Plenty of predictions throwing out most likely winner, but who are the biggest wrench throwers you see?
One that stands out to me is Breese Central in 4A south. Plenty of talk, especially in central IL, about the inevitable SHG/Rochester rematch in the semis. Admittedly, my take is based just off historical program performance as I haven't seen Breese this season, but I know they are well coached. Last year they were scoring in bunches and took Rochester to the wire losing in OT when the Rockets went for 2 on their first possession.
Recently the only times they haven't won 2 or more playoff games were when they ran into 4A runner-up SHG in 2021 in round 2 and in 2023 when they ran into 4A state champ Rochester in the same round. Rochester has eliminated Breese 3 times during that run with other playoff losses coming to SHG as noted and Mt. Zion who was also runner up in 4A the year they eliminated Breese.
8 of their 9 regular season opponents are playing in the playoffs - albeit with two of them being 2 win teams and outside of a 9 point loss to Centralia and a strangely out of place looking 14-7 win over Jerseyville they easily handled all opponents. Not bad for a team that returned only 7 starters at the beginning of the year (4 OFF, 3 DEF) with 21 total seniors returning.
They didn't get an easy draw - expected matchups against Metamora, SHG, and then Centralia if they make a run - but given past performance I don't think they can be dismissed out of hand. Has anybody seen them this year?
Who else out there can make a run?
One that stands out to me is Breese Central in 4A south. Plenty of talk, especially in central IL, about the inevitable SHG/Rochester rematch in the semis. Admittedly, my take is based just off historical program performance as I haven't seen Breese this season, but I know they are well coached. Last year they were scoring in bunches and took Rochester to the wire losing in OT when the Rockets went for 2 on their first possession.
Recently the only times they haven't won 2 or more playoff games were when they ran into 4A runner-up SHG in 2021 in round 2 and in 2023 when they ran into 4A state champ Rochester in the same round. Rochester has eliminated Breese 3 times during that run with other playoff losses coming to SHG as noted and Mt. Zion who was also runner up in 4A the year they eliminated Breese.
8 of their 9 regular season opponents are playing in the playoffs - albeit with two of them being 2 win teams and outside of a 9 point loss to Centralia and a strangely out of place looking 14-7 win over Jerseyville they easily handled all opponents. Not bad for a team that returned only 7 starters at the beginning of the year (4 OFF, 3 DEF) with 21 total seniors returning.
They didn't get an easy draw - expected matchups against Metamora, SHG, and then Centralia if they make a run - but given past performance I don't think they can be dismissed out of hand. Has anybody seen them this year?
Who else out there can make a run?
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