The brand new, but seems old, Illinois Central Eight kicks off tomorrow. Here's what I see for week 1
Fieldcrest @ Reed Custer: Don't know much about Fieldcrest except they are smaller and usually fairly competitive. I do like the job that Johnston is doing over there. They gave Coal City quite the scare last year. But until he gets the kids to actually get out and on the team they will struggle. I don't see many wins on the schedule. Comets hang tough but lose 27-13
East Peoria @ Streator: Seems like every year I fall in a trap thinking this is the year that Streator breaks out and competes for the Conference title but not this year. Like RC I don't see many wins for them this year but this will be one. Streator wins an ugly one 16-3
Harvard @ Lisle: Lisle is hard to predict this season to me. Lost some really good athletes from last year but have enough talent this year to compete with anyone in the conference.I think the Lombardo kid at QB will make and break them. Lisle plays different at "Home" so I see them controlling the game and cruising to a 28-13 win
Momence @ Herscher: Herscher had a Cinderella run to the Semi Finals last year. They also lose a ton of talent but return enough to compete. Their two Non Conference games are must wins in order to see the post season. Herscher gets by Momence 30-21
Peotone @ Peoria Manuel: Peotone will have a lot to prove this year after just missing the playoffs last year. I absolutely love what Coach Tully gets out of his teams year in and year out. I think Peotone controls the clock and the game and wins 33-6
Manteno @ Canton: Manteno started a lot of underclassmen last year and is my surprise contender this season. I think they have 6 wins this year and this is one. They will need to be on a bit of a roll to get another one next week against Morris. Manteno wins 28-14
Wilmington @ Evergreen Park: The Cats had to go get a few big schools this year to fill out their schedule and this won't be a walk in the park for WIlmo. EP made the playoffs last year and got to the quarters, they had a great draw but proved they were a good team. Wilmo loses an All State RB but I think they are more balanced in the backfield with Shaw and Rodowald. Wilmo also started a lot of underclassmen last year and it will help them this year. Wilmo wins a dog fight 26-21
Coal City @ Morris: Even though this is only the second meeting between the two teams, this has become a very fun rivalry game. The Coalers will make the 12 mile trip down Rt 113 and 47 to play a road game this year. The Coalers return a lot of key components this year. This will be the most athletic Coaler team in years. Defensively they will be as strong as ever with the front seven. They will have some inexperience in the defensive backfield but Morris doesn't throw a ton. Scoring has been an an issue with the Coalers in the past. They will have the weapons this year but we will have to see if that will result in points on the scoreboard. Morris has a do it all kind of player in Reddinger and a hard running back in Phelps. This will be a very chippy hard hitting game. I see the Redskins keeping it close early and the Coalers pulling away in the second half. Coalers win 34-7
Fieldcrest @ Reed Custer: Don't know much about Fieldcrest except they are smaller and usually fairly competitive. I do like the job that Johnston is doing over there. They gave Coal City quite the scare last year. But until he gets the kids to actually get out and on the team they will struggle. I don't see many wins on the schedule. Comets hang tough but lose 27-13
East Peoria @ Streator: Seems like every year I fall in a trap thinking this is the year that Streator breaks out and competes for the Conference title but not this year. Like RC I don't see many wins for them this year but this will be one. Streator wins an ugly one 16-3
Harvard @ Lisle: Lisle is hard to predict this season to me. Lost some really good athletes from last year but have enough talent this year to compete with anyone in the conference.I think the Lombardo kid at QB will make and break them. Lisle plays different at "Home" so I see them controlling the game and cruising to a 28-13 win
Momence @ Herscher: Herscher had a Cinderella run to the Semi Finals last year. They also lose a ton of talent but return enough to compete. Their two Non Conference games are must wins in order to see the post season. Herscher gets by Momence 30-21
Peotone @ Peoria Manuel: Peotone will have a lot to prove this year after just missing the playoffs last year. I absolutely love what Coach Tully gets out of his teams year in and year out. I think Peotone controls the clock and the game and wins 33-6
Manteno @ Canton: Manteno started a lot of underclassmen last year and is my surprise contender this season. I think they have 6 wins this year and this is one. They will need to be on a bit of a roll to get another one next week against Morris. Manteno wins 28-14
Wilmington @ Evergreen Park: The Cats had to go get a few big schools this year to fill out their schedule and this won't be a walk in the park for WIlmo. EP made the playoffs last year and got to the quarters, they had a great draw but proved they were a good team. Wilmo loses an All State RB but I think they are more balanced in the backfield with Shaw and Rodowald. Wilmo also started a lot of underclassmen last year and it will help them this year. Wilmo wins a dog fight 26-21
Coal City @ Morris: Even though this is only the second meeting between the two teams, this has become a very fun rivalry game. The Coalers will make the 12 mile trip down Rt 113 and 47 to play a road game this year. The Coalers return a lot of key components this year. This will be the most athletic Coaler team in years. Defensively they will be as strong as ever with the front seven. They will have some inexperience in the defensive backfield but Morris doesn't throw a ton. Scoring has been an an issue with the Coalers in the past. They will have the weapons this year but we will have to see if that will result in points on the scoreboard. Morris has a do it all kind of player in Reddinger and a hard running back in Phelps. This will be a very chippy hard hitting game. I see the Redskins keeping it close early and the Coalers pulling away in the second half. Coalers win 34-7
