8a and 7a next week...

[NNFAN]

BR vs. LA in the 8a title. Who would have thought that Loyola gets past LWE considering how much they struggled earlier in the season.

Hair Of The Dog vs. SCN. Been a great run for SCN... Naz will be awfully tough to beat.

 

[Brad0710]

7a, theoretically. Batavia beat STC in regular season by 3. So Naz should based on beating Batavia by 20 win going away. But STC has Nubin that could slow Mr. Love. Weather on Sat shows possible rain and 44 degrees(I know 6 days away) but shouldn't make much difference on a turf field and actually mild for late November.

But Nubin can only cover one guy, so rest of wr's will win their matchups and be running open. Big day through the air as usual, will be minimal pressure on JJ and the private school will win going away. Too many athletes...

8a- low scoring with 2 great defenses, 13 to 10 BR wins.

 

[RockSoup]

8A: Can’t get a read on BR and LA yet even though I’ve seen both plenty. Probably save my prediction for @ignazio final CCL prediction thread. Thanks Iggy for taking over that when @MWittman stepped away from his excellent CCL Blue prediction a handful of years ago. Can’t wait to see the new thread with @ESCC fan next year after the kinks are worked out. It’ll probably take until week 3 to iron out the wrinkles but we are a patient, understanding bunch.

7A: Need @King MJ to help me out on SCN’s line play. I don’t know if he’s a east or north guy but has great info from that area that I enjoy reading. I thought it was all Nubin on that team but I was definitely wrong to an extent ad the SCN lines at least neutralized MCs lines. I haven’t talked to my MC friends yet about SCN, 24 hour rule. So no prediction yet until later in the week.

 

[King MJ_rivals]

8A: Can’t get a read on BR and LA yet even though I’ve seen both plenty. Probably save my prediction for @ignazio final CCL prediction thread. Thanks Iggy for taking over that when @MWittman stepped away from his excellent CCL Blue prediction a handful of years ago. Can’t wait to see the new thread with @ESCC fan next year after the kinks are worked out. It’ll probably take until week 3 to iron out the wrinkles but we are a patient, understanding bunch.

7A: Need @King MJ to help me out on SCN’s line play. I don’t know if he’s a east or north guy but has great info from that area that I enjoy reading. I thought it was all Nubin on that team but I was definitely wrong to an extent ad the SCN lines at least neutralized MCs lines. I haven’t talked to my MC friends yet about SCN, 24 hour rule. So no prediction yet until later in the week.

Hey @RockSoup

A few thoughts on SCN. Please let me know if you need anything more specific.

- SCN has been more talented than every team they've played up until MC for the past two years. (I'm excluding Bolingbrook because they were still trying to find themselves after learning their starting QB was out for season on Wednesday of game week). Their issue has always been making bad turnovers, bad decisions, bad penalties at key moments of big games. They should have beaten Rita in the playoffs last year but got overwhelmed by the moment.

- D-Line and LB is the strength of the team. Ben Furtney is the best junior no one knows about and should go FBS conference next year. This will be the most athletic front 7 Naz will have seen all year. They will attack the RPO and force the Naz QB into quick decisions.

- O-line is good at what they do. Chip blocking and getting to next level. Not that physical and the team can struggle in 3 and short.

- Defensive backfield is good, not great. Nubin will lock down one side and the rest of the DBs will work to keep plays in front of them. They tackle very well though and dont give up big plays.

- Not to pile on here, but the wildcat for SCN has not been THAT effective most of the year. Lots of the success here was driven by missed tackles/assignments and poor interior line play by MC.

The traditional strategy on how to beat SCN is power football up the middle, control the ball and control the clock. (which is why I was so perplexed Carmel didn't do that until after the first drive).

Let me know if this helped.

 

[Irish LB]

Hey @RockSoup

A few thoughts on SCN. Please let me know if you need anything more specific.

- SCN has been more talented than every team they've played up until MC for the past two years. (I'm excluding Bolingbrook because they were still trying to find themselves after learning their starting QB was out for season on Wednesday of game week). Their issue has always been making bad turnovers, bad decisions, bad penalties at key moments of big games. They should have beaten Rita in the playoffs last year but got overwhelmed by the moment.

- D-Line and LB is the strength of the team. Ben Furtney is the best junior no one knows about and should go FBS conference next year. This will be the most athletic front 7 Naz will have seen all year. They will attack the RPO and force the Naz QB into quick decisions.

- O-line is good at what they do. Chip blocking and getting to next level. Not that physical and the team can struggle in 3 and short.

- Defensive backfield is good, not great. Nubin will lock down one side and the rest of the DBs will work to keep plays in front of them. They tackle very well though and dont give up big plays.

- Not to pile on here, but the wildcat for SCN has not been THAT effective most of the year. Lots of the success here was driven by missed tackles/assignments and poor interior line play by MC.

The traditional strategy on how to beat SCN is power football up the middle, control the ball and control the clock. (which is why I was so perplexed Carmel didn't do that until after the first drive).

Let me know if this helped.

A couple things of note.
1) Great breakdown MJ
2) One small correction but no one more athletic in front 7 than Lutheran North team Naz played week 1.
3) Naz will do the exact opposite of the game plan you laid out for beating SCN, it should be very interesting!
4) Nubin, Love and Evans have been 7on7 teammates for years. Very interested to see how their familiarity with each other’s game affects play one way or the other.
5) I think this will be an excellent matchup and an instant thriller.

 

[Cross Bones]

I can't for the life of me understand why MC wouldn't line up and play smashmouth.

@King MJ you think they were more talented than The Brook last year?

 

[zstar]

toMJ king's points in years past bad decisions would come back to bite scn in the but ie after the blocked FG
scn in wildcat runs a play, then spikes the ball, then runs out of bounds
if not for a great punt MC would have received ball on the other side of 50 yard line

 

[mc140]

I can't for the life of me understand why MC wouldn't line up and play smashmouth.

Not their offense anymore.

 

[King MJ_rivals]

I can't for the life of me understand why MC wouldn't line up and play smashmouth.

@King MJ you think they were more talented than The Brook last year?

@Cross Bones in terms of pure talent, yes. Last year’s SCN team was actually more talented, especially on offensive side of the ball and on D line. It never came close to realizing it but was a better collectiOn of players.

 

[Cross Bones]

@Cross Bones in terms of pure talent, yes. Last year’s SCN team was actually more talented, especially on offensive side of the ball and on D line. It never came close to realizing it but was a better collectiOn of players.

I'll have to vehemently disagree. I do think last year's SCN was better than this year's SCN, but last year's Brook probably puts an epic beating on this year's edition. Other than Nubin, who was the 2nd best player on the field last season and the best this year, I don't see it at all.

 

[Wittymoniker1]

8A: Can’t get a read on BR and LA yet even though I’ve seen both plenty. Probably save my prediction for @ignazio final CCL prediction thread. Thanks Iggy for taking over that when @MWittman stepped away from his excellent CCL Blue prediction a handful of years ago. Can’t wait to see the new thread with @ESCC fan next year after the kinks are worked out. It’ll probably take until week 3 to iron out the wrinkles but we are a patient, understanding bunch.

7A: Need @King MJ to help me out on SCN’s line play. I don’t know if he’s a east or north guy but has great info from that area that I enjoy reading. I thought it was all Nubin on that team but I was definitely wrong to an extent ad the SCN lines at least neutralized MCs lines. I haven’t talked to my MC friends yet about SCN, 24 hour rule. So no prediction yet until later in the week.

I am looking forward to the iggy thread next year as well. Which version of SCN was supposed to do better, so to speak: this year or last year's? Just curious since Rita had a good game last year against SCN. This DuKane conference is a beast. With WWS up and coming, it will become more tough.

I say LA in a very tight game: 17 - 16. SCN will cover the 14 points that Naz is giving.

 

[King MJ_rivals]

I'll have to vehemently disagree. I do think last year's SCN was better than this year's SCN, but last year's Brook probably puts an epic beating on this year's edition. Other than Nubin, who was the 2nd best player on the field last season and the best this year, I don't see it at all.

you may be right. didnt see that much of last year's brook.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

I'm having trouble making a prediction on the Loyola/Brother Rice game.

I guess what would ultimately help out is does anyone know if they will be playing Disney music during team warmups in Champaign??

If so I'll take Brother Rice!

 

[markmacaluso]

Loyola over Rice.
So Loyola seems to have shaken off the terrible start and has won 7 in a row and really hit their stride at the playoffs. This team is still peaking. Even though Bro Rice handled them convincingly back in mid-Sep, this seems like a different Rambler team that has figured a few things out and made the right adjustments. It’s hard to beat a good team twice in the same season and Loyola will have a chip on its shoulder looking to settle the score. Plus, they just beat a great team that I thought would steamroll their way to a title.

Naz over SCN.
I think NAZ learns the lesson MC missed. Don’t let the other team’s best player beat you. Football 101. Plus NAZ has better talent balance across all positions. Nubin keeps this a close game and SCN defense will show up but in the end, NAZ is just a bit too much.

Both games are going to be close with a good possibility of a couple lead changes along the way. Lucky treat for HS football fans everywhere!

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

I had Beast and Naz taking the 8A and 7A titles in my brackets - the LA upset was impressive and just goes to prove that anyone can beat anyone in a 1 game sample.

I’m going with BR in the 8A game. They already beat a good team twice (Marist) and I think they do it again in the title game. Is BR a team of destiny this year? LA is scary though as they remind me of that Maine South team from 2016 that entered the playoffs at 6-3 and ran the table to the title that year.

I’m going with Naz in 7A. I think they have more overall talent than STCN.

The one team no one is really talking about a lot is Cary Grove. Could they be in the mix for the top overall team in the state? I have them winning 6A.

If BR wins next week, I think you have to put them at the top of the statewide all classes polls considering they beat Marist twice (Marist beat Naz in regular season). Beat LA who beat Beast this week and is undefeated. But if CG wins - do they get the two slot or the 3 slot? They have some impressive wins on their resume - Phillips, NC, etc,...but not at the same level or quantity that BR and Naz do if both hold serve.

1 BR
2 Naz
3 CG
Assuming all win next weekend? Thoughts?

 

[markmacaluso]

I had Beast and Naz taking the 8A and 7A titles in my brackets - the LA upset was impressive and just goes to prove that anyone can beat anyone in a 1 game sample.

I’m going with BR in the 8A game. They already beat a good team twice (Marist) and I think they do it again in the title game. Is BR a team of destiny this year? LA is scary though as they remind me of that Maine South team from 2016 that entered the playoffs at 6-3 and ran the table to the title that year.

I’m going with Naz in 7A. I think they have more overall talent than STCN.

The one team no one is really talking about a lot is Cary Grove. Could they be in the mix for the top overall team in the state? I have them winning 6A.

If BR wins next week, I think you have to put them at the top of the statewide all classes polls considering they beat Marist twice (Marist beat Naz in regular season). Beat LA who beat Beast this week and is undefeated. But if CG wins - do they get the two slot or the 3 slot? They have some impressive wins on their resume - Phillips, NC, etc,...but not at the same level or quantity that BR and Naz do if both hold serve.

1 BR
2 Naz
3 CG
Assuming all win next weekend? Thoughts?

Well reasoned and I follow your logic. That said, I see it finishing like this if BR loses:

1 NAZ
2 LA
3 BR
4 CG

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

Well reasoned and I follow your logic. That said, I see it finishing like this if BR loses:

1 NAZ
2 LA
3 BR
4 CG

Yup if BR loses I can definitely see that as the top 4. Just to play devils advocate, what if I was a pollster and my final top 5 was

1 CG (only undefeated team)
2 NAZ (only loss to Marist)
3 LA (3 losses but healthy for playoffs)
4 BR (only loss to LA but big one in title game)
5 Montini (only loss to BR)
Do I get heckled off the boards having CG #1?

Or it could go more like a Beth long poll.
1 NAZ (only loss to Marist).
2 LA
3 BR (only loss to LA)
4 Montini (only loss to BR)
5 LWE (Only loss to LA)
6 CG

Would that be a total snub to CG? They would be the only “large school” undefeated team (iC if they hold serve would also be undefeated). I mean you could make a case that NAZ, LA, BR, LWE would all be heavy favorites to beat CG.

Also where do you put Beast in the final mix?

If I’m being completely honest - I think Beast beats all those teams except maybe BR and of course They just lost to LA this weekend.

 

[tomloner reborn]

Hey @RockSoup

A few thoughts on SCN. Please let me know if you need anything more specific.

- SCN has been more talented than every team they've played up until MC for the past two years. (I'm excluding Bolingbrook because they were still trying to find themselves after learning their starting QB was out for season on Wednesday of game week). Their issue has always been making bad turnovers, bad decisions, bad penalties at key moments of big games. They should have beaten Rita in the playoffs last year but got overwhelmed by the moment.

- D-Line and LB is the strength of the team. Ben Furtney is the best junior no one knows about and should go FBS conference next year. This will be the most athletic front 7 Naz will have seen all year. They will attack the RPO and force the Naz QB into quick decisions.

- O-line is good at what they do. Chip blocking and getting to next level. Not that physical and the team can struggle in 3 and short.

- Defensive backfield is good, not great. Nubin will lock down one side and the rest of the DBs will work to keep plays in front of them. They tackle very well though and dont give up big plays.

- Not to pile on here, but the wildcat for SCN has not been THAT effective most of the year. Lots of the success here was driven by missed tackles/assignments and poor interior line play by MC.

The traditional strategy on how to beat SCN is power football up the middle, control the ball and control the clock. (which is why I was so perplexed Carmel didn't do that until after the first drive).

Let me know if this helped.

I have a little different take on the SR/SCN game from last year. I think it’s a little unfair to your players to say they got overwhelmed by the moment. If all the reports here a true this year’s SCN team returned 16 or 17 starters. That’s a lot of juniors starting last year. SR controlled the line of scrimmage last year. Chris Childers ran the ball for SR 30 times for 262 yards. He had that kind of game last year in a television game vs MC. SR was playing the 2nd string QB after week 8 when they lost their two year starter and took the air out of the ball on offense.

SR stopped the SCN running game forcing them to pass. The SCN QB was 29 out of 55 for 390 yards. Tyler Nubin was not able to get untracked running the ball but did have 12 catches for 150 yards. A lot of those yards came after the catch. But most of those passing yards came between the 20's. Had SCN been able to run the ball the outcome my have been different. In the red zone SR went from a flex zone defense to more of a man to man. Four times in the red zone SCN came away with three points and got intercepted twice. Last year SCN had a good team this year with 16 or 17 starters back they have a very good team. They have the physicality this year that they did not have last year as juniors. If their defense plays as physical this weekend like they did yesterday they will be state champs.

 

[markmacaluso]

Yup if BR loses I can definitely see that as the top 4. Just to play devils advocate, what if I was a pollster and my final top 5 was

1 CG (only undefeated team)
2 NAZ (only loss to Marist)
3 LA (3 losses but healthy for playoffs)
4 BR (only loss to LA but big one in title game)
5 Montini (only loss to BR)
Do I get heckled off the boards having CG #1?

Or it could go more like a Beth long poll.
1 NAZ (only loss to Marist).
2 LA
3 BR (only loss to LA)
4 Montini (only loss to BR)
5 LWE (Only loss to LA)
6 CG

Would that be a total snub to CG? They would be the only “large school” undefeated team (iC if they hold serve would also be undefeated). I mean you could make a case that NAZ, LA, BR, LWE would all be heavy favorites to beat CG.

Also where do you put Beast in the final mix?

If I’m being completely honest - I think Beast beats all those teams except maybe BR and of course They just lost to LA this weekend.

That hurt my brain. You’re absolutely right that LWE belongs in any top 5. They had 1 letdown game after demolishing everyone else they played. I have great respect for CG but just cannot find any way they finish #1 with all those other teams mentioned. That said, I personally wouldn’t heckle you off the board for trying to make a case for them if they win out. They are an under appreciated team.

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

That hurt my brain. You’re absolutely right that LWE belongs in any top 5. They had 1 letdown game after demolishing everyone else they played. I have great respect for CG but just cannot find any way they finish #1 with all those other teams mentioned. That said, I personally wouldn’t heckle you off the board for trying to make a case for them if they win out. They are an under appreciated team.

I would really struggle to place both CG and LWE at seasons end in the final polls.

Like I said I can kind of make a case in my own mind for CG at the top or outside of the top 5 and both those cases assume they win on Saturday!

 

[Cross Bones]

What if SCN wins, where are the Raiders?

Anyways if LA wins then the rankings will be all sorts of messed up because where do you put Montini? Normally I would know where to put the 6A champ, but CG did impress with the NC blowout.

for the sake of the confusion it will cause I hope CM, JCA, SCN, and LA win.