ADVERTISEMENT

Southwest Prairie thread

Indeed. Got me thinking if we can steal 1 win we could be in the playoffs.
Bones, where do you see the 5 winnings coming from? Romeoville is a win. After that, who you got them beating? I would say HC, Minooka and Oswego are losses. So that means beating PN, PE, Yorkville and OE? Is that doable?
 
Bones, where do you see the 5 winnings coming from? Romeoville is a win. After that, who you got them beating? I would say HC, Minooka and Oswego are losses. So that means beating PN, PE, Yorkville and OE? Is that doable?
If we can steal the PN game.
The last 3 are, PN is always tough, but I think that’s his point they have to steal a win
Yes. The Minooka game frightens me the most. They'll be out for blood after the last two matchups.
 
  • Like
Reactions: USD24
Joliet West looked like they could have knocked off Morris, will they get a test in the East?

Same question for Oswego in the West after Minooka struggled with NV.
 
Joliet West looked like they could have knocked off Morris, will they get a test in the East?

Same question for Oswego in the West after Minooka struggled with NV.
The Brook will not lose a game in the East.
Minooka will be the only test for Oswego in the west up should win.
 
Joliet West looked like they could have knocked off Morris, will they get a test in the East?

Same question for Oswego in the West after Minooka struggled with NV.
I think that JT West will get tested against Plainfield South. South could even win. We will see how good 2-0 South is when they take on Plainfield North 0-2 tomorrow night at Plainfield South.
 
  • Like
Reactions: missingwalter
South should have always been in the west as they are, geographically, west of north.
Agreed. It's a really weird league in both makeup and how they divide it. Not sure how long they will stick with the "good" and "bad" division, but it's interesting that it's lasted this long.

If I was Joliet West or Plainfield South I would be kind of frustrated that I may find my way to 6-8 wins and then get the doors blown off in week 1 of the playoffs because weeks 5-9 of the regular season offered all of 1 game that wasn't a mismatch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAYC14 and au6890
Joliet West has benefited by making the playoffs at four and five on the bad side of the division. A few times that side of the division didn’t win any crossovers.

Hell, you can go 9-0 on the good side and be rewarded by playing at Loyola in the second round of the playoffs
 
Agreed. It's a really weird league in both makeup and how they divide it. Not sure how long they will stick with the "good" and "bad" division, but it's interesting that it's lasted this long.

If I was Joliet West or Plainfield South I would be kind of frustrated that I may find my way to 6-8 wins and then get the doors blown off in week 1 of the playoffs because weeks 5-9 of the regular season offered all of 1 game that wasn't a mismatch.
This is the ultimate Catch 22 situation though. Probably more so for Plainfield South, but they need the "bad" side of the division to hit 5 wins most years. Joliet West can sometimes steal a crossover win or 2.
 
This is the ultimate Catch 22 situation though. Probably more so for Plainfield South, but they need the "bad" side of the division to hit 5 wins most years. Joliet West can sometimes steal a crossover win or 2.
I think it's a tiered thing. The good division/bad division thing is bad for Joliet West and Plainfield South. This is because they are programs that might not be good enough for the good division but are way better than the other four in the bad division. PFC. PFE, Joliet Central, and Romeoville NEED the bad division to have a chance at 3-4 wins and maybe an outside prayer at 5 wins.

If I were West of PFS and was dreaming about more than just winning 4-5 games, I would be very dissatisfied in the bad league. The expectation there is to win your terrible division and, in doing so, you probably coast for 4 of the final 5 regular season games. They are beyond that as a goal for their program. I would think they are looking to win playoff games. I know going 7-2 or 8-1 in the bad league means you might have a chance to steal a round one victory. But really playing nobody for over half your schedule makes it unlikely to every win more than the lucky first round game. I realize going 5-4 in the good side leaves you likely against an undefeated team in round 1, but at least you would be playing traditionally decent programs like Oswego, the Brook, and Plainfield North each week to leave you with some callouses and a chance at a run.

But this all gets back to this league having a weird track record. The Brook is new to the league, so their history doesn't count. Oswego has a proud tradition, but hasn't been "Oswego" for much of the last decade until this season. Other than that, I believe I can recall Plainfield North making one run to the state finals. I know 7A and 8A can be meat grinders, but I really feel like this league should have quite a few more semifinal and quarterfinal runs on the regular. I can't put my finger on how to get that level of achievement, but would be curious to hear suggestions. Ultimately, an infusion of new blood is probably the answer. The Brook was a good start if they can ever right the ship. Would love to see the Lincoln Ways or Lockport added to the mix, however unlikely that may be. Or perhaps the DVC is a better merger partner with the SWP.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAYC14
“Oswego has a proud tradition, but hasn't been "Oswego" for much of the last decade until this season.”

Huh? I’ll give you 21, 22 and 23 we’re off years (even though they made the playoffs two of those years). The seven years before that, however, they won the conference six times, had a couple quarterfinal runs and typically lost to some of the top-tier programs in 8a (LWE, Bolingbrook, Loyola)
 
“Oswego has a proud tradition, but hasn't been "Oswego" for much of the last decade until this season.”

Huh? I’ll give you 21, 22 and 23 we’re off years (even though they made the playoffs two of those years). The seven years before that, however, they won the conference six times, had a couple quarterfinal runs and typically lost to some of the top-tier programs in 8a (LWE, Bolingbrook, Loyola)
I count 3 quarterfinal appearances and 0 semis since Hoinkes left after 2006.

Perhaps he set an impossibly high standard, but 3 quarterfinal appearances and zero semis in nearly 2 decades isn't up to the (very) high standard of the previous two decades.

Not a criticism of their last two decades as much as it is a nod to the zenith. And yes, I know the zenith was largely in lower classes, so it's not apples to apples.

Perhaps the compliment here is that I consider them like Maine South in that I expect them to win their conference just about every year. So that feather in the cap really doesn't count. Unfair I am sure, but when you are like Maine South or Owego and just have so much more tradition and expectation than all the "peers" in your league, the measurement tends to come exclusively from postseason success. Again, I am sure this is unfair, just an explanation of why I used those words.
 
Last edited:
I think it's a tiered thing. The good division/bad division thing is bad for Joliet West and Plainfield South. This is because they are programs that might not be good enough for the good division but are way better than the other four in the bad division. PFC. PFE, Joliet Central, and Romeoville NEED the bad division to have a chance at 3-4 wins and maybe an outside prayer at 5 wins.

If I were West of PFS and was dreaming about more than just winning 4-5 games, I would be very dissatisfied in the bad league. The expectation there is to win your terrible division and, in doing so, you probably coast for 4 of the final 5 regular season games. They are beyond that as a goal for their program. I would think they are looking to win playoff games. I know going 7-2 or 8-1 in the bad league means you might have a chance to steal a round one victory. But really playing nobody for over half your schedule makes it unlikely to every win more than the lucky first round game. I realize going 5-4 in the good side leaves you likely against an undefeated team in round 1, but at least you would be playing traditionally decent programs like Oswego, the Brook, and Plainfield North each week to leave you with some callouses and a chance at a run.

But this all gets back to this league having a weird track record. The Brook is new to the league, so their history doesn't count. Oswego has a proud tradition, but hasn't been "Oswego" for much of the last decade until this season. Other than that, I believe I can recall Plainfield North making one run to the state finals. I know 7A and 8A can be meat grinders, but I really feel like this league should have quite a few more semifinal and quarterfinal runs on the regular. I can't put my finger on how to get that level of achievement, but would be curious to hear suggestions. Ultimately, an infusion of new blood is probably the answer. The Brook was a good start if they can ever right the ship. Would love to see the Lincoln Ways or Lockport added to the mix, however unlikely that may be. Or perhaps the DVC is a better merger partner with the SWP.
BRING IN THE THREE VALLEYS FROM THE DVC
 
That’s fair specifically if you’re holding them to that bar. 2006 also happens to be the year that the district split.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JCHillmen
Plainfield South and Plainfield East have always been sleeping giants in my eyes. Especially being in the East. Seems like South is figuring it out this year. Highly interested in that score tonight
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAYC14
I think it's a tiered thing. The good division/bad division thing is bad for Joliet West and Plainfield South. This is because they are programs that might not be good enough for the good division but are way better than the other four in the bad division. PFC. PFE, Joliet Central, and Romeoville NEED the bad division to have a chance at 3-4 wins and maybe an outside prayer at 5 wins.

If I were West of PFS and was dreaming about more than just winning 4-5 games, I would be very dissatisfied in the bad league. The expectation there is to win your terrible division and, in doing so, you probably coast for 4 of the final 5 regular season games. They are beyond that as a goal for their program. I would think they are looking to win playoff games. I know going 7-2 or 8-1 in the bad league means you might have a chance to steal a round one victory. But really playing nobody for over half your schedule makes it unlikely to every win more than the lucky first round game. I realize going 5-4 in the good side leaves you likely against an undefeated team in round 1, but at least you would be playing traditionally decent programs like Oswego, the Brook, and Plainfield North each week to leave you with some callouses and a chance at a run.

But this all gets back to this league having a weird track record. The Brook is new to the league, so their history doesn't count. Oswego has a proud tradition, but hasn't been "Oswego" for much of the last decade until this season. Other than that, I believe I can recall Plainfield North making one run to the state finals. I know 7A and 8A can be meat grinders, but I really feel like this league should have quite a few more semifinal and quarterfinal runs on the regular. I can't put my finger on how to get that level of achievement, but would be curious to hear suggestions. Ultimately, an infusion of new blood is probably the answer. The Brook was a good start if they can ever right the ship. Would love to see the Lincoln Ways or Lockport added to the mix, however unlikely that may be. Or perhaps the DVC is a better merger partner with the SWP.
In order to right the ship they're going to need the conference to reconfigure. No matter how they slice it "good/bad" or "east/west" Brook belongs in the bad/east. Hopefully after a few years of week in week out games where they have a chance they can start to improve.

As a long time SWP fan I think it's essential to the health of the conference!

After that maybe inviting Matea and AA Stagg.
 
Anybody at that Romeoville Brook game have an update?
Romeoville jumped out to a quick and early 13 - 0 lead behind their WR who was probably the best player on the field. Then Raiders showed the resilience and responded by feeding the soph running back who is a throwback to Tailback High days so then it was 20-13. Next Spartans went back to the well for a 79 yard TD pass into double coverage, WR made a nice catch and the defenders just fell down, not sure why -- 20-19. Raiders respond on the ground 27-19 half (for the 3rd game in a row stopped on 4th and 1 at the goalline). In the 2nd half Raiders just kept pounding the rock. 48-19. Back ups got some tick. Hopefully we will be healed up for week 4 as some key players were out that we'll need if we want to get to 5 wins.
 
Romeoville jumped out to a quick and early 13 - 0 lead behind their WR who was probably the best player on the field. Then Raiders showed the resilience and responded by feeding the soph running back who is a throwback to Tailback High days so then it was 20-13. Next Spartans went back to the well for a 79 yard TD pass into double coverage, WR made a nice catch and the defenders just fell down, not sure why -- 20-19. Raiders respond on the ground 27-19 half (for the 3rd game in a row stopped on 4th and 1 at the goalline). In the 2nd half Raiders just kept pounding the rock. 48-19. Back ups got some tick. Hopefully we will be healed up for week 4 as some key players were out that we'll need if we want to get to 5 wins.
Thank you Bones....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cross Bones
Interesting slate of games this week in the West along with Romeoville v Plainfield S in the East.

Looks to me like the East will come down to Plainfield S, Joliet W, and Romeoville.

Yall told me Plainfield N plays Oswego tough no matter what so I'm seeing 3 competitive games in the West.
 
It's a damn shame. We're in the age of information and neither school even bothers to put information into the ether regarding the game. And the actual news outlets have results that are so far apart that they may as well be random numbers on a page.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PowerI66
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT