Playoff Central
IHSSN went crazy with playoff football coverage. In an unanticipated move, Playoff Central was created over the weekend. The original plans had called for a small-scale coverage of playoff football. However, on the day of the Playoff Pairings, we decided to as in-depth as time allowed.
Working from 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning until 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning, IHSSN Playoff Central made its debut with 30 coaches interviews, the podcast of the Playoff Pairings Show, the most comprehensive 1st round playoff dates and times (prior to the release by the IHSA), along with various video clips involving playoff teams. IHSSN Playoff Central took on a mind of its own!
Final Coaches Poll
As expected, there was low voter turnout for the final IHSSN Football Coaches Poll. Due to this, there is only rankings for Class 1A-4A in the final edition. All season long, the voting centered around the preseason classifications. This final poll was based on the IHSA playoff classifications.
Speaking of Coaches Polls
The voting ballots are being sent out for the upcoming IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls. As of this writing, seven coaches have sent in their top tens. Only half of the coaching panel has been emailed the initial ballots at this time. There are currently 113 coaches on the panel statewide. At any time this season, any head coach or assistant coach is welcome to be added. Just email ihssn@hotmail.com and express your interest. The preseason polls for boy's and girl's basketball will be released on Wednesday November 17th.
Basketball Addition to the Website
IHSSN will attempt to track down as many schedules as possible before the basketball season tips off. Over 100 girl's basketball schedules statewide can be found here: http://www.ihssn.net/table/girl-s-basketball-schedules/.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
IHSSN.net Coaches Poll: How They Fared (in week 8)
IHSSN.net Coaches Poll
How They Fared (week 8)
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Argenta-Oreana (48-6)
2) Brown County: beat Greenfield (41-18)
3) Lewistown: beat Rushville-Industry (55-0)
4) Dakota: beat West Carroll (38-14)
5) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat Macon Meridian (53-8)
6) Jacksonville Routt: beat North Greene (44-0)
7) Villa Grove: LOST to Tri-County (34-35)
8) East Dubuque: beat (1A #10) Freeport Aquin (40-9)
9) Triopia: beat Winchester West Central (53-7)
T10) Freeport Aquin: LOST to (1A #8) East Dubuque (9-40)
T10) Galena: beat Orangeville (46-0)
Receiving Votes
Salt Fork: beat Oakwod/Armstrong-Potomac (20-13)
North Fulton: beat Beardstown (28-8)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Bureau Valley (43-6)
2) Morrison: beat Erie/Prophetstown (45-7)
3) Stark County: beat Biggsville West Central (42-8)
4) Casey-Westfield: beat Toledo Cumberland (30-6)
5) Clifton Central: beat Momence (42-21)
6) Maroa-Forsyth: beat Warrensburg-Latham (41-7)
7) Westville: beat Georgetown-Ridge Farm (57-27)
8) Lena-Winslow: beat Warren (42-0)
9) Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Champaign St. Thomas More (63-21)
10) Marshall: beat Robinson (47-27)
Receiving Votes
Mercer County: beat River Valley (46-15)
Rockridge: LOST to Peoria Manual (27-34)
Eastland/Pearl City: beat Pecatonica (45-12)
Carlinville: beat Litchfield (42-0)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat Sherrard (46-13)
2) Wilmington: beat (4A #9) Sandwich (34-14)
3) Tolono Unity: beat Shelbyville (42-2)
4) Auburn: beat Pawnee (34-27)
5) Mt. Carmel: beat Mendota (15-6)
6) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Monticello (28-6)
7) Greenville: beat Vandalia (35-28)
T8) Aurora Christian: LOST to Wheaton St. Francis (7-39)
T8) Pana: beat Hillsboro (34-0)
10) Nashville: beat Columbia (49-14)
Receiving Votes
Immaculate Conception: beat Chicago Christian (42-14)
Byron: beat Rockford Lutheran (64-20)
Oregon: beat Winnebago (35-6)
Williamsville: beat Nokomis (40-7)
Red Bud: beat Sparta (39-0)
DuQuoin: beat Murphysboro (34-20)
Class 4A
1) Rochester: beat Springfield Southeast (41-0)
2) Stillman Valley: beat Genoa-Kingston (49-14)
3) Richmond-Burton: beat North Boone (60-25)
4) Alleman: beat Kankakee (28-14)
5) Breese Mater Dei: beat Newton (48-21)
6) Pontiac: beat Peoria Central (40-7)
7) Quincy Notre Dame: beat Waterloo (55-7)
8) Geneseo: beat LaSalle-Peru (28-12)
9) Sandwich: LOST to (3A #2) Wilmington (14-34)
10) Bishop McNamara: beat Hales Franciscan (30-14)
Receiving Votes
Mt. Zion: beat Bethalto Civic Memorial (49-35)
Herscher: beat Lisle (29-28)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Benet Academy (45-0)
2) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat Lincoln (60-6)
3) Richwoods: beat Galesburg (14-6)
4) Metamora: beat Limestone (58-29)
5) Montini: beat (6A #3) Marmion Academy (27-21)
6) Kaneland: beat Morris (47-7)
7) Marion: LOST to Herrin (12-30)
8) Vernon Hills: beat North Chicago (55-6)
9) Sycamore: beat Yorkville (33-0)
10) Sterling: LOST to Ottawa (0-17)
Receiving Votes
Lincoln-Way West: beat Thornwood (38-20)
Washington: beat Canton (50-6)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat (6A #6) Normal Community (32-12)
2) Lemont: beat Hillcrest (49-14)
3) Marmion Academy: LOST to (5A #5) Montini (21-27)
T4) Morgan Park: beat Chicago Clark (42-0)
T4) Prairie Ridge: beat Woodstock North (70-0)
6) Normal Community: LOST to (6A #1) Danville (12-32)
7) Crystal Lake Central: beat Woodstock (58-28)
8) Robeson: beat Bogan (56-18)
9) Hubbard: beat Raby (22-0)
10) Rock Island: beat Rich South (21-20)
Receiving Votes
Springfield: beat Bloomington Central Catholic (34-14)
De La Salle: LOST to Burbank St. Laurence (9-16 in OT)
Lake Forest: LOST to (7A #10) Lake Zurich (14-17)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat West Aurora (42-6)
2) East St. Louis: beat Granite City (34-13)
3) Glenbard West: LOST to (8A RV) Lyons (13-31)
4) St. Rita: LOST to (8A #3) Loyola (21-24)
5) Carmel: LOST to Cincinnatti Elder (14-21)
6) Lincoln-Way East: beat Joliet Central (62-0)
7) Rockford Boylan: beat (7A RV) Hononegah (49-7)
8) Crystal Lake South: beat McHenry (47-21)
9) Wheaton North: beat Glenbard East (42-0)
10) Lake Zurich: beat (6A RV) Lake Forest (17-14)
Receiving Votes
Hononegah: LOST to (7A #7) Boylan (7-49)
Class 8A
1) Stevenson: beat Antioch (36-21)
2) Simeon: beat Brooks (48-14)
3) Loyola: beat (7A #4) St. Rita (24-21)
4) Mt. Carmel: beat Providence (35-0)
5) Naperville North: beat West Chicago (31-14)
6) Barrington: LOST to Palatine (10-21)
7) York: beat Willowbrook (56-0)
8) Schaumburg; beat Hoffman Estates (56-14)
9) Maine South: beat New Trier (42-21)
10) Glenbard North: beat Naperville Central (21-14)
Receiving Votes
Lyons: beat (7A #3) Glenbard West (31-13)
Minooka: beat Oswego (27-21)
How They Fared (week 8)
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Argenta-Oreana (48-6)
2) Brown County: beat Greenfield (41-18)
3) Lewistown: beat Rushville-Industry (55-0)
4) Dakota: beat West Carroll (38-14)
5) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat Macon Meridian (53-8)
6) Jacksonville Routt: beat North Greene (44-0)
7) Villa Grove: LOST to Tri-County (34-35)
8) East Dubuque: beat (1A #10) Freeport Aquin (40-9)
9) Triopia: beat Winchester West Central (53-7)
T10) Freeport Aquin: LOST to (1A #8) East Dubuque (9-40)
T10) Galena: beat Orangeville (46-0)
Receiving Votes
Salt Fork: beat Oakwod/Armstrong-Potomac (20-13)
North Fulton: beat Beardstown (28-8)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Bureau Valley (43-6)
2) Morrison: beat Erie/Prophetstown (45-7)
3) Stark County: beat Biggsville West Central (42-8)
4) Casey-Westfield: beat Toledo Cumberland (30-6)
5) Clifton Central: beat Momence (42-21)
6) Maroa-Forsyth: beat Warrensburg-Latham (41-7)
7) Westville: beat Georgetown-Ridge Farm (57-27)
8) Lena-Winslow: beat Warren (42-0)
9) Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Champaign St. Thomas More (63-21)
10) Marshall: beat Robinson (47-27)
Receiving Votes
Mercer County: beat River Valley (46-15)
Rockridge: LOST to Peoria Manual (27-34)
Eastland/Pearl City: beat Pecatonica (45-12)
Carlinville: beat Litchfield (42-0)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat Sherrard (46-13)
2) Wilmington: beat (4A #9) Sandwich (34-14)
3) Tolono Unity: beat Shelbyville (42-2)
4) Auburn: beat Pawnee (34-27)
5) Mt. Carmel: beat Mendota (15-6)
6) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Monticello (28-6)
7) Greenville: beat Vandalia (35-28)
T8) Aurora Christian: LOST to Wheaton St. Francis (7-39)
T8) Pana: beat Hillsboro (34-0)
10) Nashville: beat Columbia (49-14)
Receiving Votes
Immaculate Conception: beat Chicago Christian (42-14)
Byron: beat Rockford Lutheran (64-20)
Oregon: beat Winnebago (35-6)
Williamsville: beat Nokomis (40-7)
Red Bud: beat Sparta (39-0)
DuQuoin: beat Murphysboro (34-20)
Class 4A
1) Rochester: beat Springfield Southeast (41-0)
2) Stillman Valley: beat Genoa-Kingston (49-14)
3) Richmond-Burton: beat North Boone (60-25)
4) Alleman: beat Kankakee (28-14)
5) Breese Mater Dei: beat Newton (48-21)
6) Pontiac: beat Peoria Central (40-7)
7) Quincy Notre Dame: beat Waterloo (55-7)
8) Geneseo: beat LaSalle-Peru (28-12)
9) Sandwich: LOST to (3A #2) Wilmington (14-34)
10) Bishop McNamara: beat Hales Franciscan (30-14)
Receiving Votes
Mt. Zion: beat Bethalto Civic Memorial (49-35)
Herscher: beat Lisle (29-28)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Benet Academy (45-0)
2) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat Lincoln (60-6)
3) Richwoods: beat Galesburg (14-6)
4) Metamora: beat Limestone (58-29)
5) Montini: beat (6A #3) Marmion Academy (27-21)
6) Kaneland: beat Morris (47-7)
7) Marion: LOST to Herrin (12-30)
8) Vernon Hills: beat North Chicago (55-6)
9) Sycamore: beat Yorkville (33-0)
10) Sterling: LOST to Ottawa (0-17)
Receiving Votes
Lincoln-Way West: beat Thornwood (38-20)
Washington: beat Canton (50-6)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat (6A #6) Normal Community (32-12)
2) Lemont: beat Hillcrest (49-14)
3) Marmion Academy: LOST to (5A #5) Montini (21-27)
T4) Morgan Park: beat Chicago Clark (42-0)
T4) Prairie Ridge: beat Woodstock North (70-0)
6) Normal Community: LOST to (6A #1) Danville (12-32)
7) Crystal Lake Central: beat Woodstock (58-28)
8) Robeson: beat Bogan (56-18)
9) Hubbard: beat Raby (22-0)
10) Rock Island: beat Rich South (21-20)
Receiving Votes
Springfield: beat Bloomington Central Catholic (34-14)
De La Salle: LOST to Burbank St. Laurence (9-16 in OT)
Lake Forest: LOST to (7A #10) Lake Zurich (14-17)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat West Aurora (42-6)
2) East St. Louis: beat Granite City (34-13)
3) Glenbard West: LOST to (8A RV) Lyons (13-31)
4) St. Rita: LOST to (8A #3) Loyola (21-24)
5) Carmel: LOST to Cincinnatti Elder (14-21)
6) Lincoln-Way East: beat Joliet Central (62-0)
7) Rockford Boylan: beat (7A RV) Hononegah (49-7)
8) Crystal Lake South: beat McHenry (47-21)
9) Wheaton North: beat Glenbard East (42-0)
10) Lake Zurich: beat (6A RV) Lake Forest (17-14)
Receiving Votes
Hononegah: LOST to (7A #7) Boylan (7-49)
Class 8A
1) Stevenson: beat Antioch (36-21)
2) Simeon: beat Brooks (48-14)
3) Loyola: beat (7A #4) St. Rita (24-21)
4) Mt. Carmel: beat Providence (35-0)
5) Naperville North: beat West Chicago (31-14)
6) Barrington: LOST to Palatine (10-21)
7) York: beat Willowbrook (56-0)
8) Schaumburg; beat Hoffman Estates (56-14)
9) Maine South: beat New Trier (42-21)
10) Glenbard North: beat Naperville Central (21-14)
Receiving Votes
Lyons: beat (7A #3) Glenbard West (31-13)
Minooka: beat Oswego (27-21)
Monday, October 18, 2010
My Encounter With a Ghost
Since it's that time of the year, when scary movies are on the TV, haunted houses are open for frights, and ghost stories are told by the fire on a chilly fall night, I decided to share my personal encounter with a "ghost."
I began working at WKAI/WLMD/WLRB in Macomb in April 2003. Not long after I started, I began to hear different stories about the building being haunted. The radio station was located just off the square in a large, old brick building. It sat next door to Magnolia's restaurant and Two Dogs bar, and just behind the old Illinois Theatre (now The Forum). All of the previously mentioned establishments have a long history of being haunted. In fact, many of these old brick buildings in downtown Macomb have different ghost stories attached to them.
One of the first stories when I began working there, was a salesman who had been walking upstairs to the attic. As he reached the halfway point, two darts came out of nowhere and stuck into the stairs right above him. The attic was empty, with the exception of several pieces of junk, and a couple large bins of old records (some of which were later used as frisbies during downtime). Those darts would later be thrown into the wall in various games over lunch. A lot of spackle was used to fill tiny dart holes in the wall.
Throughout my tenure, various stories would emerge, mostly just eery sounds in the radio station, or footsteps coming from the attic. The radio station was very odd shaped on the inside. There were two entrances, an "on-air" entrance and the lobby entrance. The employee, or on-air entrance, was located along Carroll Street, while the other door was off of the large parking lot.
Walking into the employee entrance, there were two offices to the left. One was a large office, and then the newsroom. If you walked straight from that door, it took you into a large conference area, dubbed "Studio Center." If you swung a hard right upon entrance, you could swing around the studios. The three studios sat next to each other, one by one by one.
If you snaked around the studios, it would take you back into Studio Center, or you could take a right and snake through the hallway, many visitors called a maze. There a few doors through this hallway. One was a bathroom that would later be inaccessible (not by my doing, I swear), another was the door to the attic. There were also doors to an engineering room, and a couple storage closets. The sales office, front desk, manager's office, and my office were all up front.
Until the summer of 2008, I had never encountered any mysterious footsteps, voices, or ghostly sightings. During the summer months of '08, my schedule had me coming in late at night to record the morning sportscasts. The sportscasts aired in the 6:00 a.m. hour, but my shift was not starting until 8:00 a.m. during this time.
One night in July, I had gone into the studios just after midnight to record the sportscasts. Of course, it was completely dark, as no one worked during this hour. Had this been in October, when our guard is up on the spookiness of the night, I may have been a little more skeptical coming in at this time....but not during the humid month of July.
The studios are lined right next to each other, with K100 being the first studio from the employee entrance, then the production studio, and finally the WLMD studio. Each studio had a large and heavy soundproof door. The K100 and WLMD studio doors did not make any noise, however the middle studio door did. It was a sound that could not be replicated, just a high pitched, squeaky sound.
Instead of turning on the hallway light as I walked into the employee entrance, I walked straight into the K100 studio to record my sports. I turned the light on, grabbed my content and walked toward the mixer board and computers. As I turned the monitors on, I heard that squeal of the middle studio door. Immediately, I froze in absolute horror. The hair on my arms and legs shot straight up like a cat. It felt like I stood there frozen in time for an hour, but it must have only been 30 seconds. I convinced myself it was not the door I heard, but something outside, or maybe one of the many radio stations playing throughout the building.
After a few minutes, no other sound was heard, though I was still on full alert. Approximately five or ten minutes later, I began recording my sportscast. One minute into the read, I heard a thump from above me....in the attic. At first, I shook it off, but just as I did...I noticed something. The light ballasts above me were swaying. Whatever I heard...I did indeer hear! It was not my imagination playing tricks on me. I finished my sportscast at a pace that could only be rivaled by the Micro Machines guy, and got the heck out of that radio station.
When I went to work the next morning, I told all of my co-workers of my experience. I insisted that I am not one to make up ghost stories, and that I have never claimed to have heard or seen anything at the radio station in over five years.
One of my co-workers half jokingly mentioned that another one of our co-workers had claimed they saw a man in the hallway just a couple weeks prior to this incident. Could it be? Was the radio station really haunted??? The other incident occurred early on a Saturday morning, and it was dismissed as just seeing things.
The next day, my co-worker, Joe Roderick and I, headed off to Bourbonnais to cover the Chicago Bears training camp and later their practice at Soldier Field. Halfway there, I received a phone call from my General Manager, exclaiming that I wasn't crazy, and I wasn't hearing things!
Was it a ghost?
Upon hearing my story, coupled with the earlier incident of seeing a "man" in the hallway in the wee hours of a Saturday morning, the GM and another co-worker went into the attic to investigate. It was there, where they found an old dirty jacket, a five-gallon bucket, and cigarette butts in the location above where the K100 studio was. A window in the attic was found to be broken near the fire escape. The police were called, and they knew who it was. Apparently, Macomb has a homeless man and this wasn't the first incident the MPD had with him.
Well....that's as close to an encounter with a ghost that I've had....but it makes for one good story!
I began working at WKAI/WLMD/WLRB in Macomb in April 2003. Not long after I started, I began to hear different stories about the building being haunted. The radio station was located just off the square in a large, old brick building. It sat next door to Magnolia's restaurant and Two Dogs bar, and just behind the old Illinois Theatre (now The Forum). All of the previously mentioned establishments have a long history of being haunted. In fact, many of these old brick buildings in downtown Macomb have different ghost stories attached to them.
One of the first stories when I began working there, was a salesman who had been walking upstairs to the attic. As he reached the halfway point, two darts came out of nowhere and stuck into the stairs right above him. The attic was empty, with the exception of several pieces of junk, and a couple large bins of old records (some of which were later used as frisbies during downtime). Those darts would later be thrown into the wall in various games over lunch. A lot of spackle was used to fill tiny dart holes in the wall.
Throughout my tenure, various stories would emerge, mostly just eery sounds in the radio station, or footsteps coming from the attic. The radio station was very odd shaped on the inside. There were two entrances, an "on-air" entrance and the lobby entrance. The employee, or on-air entrance, was located along Carroll Street, while the other door was off of the large parking lot.
Walking into the employee entrance, there were two offices to the left. One was a large office, and then the newsroom. If you walked straight from that door, it took you into a large conference area, dubbed "Studio Center." If you swung a hard right upon entrance, you could swing around the studios. The three studios sat next to each other, one by one by one.
If you snaked around the studios, it would take you back into Studio Center, or you could take a right and snake through the hallway, many visitors called a maze. There a few doors through this hallway. One was a bathroom that would later be inaccessible (not by my doing, I swear), another was the door to the attic. There were also doors to an engineering room, and a couple storage closets. The sales office, front desk, manager's office, and my office were all up front.
Until the summer of 2008, I had never encountered any mysterious footsteps, voices, or ghostly sightings. During the summer months of '08, my schedule had me coming in late at night to record the morning sportscasts. The sportscasts aired in the 6:00 a.m. hour, but my shift was not starting until 8:00 a.m. during this time.
One night in July, I had gone into the studios just after midnight to record the sportscasts. Of course, it was completely dark, as no one worked during this hour. Had this been in October, when our guard is up on the spookiness of the night, I may have been a little more skeptical coming in at this time....but not during the humid month of July.
The studios are lined right next to each other, with K100 being the first studio from the employee entrance, then the production studio, and finally the WLMD studio. Each studio had a large and heavy soundproof door. The K100 and WLMD studio doors did not make any noise, however the middle studio door did. It was a sound that could not be replicated, just a high pitched, squeaky sound.
Instead of turning on the hallway light as I walked into the employee entrance, I walked straight into the K100 studio to record my sports. I turned the light on, grabbed my content and walked toward the mixer board and computers. As I turned the monitors on, I heard that squeal of the middle studio door. Immediately, I froze in absolute horror. The hair on my arms and legs shot straight up like a cat. It felt like I stood there frozen in time for an hour, but it must have only been 30 seconds. I convinced myself it was not the door I heard, but something outside, or maybe one of the many radio stations playing throughout the building.
After a few minutes, no other sound was heard, though I was still on full alert. Approximately five or ten minutes later, I began recording my sportscast. One minute into the read, I heard a thump from above me....in the attic. At first, I shook it off, but just as I did...I noticed something. The light ballasts above me were swaying. Whatever I heard...I did indeer hear! It was not my imagination playing tricks on me. I finished my sportscast at a pace that could only be rivaled by the Micro Machines guy, and got the heck out of that radio station.
When I went to work the next morning, I told all of my co-workers of my experience. I insisted that I am not one to make up ghost stories, and that I have never claimed to have heard or seen anything at the radio station in over five years.
One of my co-workers half jokingly mentioned that another one of our co-workers had claimed they saw a man in the hallway just a couple weeks prior to this incident. Could it be? Was the radio station really haunted??? The other incident occurred early on a Saturday morning, and it was dismissed as just seeing things.
The next day, my co-worker, Joe Roderick and I, headed off to Bourbonnais to cover the Chicago Bears training camp and later their practice at Soldier Field. Halfway there, I received a phone call from my General Manager, exclaiming that I wasn't crazy, and I wasn't hearing things!
Was it a ghost?
Upon hearing my story, coupled with the earlier incident of seeing a "man" in the hallway in the wee hours of a Saturday morning, the GM and another co-worker went into the attic to investigate. It was there, where they found an old dirty jacket, a five-gallon bucket, and cigarette butts in the location above where the K100 studio was. A window in the attic was found to be broken near the fire escape. The police were called, and they knew who it was. Apparently, Macomb has a homeless man and this wasn't the first incident the MPD had with him.
Well....that's as close to an encounter with a ghost that I've had....but it makes for one good story!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Blog Update (with Coaches Poll How They Fared in Week 8)
Whirlwind of October
There have been very few blog updates in recent weeks. Just as I had mentioned in an early August blog, the whirlwinds of October may be even busier with work and the website. Along with the flurry of regular activity, I am now in preparation mode for the IHSA Playoffs Show, along with compiling the basketball schedules for the upcoming season. Due to the increased workload, some of the other things on IHSSN (basketball previews, and other future additions) are being placed on hold.
Football Coaches Poll
Below, I have listed How They Fared in Week 8 in the IHSSN.net Coaches Poll. There will still be two coaches polls this season. This week, as we head into the final week of the regular season, and the final polls that will be released after week 9.
Basketball Coaches Poll
Speaking of polls, I am extremely happy with the turnout of interested basketball coaches for the all-new IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls. With the success we had last year in the 1A/2A Girl's Basketball Coaches Polls, it has been introduced for all classes, both Boy's and Girl's. At this time there are over 100 coaches that confirmed interest to be on the panel. It is expected that the final number will reach about 110. Even more exciting, is the geographic range of coaches from every point in the state. The preseason ballot will be going out in the next couple weeks, just before the first practices start on November 1st (girl's). The first practice for boy's basketball is November 8th. You are all probably wondering WHEN the first polls will be released.....November 17th.
Stat Leaders
We will continue to update weekly stat leaders through the playoffs. Week 8 Stat Leaders.
Playoff Information
IHSSN founder Beau Spencer will be hosting an IHSA Playoffs Show on AM 1330 WRAM (www.1330wram.com) in Monmouth and AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com) in Galesburg on Saturday October 23rd. The show will run from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. In-studio guests will include Mid-County Cougars play-by-play man Jason Bates, Monmouth-Roseville Titans play-by-play man Tom Petersen, and Monmouth Review-Atlas Sports Editor Marty Touchette. The first hour will be dedicated to an introduction and previewing the playoff field with various media members from the western part of Illinois. Those guests will be Greg Stewart of the Peoria Journal-Star, Steve Tappa from the Moline Dispatch, and Aaron Frey of the Galesburg Register-Mail. The pairings will be released shortly after 8:00. The 9:00 will be dedicated to coaches interviews.
Beau Spencer on IHSA Playoffs TV Show
Beau will be featured as a phone-in guest on the IHSA Playoffs TV show, aired around the state on various outlets. He will be speaking about the following teams; Rock Island, Alleman, Lewistown, Rockridge, and Stark County. This segment will air in the 9:00 hour.
New Addition Coming Soon to IHSSN.net
A new addition will be coming to the website soon, basketball schedules. IHSSN has been compiling schedules, when time permits. These schedules should be loaded on the website in the next two weeks, and will be found on the sports pulldown bar on the main page, under boy's and girl's basketball.
The Quest 2: 150
The new blog for this year's quest will begin around November 1st. Beau Spencer attempts to broadcast 150 basketball games this winter, a year after broadcasting 112 contests. Due to this increased work demand, IHSSN will be unable to spend the time necessary compiling a basketball scoreboard this season. The blog, which will be added on to last year's Quest blog, will replace this current blog through basketball season.
The Quest Schedule
A rough draft of the first week has been compiled, though two dates are up in the air. Here is a tentative location schedule, games will be identified in a later blog entry...
Monday (11/15): Macomb Lady Bomber Classic
Tuesday (11/16): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
Wednesday (11/17): Ridgewood Thanksgiving Tournament
Thursday (11/18): TBA
Friday (11/19): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
Saturday (11/20): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
IHSSN.net Coaches Poll
How They Fared (Week 8)
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Macon Meridian (61-12)
T2) Brown County: beat Winchester West Central (54-0)
T2) Lewistown: beat Farmington (47-0)
4) Dakota: beat Milledgeville (51-0)
5) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat (2A #2) Maroa-Forsyth (32-21)
6) Jacksonville Routt: beat Pleasant Hill/Western (51-7)
7) Villa Grove: beat Arthur/Lovington (54-0)
8) East Dubuque: beat Stockton (19-0)
9) LeRoy: LOST to El Paso-Gridley (23-43)
10) Triopia: beat Carrollton (32-7)
Receiving Votes
Freeport Aquin: beat Ashton-Franklin Center (52-14)
North Fulton: LOST to Elmwood/Brimfield (14-18)
Galena: beat Durand (28-8)
Pawnee: LOST to North Mac (14-21)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Amboy/LaMoille (44-0)
2) Maroa-Forsyth: LOST to (1A #5) Moweaqua Central A&M (21-32)
T3) Stark County: beat Ridgewood (47-6)
T3) Casey-Westfield: beat Flora (30-0)
5) Morrison: beat Bureau Valley (46-0)
6) Clifton Central: beat Watseka (59-7)
7) Eastland/Pearl City: LOST to (2A #10) Lena-Winslow (19-21)
8) Marshall: beat Palestine-Hutsonville (45-22)
9) Westville: beat Hoopeston Area (44-26)
10) Lena-Winslow: beat (2A #7) Eastland/Pearl City (21-19)
Receiving Votes
Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Colfax Ridgeview (50-0)
Rockridge: beat West Hancock (28-7)
Mercer County: beat West Prairie (54-8)
Carlinville: beat Piasa Southwestern (42-14)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat (3A RV) Central/Southeastern (34-7)
2) Wilmington: beat Coal City (40-19)
3) Tolono Unity: beat Clinton (42-12)
4) Auburn: beat Pleasant Plains (62-28)
5) Mt. Carmel: beat Boonville, IN (44-10)
6) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Sullivan Okaw Valley (63-13)
7) Immaculate Conception: LOST to (3A RV) Aurora Christian (14-40)
8) Pana: beat Vandalia (41-0)
9) Byron: LOST to Genoa-Kingston (21-24)
10) Greenville: beat East Alton-Wood River (47-6)
Receiving Votes
Red Bud: LOST to Columbia (25-29)
Nashville: beat Sparta (49-8)
Aurora Christian: beat (3A #7) Immaculate Conception (40-14)
Central/Southeastern: LOST to (3A #1) Illini West (7-34)
Class 4A
1) Rochester: beat Chatham Glenwood (49-21)
2) Stillman Valley: beat Winnebago (42-14)
3) Breese Mater Dei: LOST to (5A #2) Sacred Heart-Griffin (7-48)
4) Richmond-Burton: beat Harvard (58-35)
5) Alleman: beat United Township (56-7)
6) Quincy Notre Dame: LOST to (5A #3) Richwoods (14-20)
T7) Pontiac: beat Eureka (58-7)
T7) Bishop McNamara: LOST to Brother Rice (7-21)
9) Geneseo: beat Streator (48-7)
10) Elgin St. Edward: LOST to Woodstock Marian (7-27)
Receiving Votes
Sandwich: beat Seneca (24-0)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Marist (49-42)
2) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat (4A #3) Breese Mater Dei (48-7)
3) Richwoods: beat (4A #6) Quincy Notre Dame (20-14)
4) Vernon Hills: LOST to Lake Forest (0-21)
5) Metamora: beat Washington (36-30)
6) Montini: beat Wheaton Academy (48-19)
7) Sycamore: LOST to (5A #8) Kaneland (13-30)
T8) Marion: beat Carbondale (52-33)
T8) Kaneland: beat (5A #7) Sycamore (30-13)
10) Sterling: beat Dixon (45-0)
Receiving Votes
Antioch: beat Round Lake (48-0)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat Champaign Central (45-19)
2) Lemont: beat Thornton Fractional North (44-0)
3) Marmion Academy: beat Chicago Christian (48-7)
4) Morgan Park: beat (6A #6) Hubbard (28-20)
5) Prairie Ridge: beat Johnsburg (31-0)
6) Hubbard: LOST to (6A #4) Morgan Park (20-28)
7) Rock Island: LOST to Quincy (6-17)
8) Robeson: beat Clark (31-14)
T9) Normal Community: beat Decatur MacArthur (44-7)
T9) Cary-Grove: LOST to (7A #10) Crystal Lake South (14-28)
Receiving Votes
Crystal Lake Central: beat Woodstock North (40-0)
Oak Lawn Richards: beat Summit-Argo (35-20)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat (8A #1) Glenbard North (49-6)
2) East St. Louis: beat Collinsville (41-0)
3) Glenbard West: beat Downers Grove North (47-0)
4) St. Rita: beat St. Ignatius (37-0)
5) Carmel: beat Niles Notre Dame (40-7)
6) Lake Zurich: beat Mundelein (35-7)
T7) Elk Grove: LOST to Prospect (41-42)
T7) Lincoln-Way East: beat Lincoln-Way Central (49-0)
9) Rockford Boylan: beat Rockford Auburn (63-0)
10) Crystal Lake South: beat (6A #9) Cary-Grove (28-14)
Receiving Votes
Wheaton North: beat (8A #5) Naperville North (14-7)
Class 8A
1) Glenbard North: LOST to (7A #1) Wheaton-Warrenville South (6-49)
2) Simeon: beat Lane (48-0)
3) Stevenson: beat Libertyville (35-21)
4) Loyola: beat Gordon Tech (28-6)
5) Naperville North: LOST to (7A RV) Wheaton North (7-14)
6) Mt. Carmel: beat St. Laurence (52-7)
7) Barrington: LOST to Fremd (12-26)
8) Maine South: beat Glenbrook South (55-16)
9) Schaumburg: beat Palatine (28-14)
10) Downers Grove South: beat Addison Trail (28-14)
Receiving Votes
Elmhurst York: beat Hinsdale Central (37-14)
South Elgin: LOST to Geneva (28-31)
There have been very few blog updates in recent weeks. Just as I had mentioned in an early August blog, the whirlwinds of October may be even busier with work and the website. Along with the flurry of regular activity, I am now in preparation mode for the IHSA Playoffs Show, along with compiling the basketball schedules for the upcoming season. Due to the increased workload, some of the other things on IHSSN (basketball previews, and other future additions) are being placed on hold.
Football Coaches Poll
Below, I have listed How They Fared in Week 8 in the IHSSN.net Coaches Poll. There will still be two coaches polls this season. This week, as we head into the final week of the regular season, and the final polls that will be released after week 9.
Basketball Coaches Poll
Speaking of polls, I am extremely happy with the turnout of interested basketball coaches for the all-new IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls. With the success we had last year in the 1A/2A Girl's Basketball Coaches Polls, it has been introduced for all classes, both Boy's and Girl's. At this time there are over 100 coaches that confirmed interest to be on the panel. It is expected that the final number will reach about 110. Even more exciting, is the geographic range of coaches from every point in the state. The preseason ballot will be going out in the next couple weeks, just before the first practices start on November 1st (girl's). The first practice for boy's basketball is November 8th. You are all probably wondering WHEN the first polls will be released.....November 17th.
Stat Leaders
We will continue to update weekly stat leaders through the playoffs. Week 8 Stat Leaders.
Playoff Information
IHSSN founder Beau Spencer will be hosting an IHSA Playoffs Show on AM 1330 WRAM (www.1330wram.com) in Monmouth and AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com) in Galesburg on Saturday October 23rd. The show will run from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. In-studio guests will include Mid-County Cougars play-by-play man Jason Bates, Monmouth-Roseville Titans play-by-play man Tom Petersen, and Monmouth Review-Atlas Sports Editor Marty Touchette. The first hour will be dedicated to an introduction and previewing the playoff field with various media members from the western part of Illinois. Those guests will be Greg Stewart of the Peoria Journal-Star, Steve Tappa from the Moline Dispatch, and Aaron Frey of the Galesburg Register-Mail. The pairings will be released shortly after 8:00. The 9:00 will be dedicated to coaches interviews.
Beau Spencer on IHSA Playoffs TV Show
Beau will be featured as a phone-in guest on the IHSA Playoffs TV show, aired around the state on various outlets. He will be speaking about the following teams; Rock Island, Alleman, Lewistown, Rockridge, and Stark County. This segment will air in the 9:00 hour.
New Addition Coming Soon to IHSSN.net
A new addition will be coming to the website soon, basketball schedules. IHSSN has been compiling schedules, when time permits. These schedules should be loaded on the website in the next two weeks, and will be found on the sports pulldown bar on the main page, under boy's and girl's basketball.
The Quest 2: 150
The new blog for this year's quest will begin around November 1st. Beau Spencer attempts to broadcast 150 basketball games this winter, a year after broadcasting 112 contests. Due to this increased work demand, IHSSN will be unable to spend the time necessary compiling a basketball scoreboard this season. The blog, which will be added on to last year's Quest blog, will replace this current blog through basketball season.
The Quest Schedule
A rough draft of the first week has been compiled, though two dates are up in the air. Here is a tentative location schedule, games will be identified in a later blog entry...
Monday (11/15): Macomb Lady Bomber Classic
Tuesday (11/16): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
Wednesday (11/17): Ridgewood Thanksgiving Tournament
Thursday (11/18): TBA
Friday (11/19): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
Saturday (11/20): Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament
IHSSN.net Coaches Poll
How They Fared (Week 8)
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Macon Meridian (61-12)
T2) Brown County: beat Winchester West Central (54-0)
T2) Lewistown: beat Farmington (47-0)
4) Dakota: beat Milledgeville (51-0)
5) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat (2A #2) Maroa-Forsyth (32-21)
6) Jacksonville Routt: beat Pleasant Hill/Western (51-7)
7) Villa Grove: beat Arthur/Lovington (54-0)
8) East Dubuque: beat Stockton (19-0)
9) LeRoy: LOST to El Paso-Gridley (23-43)
10) Triopia: beat Carrollton (32-7)
Receiving Votes
Freeport Aquin: beat Ashton-Franklin Center (52-14)
North Fulton: LOST to Elmwood/Brimfield (14-18)
Galena: beat Durand (28-8)
Pawnee: LOST to North Mac (14-21)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Amboy/LaMoille (44-0)
2) Maroa-Forsyth: LOST to (1A #5) Moweaqua Central A&M (21-32)
T3) Stark County: beat Ridgewood (47-6)
T3) Casey-Westfield: beat Flora (30-0)
5) Morrison: beat Bureau Valley (46-0)
6) Clifton Central: beat Watseka (59-7)
7) Eastland/Pearl City: LOST to (2A #10) Lena-Winslow (19-21)
8) Marshall: beat Palestine-Hutsonville (45-22)
9) Westville: beat Hoopeston Area (44-26)
10) Lena-Winslow: beat (2A #7) Eastland/Pearl City (21-19)
Receiving Votes
Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Colfax Ridgeview (50-0)
Rockridge: beat West Hancock (28-7)
Mercer County: beat West Prairie (54-8)
Carlinville: beat Piasa Southwestern (42-14)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat (3A RV) Central/Southeastern (34-7)
2) Wilmington: beat Coal City (40-19)
3) Tolono Unity: beat Clinton (42-12)
4) Auburn: beat Pleasant Plains (62-28)
5) Mt. Carmel: beat Boonville, IN (44-10)
6) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Sullivan Okaw Valley (63-13)
7) Immaculate Conception: LOST to (3A RV) Aurora Christian (14-40)
8) Pana: beat Vandalia (41-0)
9) Byron: LOST to Genoa-Kingston (21-24)
10) Greenville: beat East Alton-Wood River (47-6)
Receiving Votes
Red Bud: LOST to Columbia (25-29)
Nashville: beat Sparta (49-8)
Aurora Christian: beat (3A #7) Immaculate Conception (40-14)
Central/Southeastern: LOST to (3A #1) Illini West (7-34)
Class 4A
1) Rochester: beat Chatham Glenwood (49-21)
2) Stillman Valley: beat Winnebago (42-14)
3) Breese Mater Dei: LOST to (5A #2) Sacred Heart-Griffin (7-48)
4) Richmond-Burton: beat Harvard (58-35)
5) Alleman: beat United Township (56-7)
6) Quincy Notre Dame: LOST to (5A #3) Richwoods (14-20)
T7) Pontiac: beat Eureka (58-7)
T7) Bishop McNamara: LOST to Brother Rice (7-21)
9) Geneseo: beat Streator (48-7)
10) Elgin St. Edward: LOST to Woodstock Marian (7-27)
Receiving Votes
Sandwich: beat Seneca (24-0)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Marist (49-42)
2) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat (4A #3) Breese Mater Dei (48-7)
3) Richwoods: beat (4A #6) Quincy Notre Dame (20-14)
4) Vernon Hills: LOST to Lake Forest (0-21)
5) Metamora: beat Washington (36-30)
6) Montini: beat Wheaton Academy (48-19)
7) Sycamore: LOST to (5A #8) Kaneland (13-30)
T8) Marion: beat Carbondale (52-33)
T8) Kaneland: beat (5A #7) Sycamore (30-13)
10) Sterling: beat Dixon (45-0)
Receiving Votes
Antioch: beat Round Lake (48-0)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat Champaign Central (45-19)
2) Lemont: beat Thornton Fractional North (44-0)
3) Marmion Academy: beat Chicago Christian (48-7)
4) Morgan Park: beat (6A #6) Hubbard (28-20)
5) Prairie Ridge: beat Johnsburg (31-0)
6) Hubbard: LOST to (6A #4) Morgan Park (20-28)
7) Rock Island: LOST to Quincy (6-17)
8) Robeson: beat Clark (31-14)
T9) Normal Community: beat Decatur MacArthur (44-7)
T9) Cary-Grove: LOST to (7A #10) Crystal Lake South (14-28)
Receiving Votes
Crystal Lake Central: beat Woodstock North (40-0)
Oak Lawn Richards: beat Summit-Argo (35-20)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat (8A #1) Glenbard North (49-6)
2) East St. Louis: beat Collinsville (41-0)
3) Glenbard West: beat Downers Grove North (47-0)
4) St. Rita: beat St. Ignatius (37-0)
5) Carmel: beat Niles Notre Dame (40-7)
6) Lake Zurich: beat Mundelein (35-7)
T7) Elk Grove: LOST to Prospect (41-42)
T7) Lincoln-Way East: beat Lincoln-Way Central (49-0)
9) Rockford Boylan: beat Rockford Auburn (63-0)
10) Crystal Lake South: beat (6A #9) Cary-Grove (28-14)
Receiving Votes
Wheaton North: beat (8A #5) Naperville North (14-7)
Class 8A
1) Glenbard North: LOST to (7A #1) Wheaton-Warrenville South (6-49)
2) Simeon: beat Lane (48-0)
3) Stevenson: beat Libertyville (35-21)
4) Loyola: beat Gordon Tech (28-6)
5) Naperville North: LOST to (7A RV) Wheaton North (7-14)
6) Mt. Carmel: beat St. Laurence (52-7)
7) Barrington: LOST to Fremd (12-26)
8) Maine South: beat Glenbrook South (55-16)
9) Schaumburg: beat Palatine (28-14)
10) Downers Grove South: beat Addison Trail (28-14)
Receiving Votes
Elmhurst York: beat Hinsdale Central (37-14)
South Elgin: LOST to Geneva (28-31)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday Night Lights: Quincy/Galesburg
Quincy @ Galesburg
10/8/10
Homecoming at Galesburg High School for their week seven matchup against the Quincy Blue Devils. Quincy entered with a 5-1 record, while Galesburg comes in at 3-3. Don't let those records deceive you, as the Silver Streaks three losses came by a combined 17 points against teams that are 17-1 heading into the seventh week. Quincy's schedule is not quite as tough....but you have to play the teams on your schedule.
I arrived at C.C. Van Dyke Field a little later than usual, as I stuck around in Monmouth to watch the Monmouth-Roseville Homecoming Parade. I pulled into the GHS campus just before kickoff of the sophomore game.
As usual, I talked some area football with Kevin Hickey, who films Galesburg football games. At the end of the season, he takes the audio broadcasts from WAIK and WGIL and mixes them over the game film. He also does this with historical games, and has been doing this with vintage Notre Dame game tapes. In return, he receives a pair of tickets to one Notre Dame football game each season. The folks in South Bend must not realize how much work goes into that process!
Kevin and I, and some of the other guys in the press box were talking about the Randy Moss trade, to Minnesota. I brought up the fact that it's a boon for fantasy football owners of Moss, since he will play in 17 games this year, because Minnesota has already had their bye this season (New England has not). Kevin mentioned that he doesn't play fantasy sports, but he was very big into the old Strat-O-Matic games in the 1980's.
Another favorite in the Van Dyke press box, is the spread of food. Pizza is brought up during the game, but usually I just snack during the sophomore game, and grab a couple fun sized candy bars after the game. Normally, you wouldn't think that something called a, "Debbie Delight," would be such a hit in a testosterone-fueled press box, but wow...this tasty treat was amazing. From the outside, it looked to be a crunchy treat, but was not. This debbie delight is a soft brownie inside almond bark. That's probably a really bad explanation, but I forget what the actually recipe was.
My guest announcer for the broadcast of the football game was Register-Mail history columnist Tom Wilson. I have been a big fan of his writing, being a history buff. During the game, I mentioned my time spent authoring a bit on the website, www.illinoishsglorydays.com, and he laughed and said that he was just on the site in the morning doing some research.
Remember these names: Malique Robbins and Mikale Wilbon. These two Blue Devils are just freshman, but play varsity football in the Western Big 6. Robbins starts in the backfield, and Wilbon saw a few carries. Wilbon tore up the sophomore game, in which Quincy won.
I was talking with one of the Quincy football players before the game, and he said that Wilbon just moved to Quincy before the school year, from Chicago.
Fans listening in to the WAIK broadcast got to hear an extra long pregame show, which actually worked out to my benefit. Every other game this season, the sophomore contest has ended between 6:45 and 6:55. I noticed the clock winding down, and it was 6:45, uh...oh. My pregame open started to air with a few seconds left in the game...or did it?!
Nope...as 10:00 appeared on the scoreboard, I asked Tom..."That wasn't the end of the THIRD quarter was it?!" He also thought it was the end of the game, with how long the third quarter lasted. Oh boy...not only was I going on about 20 minutes early, it was also Homecoming. Fortunately, Tom was alongside, so we did some play-by-play and talked about the sophomore game and a little bit of history. I also had longer interviews than usual with both head coaches, along with an 8-minute interview with GHS athletic director Ralph Henning. In addition to those interviews, I talk with sophomore coach Jake Miller after his game. It all worked out, and it didn't even seem out of the norm, despite an extra 30 minutes of on-air coverage.
The first half of the varsity game was dominated by the Silver Streaks, on both sides of the football. Galesburg's defense held the Blue Devils to 21 yards on 16 carries. Meanwhile, Galesburg had 129 yards on 29 carries in the first half against the 2nd best defense in the Western Big 6. Who knew that the Streaks would escape with a 3-point win (26-23).
Galesburg jumped out to a 20-0 lead at halftime, as Andrew Steck scored on a 5-yard run, then he hooked up with Jared Carle for a 31-yard touchdown pass, and the workhorse Robert Jackson (29-219) scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.
Disaster struck at the start of the second half as Robbins ran the kick back near midfield, and a 15-yard Streaks penalty pushed the Blue Devils into Galesburg territory. On the next play, another 15-yard penalty was assessed to the Streaks. Quincy would break the goose egg on a 29-yard touchdown run by Andre Givens on a reverse.
Quincy struck again near the end of the third quarter on a 64-yard touchdown run by Robbins, to make it a 20-14 game. The Streaks struck for the final time with 0:00 in the 3rd quarter, when Steck ran it in for a 1-yard touchdown, giving the Streaks a 26-14 edge, heading into the final frame. In the fourth quarter and Galesburg pinned inside their own 10-yard line on 4th down, a punt was attempted, but the snap went over Steck's head, who fell on it for a safety. Also in the second half, the Blue Devils lined up for a 38-yard field goal by Brandon White (note: White will be kicking on Saturday afternoons in two years...he is GOOD!). It was a fake, and the pass fell incomplete.
With 0:52 left in the game, the Blue Devils scored on a 23-yard pass from Mitch Marold to Givens. The Blue Devils...and kicker White...performed a perfect onside kick and it appeared they had recovered near the Galesburg sidelines at the 45-yard line. At the bottom of the pile, Galesburg's Travon Diggins had wrestled the ball away, and Galesburg would hold on for the win. After the game, Galesburg coach Wes Olson told the Galesburg Register-Mail, "What happens at the bottom of the pile, stays at the bottom of the pile."
Great game, and it was well after 11:00 before I hit the road. Of course I had my typical post game snacks before leaving...a couple Butterfingers and a Pepsi....a broadcaster's meal of champions!
10/8/10
Homecoming at Galesburg High School for their week seven matchup against the Quincy Blue Devils. Quincy entered with a 5-1 record, while Galesburg comes in at 3-3. Don't let those records deceive you, as the Silver Streaks three losses came by a combined 17 points against teams that are 17-1 heading into the seventh week. Quincy's schedule is not quite as tough....but you have to play the teams on your schedule.
I arrived at C.C. Van Dyke Field a little later than usual, as I stuck around in Monmouth to watch the Monmouth-Roseville Homecoming Parade. I pulled into the GHS campus just before kickoff of the sophomore game.
As usual, I talked some area football with Kevin Hickey, who films Galesburg football games. At the end of the season, he takes the audio broadcasts from WAIK and WGIL and mixes them over the game film. He also does this with historical games, and has been doing this with vintage Notre Dame game tapes. In return, he receives a pair of tickets to one Notre Dame football game each season. The folks in South Bend must not realize how much work goes into that process!
Kevin and I, and some of the other guys in the press box were talking about the Randy Moss trade, to Minnesota. I brought up the fact that it's a boon for fantasy football owners of Moss, since he will play in 17 games this year, because Minnesota has already had their bye this season (New England has not). Kevin mentioned that he doesn't play fantasy sports, but he was very big into the old Strat-O-Matic games in the 1980's.
Another favorite in the Van Dyke press box, is the spread of food. Pizza is brought up during the game, but usually I just snack during the sophomore game, and grab a couple fun sized candy bars after the game. Normally, you wouldn't think that something called a, "Debbie Delight," would be such a hit in a testosterone-fueled press box, but wow...this tasty treat was amazing. From the outside, it looked to be a crunchy treat, but was not. This debbie delight is a soft brownie inside almond bark. That's probably a really bad explanation, but I forget what the actually recipe was.
My guest announcer for the broadcast of the football game was Register-Mail history columnist Tom Wilson. I have been a big fan of his writing, being a history buff. During the game, I mentioned my time spent authoring a bit on the website, www.illinoishsglorydays.com, and he laughed and said that he was just on the site in the morning doing some research.
Remember these names: Malique Robbins and Mikale Wilbon. These two Blue Devils are just freshman, but play varsity football in the Western Big 6. Robbins starts in the backfield, and Wilbon saw a few carries. Wilbon tore up the sophomore game, in which Quincy won.
I was talking with one of the Quincy football players before the game, and he said that Wilbon just moved to Quincy before the school year, from Chicago.
Fans listening in to the WAIK broadcast got to hear an extra long pregame show, which actually worked out to my benefit. Every other game this season, the sophomore contest has ended between 6:45 and 6:55. I noticed the clock winding down, and it was 6:45, uh...oh. My pregame open started to air with a few seconds left in the game...or did it?!
Nope...as 10:00 appeared on the scoreboard, I asked Tom..."That wasn't the end of the THIRD quarter was it?!" He also thought it was the end of the game, with how long the third quarter lasted. Oh boy...not only was I going on about 20 minutes early, it was also Homecoming. Fortunately, Tom was alongside, so we did some play-by-play and talked about the sophomore game and a little bit of history. I also had longer interviews than usual with both head coaches, along with an 8-minute interview with GHS athletic director Ralph Henning. In addition to those interviews, I talk with sophomore coach Jake Miller after his game. It all worked out, and it didn't even seem out of the norm, despite an extra 30 minutes of on-air coverage.
The first half of the varsity game was dominated by the Silver Streaks, on both sides of the football. Galesburg's defense held the Blue Devils to 21 yards on 16 carries. Meanwhile, Galesburg had 129 yards on 29 carries in the first half against the 2nd best defense in the Western Big 6. Who knew that the Streaks would escape with a 3-point win (26-23).
Galesburg jumped out to a 20-0 lead at halftime, as Andrew Steck scored on a 5-yard run, then he hooked up with Jared Carle for a 31-yard touchdown pass, and the workhorse Robert Jackson (29-219) scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.
Disaster struck at the start of the second half as Robbins ran the kick back near midfield, and a 15-yard Streaks penalty pushed the Blue Devils into Galesburg territory. On the next play, another 15-yard penalty was assessed to the Streaks. Quincy would break the goose egg on a 29-yard touchdown run by Andre Givens on a reverse.
Quincy struck again near the end of the third quarter on a 64-yard touchdown run by Robbins, to make it a 20-14 game. The Streaks struck for the final time with 0:00 in the 3rd quarter, when Steck ran it in for a 1-yard touchdown, giving the Streaks a 26-14 edge, heading into the final frame. In the fourth quarter and Galesburg pinned inside their own 10-yard line on 4th down, a punt was attempted, but the snap went over Steck's head, who fell on it for a safety. Also in the second half, the Blue Devils lined up for a 38-yard field goal by Brandon White (note: White will be kicking on Saturday afternoons in two years...he is GOOD!). It was a fake, and the pass fell incomplete.
With 0:52 left in the game, the Blue Devils scored on a 23-yard pass from Mitch Marold to Givens. The Blue Devils...and kicker White...performed a perfect onside kick and it appeared they had recovered near the Galesburg sidelines at the 45-yard line. At the bottom of the pile, Galesburg's Travon Diggins had wrestled the ball away, and Galesburg would hold on for the win. After the game, Galesburg coach Wes Olson told the Galesburg Register-Mail, "What happens at the bottom of the pile, stays at the bottom of the pile."
Great game, and it was well after 11:00 before I hit the road. Of course I had my typical post game snacks before leaving...a couple Butterfingers and a Pepsi....a broadcaster's meal of champions!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Game Notes: Quincy @ Galesburg
Galesburg Homecoming
Quincy @ Galesburg
(10/8/10)
Tonight's game at C.C. Van Dyke Field at Galesburg High School can be heard on AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com). Pregame coverage starts at 6:45, as Galesburg Register-Mail local history columnist Tom Wilson joins me as guest commentator. Pregame show features GHS athletic director Ralph Henning, Galesburg head coach Wes Olson, Quincy head coach Rick Little, and Galesburg sophomore head coach Jake Miller. Register-Mail sportswriter Aaron Frey stops up at halftime, and defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey talks in the postgame show.
Quincy Blue Devils Game Notes
Last Week: Beat United Township (14-13). G.W. Scott (22-147). UT's Raimon Clay blocked a FG, and also scored both TD's (rushing/receiving). Coach Little told Moline Dispatch that "we didn't overlook them, but it was one where we felt like we had a huge advantage."
Offense: 5 running backs have rushed for over 150 yards. G.W. Scott leading rusher with 500+ yards on the ground. Two freshman running backs have stood out: Malique Robbins and Mikale Wilbon. Robbins rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries vs. Alleman and 76 yards on 12 carries vs. Moline. Wilbon rushed for 28 yards on 6 carries last week vs. UTHS.
Defense: Most points allowed (14 vs. Moline). Gave up 13 points against Alleman. Team has yielded just 59 points on the season, 2nd to Alleman (48).
Special Teams: Brandon White is (16-17) on P.A.T. kicks. Also had a touchdown saving tackle after blocked FG last week.
Playoffs: Quincy is (5-1), but have just 21 playoff points (least among Class 6A teams). QHS is largest 6A team in this week's IHSA Playoff Outlook.
Head Coach: Rick Little was an All-State Quarterback at Carthage High School. First attended Augustana College for football, transferred to Blackburn University, where he became all-time leading passer, a preseason All-American, and was scouted by the Green Bay Packers. Played indoor football as starting QB with Flint Flames, St. Louis Renegades, and Show-Me Believers. First head coaching job was at Hamilton, later the West Hancock co-op.
Defensive coordinator, Travis Cook, was also a Carthage Blueboy with Little. Cook has been with Little on coaching staffs for 8 years.
Assistant coach Jim Wosman was drafted in the 8th round (155th overall pick) of the 1967 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers.
Former Blue Devils head coach Randy Dickens (2002-06) is the defensive line coach. He was head coach at Quincy University from 1986-91.
Streaks Game Notes
Last Week: Fell by two points at Rock Island (22-24). Chaz Benton pulled the Streaks within a point on a 13-yard TD run on 4th & 3. Drew Carlson injured on the play, and did not attempt PAT, instead Andrew Steck kicked. Rocks scored on ensuing drive to lead by 8. Galesburg scored and missed the two-point conversion with less than 2:00 to play. Streaks recovered onside kick, but went 4-and-out.
Offense: Running game is 2nd in the Western Big 6 (1,826 yards). Robert Jackson leading the way (96-741). Steck is second leading rusher. Galesburg has scored 179 points, second only to Rock Island (212). Offensive lineman Austin Finley (6'2" 260 Sr.) is back, though will not start. A huge boost for the Streaks "O".
Defense: Defense has given up 71 points, third behind Alleman & Quincy. Streaks held the Rock Island offense to -11 yards on three plays in the entire first quarter last week. Inside Linebacker Drew Carlson is out, Aslan Butler (6'3" 175 Jr.) will start at ILB. Steven Harger (6'3" 385 Jr.), who saw plenty of action against Alleman and United Township, is back from injury after sitting out last week.
Special Teams: Kicker Drew Carlson is out. Jake Van Velsor (5'10" 190 Sr.) will handle kickoffs and P.A.T.
Playoffs: The Streaks must win two of final three games, sitting at (3-3). Unlike 2008, a 5-4 record should get the Streaks into the postseason. Galesburg has 33 playoff points, the most among 3-3 teams in Class 5A. The Streaks were in the Class 6A playoffs in their most recent appearance in 2002. At the beginning of the season, Galesburg was projected as the 4th smallest 6A team. They are currently the 17th largest Class 5A team, still playoff eligible.
Last Year: In an extremely ugly game, Quincy beat Galesburg at Flinn Stadium, 27-14. The Streaks turned the ball over on 4 consecutive posessions, and finished with just 171 yards of offense.
Last 5 Meetings
2009: Quincy won 27-14
2008: Galesburg won 28-13
2007: Quincy won 27-20
2006: Galesburg won 27-13
2005: Quincy won 43-7
Quincy @ Galesburg
(10/8/10)
Tonight's game at C.C. Van Dyke Field at Galesburg High School can be heard on AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com). Pregame coverage starts at 6:45, as Galesburg Register-Mail local history columnist Tom Wilson joins me as guest commentator. Pregame show features GHS athletic director Ralph Henning, Galesburg head coach Wes Olson, Quincy head coach Rick Little, and Galesburg sophomore head coach Jake Miller. Register-Mail sportswriter Aaron Frey stops up at halftime, and defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey talks in the postgame show.
Quincy Blue Devils Game Notes
Last Week: Beat United Township (14-13). G.W. Scott (22-147). UT's Raimon Clay blocked a FG, and also scored both TD's (rushing/receiving). Coach Little told Moline Dispatch that "we didn't overlook them, but it was one where we felt like we had a huge advantage."
Offense: 5 running backs have rushed for over 150 yards. G.W. Scott leading rusher with 500+ yards on the ground. Two freshman running backs have stood out: Malique Robbins and Mikale Wilbon. Robbins rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries vs. Alleman and 76 yards on 12 carries vs. Moline. Wilbon rushed for 28 yards on 6 carries last week vs. UTHS.
Defense: Most points allowed (14 vs. Moline). Gave up 13 points against Alleman. Team has yielded just 59 points on the season, 2nd to Alleman (48).
Special Teams: Brandon White is (16-17) on P.A.T. kicks. Also had a touchdown saving tackle after blocked FG last week.
Playoffs: Quincy is (5-1), but have just 21 playoff points (least among Class 6A teams). QHS is largest 6A team in this week's IHSA Playoff Outlook.
Head Coach: Rick Little was an All-State Quarterback at Carthage High School. First attended Augustana College for football, transferred to Blackburn University, where he became all-time leading passer, a preseason All-American, and was scouted by the Green Bay Packers. Played indoor football as starting QB with Flint Flames, St. Louis Renegades, and Show-Me Believers. First head coaching job was at Hamilton, later the West Hancock co-op.
Defensive coordinator, Travis Cook, was also a Carthage Blueboy with Little. Cook has been with Little on coaching staffs for 8 years.
Assistant coach Jim Wosman was drafted in the 8th round (155th overall pick) of the 1967 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers.
Former Blue Devils head coach Randy Dickens (2002-06) is the defensive line coach. He was head coach at Quincy University from 1986-91.
Streaks Game Notes
Last Week: Fell by two points at Rock Island (22-24). Chaz Benton pulled the Streaks within a point on a 13-yard TD run on 4th & 3. Drew Carlson injured on the play, and did not attempt PAT, instead Andrew Steck kicked. Rocks scored on ensuing drive to lead by 8. Galesburg scored and missed the two-point conversion with less than 2:00 to play. Streaks recovered onside kick, but went 4-and-out.
Offense: Running game is 2nd in the Western Big 6 (1,826 yards). Robert Jackson leading the way (96-741). Steck is second leading rusher. Galesburg has scored 179 points, second only to Rock Island (212). Offensive lineman Austin Finley (6'2" 260 Sr.) is back, though will not start. A huge boost for the Streaks "O".
Defense: Defense has given up 71 points, third behind Alleman & Quincy. Streaks held the Rock Island offense to -11 yards on three plays in the entire first quarter last week. Inside Linebacker Drew Carlson is out, Aslan Butler (6'3" 175 Jr.) will start at ILB. Steven Harger (6'3" 385 Jr.), who saw plenty of action against Alleman and United Township, is back from injury after sitting out last week.
Special Teams: Kicker Drew Carlson is out. Jake Van Velsor (5'10" 190 Sr.) will handle kickoffs and P.A.T.
Playoffs: The Streaks must win two of final three games, sitting at (3-3). Unlike 2008, a 5-4 record should get the Streaks into the postseason. Galesburg has 33 playoff points, the most among 3-3 teams in Class 5A. The Streaks were in the Class 6A playoffs in their most recent appearance in 2002. At the beginning of the season, Galesburg was projected as the 4th smallest 6A team. They are currently the 17th largest Class 5A team, still playoff eligible.
Last Year: In an extremely ugly game, Quincy beat Galesburg at Flinn Stadium, 27-14. The Streaks turned the ball over on 4 consecutive posessions, and finished with just 171 yards of offense.
Last 5 Meetings
2009: Quincy won 27-14
2008: Galesburg won 28-13
2007: Quincy won 27-20
2006: Galesburg won 27-13
2005: Quincy won 43-7
| TONIGHT'S STARTERS | ||||||||||||
| GALESBURG | QUINCY | |||||||||||
| QB | 11 | Andrew Steck | 5'11" | 180 | SR | DE | 11 | DeAngelo Dean | 6'5" | 170 | JR | |
| FB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | DE | 54 | Brody Janssen | 6'1" | 210 | SR | |
| Slot | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | DT | 76 | Jordan Huber | 6'2" | 270 | SR | |
| Slot | 22 | Travon Diggins | 5'8" | 160 | SO | DT | 70 | Wes Irvin | 6'5" | 220 | JR | |
| WR | 10 | Nathan Mines | 5'9" | 155 | SR | NG | 62 | Chris Koogler | 6'0" | 230 | SR | |
| WR | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | LB | 53 | Shaun Woods | 6'0" | 185 | SR | |
| OG | 66 | Tyler Brackett | 6'0" | 195 | JR | LB | 35 | Spencer Emrick | 5'10" | 190 | SR | |
| OG | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | CB | 17 | Alex Kaufman | 6'0" | 165 | JR | |
| C | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | CB | 37 | Tomas Dean | 5'9" | 155 | SR | |
| LT | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | SS | 36 | Dan Gerth | 5'11" | 190 | SR | |
| RT | 75 | Matt Taylor | 6'3" | 230 | SR | FS | 84 | Kendal Kendrick | 6'1" | 180 | SR | |
| QUINCY | GALESBURG | |||||||||||
| QB | 2 | Mitch Marold | 6'0" | 175 | SR | NG | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | |
| FB | 22 | G.W. Scott | 5'11" | 230 | SR | DE | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | |
| HB | 10 | Andre Givens | 5'10" | 175 | SR | DE | 15 | Tyler Inness | 6'3" | 200 | SR | |
| WB | 3 | Malique Robbins | 6'0" | 165 | FR | ILB | 20 | Aslan Butler | 6'3" | 175 | JR | |
| TE | 26 | Drew Forrest | 6'2" | 180 | SR | ILB | 25 | Trimaine Carson | 6'1" | 185 | SR | |
| TE | 84 | Kendal Kendrick | 6'1" | 180 | SR | MLB | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | |
| LT | 61 | Eddie Holzgrafe | 6'2" | 270 | SR | OLB | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | |
| LG | 65 | Matt Shepherd | 5'10" | 220 | SR | OLB | 2 | Dee Dortch | 5'5" | 160 | SR | |
| C | 55 | Andrew Paul | 6'2" | 275 | SR | CB | 1 | Chaz Benton | 5'9" | 145 | SR | |
| RG | 54 | Brody Janssen | 6'1" | 210 | SR | CB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | |
| RT | 73 | Bryar Hockman | 6'1" | 225 | JR | FS | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR |
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
IHSSN Unveils New Feature
IHSSN Thursday Night Live Makes Its Debut
The Illinois High School Sports Network will be unveiling a brand new feature this week, a live chat. IHSSN Thursday Night Live will make its debut on Thursday (10/7) and will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome to chat about high school football for the week, comment on teams you follow, the playoff outlook, the AP and IHSSN rankings, and anything else football.
Thursday Night Live will be hosted through the regular season AND through the IHSA Playoffs. Depending on the turnout, and length of the chats, it may be extended for a third hour.
Some exciting topics could be discussed in the coming weeks, as a member of the IHSA has expressed interest in being a guest chatter to field questions and dispel many myths about the organization. I will keep you posted, as this could generate some great discussion on how the football playoffs work.
Beau Spencer to Appear on IHSA Playoff Pairings TV Show
I have been contacted to participate on the IHSA Playoff Pairings TV show that will air on Saturday night October 23rd. The segment will run about five minutes, and after discussing my target area with host Dave Bernhard, we narrowed down a list of teams that I will speak about. I will be talking about; Rock Island, Alleman, Stark County, Rockridge, and Lewistown. Other media members that will be appearing include our partner at (www.illinoispigskin.com), Donnie Laur, Lee Hall from Peoria TV, Emily Tropp from the Rockford Register-Star, Matt Rodewald from NBC 5 in Chicago, and "Edgytim" Tim O'Halloran.
Volleyball Broadcast
IHSSN made a successful trip to Hartsburg, for a big matchup between the host Hartem Stags (18-3) and Illini Central Cougars (22-4). Credit Hartsburg-Emden athletic director Rodney Knuppel for bringing the broadcast to Logan County. It surely didn't disappoint, as the match went three sets, with all three extremely competitive. It was also Senior Night for the Stags, honoring six girls (Karly Anderson, Allisa Hoerbert, Haylie Langley, Betsy Leesman, Shelby Parke, and Kelsi Ubbenga). The chatroom in our Network1Sports broadcast page was busy, with at least 6 chatters in the room throughout the broadcast. Rodney assisted with commentary. There is no schedule set for the rest of the season, but there could be additional volleyball broadcasts as the season winds down, and the regionals begin in a couple weeks.
All-Stater Sierra Burris Injured
Unfortunately, all was not good in the broadcast of Hartem/Illini Central. Late in the third set (23-23), Illini Central All-Stater and Illinois State-bound senior Sierra Burris from Illini Central fell to the floor in extreme pain, holding her left knee. After a lengthy delay, Burris was able to slowly walk off, slightly assisted. Still in pain for the rest of the match, she spent quite a bit of time being tended to long after the match was over, and was seen with crutches. Wishing the best for Burris, as we hope this is not a serious injury and she will be able to play soon.
Basketball Previews
The goal was to start penning previews on October 1st. On that date, IHSSN had published 30 basketball previews, well ahead of schedule. With the busy schedule in the eventual transition, limited time can be given for writing them at this time. IHSSN has had an extremely high success rate with returned questionnaires this season, moreso than any other sports season since we began writing previews in the fall of 2009. Keep checking back, as new previews can pop up at any time.
Coaches Poll Update
Invitations are still being sent out to coaches to vote on a panel for the IHSSN Coaches Polls this basketball season. Still early in the sending of invites, the mailing list is nearing 40 coaches that have confirmed interest to vote in the polls. Expect the preseason polls to be released on November 16th. Just like the AP polls, we will take a break until the first week of January, when the first regular season poll will debut on January 4th.
The Illinois High School Sports Network will be unveiling a brand new feature this week, a live chat. IHSSN Thursday Night Live will make its debut on Thursday (10/7) and will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome to chat about high school football for the week, comment on teams you follow, the playoff outlook, the AP and IHSSN rankings, and anything else football.
Thursday Night Live will be hosted through the regular season AND through the IHSA Playoffs. Depending on the turnout, and length of the chats, it may be extended for a third hour.
Some exciting topics could be discussed in the coming weeks, as a member of the IHSA has expressed interest in being a guest chatter to field questions and dispel many myths about the organization. I will keep you posted, as this could generate some great discussion on how the football playoffs work.
Beau Spencer to Appear on IHSA Playoff Pairings TV Show
I have been contacted to participate on the IHSA Playoff Pairings TV show that will air on Saturday night October 23rd. The segment will run about five minutes, and after discussing my target area with host Dave Bernhard, we narrowed down a list of teams that I will speak about. I will be talking about; Rock Island, Alleman, Stark County, Rockridge, and Lewistown. Other media members that will be appearing include our partner at (www.illinoispigskin.com), Donnie Laur, Lee Hall from Peoria TV, Emily Tropp from the Rockford Register-Star, Matt Rodewald from NBC 5 in Chicago, and "Edgytim" Tim O'Halloran.
Volleyball Broadcast
IHSSN made a successful trip to Hartsburg, for a big matchup between the host Hartem Stags (18-3) and Illini Central Cougars (22-4). Credit Hartsburg-Emden athletic director Rodney Knuppel for bringing the broadcast to Logan County. It surely didn't disappoint, as the match went three sets, with all three extremely competitive. It was also Senior Night for the Stags, honoring six girls (Karly Anderson, Allisa Hoerbert, Haylie Langley, Betsy Leesman, Shelby Parke, and Kelsi Ubbenga). The chatroom in our Network1Sports broadcast page was busy, with at least 6 chatters in the room throughout the broadcast. Rodney assisted with commentary. There is no schedule set for the rest of the season, but there could be additional volleyball broadcasts as the season winds down, and the regionals begin in a couple weeks.
All-Stater Sierra Burris Injured
Unfortunately, all was not good in the broadcast of Hartem/Illini Central. Late in the third set (23-23), Illini Central All-Stater and Illinois State-bound senior Sierra Burris from Illini Central fell to the floor in extreme pain, holding her left knee. After a lengthy delay, Burris was able to slowly walk off, slightly assisted. Still in pain for the rest of the match, she spent quite a bit of time being tended to long after the match was over, and was seen with crutches. Wishing the best for Burris, as we hope this is not a serious injury and she will be able to play soon.
Basketball Previews
The goal was to start penning previews on October 1st. On that date, IHSSN had published 30 basketball previews, well ahead of schedule. With the busy schedule in the eventual transition, limited time can be given for writing them at this time. IHSSN has had an extremely high success rate with returned questionnaires this season, moreso than any other sports season since we began writing previews in the fall of 2009. Keep checking back, as new previews can pop up at any time.
Coaches Poll Update
Invitations are still being sent out to coaches to vote on a panel for the IHSSN Coaches Polls this basketball season. Still early in the sending of invites, the mailing list is nearing 40 coaches that have confirmed interest to vote in the polls. Expect the preseason polls to be released on November 16th. Just like the AP polls, we will take a break until the first week of January, when the first regular season poll will debut on January 4th.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Game Day: Galesburg @ (6A #2) Rock Island
The Rock Island Rocks, ranked #2 in this week's IHSSN Class 6A Coaches Poll (http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason), host the Galesburg Silver Streaks in a Western Big 6 matchup. Rocky is led by 6'0" 235 pound FB Nikko Watson, who has rushed for 1,057 yards in five games this season. Galesburg has a balanced offensive attack with running backs Robert Jackson and Travon Diggins, along with the dangerous run/pass threat of quarterback Andrew Steck. Despite the Rocks having a stranglehold on the series in recent seasons, the games have been some tightly contested battles.
2009: Rock Island wins 26-7
2008: Rock Island wins 21-0 (7-0 at the start of 4th quarter)
2007: Rock Island wins 28-7
2006: Rock Island wins 20-6
2009: Rock Island wins 26-7
2008: Rock Island wins 21-0 (7-0 at the start of 4th quarter)
2007: Rock Island wins 28-7
2006: Rock Island wins 20-6
| TONIGHT'S STARTERS | ||||||||||||
| GALESBURG | ROCK ISLAND | |||||||||||
| QB | 11 | Andrew Steck | 5'11" | 180 | SR | DE | 9 | Lucas Rusk | 6'0" | 165 | JR | |
| FB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | DE | 44 | Addison Williams | 5'11" | 185 | JR | |
| Slot | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | DT | 78 | Trae Nichols | 6'2" | 265 | JR | |
| Slot | 22 | Travon Diggins | 5'8" | 160 | SO | DT | 67/89 | Larry Harris | 6'2" | 230 | SR | |
| WR | 10 | Nathan Mines | 5'9" | 155 | SR | NG | 57 | Dakota Webster | 6'0" | 260 | SR | |
| WR | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | LB | 22/3 | Markell Richardson | 6'1" | 180 | SO | |
| OG | 66 | Tyler Brackett | 6'0" | 195 | JR | LB | 34 | Kyle Kerres | 5'7" | 160 | JR | |
| OG | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | DB | 24 | Joe Olivarez | 5'8" | 155 | JR | |
| C | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | DB | 11 | Rashai Pendleton | 5'9" | 155 | JR | |
| LT | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | DB | 32 | Thurgood Brooks | 5'9" | 160 | SR | |
| RT | 75 | Matt Taylor | 6'3" | 230 | SR | DB | 15 | Devon Jones | 5'11" | 195 | SR | |
| ROCK ISLAND | GALESBURG | |||||||||||
| QB | 14 | Nathan Gray | 5'11" | 160 | SR | NG | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | |
| FB | 38 | Nikko Watson | 6'0" | 235 | SR | DE | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | |
| WB | 25 | Kenarl Hearn | 5'10" | 145 | SR | DE | 15 | Tyler Inness | 6'3" | 200 | SR | |
| TB | 26 | Chris Glover | 5'10" | 170 | SR | ILB | 35 | Drew Carlson | 5'11" | 185 | JR | |
| E | 86 | Cole McGinnis | 6'4" | 185 | JR | ILB | 25 | Trimaine Carson | 6'1" | 185 | SR | |
| E | 15 | Devon Jones | 5'11" | 195 | SR | MLB | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | |
| LT | 77 | Brad Steger | 6'7" | 305 | JR | OLB | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | |
| LG | 67 | Larry Harris | 6'2" | 230 | SR | OLB | 2 | Dee Dortch | 5'5" | 160 | SR | |
| C | 65 | Dane Brandmeyer | 5'9" | 200 | SR | CB | 1 | Chaz Benton | 5'9" | 145 | SR | |
| RG | 73 | Jacob Davis | 6'2" | 275 | SR | CB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | |
| RT | 79 | Travis Blecher | 6'4" | 280 | SR | FS | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | |
| K | K | 35 | Drew Carlson | |||||||||
| P | P | 11 | Andrew Steck | |||||||||
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Football, Tennis, Soccer, and Volleyball in One Night...Oh My!
Thursday's are "Football Fever" days. Basically, I have set myself into a fall routine with the hectic IHSSN items to update. On Sundays, I finish the weekly stat leaders, and begin on the following week's broadcast schedule (http://www.ihssn.net/2010/week-six-football-games). The broadcast schedule gets finished on Monday night. Tuesday is Coaches Poll day (http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason), while also getting some other web pages finished (such as the videos page: http://www.ihssn.net/football/2010-illinois-high-school-volleyball.
Wednesday has been the work ahead day, getting basketball previews in. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/.
Thursday is when the preparation goes into overload for the weekend's football broadcasts. It is very hard to juggle a Friday night high school broadcast, followed by a Saturday afternoon college broadcast, but I map it out well ahead of time to be prepared.
This week, in looking at the local sports schedule, I noticed that Galesburg was hosting multiple events on the GHS campus. The Galesburg pregame interview is done following the Streaks Thursday football practice, as I watch the final 30-40 minutes of practice and then talk to coach Wes Olson.
After our talk today, I picked up the video camera and headed over to the tennis courts, as the Streaks were hosting Peoria Notre Dame. It was a beautiful afternoon, with temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's and the sun beating down. Video was shot from center court, where Galesburg's Rachel Sensabaugh was battling Notre Dame's Kelly Rice. Video will be added to the IHSSN video page later. Sensabaugh would win that matchup, 6-3, 6-3.
I headed over to the other court where Notre Dame's Maggie Shadid was facing Galesburg's Jessica Witherell. Shadid won, 7-5, 6-7, 10-4.
In the middle of the latter matchup, I noticed it was getting later and the soccer match would be wrapping up. Walking across the GHS campus past the football grandstand, the Monmouth-Roseville/Galesburg soccer match was tied, 1-1, early in the second half. Standing along the far sideline, some video was shot (also heading to the IHSSN video page shortly). Nothing much of significance was taken, and the score would end in a tie.
After taking some video, I walked across near the scorer's table and talked with Marty Touchette of the Monmouth Review-Atlas and Jeff Holt from Galesburg's The Paper. Marty and I discussed different things in our respective media fields, and where the future of local media could be headed.
Spoke with both head coaches following the game, Monmouth-Roseville's Aaron Sikorski and Galesburg's Tim Redington.
One more contest to take in before calling it a night. United Township was in town for a Western Big 6 volleyball match with the Silver Streaks. The sophomore match was in the middle of the second set when arriving. I ducked into the near tunnel next to the bleachers and spoke with Pete Thierry briefly.
At the end of the sophomore match, I exited that area as the varsity was getting ready to run out onto the court. I made my way over behind the benches near the scorer's table and said hello to Robb Strack (Galesburg Register-Mail). During warmups, I was able to avoid some errant volleyballs. Every volleyball match I cover, it seems as though at least a dozen people get hit in the face with loose volleyballs. I should take video of warmups, and put together a collage of those....or maybe not!
Galesburg freshman football coach Brad Swanson and sophomore basketball coach Ryan Hart emerged from the coaches room area, and talked with them for a few minutes. Swanson stuck around for the volleyball match and talked about some of the girls. He is also a fresh/soph softball coach, and many of the girls played the spring sport.
Injured Silver Streak Kelsey Meredith sang the National Anthem and did a tremendous job, garnering a lot of cheers from the fans.
I was impressed with the athleticsm of Galesburg's Jorden Thomas. Amy Blucker also had a good night, with 11 kills. United Township got some very timely hitting, with some very key blocks and digs throughout both sets in their 25-17, 25-19 win. Erin Walker led UTHS with 9 kills, and along with Bailey Escontrias, had a great game for the Panthers.
After the match, I spoke with Marla Clay for a few minutes to get postgame comments. She felt the defense was where the Streaks lacked in the loss, that dropped them to 8-10 on the season, and 1-4 in the Western Big 6.
A long day, but a lot accomplished. More work to get done, and it's a Football Friday!!!
Wednesday has been the work ahead day, getting basketball previews in. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/.
Thursday is when the preparation goes into overload for the weekend's football broadcasts. It is very hard to juggle a Friday night high school broadcast, followed by a Saturday afternoon college broadcast, but I map it out well ahead of time to be prepared.
This week, in looking at the local sports schedule, I noticed that Galesburg was hosting multiple events on the GHS campus. The Galesburg pregame interview is done following the Streaks Thursday football practice, as I watch the final 30-40 minutes of practice and then talk to coach Wes Olson.
After our talk today, I picked up the video camera and headed over to the tennis courts, as the Streaks were hosting Peoria Notre Dame. It was a beautiful afternoon, with temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's and the sun beating down. Video was shot from center court, where Galesburg's Rachel Sensabaugh was battling Notre Dame's Kelly Rice. Video will be added to the IHSSN video page later. Sensabaugh would win that matchup, 6-3, 6-3.
I headed over to the other court where Notre Dame's Maggie Shadid was facing Galesburg's Jessica Witherell. Shadid won, 7-5, 6-7, 10-4.
In the middle of the latter matchup, I noticed it was getting later and the soccer match would be wrapping up. Walking across the GHS campus past the football grandstand, the Monmouth-Roseville/Galesburg soccer match was tied, 1-1, early in the second half. Standing along the far sideline, some video was shot (also heading to the IHSSN video page shortly). Nothing much of significance was taken, and the score would end in a tie.
After taking some video, I walked across near the scorer's table and talked with Marty Touchette of the Monmouth Review-Atlas and Jeff Holt from Galesburg's The Paper. Marty and I discussed different things in our respective media fields, and where the future of local media could be headed.
Spoke with both head coaches following the game, Monmouth-Roseville's Aaron Sikorski and Galesburg's Tim Redington.
One more contest to take in before calling it a night. United Township was in town for a Western Big 6 volleyball match with the Silver Streaks. The sophomore match was in the middle of the second set when arriving. I ducked into the near tunnel next to the bleachers and spoke with Pete Thierry briefly.
At the end of the sophomore match, I exited that area as the varsity was getting ready to run out onto the court. I made my way over behind the benches near the scorer's table and said hello to Robb Strack (Galesburg Register-Mail). During warmups, I was able to avoid some errant volleyballs. Every volleyball match I cover, it seems as though at least a dozen people get hit in the face with loose volleyballs. I should take video of warmups, and put together a collage of those....or maybe not!
Galesburg freshman football coach Brad Swanson and sophomore basketball coach Ryan Hart emerged from the coaches room area, and talked with them for a few minutes. Swanson stuck around for the volleyball match and talked about some of the girls. He is also a fresh/soph softball coach, and many of the girls played the spring sport.
Injured Silver Streak Kelsey Meredith sang the National Anthem and did a tremendous job, garnering a lot of cheers from the fans.
I was impressed with the athleticsm of Galesburg's Jorden Thomas. Amy Blucker also had a good night, with 11 kills. United Township got some very timely hitting, with some very key blocks and digs throughout both sets in their 25-17, 25-19 win. Erin Walker led UTHS with 9 kills, and along with Bailey Escontrias, had a great game for the Panthers.
After the match, I spoke with Marla Clay for a few minutes to get postgame comments. She felt the defense was where the Streaks lacked in the loss, that dropped them to 8-10 on the season, and 1-4 in the Western Big 6.
A long day, but a lot accomplished. More work to get done, and it's a Football Friday!!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
IHSSN: From the Archives (1975 Football)
IHSSN has dug into the archives for the football relics from the fall of 1975. Enjoy!
Alleman Pioneers Football (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Football Roster (1975)
ROVA and Abingdon Football Rosters (1975)
Princeville Princes Football Roster (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Playoffs Program (1975)
Geneseo and Mendota Football Rosters (1975)
Forrest-Strawn-Wing Football Roster (1975)
Football Playoffs Preview (1975)
Farmington & Eureka Football Rosters (1975)
ALLEMAN PIONEERS 1975 FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Alleman Pioneers Football (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Football Roster (1975)
ROVA and Abingdon Football Rosters (1975)
Princeville Princes Football Roster (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Playoffs Program (1975)
Geneseo and Mendota Football Rosters (1975)
Forrest-Strawn-Wing Football Roster (1975)
Football Playoffs Preview (1975)
Farmington & Eureka Football Rosters (1975)
ALLEMAN PIONEERS 1975 FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Catching Up
A Potpourri of IHSSN Musings
It's been a whirling dervish around the IHSSN offices (a.k.a. a corner in my home office/laundry room), over the past few days. Here's a reader's digest version of what's happening with www.ihssn.net at the time in present.
Powder Puff Football
For the fourth year, I have announced the powder puff football game during Homecoming week at Bushnell-Prairie City High School. When it began, my then-broadcast partner Tony Davis (now the head softball coach at Lowpoint-Washburn) teamed up to provide a mish-mash of play-by-play, P.A. announcing, and comedy/entertainment for the crowd on hand. For the past two years, Dave Arnold (B-PC/A baseball coach) has assisted. Last year, we had the girls create fun facts for themselves. Some of the fun facts are general ("likes the color purple"), while others are, quite honestly, a little strange ("likes to meap"). Never did find out what meaping is. Once again, the Class of 2011 claimed the Powder Puff championship this year. The seniors never lost a powder puff game, going 8-0 in competition during their high school career. A number of different folks were in the press box for the affair with us. Football coach John McCormick (who joined us between games for a bit), trainer Doc Wakefield, and Spartans basketball coach Matt Colston (running the scoreboard). Coach McCormick's wife, Bridget, and B-PC student council advisor Kim Rench were also on board for the fun upstairs.
The Basketball Transition
IHSSN is in the transition period between fall and winter, already. Basketball previews have gone up, with a half dozen online already. Expect more to come, as we are at a crazy pace to publish as many as possible. Links below.
Boy's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/
Girl's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/girl-s-basketball/
IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls
Some emails have been sent to coaches gauging interest in this year's coaches polls. There will be a top ten for each class in both boy's and girl's basketball. Any head coach or assistant coach wanting to participate, please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The preseason voting will begin in mid-to-late October.
Football Stats
The weekly stat leaderboard is coming along quite nicely. http://www.ihssn.net/football/week-5-stat-leaders. Coaches, if you could be so kind to send me along any stat leaders, it would be greatly appreciated (beauspencer82@hotmail.com).
Broadcast Central
IHSSN Broadcast Central has offered visitors between 45-55 online football broadcasts this fall. That number should bump up, as we will offer links to live VIDEO broadcasts for week six, thanks to our partnership with iHigh (www.ihigh.com).
Broadcast Central II
Plans are in the works for a Broadcast Central this basketball season. Due to other concerns with the website, it was not continued into the winter last year. A template is under construction to prepare for the cyclone that is a winter broadcast season. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it will not be as up-to-date as the football broadcast central, though we will work as hard as possible to make this happen.
IHSSN Coaches Poll "How They Fared" for Week 5
It's been a whirling dervish around the IHSSN offices (a.k.a. a corner in my home office/laundry room), over the past few days. Here's a reader's digest version of what's happening with www.ihssn.net at the time in present.
Powder Puff Football
For the fourth year, I have announced the powder puff football game during Homecoming week at Bushnell-Prairie City High School. When it began, my then-broadcast partner Tony Davis (now the head softball coach at Lowpoint-Washburn) teamed up to provide a mish-mash of play-by-play, P.A. announcing, and comedy/entertainment for the crowd on hand. For the past two years, Dave Arnold (B-PC/A baseball coach) has assisted. Last year, we had the girls create fun facts for themselves. Some of the fun facts are general ("likes the color purple"), while others are, quite honestly, a little strange ("likes to meap"). Never did find out what meaping is. Once again, the Class of 2011 claimed the Powder Puff championship this year. The seniors never lost a powder puff game, going 8-0 in competition during their high school career. A number of different folks were in the press box for the affair with us. Football coach John McCormick (who joined us between games for a bit), trainer Doc Wakefield, and Spartans basketball coach Matt Colston (running the scoreboard). Coach McCormick's wife, Bridget, and B-PC student council advisor Kim Rench were also on board for the fun upstairs.
The Basketball Transition
IHSSN is in the transition period between fall and winter, already. Basketball previews have gone up, with a half dozen online already. Expect more to come, as we are at a crazy pace to publish as many as possible. Links below.
Boy's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/
Girl's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/girl-s-basketball/
IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls
Some emails have been sent to coaches gauging interest in this year's coaches polls. There will be a top ten for each class in both boy's and girl's basketball. Any head coach or assistant coach wanting to participate, please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The preseason voting will begin in mid-to-late October.
Football Stats
The weekly stat leaderboard is coming along quite nicely. http://www.ihssn.net/football/week-5-stat-leaders. Coaches, if you could be so kind to send me along any stat leaders, it would be greatly appreciated (beauspencer82@hotmail.com).
Broadcast Central
IHSSN Broadcast Central has offered visitors between 45-55 online football broadcasts this fall. That number should bump up, as we will offer links to live VIDEO broadcasts for week six, thanks to our partnership with iHigh (www.ihigh.com).
Broadcast Central II
Plans are in the works for a Broadcast Central this basketball season. Due to other concerns with the website, it was not continued into the winter last year. A template is under construction to prepare for the cyclone that is a winter broadcast season. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it will not be as up-to-date as the football broadcast central, though we will work as hard as possible to make this happen.
IHSSN Coaches Poll "How They Fared" for Week 5
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Warrensburg-Latham (53-7)
2) Dakota: LOST to (2A RV) Eastland/Pearl City (20-25)
3) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat Argenta-Oreana (37-6)
4) Brown County: beat (1A #7) Routt (17-7)
5) Triopia: beat Virginia/A-C Central (60-0)
6) Lewistown: beat Peoria Heights (69-0)
7) Routt: LOST to (1A #4) Brown County (7-17)
T8) Aquin: beat Durand (8-0)
T8) Villa Grove: beat Martinsville (54-6)
10) East Dubuque: beat Ashton-Franklin Center (63-7)
Receiving Votes
North Fulton: beat (1A RV) Bushnell-Prairie City/Avon (53-12)
Galena: beat Milledgeville (55-0)
B-PC/A: LOST to (1A RV) North Fulton (12-53)
Lexington: LOST to LeRoy (28-47)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Ottawa Marquette (54-0)
2) Casey-Westfield: beat Vincennes (Lincoln), IN (41-13)
3) Stark County: beat West Prairie (69-0)
4) Marshall: beat Oblong (33-12)
T5) Maroa-Forsyth: beat Macon Meridian (49-0)
T5) Morrison: beat Riverdale (12-0)
7) Clifton Central: beat St. Thomas More (47-21)
8) Lena-Winslow: beat Princeton (49-14)
9) Westville: beat Milford (47-0)
10) Mercer County: beat Princeville (34-8)
Receiving Votes
Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (43-7)
Eastland/Pearl City: beat (1A #2) Dakota (25-20)
Carlinville: beat Roxana (30-7)
Rockridge: beat (3A RV) Central/Southeastern (21-10)
Staunton: beat Pawnee (6-5)
Orion: beat Monmouth-Roseville (35-28)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat West Hancock (42-14)
2) Mt. Carmel: beat Washington, IN (22-20)
3) Wilmington: beat Seneca (42-12)
4) Greenville: beat Alton Marquette (66-34)
5) Nashville: beat Pinckneyville (55-6)
6) Auburn: beat Riverton (49-7)
7) Tolono Unity: beat Sullivan (61-14)
8) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Shelbyville (45-0)
9) Immaculate Conception: LOST to Woodstock Marian (7-54)
10) Aurora Christian: beat (4A #8) Elgin St. Edward (29-22)
Receiving Votes
Central/Southeastern: LOST to (2A RV) Rockridge (10-21)
Red Bud: beat Freeburg (27-7)
Oregon: LOST to (4A #4) Stillman Valley (13-38)
DuQuoin: LOST to Carterville (12-27)
Class 4A
1) Quincy Notre Dame: beat Peoria Central (34-0)
2) Rochester: beat Taylorville (41-6)
3) Breese Mater Dei: beat Breese Central (53-0)
4) Stillman Valley: beat (3A RV) Oregon (38-13)
5) Richmond-Burton: beat Burlington Central (34-6)
6) Geneseo: beat Dixon (41-8)
7) Bishop McNamara: LOST to (7A #5) St. Rita (21-41)
8) Elgin St. Edward: LOST to (3A #10) Aurora Christian (22-29)
T9) Alleman: beat Galesburg (21-7)
T9) Pontiac: beat (4A RV) Bloomington Central Catholic (28-10)
Receiving Votes
Bloomington Central Catholic: LOST to (4A #9) Pontiac (10-28)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Nazareth Academy (57-0)
2) Richwoods: beat Peoria Notre Dame (36-0)
3) Vernon Hills: beat (6A #7) Antioch (34-0)
4) Metamora: beat Dunlap (49-21)
5) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat (6A #6) Springfield (35-21)
6) Sycamore: beat (5A #9) Sterling (30-5)
7) Marion: beat Mt. Vernon (38-20)
8) Montini: beat Aurora Central Catholic (48-0)
9) Sterling: LOST to (5A #6) Sycamore (5-30)
10) Lincoln-Way West: beat Tinley Park Andrew (23-20)
Receiving Votes
Tinley Park: LOST to Oak Forest (29-35 - OT)
Washington: beat Pekin (44-14)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat Normal West (28-20)
2) Lemont: beat Thornton Fractional South (23-17)
3) Rock Island: beat United Township (39-6)
4) Normal Community: beat Champaign Centennial (31-7)
5) Morgan Park: vs. Vocational (Sat. night)
6) Springfield: LOST to (5A #5) Sacred Heart-Griffin (21-35)
7) Antioch: LOST to (5A #3) Vernon Hills (0-34)
8) Hubbard: beat Bogan (43-6)
T9) Marmion Academy: beat Guerin (52-0)
T9) Lake Forest: LOST to (8A #3) Stevenson (20-41)
Receiving Votes
Prairie Ridge: beat Lake Forest Academy (48-6)
Oak Lawn Richards: beat Burbank Reavis (34-14)
Robeson: beat Chicago Marshall (57-0)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat (8A #5) Naperville North (41-13)
2) Glenbard West: beat Proviso West (41-15)
3) East St. Louis: beat O'Fallon (52-6)
4) Carmel: beat (8A RV) Marist (20-16)
5) St. Rita: beat (4A #7) Bishop McNamara (41-21)
6) Lake Zurich: beat Libertyville (44-22)
7) Crystal Lake South: beat Dundee-Crown (40-0)
8) Elk Grove: beat Buffalo Grove (23-7)
T9) Lincoln-Way East: beat Homewood Flossmoor (31-21)
T9) Rockford Boylan: beat Rockford Jefferson (47-8)
Receiving Votes
Wheaton North: beat West Aurora (21-13)
Class 8A
1) Glenbard North: beat West Chicago (42-14)
2) Simeon: beat Curie (42-0)
3) Stevenson: beat (6A #9) Lake Forest (41-20)
4) Minooka: LOST to Plainfield South (31-41)
5) Naperville North: LOST to (7A #1) Wheaton-Warrenville South (13-41)
6) Belleville East: vs. Belleville West (Sat.)
7) Lyons Township: beat Oak Park-River Forest (14-9)
8) Schaumburg: beat Fremd (17-14)
9) South Elgin: beat Neuqua Valley (21-14)
10) Loyola: beat St. Ignatius (35-0)
Receiving Votes
Mt. Carmel: beat De La Salle (35-14)
Marist: LOST to (7A #4) Carmel (16-20)
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