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ICE Week 7 Preview

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Coalertown44

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Well the conference has two playoff locks in CC and Wilmington who grabbed win number 6 Friday and Peotone all but locked theirs down too. Some critical games for some teams this week:

RC (1-5) @ Wilmington (6-0): Wilmington continues to dominate the opposition with their high scoring running attack. We will see just how good they are in weeks 8 & 9. RC just trying to get to through the season and improve for the future. WIlmo will continue to roll here, Cats big Wilmington 56 RC 13

Streator (2-4) @ Herscher (1-5): Both teams coming off losses from last week. A win here would give the Tigers a boost with a winnable game again next week. Streator cannot lose again in order to get to the post season so this is a critical game. I like the Bulldogs to squeeze out a road win here. Streator 28 Herscher 24

Coal City (6-0) @ Lisle (3-3): Coalers coming off a nice Homecoming win against Manteno and Lisle took care of business at RC last week. CC wants to get a high seed and is looking to go undefeated. They have a huge matchup with Wilmo next week but they can't get caught looking ahead. An early season loss to Manteno put the pressure on the Lions for the remainder of the season. They need to find two wins in these last three weeks. This isnt one of them. Coal City 35 Lisle 7

Peotone (5-1) @ Manteno (2-4): Peotone has been solid all year. Impressive offense and a tough hitting stingy defense. They have taken care of business and played CC very good for 4 quarters. Manteno scheduled a very tough non conference schedule and needed at least 1 win out of it they unfortunately didn't get it. They will need to win out to get to their fifth win. If they can they will have plenty of playoff points to get in. I like some of the pieces Manteno has, they have something there but Peotones defense and balanced offense will take care of business here. Peotone 40 Manteno 14
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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Is this a trap week? Wilmo & CC need to keep focus...

RC @ Wilmington... Manteno ran wild on the Comets, putting up 296 yards rushing along with 250 passing. The 'Cats might have 400 rushing by the half. The only thing keeping the 'Cats starters around, though, might be a desire to work on the newfangled shotgun formation they used a number of plays against Herscher… Cats running clock the Comets.

CC @ Lisle... Lisle is better on the carpet. But you have to score to win, and the Coalers defense is likely to shut them out...at least until garbage time. Coalers starters get to rest...

Streator @ Herscher… Bulldogs need a win to keep hopes alive. Tigers just keep getting beaten up. Hassett, a former McNamara QB, probably gets the most satisfaction out of beating the Tigers. But the Tigers are tough to tackle. I'm taking the upset..Herscher in a tight one.

Peotone @ Manteno... Arch-rivals. The Route 50 Rumble. Panther Homecoming. Games don't get any bigger than this for these two schools. Records are meaningless - remember, Manteno's first ever win was against a playoff bound Devil squad when the Panthers were 0-5. Devils rushing attack will give the Panthers D fits, but the Panther quick strike capability can offset that. I am morally & ethically not able to pick the Devils here. Panthers get the helmet back (the Rumble trophy is a helmet decorated half Peotone, half Manteno) in a spirited game...
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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Looking at this week's playoff projections, 3A has gone wacky...8 teams are currently 6-0 in the 3A projection, and 7 of them are likely headed to the south bracket...

4A has 6 6-0 in the likely north, 4 6-0 in the south...
 
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Coalertown44

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
Looking at this week's playoff projections, 3A has gone wacky...8 teams are currently 6-0 in the 3A projection, and 7 of them are likely headed to the south bracket...

4A has 6 6-0 in the likely north, 4 6-0 in the south...
Click to expand...
Coal City flip flops between north and south every week. Lot to be decided still
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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In ICE alumni news, Manteno alum QB Gavin Zimbelman continues to tear up D3 defenses with his third 7 touchdown performance in 4 games...tying the Aurora University school record for TD's in a season with 25 in only 4 games...He led D3 in TD passes with 18 after 3 games when the next closest had 17 in 4 games...

His cousin Luke Trepanier is Manteno's no. 2 receiver most games...

Bonus question...What connection does the Zimbelman family have to the I8?
 
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Coalertown44

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
In ICE alumni news, Manteno alum QB Gavin Zimbelman continues to tear up D3 defenses with his third 7 touchdown performance in 4 games...tying the Aurora University school record for TD's in a season with 25 in only 4 games...He led D3 in TD passes with 18 after 3 games when the next closest had 17 in 4 games...

His cousin Luke Trepanier is Manteno's no. 2 receiver most games...

Bonus question...What connection does the Zimbelman family have to the I8?
Click to expand...
Always said if that kid was bigger he would of had D1 looks. Good for him. He used to absolutely torch CC
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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In doing background research, I realized (discovered?) that Streator has not beaten Herscher since joining the I-8...and the closest game has been 20 points...

Deeper inquiry found that Hassett did beat the Tigers 61-6 in 2005 at Prairie Central, however, and only lost to the Tigers once...
 
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Coalertown44

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Streator has been a mystery to me. This senior class beat Coal City as freshman with a Coal City full squad and beat them as Sophomores without Hutchings and Pullara. They have some good athletes. Not sure why they can’t get their kids to improve over 4 years and stay playing. I guess it’s the culture over there
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
In ICE alumni news, Manteno alum QB Gavin Zimbelman continues to tear up D3 defenses with his third 7 touchdown performance in 4 games...

Bonus question...What connection does the Zimbelman family have to the I8?
Click to expand...

Since nobody took a stab yet, I'll start by saying I was a Reed Custer fan for two years. I was classmates with Gavin's mother. We went from drinking every Friday night at her brother's hot rod shop (Rad Rides by Troy, the Panther's scoreboard sponsor) to going to Reed Custer games in 1996 & 97 when Rob Zimbelman, Gavin's dad, was the Comets head coach...
 
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Coalertown44

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Wilmatucky

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Also speaking of RC.......and I've hit on this topic a few times......their new coach was supposed to be the messiah of high school football......how long is he going to stick around......how many 2-7 seasons will he be allowed to have......I believe Klein was ran out before going to Herscher so wouldn't it be the same? Or are there more politics at play than we realize?
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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Wilmatucky said:
That link is 404'd .....what school was it?
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Murphysboro...the Southern Illinois River to River Conference divisions are awful...Benton & DuQuoin, both 6-0, have 16 & 17 playoff points....Murphysboro is forfeiting to a winless Harrisburg squad if they have to forfeit this week, after forfeiting to 5-1 West Frankfort (just north of Carbondale - Marion) last week.
 
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Coalertown44

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Wilmatucky said:
Also speaking of RC.......and I've hit on this topic a few times......their new coach was supposed to be the messiah of high school football......how long is he going to stick around......how many 2-7 seasons will he be allowed to have......I believe Klein was ran out before going to Herscher so wouldn't it be the same? Or are there more politics at play than we realize?
Click to expand...
I think he will have a long rope. Their Freshman class is supposed to be pretty good from what I heard. I think he has a four year window from now.
 
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Coalertown44

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
Murphysboro...the Southern Illinois River to River Conference divisions are awful...Benton & DuQuoin, both 6-0, have 16 & 17 playoff points....Murphysboro is forfeiting to a winless Harrisburg squad if they have to forfeit this week, after forfeiting to 5-1 West Frankfort (just north of Carbondale - Marion) last week.
Click to expand...
They definitely have to forfeit. They will have to appeal since they won't get their
or eight games in
 
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Coalertown44

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CPS strike could affect a lot too. I think they are scheduled for a week from today. Any strike that carries over in to that next week might affect all CPS schools eligibility for playoffs. I don't think it will happen but it would get crazy if it did
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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Coalertown44 said:
They definitely have to forfeit. They will have to appeal since they won't get their
or eight games in
Click to expand...

Harrisburg is not only winless, but had a bye week...have to wonder if Harrisburg might be willing to move the game to let them play, even if it means they might lose their only win of the season from the forfeit...

Murphysboro plays 6-0 teams week 8 & 9...not that that means much when Benton's opponents so far have 9 total wins (5 by West Frankfort), and DuQuoin's opponents have 5 total wins (2 o'fers, 3 1-5, 1 2-4)...
 
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Doctor_D

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Think RC has a soph QB and are overall pretty young. I’d say they give him a bit more time. It’s not like they have a great tradition that is getting tarnished under the current regime.
 
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Coalertown44

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
That's definitely Michael Buffer warming up....

Panthers lead the series 9-8...after 10 games it was 5-5...
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Should be an interesting game. I was really impressed with Peotone when they played CC. Manteno was the first team since Mac to have a good long scoring drive on CC since Mac had one. The wet conditions favor Peotone and I picked them to win fairly easy but I won't be surprised if I am wrong and Manteno wins a close one
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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It was week 6 of 2002. Manteno, in its first full season, was 0-5 heading into the 3-2 Devils' lair. The first Route 50 Rumble was not an offensive masterpiece...it was in fact a defensive brawl. The game went into the 4th quarter with the Panthers' having clawed out a 6-0 lead.

Late in the 4th, still 6-0, a Devil busted through the line into the open field...Panther fans thought the balloon was going to pop, as the only thing between the Devil back and the end zone was lumpy Peotone sod and yard lines...

Suddenly thru the night sky a loud command could be heard, as Panther S/QB Jeff Meyer bellowed "GET HIM LANINGA!" A white streak took off from the other side of the formation, as 2x track all-stater in the 400, Mike Laninga, took his best shot at saving the game. About 65 yards later, Laninga caught his prey and dragged him down inside the 10 yard line...The stunned Devils failed to score, turning the ball over on downs...The Panthers ran out the clock, getting the first win in Panther football history.

That play remains the single best individual defensive effort in Panther history...Laninga was honorable mention all-state, and went to Ball State on a track scholarship...
 
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CaravanMan

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
It was week 6 of 2002. Manteno, in its first full season, was 0-5 heading into the 3-2 Devils' lair. The first Route 50 Rumble was not an offensive masterpiece...it was in fact a defensive brawl. The game went into the 4th quarter with the Panthers' having clawed out a 6-0 lead.

Late in the 4th, still 6-0, a Devil busted through the line into the open field...Panther fans thought the balloon was going to pop, as the only thing between the Devil back and the end zone was lumpy Peotone sod and yard lines...

Suddenly thru the night sky a loud command could be heard, as Panther S/QB Jeff Meyer bellowed "GET HIM LANINGA!" A white streak took off from the other side of the formation, as 2x track all-stater in the 400, Mike Laninga, took his best shot at saving the game. About 65 yards later, Laninga caught his prey and dragged him down inside the 10 yard line...The stunned Devils failed to score, turning the ball over on downs...The Panthers ran out the clock, getting the first win in Panther football history.

That play remains the single best individual defensive effort in Panther history...Laninga was honorable mention all-state, and went to Ball State on a track scholarship...
Click to expand...
I liked it better when we co-op'd :eek:
 
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PanthersWildcats86

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CaravanMan said:
I liked it better when we co-op'd :eek:
Click to expand...

The co-op was about 4 years too late. Fall '91, the first year, all the Manteno stud lineman types had graduated in May, along with two starters in McNamara's backfield who grew up in Manteno...My brother, 6'1" 240 lb cross country runner, was solicited by Zinanni every time he had a cc or track meet with Mac, and he had 3 classmates his size who were 3 sport athletes in junior high and 2 sport in high school. Watching them play hoops in 8th grade was a riot, their picks looked like pancake blocks...foul trouble, send the next one out...

In reality, Manteno should have started football when they opened the high school in '72. The Panthers enrollment was around 380 when the school was built...even when it went under 250 kids my senior year in 1985-6 there were likely 15+ kids per grade who would have played. We used to lament missing those Friday nights during track season when we repeatedly had to drive to Herscher to run at Seebach Stadium on the only all-weather track in the conference...or how we would pummel the Devils!
 
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CaravanMan

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PanthersWildcats86 said:
The co-op was about 4 years too late. Fall '91, the first year, all the Manteno stud lineman types had graduated in May, along with two starters in McNamara's backfield who grew up in Manteno...My brother, 6'1" 240 lb cross country runner, was solicited by Zinanni every time he had a cc or track meet with Mac, and he had 3 classmates his size who were 3 sport athletes in junior high and 2 sport in high school. Watching them play hoops in 8th grade was a riot, their picks looked like pancake blocks...foul trouble, send the next one out...

In reality, Manteno should have started football when they opened the high school in '72. The Panthers enrollment was around 380 when the school was built...even when it went under 250 kids my senior year in 1985-6 there were likely 15+ kids per grade who would have played. We used to lament missing those Friday nights during track season when we repeatedly had to drive to Herscher to run at Seebach Stadium on the only all-weather track in the conference...or how we would pummel the Devils!
Click to expand...
My first year was '95 and there were three studs that were crucial to the success of the '95 and '96 team. They'd always said there were other studs at Manteno who shoulda/woulda/coulda played but chose not to for whatever reason. Those were a fun couple years though. Definitely sucked when the co-op stopped in '97.
 
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