ICE Week 7 Preview and Reactions

[Wilmatucky]

Still a lot of important games left, but it is starting to all shake out. Depending on what the cut is for playoffs (4 win teams getting in or not) I'm seeing 5 teams making playoffs. If 5 wins is the cut then Maybe Lisle is left out, not sure what the cut will be. Anywho, here we go feel free to disagree and add your own.

Peotone (4-2) @ Coal City (4-2) - GOTW! I do think both teams will qualify, but this weeks win is very important as far as seeding and taking some pressure off, especially for the tone. They will be motivated but its not enough. Both teams grind it out but Coalers are too talented. CC in a battle. One score game

Reed-Custer (5-1) @ Streator (3-3) - Reed-Custer impressed (don't tell anyone I said that), should not be challenged in this one. Heard they are getting their monster scores by leaving starters in well into the 4th quarter. Not sure how true that is. Either way RC big. 60-14

Wilmington (6-0) @ Lisle (4-2) - Wilmington does not perform on the turf, but their confidence has to be high. They are in the drivers seat to go undefeated. Lisle hardly scored against Herscher. I think cats shut them down but dont score much themselves. 14-3

Manteno (1-5) @ Herscher (2-4) - Both teams trying to just put another win in the column. Herscher is not out of playoffs, I just think it's highly unlikely. darn near impossible at this point. Manteno has been bad. Really bad. Herscher gets a win, still holding on the playoff hopes. Herscher by a few scores.

 

[doctor_d]

Easy week on paper.
CC 21, Peotone 0
R-C 56, Streator 13
Wilmington 17, Lisle 7
Herscher 28, Manteno 21

I heard a rumor that Herscher is *considering* looking into 8 man options going forward given their low numbers. Yikes.

 

[Coalertown44]

Manteno @ Herscher. Herscher will need to win out or at least get to 4 wins and see what happens. Manteno is officially out. Herscher controls this one. Herscher 27 Manteno 20

Braidwood @ Streator. Braidwood failed to live up to the hype the coaches put on this team, Streator needs to wins but wont get them with their remaining schedule. Braidwood rolls here Braidwood 49 Streator 27

Wilmington @ Lisle. Wilmo has set them up with an undefeated season and an ICE championship. Cats outplayed and outcoached the Comets last week. Lisle has one more win next week against Manteno but not here. Cats shake the turf curse and get one here. Wilmington 31 Lisle 13

Peotone @ CC. CC offense finally got going on the ground last week. Peotone outlasted Streator. Coach Tully will have the kids ready to go. Tone always plays the Coalers tough. CC defense id the difference maker here. CC 21 Peotone 7

 

[isubluedevil]

Manteno over Herscher in a close one.
Coal City over Peotone again in a close game.
Reed-Custer over Streator.
Wilmington easily over Lisle.

 

[PanthersWildcats86]

Manteno @ Herscher: Last spring, the Panthers started 0-3, looking horrible, and then wrecked Streator and beat Herscher @ Seebach Stadium to end the season. Does history repeat? The Panthers went and thumped Streator when the Purple were looking kinda helpless...But Herscher might just decide to let Lundsford tote the rock like a power run team. Easily the most winnable game left for both schools. Herscher in a shootout (assuming the Tigers power run).

Braidwood @ Streator: The roar you hear is the Comets jet engines refiring...Comets huge.

Peotone @ Coal City: Nothing like an ole fashioned slobberknocker. Two primarily power run teams going at it. But the Coalers' defense is light years better...Coalers by 21.

Wilmington @ Lisle: Illinois Benedictine. Halloween season. The Wildcats personal house of horrors - even the state title team was down 3-0 late in the first half. Coming off the huge win over RC, the Cats can't overlook this one. But Lisle, unless Frankenstein has started playing tackle this week, is going to have problems moving the ball. Cats in a likely ugly one.

 

[FCHS2019]

Easy week on paper.
CC 21, Peotone 0
R-C 56, Streator 13
Wilmington 17, Lisle 7
Herscher 28, Manteno 21

I heard a rumor that Herscher is *considering* looking into 8 man options going forward given their low numbers. Yikes.

Well not an option because 8 man has an enrollment ceiling.. younger coach taking over next year, maybe help with numbers.. Probably also help to get the youth football ran better, like much better..

 

[Wilmatucky]

What is everyone's predictions on playoff qualifiers? Pretty clear cut these teams will all qualify. Only question would be Lisle IMO.

Wilmo
CC
RC
Peotone
Lisle (5 win not sure if that is still the cut or if its bumped down to 4)

 

[doctor_d]

Lisle should be able to manage at least one win in their final 3 games (Wilmo/@Manteno/Peotone)
One more will get them to 5.

The general consensus is that all 5 win teams and some 4 win teams will get in to the field of 256 this year. This is due to COVID forfeits/reschedules and also fewer total 11-man football playing schools.

 

[doctor_d]

Well not an option because 8 man has an enrollment ceiling.. younger coach taking over next year, maybe help with numbers.. Probably also help to get the youth football ran better, like much better..

Hopefully it turns around. Numbers are down all over, but to hear about the status of Herscher’s roster is pretty staggering.
IMHO they’ve done a pretty nice job so far considering…

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

Peotone @ Coal City - definitely the most important game in the conference this week. Both teams are likely in but whoever wins this game has a chance for a round 1 home game if they take care of business in weeks 8 and 9. The Coalers seem to have found their stride the past few weeks while the Devils defense is struggling. Stopping the Coal City run game is not an easy task and the Devils will have to improve offensively and not have the untimely turnovers that seem to plague them in big games. This will be closer than many expect Coalers 28 Peotone 25

Reed-Custer @ Streator - the Comets battled last week but the Wildcats were able to move the ball against the Comets. Streator nearly knocked off Peotone with a 4th quarter surge. The Bulldogs are improving week to week and have the athletes to compete with anybody. The Comets put up big points and should take care of business as long as Bulldog defense is highly suspect. As long as the Comets don’t have a let down after last week they take care of business 52-34.

Manteno @ Herscher - not sure about this one. On paper you would assume Herscher but last week’s loss was a dagger for playoff hopes. Both teams were great a few years ago and are now struggling to field 2 levels. This is always an underrated rivalry and I a, going to side with the home team. Herscher 36 Manteno 32

Wilmington @ Lisle - both teams are coming off big wins but this game is just as important for both teams in determining the playoffs. The Wildcats are continuing to improve week to week and the Lions are no easy team to defeat, especially at home. However, the Cats defense is arguably the best in the conference and will be ready to stop the Lions. Wilmington 35 Lisle 18

 

[McEvergreen]

Coal City 44 Peotone 8
Reed Custer 40 Streator 12
Manteno 20 Herscher 19
Wilmington 20 Lisle 6

 

[doctor_d]

Finals
Reed-Custer 47, Streator 7
Wilmington 31, Lisle 14

 

[CaravanMan]

CC 28 Peotone 6

 

[PanthersWildcats86]

Manteno 7, Herscher 0: Panthers goal line stand to preserve the win as time expires...

Coal City 28, Peotone 6: First half slugfest, Coalers pull away.

Reed Custer 47, Streator 7: Comets took out their frustrations early on the Bulldogs.

Wilmington 31, Lisle 14: Wildcats came out early and punched the Lions hard in the mouth. Lions received, punted. Cats typical time consuming TD drive. Lions punt fails, Wildcats short TD drive 14-0 early 2nd. And apparently the Wildcats waterboys decided to give some water to the Benedictine gremlins, who wrecked havoc on the Cats offense - penalties, fumbles, nothing worked. Lions hit two long passes in the last minute of the half for a TD, 14-7 at half. Both teams had 86 yards offense at half...2nd half ugly early, then the Cats got sufficent control of the gremlins for a TD, then 39 yard FG, and then busted a 80 yard TD run. Lions finished the scoring with another aerial assault TD drive.