If the PLAYOFFS started today.... (Week 9)

[Catch--22]

Every Monday(-ish), I bracket the 256 playoff teams using the IHSA Playoff Outlook. This is NOT a prediction. These are NOT my opinions. It is simply the most logical way the playoffs would be bracketed, using the IHSA's specific system, if today's standings were the final standings.

Each week I usually have to add/subtract teams to get a true 256. The Outlook doesn't adjust for a conference champion falling below the cutoff. I take care of that before proceeding.

My adjustments..... NONE! (Yet)

The IHSA moved IC, JCA, ESTL, and LA into the classes the petitioned up to already. They've never done this before. Thanks guys! Also, assuming only conferences with 6 teams or more get an automatic qualifier (as in years past), every conference that should be accounted for in the field, is.

THE CUT-OFF

Right now, the cut-off is 4-4/36. The last teams in right now would be Bloomington Central Catholic, North Boone, Anna-Jonesboro, Richland County, Crystal Lake South, East Aurora, and Bartlett.

The teams at 4-4/35 are the first teams out. They are Princeville, Pittsfield, Galena, Riverton, Southwestern, Jacksonville, Oak Forest, Bloomington, and Eisenhower.

IHSA MISTAKE ALERT!
After doing the entire field, I notice the IHSA has Lincoln IN at 4-4/34. I'm not changing it now. I'm tired. Of the first teams out listed above, it looks like Eisenhower would be in. They have a great tie-breaker of 15 wins by defeated opponents, The next best is Princeville at 9. The Riverton link is broken. So the actual field right now inserts Eisenhower into 7A, Shepard down to 6A, Antioch down to 5A, Noble/Comer down to 4A, and Lincoln gets pulled out. Maybe I'll fix it later in the week, but probably not................
............
CATCH--22 MISTAKE ALERT!
Ignore my previous paragraph. I misunderstood how the IHSA was accounting for one specific conference champ in 4A that would've otherwise not made the 256. It's correct now. Cahokia in, Lincoln out. Therefore, Eisenhower still out (but the first team out, Team 257) Shepard stays in 7A, Antioch in 6A, and Noble/Comer in 5A.


WEEK 9 IS ALWAYS MASCOT WEEK!

THAT'S IT!

MY NOTES:
- Palatine @ Oswego would be cool for me. One sister's husband versus the other sister's children.
- Naper C @ Marist is the only matchup of teams with the same nickname, but they spell it differently. Marist makes the H a capital letter.
- LWE @ Warren 2nd round?!?
- Geneva @ Batavia rivalry
- MSL East Quad takes shape again in 7A
- If the home teams win, we would get BR @ WN and MC @ Prospect in the same loaded bracket of 7A.
- No disrespect to the other 15 teams, but look at St. Rita's entire half of the bracket.
- Fox Valley rematches all over the first 2 rounds in upper 6A
- Iggy v C-M and Lemont v ESTL would be awesome quarterfinals in lower 6A.
- 5A is still meh, with several middling private schools possibly benefitting from a CPS matchup.
- "Goode Knights" is just amazing. Bravo! I hope the mascot's name is Nighty Knight.
- The Outlook did not include any 3-5 teams this week. But a few of them have more than enough playoff points to be atop the list of 4-5 teams if they can get a win this weekend, However, for teams like Montini (hosting JCA) and Providence (outscored 103-3 in October), that W is going to be very very tough to get.

* is the smallest team in the class
^ is the biggest team in the class

~~~ 8A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#32 Bartlett Hawks at #1 Loyola Ramblers
#17 Taft Eagles at #16 Bolingbrook Raiders
#25 Sandburg Eagles at #8 Glenbrook South Titans
#24 Edwardsville Tigers at #9 Hinsdale Central Red Devils

#29 Barrington Broncos at #4 Maine South Hawks
#20 Naperville Central Redhawks at #13 Marist RedHawks
#28 Homewood-Flossmoor Vikings at #5 Lockport Porters
#21 Palatine Pirates at #12 Oswego Panthers

Lower Bracket
#31 East Aurora Tomcats at #2 Neuqua Valley Wildcats
#18 Oswego East Wolves at #15 O'Fallon Panthers
#26 Minooka Indians at #7 York Dukes
#23 Evanston Wildkits at #10 Glenbard West Hilltoppers

#30 Lyons Twp Lions at #3 South Elgin Storm
#19 Naperville North Huskies at #14 Plainfield North Tigers*
#27 Oak Park-River Forest Huskies at #6 Warren Blue Devils
#22 New Trier Trevians at #11 Lincoln-Way East Griffins


~~~ 7A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#32 Geneva Vikings at #1 Batavia Bulldogs
#17 TF South Rebels at #16 Glenbard East Rams^
#25 Rolling Meadows Mustangs at #8 Buffalo Grove Bison
#24 Willowbrook Warriors at #9 Hersey Huskies

#29 St. Charles North North Stars at #4 Wheaton North Falcons
#20 Thornwood Thunderbirds at #13 Brother Rice Crusaders
#28 Wheaton-Warrenviile South Tigers at #5 Prospect Knights
#21 Jacobs Golden Eagles at #12 Mount Carmel Caravan

Lower Bracket
#31 Lincoln-Way West Warriors at #2 Hononegah Indians
#18 Whitney Young Dolphins at #15 St. Rita Mustangs
#26 Shepard Astros* at #7 Hoffman Estates Hawks
#23 Larkin Royals at #10 Collinsville Kahoks

#30 Yorkville Foxes at #3 Normal Ironmen
#19 Pekin Dragons at #14 Glenbard North Panthers
#27 Downers Grove North Trojans at #6 Moline Maroons
#22 Libertyville Wildcats at #11 Plainfield Central Wildcats


~~~ 6A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#16 Crystal Lake South Gators at #1 Cary-Grove Trojans
#9 Crystal Lake Central Tigers #8 Prairie Ridge Wolves
#13 Hampshire Whip-Purs^ at #4 Harlem Huskies
#12 Antioch Sequoits* at #5 Deerfield Warriors

#15 Von Steuben Panthers at #2 Wauconda Bulldogs
#10 Grayslake Central Rams at #7 Belvidere North Blue Thunder
#14 Rockford East E-Rabs at #3 Lake Forest Scouts
#11 Vernon Hills Cougars at #6 Mather Rangers

Lower Bracket
#16 Centennial Chargers at #1 St. Ignatius Wolfpack
#9 Glenwood Titans at #8 Normal West Wildcats
#13 Springfield Senators at #4 Kenwood Broncos
#12 Kennedy Crusaders at #5 Crete-Monee Warriors

#15 Bremen Braves at #2 Lemont
#10 Riverside-Brookfield Bulldogs at #7 Washington Panthers
#14 Simeon Wolverines at #3 East St. Louis Tigers
#11 Rock Island Rocks at #6 Richards Bulldogs


~~~ 5A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#16 Kaneland Knights at #1 Amundsen Vikings^
#9 Noble/Comer Catamounts* #8 Payton Grizzlies
#13 Benet Redwings at #4 Fenwick Friars
#12 Lakes Eagles at #5 Sycamore Spartans

#15 St. Patrick Shamrocks at #2 Goode Knights
#10 Boylan Titans at #7 Brooks Eagles
#14 Nazareth Roadrunners at #3 Glenbard South Raiders
#11 Marmion Cadets at #6 Sterling Golden Warriors

Lower Bracket
#16 Centralia Orphans at #1 Kankakee Kays
#9 Morgan Park Mustangs #8 Peoria Lions
#13 Carbondale Terriers at #4 Mascoutah Indians
#12 LaSalle-Peru Cavaliers at #5 Marion Wildcats

#15 Hillcrest Hawks at #2 Morris Redskins
#10 Metamora Redbirds at #7 Morton Potters
#14 Highland Bulldogs at #3 Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs
#11 Dunlap Eagles at #6 Triad Knights


~~~ 4A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#16 Plano Reapers at #1 Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers
#9 Sullivan Tigers #8 Rochelle Hubs^
#13 Evergreen Park Mustangs at #4 Stillman Valley Cardinals
#12 Hyde Park Thunderbirds at #5 St. Francis Spartans

#15 Bogan Bengals at #2 Richmond-Burton Rockets
#10 Coal City Coalers at #7 Wheaton Academy Warriors
#14 Dixon Dukes at #3 Genoa-Kingston Cogs*
#11 Marengo Indians at #6 Phillips Wildcats

Lower Bracket
#16 Cahokia Comanches at #1 Rochester Rockets
#9 Peoria Notre Dame Irish at #8 Paris Tigers
#13 Civic Memorial Eagles at #4 Mount Zion Braves
#12 Macomb Bombers at #5 Murphysboro Red Devils

#15 Richland County Tigers at #2 Breese Central Cougars
#10 Quincy Notre Dame Raiders at #7 Freeburg Midgets
#14 Effingham Flaming Hearts at #3 Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones
#11 Harrisburg Bulldogs at #6 Carterville Lions


~~~ 3A ~~~

Upper Bracket
#16 North Boone Vikings at #1 Kewanee Boilermakers^
#9 Prairie Central Hawks at #8 Carver Challengers
#13 Mendota Trojans at #4 Princeton Tigers
#12 Lisle Lions at #5 Du-Pec Coop Rivermen

#15 King Jaguars at #2 Byron Tigers
#10 Monmouth-Roseville Titans at #7 Clark Eagles
#14 Julian Jaguars* at #3 Immaculate Conception Knights
#11 Peotone Blue Devils at #6 Reed-Custer Comets

Lower Bracket
#16 Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats at #1 Tolono Unity Rockets
#9 Paxton-Buckley-Loda Panthers at #8 Hoopeston Cornjerkers
#13 DuQuoin Indians at #4 Benton Rangers
#12 Elmwood-Brimfield Trojans at #5 Williamsville Bullets

#15 Greenville Comets at #2 Mt. Carmel Golden Aces
#10 St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans at #7 Carlinville Cavaliers
#14 Beardstown Tigers at #3 Fairfield Mules
#11 Eureka Hornets at #6 Monticello Sages

 

[Catch--22]

FWIW, in 2019 and 2018, the cutoff in Week 9 in my posts was also 4-4/36.

 

[Wittymoniker1]

Prediction: Just looking at the Playoff Outlook on the IHSA website and seeing the Week 9 matchups, St. Rita of Cascia will end up being a #13 seed, win their first round game and head to Wheaton to face the Falcon.

Tough bracket with Batavia in there as well, but it is what it is.

 

[4hhsbulldogs]

I don’t think it is a mistake. I think technically that Cahokia bounces them out because they are their conference winner (south 7) with only four wins and less playoff points. They are listed below them on the playoff outlook but show as the conference winner (auto bid)

 

[MC63]

I sure prefer Catch's lineup for MC, to Steve Soucie's (where we'd play Batavia in the 2nd round if we beat Thornwood.)

If these guys follow the same guidelines, how come their results are so different?

Finally, did JCA petition up to 4A? Was he correct?

 

[4hhsbulldogs]

Catch uses data as it sits today and souc predicts the week 9 outcomes to recalibrate the field.

 

[JCHillmen]

I sure prefer Catch's lineup for MC, to Steve Soucie's (where we'd play Batavia in the 2nd round if we beat Thornwood.)

If these guys follow the same guidelines, how come their results are so different?

Finally, did JCA petition up to 4A? Was he correct?

Yes. There was a 99 percent chance JC would land squarely in 4A this year. There was a very small chance they could have wound up in 3A if the playoff qualifiers broke just right. So they petitioned to remain up in 4A if that scenario played out.

it won’t matter as they will be comfortably in 4A.

 

[MC63]

Yes. There was a 99 percent chance JC would land squarely in 4A this year. There was a very small chance they could have wound up in 3A if the playoff qualifiers broke just right. So they petitioned to remain up in 4A if that scenario played out.

it won’t matter as they will be comfortably in 4A.

JCAS in 4A? A joke.

 

[RD_Watcher]

Catch uses data as it sits today and souc predicts the week 9 outcomes to recalibrate the field.

Yeah, I'm not big on Souc's prediction either. He obviously picked GW over HC this week (which I disagree with), which results in HC hosting Marist in the first round. That is a brutal draw.

 

[JCHillmen]

JCAS in 4A? A joke.

Yes you have made that clear. This is not new news. Yet you continue to fake outrage so that you can call their title a joke, if they are fortunate enough to hoist the trophy in prime time Friday night after thanksgiving.

i know the only title that matters is 8A. JC, with less than half the male enrollment of MC, is expected to play up in 8A. Meanwhile MC can coast to their afternoon title in 7A . What a joke.

them winning 4A is far from a foregone conclusion, particularly with some recent significant injuries. A true large class team can plug those gaps much easier than a school with 300 boys. While they still may be favored in 4A, they have more than their work cut out for them.

 

[MC63]

Didn't you guys beat Brother Rice, who beat us?

Coasting in 7A? Batavia, Rice, SR, and many others

My outrage is sincere. I'm sick of people like you, Providence and Montini bragging about your trophy counts. Try playing someone in your class for a change, and your class isn't determined solely by enrollment. How much larger is Rice's male enrollment vs yours? Hmmm?

I don't expect you to play in 8A. But 6A would be appropriate. You might even win something you can be proud of.

4A?

 

[JCHillmen]

Didn't you guys beat Brother Rice, who beat us?

Coasting in 7A? Batavia, Rice, SR, and many others

My outrage is sincere. I'm sick of people like you, Providence and Montini bragging about your trophy counts. Try playing someone in your class for a change, and your class isn't determined solely by enrollment. How much larger is Rice's male enrollment vs yours? Hmmm?

I don't expect you to play in 8A. But 6A would be appropriate. You might even win something you can be proud of.

4A?

Sick of people like us? Outside of a school issued t shirt or some promotional recruitment material, who are these JC, Provi, and Montini fans bragging about trophy counts?

they exist pretty much only in your head. I believe that the title of most wins or most championships means far more to you than it does to anyone else in the state of Illinois. Until MC overtakes JC and ESL, their fictitious fans with foam fingers saying “14 titles” and “most wins in Illinois history” will continue to live rent free in your head.

 

[MC63]

Sick of people like us? Outside of a school issued t shirt or some promotional recruitment material, who are these JC, Provi, and Montini fans bragging about trophy counts?

they exist pretty much only in your head. I believe that the title of most wins or most championships means far more to you than it does to anyone else in the state of Illinois. Until MC overtakes JC and ESL, their fictitious fans with foam fingers saying “14 titles” and “most wins in Illinois history” will continue to live rent free in your head.

JCA had some sort of reunion or some other football celebration within recent memory where their number of "state championships" was prominent in the headline of their marketing pitch. No, I don't have a copy.

We won't overtake you until we start playing little bitty programs in November. All those tiny schools in southern and central Illinois don't stand a chance. No wonder Catholic schools are disliked (to put it mildly)

BTW, do you realize that your team is rated #2 in the Sun-Times Top 25 poll? The only team you trail is LA. You're number one in the Southtown poll (among Southland teams).

But, what, you say, about enrollment? Well, you can take your foam finger and (no, forget it.)

 

[Catch--22]

I don’t think it is a mistake. I think technically that Cahokia bounces them out because they are their conference winner (south 7) with only four wins and less playoff points. They are listed below them on the playoff outlook but show as the conference winner (auto bid)

This is 100% correct. It's just awkward to see it, and I didn't pick up on it, obviously. I don't think we've ever had a conference champ (R) listed outside of the first 32 teams in each class IN THE OUTLOOK before the season ended. So, Cahokia in, Lincoln out. Thanks 4hhsbulldogs!

 

[JCHillmen]

JCA had some sort of reunion or some other football celebration within recent memory where their number of "state championships" was prominent in the headline of their marketing pitch. No, I don't have a copy.

We won't overtake you until we start playing little bitty programs in November. All those tiny schools in southern and central Illinois don't stand a chance. No wonder Catholic schools are disliked (to put it mildly)

BTW, do you realize that your team is rated #2 in the Sun-Times Top 25 poll? The only team you trail is LA. You're number one in the Southtown poll (among Southland teams).

But, what, you say, about enrollment? Well, you can take your foam finger and (no, forget it.)

There we have it. This reunion was an affront to you for some reason. Now I understand the angst a little better. The stating of facts is troublesome. Surely the celebration of the 100th year of the program should do their best to NOT highlight accomplishments so as not to offend fans of teams who won titles in larger classes.

when Rochester wins their next 7 or 8 titles and overtakes everyone, then the argument can be “well sure they have the most and it is in classes they belong in, but they just don’t count as much.” Kinda like the ESL “well, they have played for more years” or “well they play more ‘sophisticated’ teams all year.” There is always an excuse why MC isn’t number one. I am sure the program itself and your fan peers would appreciate you take your thin skin and single minded concern for getting “props” as the winningest and most titled team and just drop it and enjoy the games. MC is a great program, perhaps the greatest in state history. They really don’t need to worry about eyeing up other great programs and being bothered by their own promotional material. It’s just so unbecoming.

when JC and MC were going at it pretty good in the late 90s and early 00s, Coach Lenti would call Coach Sharp the week of the championship game and wish him well, one year even saying “go win it this year and we will try to catch up next year.” He was full of bravado, but he could be a real classy guy. That is how I view their program. Not as a collection of players, coaches, and fans who resent promotional material from ESL, JC, PC, etc. I feel like you are an army of one and as long as your handle is what it is, there are a whole lot of Men of Carmel who would like to pipe someone down.

 

[big daddy looch]

Mc63 and JCHillmen, Can you two please exchange phone numbers and hash this out at a local bar. Reading this banter is such a waste of everyone's time. Like two spoiled brats arguing over who's dad makes more money. Nobody cares! You both are fortunate to be a part of 2 incredible, football tradition rich programs. Be happy with your past accomplishments and consider most of the rest of us who have no school football titles to BRAG about. Move on gentlemen, its old and honestly quite ridiculous!!

 

[JCHillmen]

Mc63 and JCHillmen, Can you two please exchange phone numbers and hash this out at a local bar. Reading this banter is such a waste of everyone's time. Like two spoiled brats arguing over who's dad makes more money. Nobody cares! You both are fortunate to be a part of 2 incredible, football tradition rich programs. Be happy with your past accomplishments and consider most of the rest of us who have no school football titles to BRAG about. Move on gentlemen, its old and honestly quite ridiculous!!

Good perspective. I think I can speak for the rest of the Hilltoppers, Flyers, Celtics, and Broncos faithful in saying that we won’t bring it up again. Nor have we for years…..

Back to the thread at hand: given these breakdowns I am really excited to see some matchups at 4A, 6A, and 8A. 5A doesn’t do much to create excitement. And i can’t decide if Rochester potentially bumping to 5A makes 5A more exciting or less exciting. Do they become the clear front runner in 5A? Probably, right?

 

[4hhsbulldogs]

Yes they do. And they need to try and stay in 4A 😂

 

[krock the house]

A championship is a championship

JCA is the best team in state hands down. They would beat LA by 2 TDS
And to do that with their enrollment is a testament to their coaches and administrators

MC63 hate the game not the playa, dawg

 

[Kevin JCHS 81]

Mc63 and JCHillmen, Can you two please exchange phone numbers and hash this out at a local bar. Reading this banter is such a waste of everyone's time. Like two spoiled brats arguing over who's dad makes more money. Nobody cares! You both are fortunate to be a part of 2 incredible, football tradition rich programs. Be happy with your past accomplishments and consider most of the rest of us who have no school football titles to BRAG about. Move on gentlemen, its old and honestly quite ridiculous!!

The one good thing this thread distraction banter does for me is: it says football is officially back with all the same fan arguments about who's better or who has it easier (and) it's almost playoff time, Ya baby! Thank God 2020 is behind us.

 

[mchsalumni]

I'm sick of people like you, Providence and Montini bragging about your trophy counts.

Enough already grandpa.

The only one on here bragging about trophy counts is you. Mind you, your title from last year doesn't count because you played mostly 8A schools and won in 7A.

 

[RD_Watcher]

Grabbing my popcorn, watching this thread go down in flames. Internet arguments at midnight over high school football...

 

[Southland Fan 2016]

Marist vs Naperville Central First Round with winner facing LA down the road.
Six Flags vs BEast in second round.
Multiple 8A heavyweights would be out by quarters if these matchups occur

 

[TigerforFlyers]

A championship is a championship

JCA is the best team in state hands down. They would beat LA by 2 TDS
And to do that with their enrollment is a testament to their coaches and administrators

MC63 hate the game not the playa, dawg

Is East St. Louis in the “State” that you’re referring to? Just curious.

 

[Irish LB]

Is East St. Louis in the “State” that you’re referring to? Just curious.

That depends, I’m pretty sure many of their kids don’t live in their district so I could see why some might also consider them a Missouri team, I kid I kid.

 

[krock the house]

Is East St. Louis in the “State” that you’re referring to? Just curious.

Yes. Better then ESL

 

[TigerforFlyers]

That depends, I’m pretty sure many of their kids don’t live in their district so I could see why some might also consider them a Missouri team, I kid I kid.

Ha! Perhaps that would qualify us as Catholic……….

 

[TigerforFlyers]

Yes. Better then ESL

Okay, just wanted to confirm that you were still with us. It was actually the “hands down” part that peaked my curiosity. Thanks for confirming. Now I and others know for sure that your elevator doesn’t reach the top floor. From my professional opinion, you may wanna get that looked at.

 

[krock the house]

Ha! Perhaps that would qualify us as Catholic……….

Add paying tuition and you can join the CCL blue
We will travel

 

[krock the house]

Okay, just wanted to confirm that you were still with us. It was actually the “hands down” part that peaked my curiosity. Thanks for confirming. Now I and others know for sure that your elevator doesn’t reach the top floor. From my professional opinion, you may wanna get that looked at.

Ok ok
I think they are the best team in state.

 

[LHSTigers94]

Add paying tuition and you can join the CCL blue
We will travel

ESL can play the BLUE now and has offered to travel to EVERY school. Try having someone that can make a decision come with the same confidence and schedule a game. ESL has opening week 1,2,3, and 9 for next year. Put up or shut up!

 

[Queen4]

ESL can play the BLUE now and has offered to travel to EVERY school. Try having someone that can make a decision come with the same confidence and schedule a game. ESL has opening week 1,2,3, and 9 for next year. Put up or shut up!

ESL has the ability to compete with anyone in the country. They deserve a lot of respect in that regard.

The next item on the to-do list is to defeat MC in the playoffs to make up for those 2017 and 2018 losses.

For all you tiger aficionados, this is a trigger post.

 

[MC63]

Enough already grandpa.

The only one on here bragging about trophy counts is you. Mind you, your title from last year doesn't count because you played mostly 8A schools and won in 7A.

Grandpa? You're taking shots because of age?

What's next? Race, religion, gender?

 

[MC63]

Enough already grandpa.

The only one on here bragging about trophy counts is you. Mind you, your title from last year doesn't count because you played mostly 8A schools and won in 7A.

I'm not going to review the bracket for each team we played in 2019. If you want to do so, be my guest.

BTW, I'd love to be in 8A. You might look forward to moving up, yourself.

 

[Queen4]

A championship is a championship

JCA is the best team in state hands down. They would beat LA by 2 TDS
And to do that with their enrollment is a testament to their coaches and administrators

MC63 hate the game not the playa, dawg

I respectfully disagree with you.
I'd like to see them play against another team or two of similar ability.

That is what distinguishes the CCL Blue. Because you're up against similar talent, you learn a lot about your team.

JCA defeated BR. It would be silly of me to declare them the best squad in the state of Illinois after just one game.

For example, they were beat up after the BR game and then had a slow start against Benet. Consider what would happen if they had to play Marist this week, as BR does.

If JCA's quarterback is down and RB 1 is limping around, plus their offensive line has to take another hard beating before the playoffs, I'd pick a healthy Marist club.

This, I believe, is why everyone is upset in them for being placed in 4A. I'd like to see them face MC in the quarterfinals, Batavia in the semifinals, and then another true test in state. This is purely hypothetical, but I believe each team will be tested 1-3 times during their play-off runs in 6A, 7A, and 8A.

I realize that this year is an outlier for JCA, but I enjoy seeing teams that are evenly suited battle head to head. This year, JCA has the talent to compete with any team in the state.
Instead, they'll destroy less talented teams in 4a and steal a championship from a tiny school.

What's disappointing is that after watching JCA players compete, I'm sure they'd like to be classified higher as well.

 

[krock the house]

One thing people forgot is

ESL can play the BLUE now and has offered to travel to EVERY school. Try having someone that can make a decision come with the same confidence and schedule a game. ESL has opening week 1,2,3, and 9 for next year. Put up or shut up!

did you like your own post ?

 

[krock the house]

Here my thing with JCA
Their offense is always hard to prepare for in one week especially these days when all you see is the spread.
add some serious athletes on top of that and it’s a tough opponent for anyone

 

[LHSTigers94]

ESL has the ability to compete with anyone in the country. They deserve a lot of respect in that regard.

The next item on the to-do list is to defeat MC in the playoffs to make up for those 2017 and 2018 losses.

For all you tiger aficionados, this is a trigger post.

One thing people forgot is

did you like your own post ?

No need. ESL is willing to play and EVERYONE knows that. It’s not a secrete or something to brag about. Especially if you love football.

 

[krock the house]

No need. ESL is willing to play and EVERYONE knows that. It’s not a secrete or something to brag about. Especially if you love football.

I hear that

 

[krock the house]

I respectfully disagree with you.
I'd like to see them play against another team or two of similar ability.

That is what distinguishes the CCL Blue. Because you're up against similar talent, you learn a lot about your team.

JCA defeated BR. It would be silly of me to declare them the best squad in the state of Illinois after just one game.

For example, they were beat up after the BR game and then had a slow start against Benet. Consider what would happen if they had to play Marist this week, as BR does.

If JCA's quarterback is down and RB 1 is limping around, plus their offensive line has to take another hard beating before the playoffs, I'd pick a healthy Marist club.

This, I believe, is why everyone is upset in them for being placed in 4A. I'd like to see them face MC in the quarterfinals, Batavia in the semifinals, and then another true test in state. This is purely hypothetical, but I believe each team will be tested 1-3 times during their play-off runs in 6A, 7A, and 8A.

I realize that this year is an outlier for JCA, but I enjoy seeing teams that are evenly suited battle head to head. This year, JCA has the talent to compete with any team in the state.
Instead, they'll destroy less talented teams in 4a and steal a championship from a tiny school.

What's disappointing is that after watching JCA players compete, I'm sure they'd like to be classified higher as well.

I completely agree with you about the blue but you can’t degrade a championship due to things out of their control