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Central State Eight

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cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
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Travelin Fan said:
Week 1 at Rocket Booster Stadium should be an exciting matchup. From the looks of it Gibson Southern likes to go fast, plays from the shotgun, and spreads it out. Teams appear to be carbon copies of each other, at least schematically.
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All.... Massey has it 37-24 (69%) Rochester. Ratsy
 
R

rocketnation

All-Conference
Aug 12, 2017
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Noticed that when they face Rochester, it will be Gibson Southern's Week 2. They play Danville IN on 8-22. Danville was 8-2 and lost to Gibson Southern 21-14 in Week 1 of '24.
 
J

jotapepe

Sophomore
Jul 20, 2021
172
173
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rocketnation said:
Noticed that when they face Rochester, it will be Gibson Southern's Week 2. They play Danville IN on 8-22. Danville was 8-2 and lost to Gibson Southern 21-14 in Week 1 of '24.
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Danger of facing an Indiana or Wisconsin team, especially in Week 1, is that they’re playing their second game and will have had a week to work out some kinks, though the scrimmage helps. On the plus side, their seasons end earlier and if they play and win a playoff game in our Week 9, the IHSA will also give the Illinois team credit for that playoff point.
 
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Roamin' Catholic

Sophomore
Jul 3, 2025
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AlabamaTimberwolf said:
I curious about the maturation of Ike. Will they finally get a few wins?
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From what I've gathered when in Decatur for work, don't hold your breathe. When I'm in town I'm literally next door to campus. I often (during the right times of year) see the team out practicing in the outfield of the softball part of the campus. Hopefully it's just because they've been summer practices, because I know kids are involved in other things besides football, but numbers are going to be a real issue for Ike if the 27 I counted the last time I saw them is all they have to suit up. Hopefully that was the JV!

I've learned the Decatur duo kind of keep their programs in the dark, perhaps by design. You never hear much about Ike or Mac until the season rolls around. Going to be a tough year in some capacity for anyone not named Chatham in the East, just my opinion though. However, we've seen Mac play spoiler to the giants in the CS8 in recent(ish) past... So there's always a chance we could see some drama! ;)
 
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rocketnation

All-Conference
Aug 12, 2017
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Roamin' Catholic said:
From what I've gathered when in Decatur for work, don't hold your breathe. When I'm in town I'm literally next door to campus. I often (during the right times of year) see the team out practicing in the outfield of the softball part of the campus. Hopefully it's just because they've been summer practices, because I know kids are involved in other things besides football, but numbers are going to be a real issue for Ike if the 27 I counted the last time I saw them is all they have to suit up. Hopefully that was the JV!

I've learned the Decatur duo kind of keep their programs in the dark, perhaps by design. You never hear much about Ike or Mac until the season rolls around. Going to be a tough year in some capacity for anyone not named Chatham in the East, just my opinion though. However, we've seen Mac play spoiler to the giants in the CS8 in recent(ish) past... So there's always a chance we could see some drama! ;)
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MacArthur is the only team in the CS8 that doesn't provide their stats to Derek Parris and his crew at the former Sports Radio 1450. Little roster info provided to the various team sites by either Mac or Ike. The Herald and Review seems to focus the majority of its coverage on Mt Zion, Maroa, and St Teresa (when they are doing well).
 
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AlabamaTimberwolf

AlabamaTimberwolf

Junior
Aug 7, 2024
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Roamin' Catholic said:
From what I've gathered when in Decatur for work, don't hold your breathe. When I'm in town I'm literally next door to campus. I often (during the right times of year) see the team out practicing in the outfield of the softball part of the campus. Hopefully it's just because they've been summer practices, because I know kids are involved in other things besides football, but numbers are going to be a real issue for Ike if the 27 I counted the last time I saw them is all they have to suit up. Hopefully that was the JV!

I've learned the Decatur duo kind of keep their programs in the dark, perhaps by design. You never hear much about Ike or Mac until the season rolls around. Going to be a tough year in some capacity for anyone not named Chatham in the East, just my opinion though. However, we've seen Mac play spoiler to the giants in the CS8 in recent(ish) past... So there's always a chance we could see some drama! ;)
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Have you heard anything on a consolidation of the two Decatur schools?
 
R

rocketnation

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Aug 12, 2017
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Consolidations are pretty rare. The two schools now have a combined enrollment of 1,868 but that's declining each year. Chatham is the largest CS8 school currently with an enrollment of 1,400. If the Decatur schools continue to shrink, my guess is the District would seriously consider going to one high school (still using both campuses) if they dropped to 1,500 students. That could take 4-5 years to happen, if the current enrollment trends hold up. I assume the CS8 would be more comfortable with a single Decatur school if its enrollment was closer to the biggest conference schools (Chatham and Springfield) than it is now, where it would be almost 500 students more than the next biggest school
 
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Roamin' Catholic

Sophomore
Jul 3, 2025
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rocketnation said:
Consolidations are pretty rare. The two schools now have a combined enrollment of 1,868 but that's declining each year. Chatham is the largest CS8 school currently with an enrollment of 1,400. If the Decatur schools continue to shrink, my guess is the District would seriously consider going to one high school (still using both campuses) if they dropped to 1,500 students. That could take 4-5 years to happen, if the current enrollment trends hold up. I assume the CS8 would be more comfortable with a single Decatur school if its enrollment was closer to the biggest conference schools (Chatham and Springfield) than it is now, where it would be almost 500 students more than the next biggest school
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Agree. DPS 61 will likely not consolidate or make any move until they financially cannot support two high schools.
 
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AlabamaTimberwolf

AlabamaTimberwolf

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Aug 7, 2024
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I know that the state legislature has had numerous "talks" about school consolidation but... I know that the "Classrooms First Act (House Bill 7)" was on the table but I have no stake in Illinois so I have not kept up with this bill.
 
J

jthebro2

Sophomore
Jun 25, 2024
75
109
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As a U-High grad, it’s shocking to me, but also feels like a reward, that U-High has a success multiplier this season. They will be all but guaranteed to land in 5A if they make the playoffs.
 
T

Travelin Fan

Sophomore
Jul 31, 2024
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On the morning commute I heard 92.3 talk briefly of MacArthur as a potential spoiler in some CS8 action based on some transfers coming in. No names were mentioned, but it was said they may have a new QB in the fold along with a few others. Anybody got an idea what they are talking about? More schools playing good football would be nice to see, and the pre-season talk - for what its worth - seems to be high on Springfield and now maybe Mac.
 
R

rocketnation

All-Conference
Aug 12, 2017
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Travelin Fan said:
On the morning commute I heard 92.3 talk briefly of MacArthur as a potential spoiler in some CS8 action based on some transfers coming in. No names were mentioned, but it was said they may have a new QB in the fold along with a few others. Anybody got an idea what they are talking about? More schools playing good football would be nice to see, and the pre-season talk - for what its worth - seems to be high on Springfield and now maybe Mac.
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There's been some similar talk on Springfield sports radio over the last week to ten days but at this point it's just speculation.

We tend to get very little information from the MacArthur and Eisenhower programs and Decatur does not have a Derek Parris covering high school sports.

Mac was starting a Freshman at QB part of last year and have heard they have high hopes for him.
 
C

cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
138
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rocketnation said:
There's been some similar talk on Springfield sports radio over the last week to ten days but at this point it's just speculation.

We tend to get very little information from the MacArthur and Eisenhower programs and Decatur does not have a Derek Parris covering high school sports.

Mac was starting a Freshman at QB part of last year and have heard they have high hopes for him.
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All.... 🤫 We continue in that holding pattern rocketnation. :giggle: Ratsy
 
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C

cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
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rocketnation said:
No joy in Decatur either.
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All.... Yes that surely stings. Reference has been made lately on "transfers" coming in. It will be interesting to see how many and how talented. A turnover as we were told in long time coaching staff didn't help. I don't know who the DC was or is but Mac teams have always been hitters on defense. You might beat them but tend to be sore the next day. 😩 I still think the Generals could be trouble for some teams this season. We will see. Ratsy
 
C

cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
138
145
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All.... The Rochester/Gibson Southern week one non con game will only be for the initial two year agreement.. (25 & 26) The Ihsa Open Dates list showing Rochester looking for a two year contract home and away for 27 and 28. Ratsy
 
C

cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
138
145
43
All.... Under the fwiw category Jacksonville in 2026 has secured their week 1 and 2 non con games. They will be Jersey and Rolla H.S. out of Missouri. Both road games. First one should be a w second one a bit of a tester. Ratsy
 
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Roamin' Catholic

Sophomore
Jul 3, 2025
112
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cornerrat#1 said:
All.... Under the fwiw category Jacksonville in 2026 has secured their week 1 and 2 non con games. They will be Jersey and Rolla H.S. out of Missouri. Both road games. First one should be a w second one a bit of a tester. Ratsy
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They're a class 5 program in MO so decent sized school. Only 1 district title since 2008 (as far back as MO goes for records on the newer site). I'd like to think Jax could hang with them and win, perhaps even with relative ease all things considered. Long trek is the toughest part there. 3 to 3.5 hours one-way.

Rolla does share a common opponent with both Jax and Chatham. Last season Rolla took a 4 pt loss to North County while Chatham beat North County by 4.
 
C

cornerrat#1

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
138
145
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All.... Good news on the enrollment count at SHG. After a transition at the top of the administration numbers continue to grow. From a low of 499 a couple of years ago last years count was 550. Freshman count for the upcoming year 180. The largest incoming class in quite some time. Class 5A in football next year for sure. This season we will see. Cyclones will very likely start out before teams start dropping out of postseasn contention in class 4A. As that playoff window narrows SHG will be on the cut line between class 4 and 5. Ratsy
 
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Roamin' Catholic

Sophomore
Jul 3, 2025
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cornerrat#1 said:
All.... Good news on the enrollment count at SHG. After a transition at the top of the administration numbers continue to grow. From a low of 499 a couple of years ago last years count was 550. Freshman count for the upcoming year 180. The largest incoming class in quite some time. Class 5A in football next year for sure. This season we will see. Cyclones will very likely start out before teams start dropping out of postseasn contention in class 4A. As that playoff window narrows SHG will be on the cut line between class 4 and 5. Ratsy
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👆 I could have sworn we established a rule back before COVID that SHG had to remain in 4A until Derek Leonard retired at Rochester? 🤔
 
AlabamaTimberwolf

AlabamaTimberwolf

Junior
Aug 7, 2024
438
302
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cornerrat#1 said:
All.... CS8 preview 1 Sacred Heart-Griffin. Ratsy

Pigskin Preview 2025: Sacred Heart Griffin Cyclones | Channel 1450
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When RPO teams talk about their lines being "bigger, stronger, Faster" I have to smile. Until O lines get back to man blocking and driving down field RPO O lines will be soft!!! From the Pro's, through college and most definitely in HS, RPO Offenses have issues getting short yardage.... Well... Except the Philadelphia Eagles, but they are going back to old school football!
 
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