It's been a busy week or so for me so I'm just starting to really dig into the IHSA Master Schedules now. I'm starting with Week 1 games today and then I'm also going to break down my thoughts and insights several interesting new conference mergers/realignments later this week.
Top 10 State-Wide Can't Miss Games?
Cardinal Ritter at Nazareth Academy- All I can tell you is that Cardinal Ritter is stacked with talent for this coming season led by senior 4 star DE Joe Moore. Nazareth Academy will also counter with All State QB JJ McCarthy (Michigan) along with a loaded group of offensive skills with sophomore ATH Tyler Morris plus transfer in 2021 WR Landon Morris. The Road Runners defense also is stout and welcomes back 9 players who saw significant playing time last season. Also keep an eye on junior DE Ryan Keeler who has added Power 5 scholarship offers from across the country this off season.
Antioch at Lake Forest- Both are primed for big 2019 seasons. Antioch will feature the Kaliakmanis brothers in QB Athan (Minnesota commit) and WR Dino (Minnesota commit) plus a top notch receiver in Treshawn Watson. Lake Forest counters with Notre Dame commit DE Rylie Mills plus top 2021 LB Mac Uihlein and the Scouts always are tough. This game could potentially be Antioch's toughest regular season game (with the exceptional of say Lakes? Maybe?).
Barrington at Warren Township- Two playoff bound playoff programs year in and year out. Warren Township is back with a ton from last year's deep state playoff squad and the Blue Devils defense will be stacked with DT Willis Singleton Jr. plus senior LB Juan DeLaCruz while the offense brings back junior QB Phil Hird plus four returning starters on the offensive line. Barrington also has some star power in senior QB Tommy Fitzpatrick plus RB EJ Darlington while the defense features Iowa commit DE Lukas VanNess.
St. Ignatius Ohio vs Loyola Academy Ames Field Michigan City Indiana- The game will be played in Michigan City, Indiana since St. Iggy from Ohio is allowed to play any OOS game that are only "touching" the state boundaries of Ohio. St. Iggy is a nationally ranked program year in and year out of Ohio while Loyola will have experience back on offense with RB Trevor Cabanban and senior RB Tyler Flores plus three starting offensive linemen. The Ramblers defense will be a bit inexperienced but the Ramblers underclassmen group is extremely deep and talented.
Coal City at Morris- Truly the Hatfields against the McCoy's here, as Coal City and Morris are also in the same conference this season which brings an even bigger spotlight and focus on this game. Coal City is stacked with a ton of experience back from a year ago and keep an eye on senior RB Dan Jizek plus QB Payton Hutchings along with senior LB Brady Crawford for the Coalers. Morris and head coach Alan Thorson welcome back 10 starters this fall including senior QB/DE Zach Reddinger and expect this game to be as physical as any Week 1 game in Illinois.
East St Louis at Batavia (Sat)- Gotta love this matchup on several levels. East St Louis ducts no one and the Flyers are again loaded with talent up and down the roster. The Flyers will look towards 2021 QB Tyler Macon plus senior WR Lawaun Powell. senior S Antonio Johnson (Tennessee) along with senior OG Javontez Spraggins (Tennessee)...and that's just touching on all the high level talent and speed for East Side. Batavia also has a ton of talent back ijn 2019 including the Urwiler brothers in senior Quinn (RB/LB) and junior Trey (RB/DB) plus two tight ends who average 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds. While the offensive line will be a bit green to start the season Batavia is also huge upfront this fall. The defense is also strong with junior ILB Mojo Weerts plus Quinn Urwiler and senior S Sam Barus. Also gotta love that this game is on Saturday night.
Joliet Catholic at St. Rita- The Hilltoppers win the 5A state title in 2018 and the Hillmen will need to reload especially upfront on the offensive line with just one starter back in Connor Kovas...JCA has a ton od skills back including RB Kenyetta Williams plus junior ATH Desean Washington and junior ATH Ja'Aire Mack. St. Rita had a rare down year in 2018 so look for the Mustangs to bounce back this season. St. Rita will look towards a team last season that suffered through several injuries but will bring back a ton of talent including 2021 RB Kaleb Brown plus 2021 WR Henry Wilson and a very strong underclassmen group that's expected to do big things over the next year plus.
Stevenson at Lincoln-Way East- Another really interesting opener here. Stevenson and first year head coach Brent Becker will look towards an experienced offense with 7 starters back from a season ago. Keep an eye on senior RB Jean Marc Etienne along with OL Ean Norenberg (Harvard) for the Patriots while on defense senior DB Jordan Vincent is another top name to watch.
Naperville Central at Hinsdale Central- Naperville Central has simply been one of the more interesting stories to watch since the Redhawks have added several top names via transfer including standout 2022 WR Reg Fleurima. Naperville Central 2021 QB Sam Jackson, who played receiver in 2018 has been electric this off season under center. Hinsdale Central and longtime assistant coach Brian Griffin gets his head coaching shot this season. The Red Devils will rely on it's usually deep roster and keep an eye on senior WR Braden Contreras, senior DB Owen Goss along with senior OL Kiran Amegadjie.
Maine South at Glenbard West- Mainly because both the Hawks and the Hilltoppers are year in and year out powers....plus this has quickly become a very good early game and test for both programs. Both have questions heading into the 2019 season but both will be very strong by regular season's end.
Other Top Games to Watch in Week 1
Decatur MacArthur at Springfield
Hillcrest at Brother Rice
Cary Grove at Crystal Lake South
St. Patrick at Evanston
Johnsburg at Marian Central Catholic
Lake Zurich at Fremd
Lemont at St. Charles East
Benet Academy at Naperville North
Lincoln Way West at Hersey
Richards at Lincoln Way Central
OPRF at Waubonsie Valley
Plainfield South at West Aurora
Cardinal Ritter at Nazareth Academy
Washington at Sycamore
Hononegah at Harlem
Top 10 State-Wide Can't Miss Games?
Cardinal Ritter at Nazareth Academy- All I can tell you is that Cardinal Ritter is stacked with talent for this coming season led by senior 4 star DE Joe Moore. Nazareth Academy will also counter with All State QB JJ McCarthy (Michigan) along with a loaded group of offensive skills with sophomore ATH Tyler Morris plus transfer in 2021 WR Landon Morris. The Road Runners defense also is stout and welcomes back 9 players who saw significant playing time last season. Also keep an eye on junior DE Ryan Keeler who has added Power 5 scholarship offers from across the country this off season.
Antioch at Lake Forest- Both are primed for big 2019 seasons. Antioch will feature the Kaliakmanis brothers in QB Athan (Minnesota commit) and WR Dino (Minnesota commit) plus a top notch receiver in Treshawn Watson. Lake Forest counters with Notre Dame commit DE Rylie Mills plus top 2021 LB Mac Uihlein and the Scouts always are tough. This game could potentially be Antioch's toughest regular season game (with the exceptional of say Lakes? Maybe?).
Barrington at Warren Township- Two playoff bound playoff programs year in and year out. Warren Township is back with a ton from last year's deep state playoff squad and the Blue Devils defense will be stacked with DT Willis Singleton Jr. plus senior LB Juan DeLaCruz while the offense brings back junior QB Phil Hird plus four returning starters on the offensive line. Barrington also has some star power in senior QB Tommy Fitzpatrick plus RB EJ Darlington while the defense features Iowa commit DE Lukas VanNess.
St. Ignatius Ohio vs Loyola Academy Ames Field Michigan City Indiana- The game will be played in Michigan City, Indiana since St. Iggy from Ohio is allowed to play any OOS game that are only "touching" the state boundaries of Ohio. St. Iggy is a nationally ranked program year in and year out of Ohio while Loyola will have experience back on offense with RB Trevor Cabanban and senior RB Tyler Flores plus three starting offensive linemen. The Ramblers defense will be a bit inexperienced but the Ramblers underclassmen group is extremely deep and talented.
Coal City at Morris- Truly the Hatfields against the McCoy's here, as Coal City and Morris are also in the same conference this season which brings an even bigger spotlight and focus on this game. Coal City is stacked with a ton of experience back from a year ago and keep an eye on senior RB Dan Jizek plus QB Payton Hutchings along with senior LB Brady Crawford for the Coalers. Morris and head coach Alan Thorson welcome back 10 starters this fall including senior QB/DE Zach Reddinger and expect this game to be as physical as any Week 1 game in Illinois.
East St Louis at Batavia (Sat)- Gotta love this matchup on several levels. East St Louis ducts no one and the Flyers are again loaded with talent up and down the roster. The Flyers will look towards 2021 QB Tyler Macon plus senior WR Lawaun Powell. senior S Antonio Johnson (Tennessee) along with senior OG Javontez Spraggins (Tennessee)...and that's just touching on all the high level talent and speed for East Side. Batavia also has a ton of talent back ijn 2019 including the Urwiler brothers in senior Quinn (RB/LB) and junior Trey (RB/DB) plus two tight ends who average 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds. While the offensive line will be a bit green to start the season Batavia is also huge upfront this fall. The defense is also strong with junior ILB Mojo Weerts plus Quinn Urwiler and senior S Sam Barus. Also gotta love that this game is on Saturday night.
Joliet Catholic at St. Rita- The Hilltoppers win the 5A state title in 2018 and the Hillmen will need to reload especially upfront on the offensive line with just one starter back in Connor Kovas...JCA has a ton od skills back including RB Kenyetta Williams plus junior ATH Desean Washington and junior ATH Ja'Aire Mack. St. Rita had a rare down year in 2018 so look for the Mustangs to bounce back this season. St. Rita will look towards a team last season that suffered through several injuries but will bring back a ton of talent including 2021 RB Kaleb Brown plus 2021 WR Henry Wilson and a very strong underclassmen group that's expected to do big things over the next year plus.
Stevenson at Lincoln-Way East- Another really interesting opener here. Stevenson and first year head coach Brent Becker will look towards an experienced offense with 7 starters back from a season ago. Keep an eye on senior RB Jean Marc Etienne along with OL Ean Norenberg (Harvard) for the Patriots while on defense senior DB Jordan Vincent is another top name to watch.
Naperville Central at Hinsdale Central- Naperville Central has simply been one of the more interesting stories to watch since the Redhawks have added several top names via transfer including standout 2022 WR Reg Fleurima. Naperville Central 2021 QB Sam Jackson, who played receiver in 2018 has been electric this off season under center. Hinsdale Central and longtime assistant coach Brian Griffin gets his head coaching shot this season. The Red Devils will rely on it's usually deep roster and keep an eye on senior WR Braden Contreras, senior DB Owen Goss along with senior OL Kiran Amegadjie.
Maine South at Glenbard West- Mainly because both the Hawks and the Hilltoppers are year in and year out powers....plus this has quickly become a very good early game and test for both programs. Both have questions heading into the 2019 season but both will be very strong by regular season's end.
Other Top Games to Watch in Week 1
Decatur MacArthur at Springfield
Hillcrest at Brother Rice
Cary Grove at Crystal Lake South
St. Patrick at Evanston
Johnsburg at Marian Central Catholic
Lake Zurich at Fremd
Lemont at St. Charles East
Benet Academy at Naperville North
Lincoln Way West at Hersey
Richards at Lincoln Way Central
OPRF at Waubonsie Valley
Plainfield South at West Aurora
Cardinal Ritter at Nazareth Academy
Washington at Sycamore
Hononegah at Harlem
