Morris on their schedule. This rivalry needs to be a lock every year. Bad news for CC however is that Morris is just a step above them. It'll be a decent game at first but Morris pulls aways in the second half. Morris 38 CC 10
Herscher @ Charleston - It surprised me last year when Herscher beat Charleston (their only win), and then Charleston managed to rip off 4 wins at the end of the year. I have no idea what goes on down in Herscher, but it seems like numbers continue to be a problem for them. I think Herscher is the low point of the ICE this year and this could be their only shot at a win. However I am not sure they have enough to get a win here. Back and forth sloppy game. Charleston in a nail biter. Charlie 49 Herscher 45
Lisle @ Harvard - Lisle has taken it to an abysmal Harvard team the last few years. I don't see that trend to change as Lisle picks one up and will continue to look for the next 4 as the season rolls on. Give me the Lions in an easy win. Lisle 34 - Harvard 6
Manteno @ Sandwich - I haven't had much intel about Manteno, but I want them to be competitive once again. The rivalry with Peotone is so much better, Wilmo and them had a nice little Rivalry, it just makes the ICE better. Sandwich has their own issues in the program, and I think that will hurt them this week. A varsity speed game will be too much for a team with no varsity experience. Give me Manteno here with what could be one of their few high points of the season. Manteno 21 - Sandwich 10
Rantoul @ Peotone - Rantoul was pretty awful last year and I like Peotone to be a middle of the road ICE team per usual. The Will County Fair won't be enough to distract the Devils this week. Peotone wins big. Tone' 42 - Rantoul 7
East Peoria @ Streator - Neither team is good. However Streator has had their number each time they have played. Streator will need every win they can get and I think they are motivated to get this one. Streator 26 - EP 14
Wilmington @ Seneca - GOTW!!! This game was THE rivalry in the late 90's into early 2000's. This game will tell more about Seneca than Wilmo. Last year Seneca did well, however looking at their schedule last year, they really didn't beat anyone of note. I think they are a tough team, but they are not as good as I originally thought. I know they return some play makers, but Wilmo is tough, fast, and deep. I am so confident in the cats this week I will go out and say if this was at Becker Field, it would be a blowout. However it's not. SO instead of a blowout, I will just say it is a flat out butt kicking. Wilmo 35 - Seneca 14
There it is folks. Tell me I'm an idiot or don't.......I look forward to seeing how this season plays out.
Elmwood Park @ Reed-Custer - I know it's cliche to say "this game will tell us a lot about a team", but I think that saying fits better here than any other week 1 matchup. EP has been pretty bad the last couple of years. RC wants to continue their momentum and continue to show they can be competitive. If RC struggles with EP, I think that will be a sign of a rough season. If they can come out and handle them then it should be an indicator that RC has a shot of being decent this year. I will give RC the benefit of doubt until proven otherwise. I think RC wins by 2 scores. RC 35 EP 21
Morris @ Coal City - Love that CC isn't scared to keep Morris on their schedule. This rivalry needs to be a lock every year. Bad news for CC however is that Morris is just a step above them. It'll be a decent game at first but Morris pulls aways in the second half. Morris 38 CC 10
Herscher @ Charleston - It surprised me last year when Herscher beat Charleston (their only win), and then Charleston managed to rip off 4 wins at the end of the year. I have no idea what goes on down in Herscher, but it seems like numbers continue to be a problem for them. I think Herscher is the low point of the ICE this year and this could be their only shot at a win. However I am not sure they have enough to get a win here. Back and forth sloppy game. Charleston in a nail biter. Charlie 49 Herscher 45
Lisle @ Harvard - Lisle has taken it to an abysmal Harvard team the last few years. I don't see that trend to change as Lisle picks one up and will continue to look for the next 4 as the season rolls on. Give me the Lions in an easy win. Lisle 34 - Harvard 6
Manteno @ Sandwich - I haven't had much intel about Manteno, but I want them to be competitive once again. The rivalry with Peotone is so much better, Wilmo and them had a nice little Rivalry, it just makes the ICE better. Sandwich has their own issues in the program, and I think that will hurt them this week. A varsity speed game will be too much for a team with no varsity experience. Give me Manteno here with what could be one of their few high points of the season. Manteno 21 - Sandwich 10
Rantoul @ Peotone - Rantoul was pretty awful last year and I like Peotone to be a middle of the road ICE team per usual. The Will County Fair won't be enough to distract the Devils this week. Peotone wins big. Tone' 42 - Rantoul 7
East Peoria @ Streator - Neither team is good. However Streator has had their number each time they have played. Streator will need every win they can get and I think they are motivated to get this one. Streator 26 - EP 14
Wilmington @ Seneca - GOTW!!! This game was THE rivalry in the late 90's into early 2000's. This game will tell more about Seneca than Wilmo. Last year Seneca did well, however looking at their schedule last year, they really didn't beat anyone of note. I think they are a tough team, but they are not as good as I originally thought. I know they return some play makers, but Wilmo is tough, fast, and deep. I am so confident in the cats this week I will go out and say if this was at Becker Field, it would be a blowout. However it's not. SO instead of a blowout, I will just say it is a flat out butt kicking. Wilmo 35 - Seneca 14
There it is folks. Tell me I'm an idiot or don't.......I look forward to seeing how this season plays out.
