Looks like temperatures will be as high as the upper 80s in Springfield and Quincy and around 80 in Bloomington and Rock Island Friday.
The loser of the Springfield/Lanphier contest is likely to be the first CS8 team playing this season to be effectively eliminated from the expanded playoffs.
Springfield (0-4) at Lanphier (0-4)
Each team uses Memorial Stadium, so not really an away game for the Senators. Springfield has only scored 24 points so far this season. They have played a fairly challenging schedule though with their opponents having an 11-5 record. The Lions are coming off of a close OT loss to Southeast on Saturday. Both teams have struggled with penalties and turnovers. The Senators playoff path hinges on winning Friday, then beating Southeast Week 6 and U High Week 9. The Lions have a more difficult path that will not be feasible if they lose Friday. Springfield 27 Lanphier 7. Massey: Springfield 42-6.
Rochester (4-0) at Lincoln (1-3)
The Rockets avoided a slow start after their week off and jumped on MacArthur early, leading 30-0 at half. After beating Peoria Manual Week 1, Lincoln has lost their last 3 games by a combined score of 179-0. Rochester should be able to get their reserves plenty of playing time in anticipation of the Week 6 game at Chatham. Rochester 52 Lincoln 0. Massey: Rochester 49-6.
MacArthur (3-1) at U High (0-4)
Hard to believe that U High was in the 4A semifinals two seasons ago after their rough start this year. The small silver lining was that their offense scored 36 points last week against Galesburg. The bad news, however, is that they are giving up 54 points per game. The Generals benefited from an easy early schedule but do have plenty of weapons on offense. Their QB has scrambling ability and can throw the deep ball when protected. The Pioneers are now unlikely to get 3 wins, though 2 is possible if they beat Springfield Week 9. MacArthur 43 U High 14. Massey: MacArthur 44-24.
Southeast (1-3) at QND (2-2)
The Spartans got their first win last week beating Lanphier 26-20 in OT. They have big play ability on offense. Defense is another matter, as until last week they had given up over 50 points in every game. QND is coming off of a tough loss at Jacksonville, where they dominated the first half before giving up the last 28 points of the game. QND 42 Southeast 12. Massey: QND 48-7.
Chatham (3-1) at Rock Island (0-4)
Chatham blew Lincoln out at home last week 57-0 and has won three in a row. They have won the last two weeks by a combined score of 98-0. Long road trips have not been kind to multiple area teams so far this season. Additionally, while Rock Island is 0-4, the teams they have faced are 14-2. This could be a closer game than expected for these reasons, though an upset is unlikely. Chatham 30 Rock Island 14. Massey: Chatham 45-12.
Jacksonville (4-0) at SHG (3-1)
The Game of the Week. SHG's 1st home game of the season finally occurs Week 5 and should draw a good crowd. Jacksonville has started slowly the last two weeks against Springfield and QND and then flipped the switch, pouring it on the 2nd Half. They outscored both the Senators and Raiders 28-0 after halftime. The Crimsons have excellent speed at the RB position, with up to 4 players having "Home Run" potential. Their QB now has four games of under his belt and has played well. Unlike Weeks 3 and 4, Jacksonville cannot wait to turn it on until the 2nd half against the Cyclones. There will be a speed vs size contrast, as SHG has one of their bigger offensive lines and can run between the tackles along with QB Cam Brinkman's big play capability. SHG 35 Jacksonville 17. Massey: SHG 44-14.
The loser of the Springfield/Lanphier contest is likely to be the first CS8 team playing this season to be effectively eliminated from the expanded playoffs.
Springfield (0-4) at Lanphier (0-4)
Each team uses Memorial Stadium, so not really an away game for the Senators. Springfield has only scored 24 points so far this season. They have played a fairly challenging schedule though with their opponents having an 11-5 record. The Lions are coming off of a close OT loss to Southeast on Saturday. Both teams have struggled with penalties and turnovers. The Senators playoff path hinges on winning Friday, then beating Southeast Week 6 and U High Week 9. The Lions have a more difficult path that will not be feasible if they lose Friday. Springfield 27 Lanphier 7. Massey: Springfield 42-6.
Rochester (4-0) at Lincoln (1-3)
The Rockets avoided a slow start after their week off and jumped on MacArthur early, leading 30-0 at half. After beating Peoria Manual Week 1, Lincoln has lost their last 3 games by a combined score of 179-0. Rochester should be able to get their reserves plenty of playing time in anticipation of the Week 6 game at Chatham. Rochester 52 Lincoln 0. Massey: Rochester 49-6.
MacArthur (3-1) at U High (0-4)
Hard to believe that U High was in the 4A semifinals two seasons ago after their rough start this year. The small silver lining was that their offense scored 36 points last week against Galesburg. The bad news, however, is that they are giving up 54 points per game. The Generals benefited from an easy early schedule but do have plenty of weapons on offense. Their QB has scrambling ability and can throw the deep ball when protected. The Pioneers are now unlikely to get 3 wins, though 2 is possible if they beat Springfield Week 9. MacArthur 43 U High 14. Massey: MacArthur 44-24.
Southeast (1-3) at QND (2-2)
The Spartans got their first win last week beating Lanphier 26-20 in OT. They have big play ability on offense. Defense is another matter, as until last week they had given up over 50 points in every game. QND is coming off of a tough loss at Jacksonville, where they dominated the first half before giving up the last 28 points of the game. QND 42 Southeast 12. Massey: QND 48-7.
Chatham (3-1) at Rock Island (0-4)
Chatham blew Lincoln out at home last week 57-0 and has won three in a row. They have won the last two weeks by a combined score of 98-0. Long road trips have not been kind to multiple area teams so far this season. Additionally, while Rock Island is 0-4, the teams they have faced are 14-2. This could be a closer game than expected for these reasons, though an upset is unlikely. Chatham 30 Rock Island 14. Massey: Chatham 45-12.
Jacksonville (4-0) at SHG (3-1)
The Game of the Week. SHG's 1st home game of the season finally occurs Week 5 and should draw a good crowd. Jacksonville has started slowly the last two weeks against Springfield and QND and then flipped the switch, pouring it on the 2nd Half. They outscored both the Senators and Raiders 28-0 after halftime. The Crimsons have excellent speed at the RB position, with up to 4 players having "Home Run" potential. Their QB now has four games of under his belt and has played well. Unlike Weeks 3 and 4, Jacksonville cannot wait to turn it on until the 2nd half against the Cyclones. There will be a speed vs size contrast, as SHG has one of their bigger offensive lines and can run between the tackles along with QB Cam Brinkman's big play capability. SHG 35 Jacksonville 17. Massey: SHG 44-14.
Idk man...
