Week 4 ICE Predictions

[Coalertown44]

Just so we can move past the Week 3 thread, lets kick off the week 4 chatter a few days early. Some interesting games this Friday:

Streator (1-2) @ RC (1-2): RC lost to a good Peotone team and Streator lost to Wilmington by 20. RC is showing signs of life but they are a few years away from competing, but I think its definitely coming. Streator (need a full recap from the Wilmo faithful) seemed like it hung in with Wilmington last week a bit. I am going Streator 21 RC 13

Herscher (1-2) @ Lisle( 2-1): Herscher got dismantled quickly against the Coalers last week and Lisle got upset by Manteno in a close game. Herscher is low on numbers, looks banged up. Going to be a long season for the Tigers I think. Lisle is much better at home and will bounce back nicely here. Lisle 27 Herscher 6

Peotone (3-0) @ Coal City (3-0): Peotone and Coal City are both 3-0 and both had pretty easy week 2 wins. This matchup is always a close, physical game. Coach Tully has the run game going and watching them on film, can throw the ball when needed. Coal City starters got some much needed rest last week after two hard fought physical games. I think Peotone tries to control the clock and wear down the Coalers front seven. Coal City will look to spread the ball around and keep a quick paced tempo. I see a tough first half with the Coalers putting the gas pedal down in the second half Coal City 38 Peotone 13

Manteno (1-2) @ Wilmington (3-0): To me this is the most interesting game of the week. Wilmington really hasnt been tested from what I can see and Manteno lost some tough early games but got a huge win last week. Rodowald has been the workhorse for the Wildcats this year and Wilmo has been throwing more than usual. Manteno has put up some offensive numbers and is willing to get in shootouts week in and week out. I can see Manteno hitting some big pass plays early to keep this game interesting. But I think Rodowald and Shaw (is he healthy?) keep the ground game going and put Manteno away in the second half Wilmington 40 Manteno 27

 

[Doctor_D]

Lisle by 2-3 scores
Wilmington in a shoot out
Coal City by 3-4 scores
Reed-Custer with the upset

 

[CaravanMan]

Agree on the picks, however, I cannot, in good faith pick against my devils.

With that said, they better control the clock and keep the ball out of the CC offenses' hands otherwise it will be a looooong night.

Upset special pick - Ptown 35-34 - because why not!

 

[Coalertown44]

Agree on the picks, however, I cannot, in good faith pick against my devils.

With that said, they better control the clock and keep the ball out of the CC offenses' hands otherwise it will be a looooong night.

Upset special pick - Ptown 35-34 - because why not!

I like Peotones team and love what Coach Tully does over there. Lot of respect for that program. Coal City definitely doesn’t underestimate them. Tough physical O line. Hard nosed running backs. I’m sticking with the Coalers but I’m thinking it’s going to be a good game

 

[CaravanMan]

Unfortunately, I'm not plugged in like I used to be and relegated to a casual observer, but, I've heard great things about Coach Tully and what he is doing.

I do expect a slobberknocker and keeping the faith alive for a hard fought devil victory.

 

[PanthersWildcats86]

Streator @ Reed Custer... Streator beat a bad 5A team, RC beat a questionable 1A school. Streator kept plugging away against Wilmo. I figure its the Bulldogs game to lose. Bulldogs paw the Comets down...

Herscher @ Lisle... Herscher beat a bad Momence team, thumped by Central, hammered by Coal City. Lisle beat a bad Harvard team, beat a questionable Elmwood Park, upset by Manteno. Lisle flipping from the double wing to the spread is going to give teams headaches. The Lions QB kept sliding up in the pocket against the Panthers and completing passes, as the Panther ends kept crashing the pocket...Lions line is not dominant - but flipping between the two wildly different formations helps them because the D can't focus. And they mix the formations - one had the ends wide, the fullback in the slot, the wings in their usual position, where they could pass or run the basic wing run with a forward handoff/shovel pass. Herscher's season looks downhill...Lions roar loudly...

Peotone @ Coal City... Two 3-0 teams. Two teams that would prefer to run, but are willing to throw their weapons. Coal City has played a tougher schedule, although you can't fault the Devils for playing bigger schools. I suspect this is going to be a quick game...The pickax should be able to break the trident...

Manteno @ Wilmington... The Purple & White big cats rumble...I must admit, last week I wondered if Haines had stolen the 'Cats playbook in the first quarter. The Panthers only attempted two passes their first three possessions...one inc, one int...Haines seems determined to make teams take the run seriously. I don't see the Panthers, however, trying that theory against the Wildcats. I expect the traditional Purple & White rumble...Manteno early, run into dirt late...Cats are 11-2 against the Panthers all time, outscored them 484-175, but since the Panthers first playoff appearance in 2010 they are 5-2, 191-137 (M wins 2011 14-11, 17 28-27). Wildcats in an entertaining game...

 

[Wilmatucky]

[email protected] battle for the bottom feeder of the conference. Both teams need this one for pride.... I want to have a little faith in Johnson and his crew at RC (if they don't win this one, then it is safe to say that he was an extremely overhyped hire. Herscher may be the only other game they have a chance of winning on the schedule), and think that they are in fact doing something right. I'll give the nod to the Comets in a barnburner

[email protected] all know how Lisle is at home so I am picking Lisle to win by at least 2 scores

[email protected] be a tough physical game, probably be one of the more challenging games for CC as far as ICE teams go.....CC in a game that they control but the scoreboard makes it look a lot closer

[email protected] will be the game of the week. Expect a lot of physical football and power running. We will get a true measure on both teams after this game. Wilmo hasn't had a ton of competition yet and Manteno played an odd mix of non-cons then beat Lisle. If the panthers hang or even keep it close then we might be able to say that last year was a fluke and they could be tough again. I still have to pick the Wildcats at Becker Field. Let's see if we can get 40 Harleys there this week! Wilmo by 10!

I am fairly confident in these......RC/Streator is the only iffy pick IMO

 

[DHS2018]

[email protected] battle for the bottom feeder of the conference.

Maybe pump the brakes on that one......

 

[Wilmatucky]

Maybe pump the brakes on that one......

Lol I'm assuming you are talking about Herscher being the last place team....I guess we will see. Either way this one is a must win in the pride department. Either of these two teams can get to three wins if Herscher is as bad as you claim.

 

[PanthersWildcats86]

[email protected] will be the game of the week. Expect a lot of physical football and power running. We will get a true measure on both teams after this game. Wilmo hasn't had a ton of competition yet and Manteno played an odd mix of non-cons then beat Lisle. If the panthers hang or even keep it close then we might be able to say that last year was a fluke and they could be tough again. I still have to pick the Wildcats at Becker Field. Let's see if we can get 40 Harleys there this week! Wilmo by 10!

I'm not expecting the Panthers to focus on power running this week. I suspect that if they try what they did with Lisle, it will be 21-0 Cats in the first quarter...Repeatedly slamming Wurster into the Cat D-line will likely only result in him getting hurt...The two weeks I've watched, they run when the QB is under center...in a one back spread formation, I just don't see that working against the Cats - who basically have to defend the dive on every play in practice. Lisle started with no safety in the middle of the field and nobody in the middle more than 5 yards off the ball...that didn't last the quarter.

Offenses evolve through the season. I suspect that the Panthers come out doing play action to Wurster - a lot...forcing the safeties to pay attention to the run likely opens up the passing attack.

Reents & Southall don't care. Put 10 in the box, the Cats are gonna run the double wing. The Panther defensive front is better, but Lisle was able to run some against the Panthers out of the double wing. The Wildcats are way more, ahem, wild and nasty than the Lions up front. This is why I foresee the traditional Purple & White matchup early...Panthers airing it out, Cats bulldozing through the line...And the Panther line will likely run out of gas.

 

[Wilmatucky]

I didn’t say that manteno would return it lol

 

[Coalertown44]

Lol I'm assuming you are talking about Herscher being the last place team....I guess we will see. Either way this one is a must win in the pride department. Either of these two teams can get to three wins if Herscher is as bad as you claim.

After watching the Coalers play Herscher and seeing RC on film, I would say they are pretty even. Slight edge to RC but I know Herscher was a bit banged up

 

[Nit92]

My ICE friends, what can Morris expect this weekend out of Plano Friday? Know nothing about them besides they played CC tough last year.

 

[Coalertown44]

My ICE friends, what can Morris expect this weekend out of Plano Friday? Know nothing about them besides they played CC tough last year.

Usually a good size line. Good mix of run and pass. But that was under Coah Kunz, not sure what the new coach does

 

[DHS2018]

Lol I'm assuming you are talking about Herscher being the last place team....I guess we will see. Either way this one is a must win in the pride department. Either of these two teams can get to three wins if Herscher is as bad as you claim.

Honestly, it took me a few weeks to grasp how far the program has dropped off this season, I don't live there anymore but have been to 2 of the first 3 games, I don't know whats going on in the community. 43 kids in the HS program, not enough kids to field a team at the oldest level of youth football..

Times have changed, parents have changed.. AD that is a soccer guy... I don't get it

 

[Jrc1282]

I would not be surprised at all if lisle lost, I watched there game film against Harvard and they looked absolutely awful. They had to of lost a couple of key components from last year.

 

[Doctor_D]

Streator 30, R-C 13. R-C cut it to 15-13 but Streator pulled away late.

Lisle 42, Herscher 10. About as expected.

Wilmington 51, Manteno 28. Thought it might have been a bit closer, but pretty much as expected.

Coal City 20, Peotone 0. Didn’t expect a shut out.

 

[Wilmatucky]

Moved to 18-6 in my predictions on the season. Possible hard Games to predict will be Herscher/rc and Herscher/Streator. Cc/Wilmo May prove to a better game then we thought. Then any of the lisle/Peotone/manteno matchups.

 

[Coalertown44]

21-3. Last night went as expected. Peotone is going to be a tough out in the post season. They have a really nice defense. #11 had to have 20 tackles at linebacker. Them and Wilmo will be a good one

 

[Wilmatucky]

21-3. Last night went as expected. Peotone is going to be a tough out in the post season. They have a really nice defense. #11 had to have 20 tackles at linebacker. Them and Wilmo will be a good one

Yes forgot about Wilmo/tone. Maybe even Wilmo/lisle? Not sure where that ones at.

 

[Coalertown44]

I don’t think Lisle has what it takes to hang with Tone, Wilmo and CC this year. Peotones defense played really good last night. Their LB # 11 was all over the place. I bet he had 20 tackles. CC defense was lights out, held Tone to somewhere like 70 yards of offense. CC had good drives but stalled a few times in the red zone. Probably had over 100 yards in offensive penalties. First time all year that CC looked sloppy. Tone will make some noise in the 3A bracket. They are tough

 

[Wilmatucky]

I don’t think Lisle has what it takes to hang with Tone, Wilmo and CC this year. Peotones defense played really good last night. Their LB # 11 was all over the place. I bet he had 20 tackles. CC defense was lights out, held Tone to somewhere like 70 yards of offense. CC had good drives but stalled a few times in the red zone. Probably had over 100 yards in offensive penalties. First time all year that CC looked sloppy. Tone will make some noise in the 3A bracket. They are tough

3a is also really weak lol

 

[Coalertown44]

3a is also really weak lol

Byron is still good, Wilmo, Williamsville beat Maria last night plus Mac is dangerously close to 3A

 

[Wilmatucky]

Byron is still good, Wilmo, Williamsville beat Maria last night plus Mac is dangerously close to 3A

Ok so Wilmo/Byron from north then Williamsville from the south.

I know I’m being condescending but I’ve seen 3a decline gradually over the years. The central Illinois teams with inflated records don’t help.

Also not sure how good Maroa is this year. Their starting qb transferred in what I’ve been told was a political situation with the coaches son also playing qb.

 

[CaravanMan]

I'm just hoping for ptown to make some noise this year!

 

[PanthersWildcats86]

Missed the live action last night, as I had Fighting Illini Fan Council & stayed for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Retired guys give the best HoF speeches...Simeon Rice is still trying to convince people he should have been a RB...lol

The ICE groupings have solidified. CC & Wilmo are clearly 1-2. Peotone, Lisle & Manteno are the middle. Streator is the best of the bottom 3 over RC & Herscher.

I'm not sure Lisle is safe yet for the playoffs though. 'Tone seems to be settlin in as the #3, so the Lions are looking at 5 wins...

Streator may chew its way in. The Bulldogs haven't proven themselves yet, but they may snarl pretty loudly at the Panthers & Lions.

Manteno has a daunting task ahead. The Coalers are very likely a loss, for 4. The Route 50 Rumble is the key, as records are meaningless in Devil-Panther games. And they cant overlook the Bulldogs...

 

[wilmopride77]

Did the Wilmington kicker hit a 45 yard FG last night?

 

[Coalertown44]

I think it’s CC as #1 Wilmo/Peotone tied for #2. Wilmington probably has the better offense but I think Peotone has the better defense. That week 9 game will be a good one.

 

[Doctor_D]

FG was about 42 yds

 

[Coalertown44]

#4 through 6 is a mix of Streator, Manteno and Lisle. Can’t figure out yet who can get 5 wins. Herscher and RC are at the bottom. I could see a scenario where only three teams get in if one of those three 4-6 teams don’t step up

 

[DHS2018]

I am just shocked how fast the Herscher program has fallen so far

 

[CaravanMan]

I am just shocked how fast the Herscher program has fallen so far

And based on what I saw today from their Jr program...well...yeah. Ouch.

 

[DHS2018]

And based on what I saw today from their Jr program...well...yeah. Ouch.

Yeah, have heard zero talent in the junior high right now..