Small School Classes

[Carmine Evergreen]

Sadly this is true in almost every conference. The Sangamo has dropped off and is just MF and Williamsville, everyone else has dropped off the last few years.

Illini Prairie is more competitive because they have 4 (BCC, Unity, SJO, Monticello) but Pontiac, PBL and PC are way behind those 4.

HoI is EPG, Tri Valley in the big and no one else. Eureka is respectable but no real contenders. The small is fun because it's more competitive but always seems to be 1 team much better than the rest.

The TRAC seems to have a charging of the guard and Princeton and Newman aren't as dominant as they were not that long ago.

It's definitely true in the ICE. It's Wilmington n Coal City and nobody else. Manteno and Peotone are decent, but not real contenders. The rest of the conference is cannon fodder

 

[Doctor_D]

It's definitely true in the ICE. It's Wilmington n Coal City and nobody else. Manteno and Peotone are decent, but not real contenders. The rest of the conference is cannon fodder

The ICE is weird because Wilmington is one of the smallest enrollments but the most dominant team of the past decade.
Coal City has had some very good teams, but just not quite good enough up in 4A.
Reed-Custer had a couple years where they were as talented as anyone in 3A, but just didn’t quite get it done.
I think this year, Peotone and especially Manteno will do well in 3A unless/until they run into Byron or IC. ‘Tone might be 2A.

 

[Carmine Evergreen]

The ICE is weird because Wilmington is one of the smallest enrollments but the most dominant team of the past decade.
Coal City has had some very good teams, but just not quite good enough up in 4A.
Reed-Custer had a couple years where they were as talented as anyone in 3A, but just didn’t quite get it done.
I think this year, Peotone and especially Manteno will do well in 3A unless/until they run into Byron or IC. ‘Tone might be 2A.

July is like that movie Groundhog Day for me. I look at Wilmington and Coal City's schedules to see:
1. Who they're playing non-con.
2. When do they play each other.

 

[618account]

nashville is my pick for the team out of 2a south for the next 2-3 years . they were young last year and took flora to the wire in round 1 .

Yea, I thought Nashville was the heavy favorite coming in and had a great opening win over Roxana, but quite the mixed bag since. Thought they'd beat a decent West Frankfort team, but they struggled there. Although, in past years they generally hit their stride down the stretch, so we'll see. 2A south just isn't very good this year.

4A south outside of Rochester is still looking like Cahokia as the best of the rest, but they've had their struggles at times. Just too much talent for anyone but Rochester.

Centralia is looking like the #2 and has a bunch of weapons with a solid D.

Would've had Breese ahead of Centralia coming into the year, but the defense gives me a lot of concern going forward, especially going against the likes of a Centralia or Cahokia.

Carterville is a mystery to me. Going to finish 9-0, but the schedule is so weak

Mt. Zion looks to be really good defensively, but struggling offensively. Looked like a rough one against Mahomet

My wild card is Highland. They've said to hell with defense, but they can put up some points. Running back is a stud, and they will sling it around. Will know how capable the offense is when they get Cahokia in a couple weeks.

Freeburg is also worthy of a mention, and a team to remember for next year. Would probably put them above Breese if they could consistently pass the ball, but way too 1-dimensional to make a post season run this year

 

[Patrick Devitt]

Newman has been hammered with injuries this year, but absolutely agree the TRAC has been bonkers in 2026.

 

[footballguy333]

Yea, I thought Nashville was the heavy favorite coming in and had a great opening win over Roxana, but quite the mixed bag since. Thought they'd beat a decent West Frankfort team, but they struggled there. Although, in past years they generally hit their stride down the stretch, so we'll see. 2A south just isn't very good this year.

4A south outside of Rochester is still looking like Cahokia as the best of the rest, but they've had their struggles at times. Just too much talent for anyone but Rochester.

Centralia is looking like the #2 and has a bunch of weapons with a solid D.

Would've had Breese ahead of Centralia coming into the year, but the defense gives me a lot of concern going forward, especially going against the likes of a Centralia or Cahokia.

Carterville is a mystery to me. Going to finish 9-0, but the schedule is so weak

Mt. Zion looks to be really good defensively, but struggling offensively. Looked like a rough one against Mahomet

My wild card is Highland. They've said to hell with defense, but they can put up some points. Running back is a stud, and they will sling it around. Will know how capable the offense is when they get Cahokia in a couple weeks.

Freeburg is also worthy of a mention, and a team to remember for next year. Would probably put them above Breese if they could consistently pass the ball, but way too 1-dimensional to make a post season run this year

Agreed. 2a south is very weak. STT has not impressed thus far. I went to see the QND game week 1 and I believe that QND still needed some time to mesh. QND would beat them handily now.

I’m in-tune with the SCC and in 2A, it would seem any of Vandalia, Pana, and Carlinville could be “issues”, but I don’t think the Cavies or the Panthers make it past the quarters without a very favorable draw. I hear rumors that Maroa is in a “reloading” year, and finishing with both Olympia and Williamsville will be a test for them. Could finish 7-2, which would scramble brackets. I imagine Maroa goes south though.

We’ll see about Nashville, JC, Flora, etc. it’s not particular strong in the south this year, and so it’s “wide-open” in a bad way