Week 9 is actually going be sneaky good I feel. Hard to pick a GOTW as I see the last 3 listed of equal importance and equal potential for a upset
Streator (3-5) @ Wilmington (8-0) - Nothing to see here folks. Cats score as many as they want. Wilmo 55 Streator 14
Lisle (0-8) @ Braidwood (0-8) - TOLIET BOWL! It all comes down to week 9 to see who can get on the board. Although I want Lisle to win (Sorry @McEvergreen), I do like the COMETS to win this game and I don't think it'll be all that close. Lisle has been beaten badly in all games except their loss to Herscher (that was still 3 scores though). RC has kept it close in a handful of their losses. I like RC to win with ease. RC 28 Lisle 10 .......side note wouldn't it be funny if it was tied in the 4th and a huge lightning storm came in and forced the game to end in a tie.....that would probably be a first in IHSA history
Manteno (7-1) @ Coal City (6-2) - All this game will do is set one team up slightly better for the playoffs. Could be a 2nd round rematch in 4A if both end up in same half. I think CC is the better team. They played Wilmo tougher and I think Manteno was more a product of a weak ICE and their non-con opponents being pretty weak too. I like CC to win easy, but not as big as Wilmo beat Manteno. CC 35 Manteno 14
Herscher (4-4) @ Peotone (5-3) - Although I think Peotone is the better team and shouldn't have much trouble here, this game should be (traditionally) of more importance *see my note at end of post*. Playoff implications are on the line for at least 1 team. Herscher has beat the punching bags of the ICE and Mac. The 'tone has beat the same punching bags, and lost to the 2 heavy hitters in the ICE as well as a surprisingly good Manteno team. Will this game be close? I honestly don't think so, but I feel like if Herscher wins it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world. I think Peotone gets up early and the tigers just can't come back. Peotone 35 Herscher 21
ICE Power Rankings
1. Wilmo
2. CC
3. Manteno
4. Peotone
5. Herscher
6. Streator
7. Reed-Custer
8. Lisle
******Playoffs*****
Let's take a trip down memory lane youngsters. I remember a time post 8 classes, where 5-4 was not a guarantee to make the playoffs. Here is a brief dive into the recent trend:
'23 - 4-5 teams in - 6
'22 - 4-5 team in - 6
'21 - 5-4 teams out - 1
'20 - covid
'19 - data not available in the qualifiers tab, too lazy to look through all the records
'18 - 5-4 teams out - 18
'17 - 5-4 teams out - 17
After this it kind of bounces around but the trend since '17 is there.
I will admit, I don't follow much outside of the ICE or small school in general, but what will happen this year with those number. Years ago this week's game with Herscher and Peotone would be huge as neither team would be guaranteed as of right now and the game was a must win for both. However, this year would Herscher get in regardless of the result? Is the 'Tone potentially out if they lose? I honestly don't know, but I do think that the way trends are Peotone is set and Herscher needs the win to guarantee. Maybe 4 is good enough but IDK. I see Wilmo, CC, Manteno, and Peotone in, which I believe is what I predicted at start of year. At that point we will see where they are seeded and what draw they get.
***Other thoughts***
How long will RC let Johnston ride this out? Prior to this year's result he is 28-28. This year will drop him below the .500 mark in what will take several years to get back to .500. Do they even have a candidate close to consideration?
How long will Lisle last as a team? With only one team and a horrible year will the kids even continue to show interest?
What can we do to get better competition in the ICE? Should we look to adding teams, or setting up a conference agreement for our non-con games. IE top teams from ICE and another similar conference play week 1, second place in each play, so on and so forth.
Streator (3-5) @ Wilmington (8-0) - Nothing to see here folks. Cats score as many as they want. Wilmo 55 Streator 14
Lisle (0-8) @ Braidwood (0-8) - TOLIET BOWL! It all comes down to week 9 to see who can get on the board. Although I want Lisle to win (Sorry @McEvergreen), I do like the COMETS to win this game and I don't think it'll be all that close. Lisle has been beaten badly in all games except their loss to Herscher (that was still 3 scores though). RC has kept it close in a handful of their losses. I like RC to win with ease. RC 28 Lisle 10 .......side note wouldn't it be funny if it was tied in the 4th and a huge lightning storm came in and forced the game to end in a tie.....that would probably be a first in IHSA history
Manteno (7-1) @ Coal City (6-2) - All this game will do is set one team up slightly better for the playoffs. Could be a 2nd round rematch in 4A if both end up in same half. I think CC is the better team. They played Wilmo tougher and I think Manteno was more a product of a weak ICE and their non-con opponents being pretty weak too. I like CC to win easy, but not as big as Wilmo beat Manteno. CC 35 Manteno 14
Herscher (4-4) @ Peotone (5-3) - Although I think Peotone is the better team and shouldn't have much trouble here, this game should be (traditionally) of more importance *see my note at end of post*. Playoff implications are on the line for at least 1 team. Herscher has beat the punching bags of the ICE and Mac. The 'tone has beat the same punching bags, and lost to the 2 heavy hitters in the ICE as well as a surprisingly good Manteno team. Will this game be close? I honestly don't think so, but I feel like if Herscher wins it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world. I think Peotone gets up early and the tigers just can't come back. Peotone 35 Herscher 21
ICE Power Rankings
1. Wilmo
2. CC
3. Manteno
4. Peotone
5. Herscher
6. Streator
7. Reed-Custer
8. Lisle
******Playoffs*****
Let's take a trip down memory lane youngsters. I remember a time post 8 classes, where 5-4 was not a guarantee to make the playoffs. Here is a brief dive into the recent trend:
'23 - 4-5 teams in - 6
'22 - 4-5 team in - 6
'21 - 5-4 teams out - 1
'20 - covid
'19 - data not available in the qualifiers tab, too lazy to look through all the records
'18 - 5-4 teams out - 18
'17 - 5-4 teams out - 17
After this it kind of bounces around but the trend since '17 is there.
I will admit, I don't follow much outside of the ICE or small school in general, but what will happen this year with those number. Years ago this week's game with Herscher and Peotone would be huge as neither team would be guaranteed as of right now and the game was a must win for both. However, this year would Herscher get in regardless of the result? Is the 'Tone potentially out if they lose? I honestly don't know, but I do think that the way trends are Peotone is set and Herscher needs the win to guarantee. Maybe 4 is good enough but IDK. I see Wilmo, CC, Manteno, and Peotone in, which I believe is what I predicted at start of year. At that point we will see where they are seeded and what draw they get.
***Other thoughts***
How long will RC let Johnston ride this out? Prior to this year's result he is 28-28. This year will drop him below the .500 mark in what will take several years to get back to .500. Do they even have a candidate close to consideration?
How long will Lisle last as a team? With only one team and a horrible year will the kids even continue to show interest?
What can we do to get better competition in the ICE? Should we look to adding teams, or setting up a conference agreement for our non-con games. IE top teams from ICE and another similar conference play week 1, second place in each play, so on and so forth.
