ICE Week 2 Preview

Coalertown44

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Week 1 is in the books with the conference going 6-2. Some interesting match-ups in Week 2

Streator (1-0) @ Morton (1-0)- Streator comes off a ugly win against East Peoria and Morton comes off a close game against LP. Both teams really need this win before conference play to help their playoff chances. I will go with Morton 8 Streator 7

Reed Custer (0-1) @ Dwight (0-1)
- Reed Custer lost 47-7 to a tough Fieldcrest team and Dwight got steamrolled by Ottawa Marquette 40-14. I think the Trojans bounce back here but RC will show improvements and something to build on. Dwight 28 RC 22

Lisle (1-0) @ Elmwood Park (1-0)
- Lisle upended Harvard last week 22-8 and Elmwood Park got by St Joes 28-7. I think Lisle controls the tempo and the game, getting a much needed Non Conference win. Lisle 24 Elmwood Park 14

Morris (0-1) @ Manteno (1-0)
- Manteno is coming off a tough loss at Canton 47-32 and Morris lost in a shootout to Coal City 48-33. Both teams defense was not on point last week but I think Morris comes off that home loss hungry and puts the gas pedal down here. Morris 49 Manteno 14

Tinley Park (0-1) @ Peotone (1-0)
- Peotone had a very convincing win last week at Peoria Manual 35-7 and Tinley park lost a close one to Payton 41-40. Coach Tully has Peotone in mid-season form and I think the Blue Devils ground and pound TP in to submission Peotone 28 Tinley Park 17

Wilmington (1-0) @ Oak Lawn (0-1)
- Wilmington beat down Evergreen Park in impressive fashion last Friday 32-0 and Oak Lawn was hammered Marian 63-7. I see no different outcome for either team this week. Wilmingtons ground game of Rodowald and Shaw continue to impress. Wilmington 41 Oak Lawn 6

Bishop Mac (1-0) @ Coal City (1-0)
- Bishop Mac dominated Bloom 49-21 and Coal City is coming off a big win on the road with Morris 48-33. Mac had a great controlled evenly spread offensive attack last week. Pass and run, different weapons. Jackson and Smith are both very good backs and the pass combo of Hiller and Harris are lethal. Mac O line is anchored by 6'6" 275 lb Ruder. Macs defense is solid but did give up an opening drive touchdown. CC scored in all facets of the game last week, two pick sixes and a kickoff return. The big story on offense was Jezik. 240 yards rushing with 3 TDs. Hutchings didn't throw much but hit a few key passes and was dangerous on his feet running the ball. Anyone who knows Coal City knows that they are always a well rounded defensive team. last week that was put to the test. Morris broke some big runs and had some long drives. Good news for the Coalers is they played much better in the second half. Redskins have a very good run game and it showed. CC defense will need to pick it up this week. Pullara and Crawford has double digit tackles in the game. The Ruder/Crawford match up will be an interesting watch all game. In what I think is the best match up in 4A this year I have the Coalers squeaking one out here at home Coal City 31 Bishop Mac 28
 
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Streator @ Morton ... Morton. Both 1-0, but Morton is a far better program.

R/C @ Dwight ... Hmm … Both teams got hammered week one. Dwight ended their co-op with GSW for football in the off-season, but other sports still co-op - and RC co-ops soccer with GSW. Although GSW didn't provide huge numbers of bodies to the Trojans, the roster has definitely dropped. I think RC numbers will help here...R/C in an ugly war.

Lisle @ Elmwood Park … Lisle is a different team on the road...EP won on the road week 1, Lisle won at Benedictine...EP wins.

Morris @ Manteno … Manteno's offense worked last week. Their defense didn't. I fear this is gonna get ugly, as Manteno's defense against power run teams is traditionally pretty shaky - or downright leaky. Morris big.

Tinley Park @ Peotone … Peotone beat a likely bad Peoria Manuel team, while Tinley lost to a CPL team...Devils roll...

Wilmington @ Oak Lawn … Community, not Richards … the 6A/7A border Spartans lost 63 - 7 week one. Wildcats just dominated Evergreen Park. I don't see any changes this week...Cats methodically pound the ball to a big win...(Remember, last year after the Cats methodically pounded Manteno week one, both teams fell apart...don't see that this year...).

Herscher @ Clifton Central … both teams had dominant wins week one. Both have small senior classes, and had underclassmen step up week one. Unlike Momence, however, Central has some Clydesdales up front...4 of the 5 seniors are 225 lbs or bigger returning linemen. Rare to do this, but in the middle of the cornfields I'm going...Central...

McNamara @ Coal City … perhaps the non-conference 4A game of the year in the state … Coalers got past Morris week 1, while Mac as expected dominated Bloom. Mac with an all-state back won a title in '15 and 2nd last year...but I'm still not convinced Jackson is going to risk his body by becoming the feature back, and Mac isn't that great when its running back by committee. Likely CC's best opponent of the regular season...Coalers by 7.
 

Coalertown44

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The sad thing about Dwight dropping the co-op in football is, their best players over the last three or four seasons have been GSW kids
 

Wilmatucky

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Braidwood @ Dwight- Fieldcrest is either really good or Braidwood didn't improve like people thought they would. Gotta pick against them until I see them get it done especially because it wasn't even close and Dwight lost to a traditionally strong team in Ottawa Marquette. Dwight Wins in a sloppy game.
Mac @ Coal City- CC won the first one, but how good is Morris? We know Mac will be tough and CC didn't look exceptionally strong in week 1. I like Mac here.

Herscher @ Clifton- Still don't know much about either team except what is rumored. Clifton is always tough and supposedly has great skill players. Clifton wins by two scores

Lisle @ Elmwood Park- I'm still not sure Lisle is down like people claim. I like them to win this week.

Morris @ Manteno- Morris with ease!

Tinley Park @ Peotone- Tinley lost to a CPS school and if it ain't simeon or Phillips it's not worth mentioning. Peotone rolls

Streator @ Morton- Streator got it done but still don't impress me much. Morton in a grinder

Wilmington @ Oak Lawn- Wilmo looked really good and Oak Lawn got spanked. My concerns about this one are there, just not in the front of the conversation about this game. Wilmo by 3 scores.
 

Nit92

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What can we expect out of Manteno this Friday? I know nothing about them besides meeting a couple brothers on a recruiting trip Saturday. They were big boys for sure.
 

Coalertown44

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What can we expect out of Manteno this Friday? I know nothing about them besides meeting a couple brothers on a recruiting trip Saturday. They were big boys for sure.
Younger team, played a lot of underclassmen last year. They will throw a lot. Well coached but I don't see them stopping Morris on offense
 
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Over under … game 7

Manteno's QB had 266 yards passing & 4 TD week 1.

How long for Wilmington to get to 266 yards passing for the season?

I'll go game 7, the occasional surprise 60 yard TD on the pass...
 
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What can we expect out of Manteno this Friday? I know nothing about them besides meeting a couple brothers on a recruiting trip Saturday. They were big boys for sure.

I'm assuming you met the Gesky boys, the junior LT and senior LG. Their dad played at Nebraska...They are why the run game usually went left last year...

Haines won the 2003 2A State Championship at Iroquois West. He's always run a version of the read option spread, usually throwing to set up the run. A couple of years ago the line was pretty bad, and by the middle of the season he basically dumped the read option and went full time 5 wide - the QB ended the season throwing for 350+ and rushing for 150+ per game the second half of the season...That QB is now the junior 3 year starter at Aurora U. Last year the QB broke his ankle week 2, and the current QB stepped in for the rest of the season...there were already like 6 sophs in the varsity rotation when that happened.

Defensively, the Panthers usually have trouble defending power run teams...They usually dominate a 1st quarter against Wilmington, and then get ground into the dirt...2nd half is usually all Cats...'14 & '15 were week 9 undefeated clashes with Wilmo...

Last week the Panther QB threw for 266 yards & 4 TDs...expect more of the same. Read option left, some designed runs to the left, some jet sweeps. But mostly shotgun, read option fake, receivers running some slants, some deep...last year Borkenhagen had a lot of trouble throwing crossing patterns.
 

Wilmatucky

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Over under … game 7

Manteno's QB had 266 yards passing & 4 TD week 1.

How long for Wilmington to get to 266 yards passing for the season?

I'll go game 7, the occasional surprise 60 yard TD on the pass...

Under. But not by much. They will need to pass against some of their opponents and chip away with screens and flats.
 

Coalertown44

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Under. But not by much. They will need to pass against some of their opponents and chip away with screens and flats.
I really thought they might open up the offense a little more this year with Hopwood. Three year starter I believe, he's got a strong arm and he is athletic
 

Wilmatucky

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I really thought they might open up the offense a little more this year with Hopwood. Three year starter I believe, he's got a strong arm and he is athletic

They still might.....they didn't need to show much against EP so maybe they are just keeping in in their back pocket.
 

Gene K.

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AP rates Bishop Mac higher that Coal City in their poll of 4A schools. Thoughts on that?
 

Doctor_D

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AP rates Bishop Mac higher that Coal City in their poll of 4A schools. Thoughts on that?

Seems like a pick em game to me. Mac has been the off and on (mostly on) area bully for quite a bit, although the local teams don’t match up with them often. This is supposedly CCs best team in a while. CC better play better defense than they did v Morris. This could be game 1 of a playoff rematch.
 
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Coalertown44

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I agree, this is a pick em game. I know if either team isn't ready to get after it at the first whistle they could find themselves in a two score hole early. I know CC has a lot of respect for the Bishop Mac program and the other way around. Coal City had 6 kids getting their first ever Varsity start on defense against Morris last Friday so I expect the nerves and over excitement will be toned down a bit. This is a well oiled Mac offense that had one really big gun last year but this year is a much more balanced array of weapons. Coal City will have to step up the passing game to loosen up the Mac D. They have the ability to do so. Just haven't executed yet. Its going to be a fun game. I am obviously hoping for a Coaler win but it could go either way. CC has to prove they can stop the balanced offensive attack of Mac and Mac has to find a way to slow down Coal Citys very good offensive line and running-back Jezik
 
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Gene K.

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I look for an offensive shootout. Both teams scored a lot of points last week. Mac defense only gave up a few points. But, on the other hand Ithink Morris is a much better team than who Bishop Mac played. I like the Coalers in this one!
 
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AP rates Bishop Mac higher that Coal City in their poll of 4A schools. Thoughts on that?

If you look at the 4A rankings, the top 5 teams are the top 5 from last year...IC, Mac, Rochester, CC, and RB. I somewhat predict that unless one of them loses 2 games, they may stay in the AP top five...Too many voters in AP vote name instead of reality...
 
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I agree, this is a pick em game. I know if either team isn't ready to get after it at the first whistle they could find themselves in a two score hole early. I know CC has a lot of respect for the Bishop Mac program and the other way around. Coal City had 6 kids getting their first ever Varsity start on defense against Morris last Friday so I expect the nerves and over excitement will be toned down a bit. This is a well oiled Mac offense that had one really big gun last year but this year is a much more balanced array of weapons. Coal City will have to step up the passing game to loosen up the Mac D. They have the ability to do so. Just haven't executed yet. Its going to be a fun game. I am obviously hoping for a Coaler win but it could go either way. CC has to prove they can stop the balanced offensive attack of Mac and Mac has to find a way to slow down Coal Citys very good offensive line and running-back Jezik

I think a big difference here is that Coal City, although in the Kankakee area news wise, is more of the Morris area in tradition. I don't know how many kids from CC go to Mac, if any, so they don't have the community connection of Herscher or Manteno to go with a long tradition...And they don't have the experience of having their heads beat in like the old KVC schools did with Mac in most sports, so the Coalers shouldn't have the same level of distaste that the KVC schools do...

A favorite Mac-Manteno examples...My soph year, we played our conference hoops game at Mac. We ended up 14-10 that year. Our soph coach was the head track & cross country coach, who had multiple conference cc titles and state placers in track. Mac's starting shooting guard was our best player in junior high. We are winning at halftime. We go into the locker room and find a coach so excited he's incoherent, babbling about "We're beating Mac..." Varsity coach came in and had to do the halftime speech...We ended up losing by three...We hadn't beaten Mac in boys hoops since...forever? 60's sometime I believe. Varsity got slaughtered, down 20 in first quarter that night...

My junior year, we hosted Mac for our hoops homecoming (remember, Manteno didn't play football until 2002). We knew we were going to get killed, but vowed no dunks. Mac's best senior player was from Manteno...his house's picture window faced the baseball diamond behind the school. 6'5, about 200, ginger, multiple low D1 hoops offers. He got a steal, breaking away for the dunk, and our 6'3" 185 pound center is trailing him. As he goes up for the dunk, our center does a Bill Goldberg WWE quality spear into his ribs...They're still airborne when they hit the wall padding...Near riot ensues, there were well over 2000 people in our 1800 seat gym. Their parents were pretty good friends too...

Go one town over, and Wilmington might have a bigger reaction than CC. In fact, Wilmo and Mac were in the same football conference in the '50's.
In 2015, Wilmo lost to Byron Round 2 in part because the Cats were looking forward to Mac in Round 3...my stepson's friends were all talking about it after the brackets came out.

Or the infamous Herscher "Beat Mac" jerseys from the late 80's...

I just don't see this level of emotional attachment between CC and Mac. Coming off a win over Morris, it should be a playoff atmosphere, but not Herscher-Mac, or Bears-Packers.