Games I'm Looking Forward To

Week 4: Sacred Heart-Griffin v. Rochester

After the 2010 4A champion Rockets lost most of their starters, mostly notably Riley McMinn, Wes Lunt leads the Rockets in the most anticipated CS8 game of the season. I could see the conference championship decided with this game, just like it was last year. Just like I did last year thought, I'm taking the Cyclones.

Rochester also takes on 5A runner-up Glenwood in Chatham week 8 which will be worth seeing. Aside from the game, I can tell you personally that Glenwood is a school with state of the art facilities and a rabid fan-base. Their fans are definitely going to be there in bunches in Week 8 to tomohawk chop the Titans to victory.

Week 1: Stillman Valley @ Aurora Christian

Aurora Christian was a very underrated team in 3A last season under head coach Don Beebe. They also play in an underrated conference. Going 1-4 in a conference that featured 5A state champion Montini, 6A state runner-up Marmion Academy, Marian Central Catholic, Walther Lutheran, and St. Francis. The four teams they lost to made deep playoff runs and the team they beat (Walther Lutheran 45-20) boasted multiple Division 1 athletes. Aurora Christian made it to the Quarterfinals as a 5-4 team by pasting Oregon 38-0 in the first round and knocking off undefeated Wilmington 18-16 in the 2nd round. They lost to 3A state runner-up and then defending 3A champion Stillman Valley 16-46 in the Quarterfinals. The revenge-minded Eagles are going to be fighting for the playoffs in Week 1. Stillman Valley will still be a shoe-in to take the Big Northern West. I believe that hunger will be the difference between both teams and I'm going to take Aurora Christian in this game...that is if Aurora Christian is still open by week 1.

Week 6: Quincy Notre Dame @ IVC

The two teams that were rejected from the North Central. IVC and Quincy ND. In the whole NCIC shuffle this offseason, IVC joined the Mid-State Six as the Sixth member. I'm interested in this game solely because I feel that if the MS6 holds serve for the next few seasons, ND/IVC could be an interesting rivalry. Both schools have been in the playoffs the last couple of seasons, are close in football enrollment, and both got rejected from the same conference this past offseason. That being said, I've got Notre Dame in a rout. Last season, ND's only three loses were close losses to 3A champion Illini West (20-22), 5A semifinalist Richwoods (14-20), and eventual champion Rochester in the 4A Quarterfinals (21-23). In addition to that, they pounded Mater Dei, Waterloo (twice), Macomb, and Manual who were all playoff teams. They also went 2-0 against playoff-level teams in Missouri (Hannibal and Helias in Jefferson City) who they are meeting up with again in 2011. IVC by contrast was ousted in the 2nd round last season by Pontiac, slaughtered by Dunlap in week 1, and surrendered a one touchdown loss to Mendota who I would consider at best a "decent" 4A team that had no business in the quarterfinals last season. What could be the saving grace for IVC is that QND has lost a lot of talent from last season. However, I think Raider Nation will still be strong enough to take IVC.

The City of Champions Classic

I have no commentary on this, but I love to see us go up against good out of state talent. This year it will be. I'm also interested in seeing Robert Gregory and Jordan Diamond from Simeon, St. Rita minus Jahwon Akui, and East St. Louis minus several Division one prospects that they graduated.

Simeon v. Jefferson City (Missouri)
St. RIta v. Whitehaven (Tennessee)
East St. Louis v. Garnder-Edgerton (Kansas)

Go Wolverines, go Mustangs, go Eastside!


I'm sure to be adding to this in no time.