ICE Week 6

[Wilmatucky]

Nothing of note last week. I guess the Herscher/Streator game probably could have been GOTW, but I just felt like the CC/Peotone game had more implications for the playoffs. This week has one key matchup, and two lower tier teams looking to just get a win.

Braidwood (0-5) @ Coal City (4-1) - Nothing to worry about here for the Coalers. They get a tune up week before traveling to Wilmington for what many would have considered to be the ICE championship next week, but we will dive more into that next week. I think CC rolls coal and comes away with an easy win. CC 49 RC 7

Hershcer (3-2) @ Wilmington (5-0) - Another one sided affair. Even if the score isn't astronomical (I do think it will be) in the end, I think it will be a classic Wilmo ground and pound. Controlling victory for Wilmington. Cats 42 Herscher 14

Lisle (0-5) @ Streator (1-4) - Lisle won't find their first win of the season this week. Give me the team who has done it once this year. Streator 28 Lisle 7

Peotone (3-2) @ Manteno (5-0) - Route 50 Rumble is your ICE GOTW........I like Manteno to remain undefeated. They haven't beat anyone great, however they still haven't lost. Although Peotone's losses were to Wilmo and CC they happened to be in the last two weeks and the momentum is down for the 'Tone. Plus this is probably the toughest 3 week stretch for any team in the ICE this year. I like the Panthers to pull the "upset" here and secure their spot as the 3rd best in the ICE. Manteno 35 Tone 20

Without looking too much into the future can we just talk about how awesome week 9 will be? CC Manteno will be huge and I'm going to predict that RC and Lisle will be using week 9 to get one of those teams their lone win.

No Change in Power Rankings.

1. Wilmington
2. CC
3. Manteno
4. Peotone
5. Herscher
6. Streator
7. RC
8. Lisle

 

[McEvergreen]

CC BIG over RC
Cats BIG over Herscher
Streator BIG over Lisle

GOTW - Peotone played physical last week and this week is all about sending the Panthers a message! Peotone 27 Manteno 21

 

[IceConGuy]

Wilmo grinds Herscher down. Clock + Shutout.
CC over RC. Heard that RC didn't attempt a pass vs Wilmo and sat some kids. Any truth to that? If so, what the deal there? Either way 35-7.
Manteno over Peotone. Panthers seem to be firing on all Cylinders on offense. I'll take them.
Streator over Lisle. 28-7

 

[doctor_d]

Coalers 49, R-C 7
Wilmo 42, Herscher 7
Streator 33, Lisle 6
Peotone 28, Manteno 27

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

Reed-Custer vs. Coal City - the Coalers were able to squeak by Peotone last week. I saw it was a tight game until the end, but the Coalers prevail. RC took a typical pounding from Wilmington. Coal City 47 RC 6

Wilmington vs. Herscher - the Tigers win a wild one last week on a last second field goal over Streator. Herscher will need an upset over one of the Big 3 to get in and it won't happen this week. Wilmington 42 Herscher 6

Streator vs. Lisle - the battle for 2nd to last place. Both teams are struggling but Streator has looked improved each week this season. Lisle has played a gauntlet the past 3 weeks and hopefully they see some positives the next few weeks with an easier schedule. Streator 32 Lisle 18

Peotone vs. Manteno - the question is how good is Manteno? Weak schedule thus far and Peotone has been battle tested the last 2 weeks. Records mean nothing in this game and the winner solidifies their standing at the top 3 in the conference and a potential good playoff draw. Contrasting styles of play, run vs. spread, heated rivalry, and 2 teams wanting to prove them they belong. Peotone 29 Manteno 27

 

[doctor_d]

Just looking back through the archives, Manteno hasn’t beaten Peotone since 2019.

Massey has Manteno as a 10 point home favorite with a score prediction of 36-26.

I have no idea on the health situation for either team, but Peotone has had the much tougher schedule so far.
If both squads are at full strength, I expect a good close game.

 

[McEvergreen]

RC football is officially back to rock bottom again. Their coaching staff is horrendous. I don't think CC broke a sweat tonight.

 

[doctor_d]

Wilmo beat Herscher 42-13.
Was 42-0 at half and 35-0 after 1st Q.

 

[doctor_d]

RC football is officially back to rock bottom again. Their coaching staff is horrendous. I don't think CC broke a sweat tonight.

you were at the game? I would have imagined that R-C would have received a beating from CC, so this wasn't a surprise.

What was the final?

Will R-C beat Lisle?

 

[doctor_d]

Finals from ScoreZone

Wilmo 42, Herscher 13
Coalers 50, R-C 0
Streator 41, Lisle 13
Manteno 21, Peotone 7

 

[doctor_d]

So the Rumble on Route 50 goes to Manteno.

At least the conference will have some good games down the stretch.

Coalers at Wilmo next week.

Wilmo at Manteno week 8.

Manteno @ Coal City week 9

 

[doctor_d]

6 wins for Wilmo. Time for a new avatar.

 

[McEvergreen]

I left at halftime. No fight in the Comets. RC might get Lisle only because Lisle doesn't have numbers. It's hard to imagine a worse team than RC but Lisle is at an all time low.

Conference championship next week in Wilmington. I'll say it again. Cats enter the playoffs 9-0 with a full head of steam. They are going to destroy Manteno 🔥 Panthers need to leave their women and children at home.

 

[doctor_d]

I left at halftime. No fight in the Comets. RC might get Lisle only because Lisle doesn't have numbers. It's hard to imagine a worse team than RC but Lisle is at an all time low.

Conference championship next week in Wilmington. I'll say it again. Cats enter the playoffs 9-0 with a full head of steam. They are going to destroy Manteno 🔥 Panthers need to leave their women and children at home.

Wilmo needs a competitive game. Hope and Sandwich didn’t provide it, although on paper going into the year, they looked like decent challenges. They could’ve scored a lot more tonight but started subbing in the 2nd quarter after going up 35-0 after 1. Herscher left some of their starters in all game. Their RB1 scored vs the 3rd string with a minute or two left in the game. I thought that was kinda bush league to not let their kids get some reps but whatever….


CC has been playing great, so next Friday should be a good one.

 

[McEvergreen]

I agree. CC is going to bring it which is exactly what Wilmington needs right now before the playoffs. Hoping for 2A again.

 

[Wilmatucky]

RC football is officially back to rock bottom again. Their coaching staff is horrendous. I don't think CC broke a sweat tonight.

Why do you say the coaching is horrendous? I thought Johnston was doing a good job, but maybe his success was strictly because of the super group they had for two years. How long do you let him go before it's time to look another direction? Are the expectations so low at RC that he can just ride it out with one playoff appearance every 5 years and 2-7 seasons every other year?

 

[Wilmatucky]

The CC-Wilmo-Manteno matchups coming up should be fun. In the final 3 weeks of the season each of those teams will have their 2 toughest games of the season. CC probably has the best set up with Herscher as a practice week in between.

Between this trio of teams playing one another the only other game of note that I see IMO is the toilet bowl week 9. Lisle-RC

MAYYYYYYYYBEEEEE Herscher Peotone week 9 too. Can the Tigers pull an upset and get playoff eligible?

 

[doctor_d]

Why do you say the coaching is horrendous? I thought Johnston was doing a good job, but maybe his success was strictly because of the super group they had for two years. How long do you let him go before it's time to look another direction? Are the expectations so low at RC that he can just ride it out with one playoff appearance every 5 years and 2-7 seasons every other year?

The first year they lost to Byron, their QB was hobbled and Byron’s field was a wreck. Their best WR also got hurt early in the year and didn’t play.
The second time they lost to Byron, I thought they were victims of some home cooking, but they also were playing without perhaps their best player, the RB/LB, due to suspension - which may be coaching related. Additionally, I hated their play calling. They should have been throwing more to their stud WR and that’s on the coaching. With that group, I sometimes got the idea that the play calling was too cute/fancy.

 

[McEvergreen]

Why do you say the coaching is horrendous? I thought Johnston was doing a good job, but maybe his success was strictly because of the super group they had for two years. How long do you let him go before it's time to look another direction? Are the expectations so low at RC that he can just ride it out with one playoff appearance every 5 years and 2-7 seasons every other year?

LOL have you seen them play this season? Go check them out. Get there early enough to watch their pre-game and tell me what you see. A once in a generation group of players can hide a lot.

 

[IceConGuy]

Why do you say the coaching is horrendous? I thought Johnston was doing a good job, but maybe his success was strictly because of the super group they had for two years. How long do you let him go before it's time to look another direction? Are the expectations so low at RC that he can just ride it out with one playoff appearance every 5 years and 2-7 seasons every other year?

Outside of two years with some of the best talent in the state at RC, has Nick Kline ever coached an offense that was at least decent? Totally unispiring play calling last night outside of their first drive after getting a fumble on a pop up kick. Still couldn't score. I watched the stream at home. I was feeling a little sick. Watching whatever that was made me feel worse. Maybe he ran the scores up on purpose those two years to try to help pull up his awful ppg as a play caller at RC.

 

[Bobby Boucher 9]

He was OC at Herscher a few years ago when they had a boatload of talent as well.

 

[Coalertown44]

Outside of two years with some of the best talent in the state at RC, has Nick Kline ever coached an offense that was at least decent? Totally unispiring play calling last night outside of their first drive after getting a fumble on a pop up kick. Still couldn't score. I watched the stream at home. I was feeling a little sick. Watching whatever that was made me feel worse. Maybe he ran the scores up on purpose those two years to try to help pull up his awful ppg as a play caller at RC.

He definitely not as good as he thinks he is.

 

[Wilmatucky]

Klein is pretty much incompetent IMO. Couldn't do it as a HC, had his success at Herscher with a good group, struggled again at RC a few years then had success with talent. Back at the bottom for them.

I commend football coaches for all they do. I am not skilled enough nor do I have the time or energy to be a coach, however being a RC alum and then showing your face on the sidelines while they are that bad has to be awful. I would hang them up. I think he is waiting for his son to be on the team though.

 

[Bobby Boucher 9]

I believe his son is on the team now. Maybe that is the next great class for the Comets.

 

[Wilmatucky]

I believe his son is on the team now. Maybe that is the next great class for the Comets.

I think he's a freshman