July 18, 2025 • 37 mins
J.T. Pedelty, Eddie Carifio and Sam Ramirez react to the IHSA football schedule getting released in the latest Friday Night Drive podcast, and break down games in DeKalb and La Salle counties, along with the Sauk Valley region.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Friday Night Drive South and West Edition podcast.
I'm Daily Chronicle Sports editor Ready Carrifia on alongside Shaw
Media Regional editor JT.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Penalty. Welcome back. I guess it's been well.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I mean we talk like eight times a day, but
I mean for purposes of this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, it's been a minute, old buddy.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yeah, for everyone else, No kidding. I'm sitting here. I'm
trying to navigate the new ISHSA website and trying to
figure out how to get around and look at things.
I'm just starting to learn it. Change is rough, so
it's nice to be back with something familiar talking football
with you.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
By the way, I've seen the potential for the website.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I feel like it's like a third of a product
right now, you know, but I see where it might
actually be a lot better than the old one. I'm
kind of looking forward to it as it kind of
fills in here. I've got a big question mark about
how we're going to find old history stuff. I don't
see any obvious links to that, but which is obviously
big for us.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
But I kind of like the direction that's going in.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, there's a way to navigate through conferences I didn't.
I didn't have a ton of time to check it out.
Before this, we were kind of fact checking some of
our information we had that we were getting, you know,
getting from directly from schools or from max Preps. So
I didn't get to get all of I didn't get
to explore all of it. But I know there's a
way to go through conferences. I haven't figured it out,
and I still about one out of every four schools
(01:22):
I click on it brings up a blank page for
me and I have to go back and reload it.
So I'm sure those are all things that iron out.
But you know, change is weird. You know, you got
to get used to it. But it's an awesome resource.
I'd recommend it to all fans as is, of course
Friday Night Drive. Listen to Steve Susie and Josh Welgy's
podcast yesterday as I was mowing my grandma's grass and
(01:45):
really got me juiced up for today, Eddie, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, I know this is gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
We are going to talk more than website design, right
or are we sticking the website design?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I didn't get the memo we are I mean, I
have I.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Have expressed I have exhaust stood my knowledge on website design.
So let's talk about something we know.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Well, then, how about the football schedule. The aforementioned release
happened a little earlier, recording this ten am on Friday,
and it was very nice of the we scheduled this
time before we realized it was going to be nine
am at the IHSA released their schedule, So that worked
out perfect. To get a big shout out for that.
I just say to apparently accommodate us. That was pretty awesome.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So now do too.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Let's start down your way. What's what's jumping out to you? Man?
When you look at the schedule?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
You know, kind of my first thing that I kind
of looked at, uh you know, kind of coming into
this waiting waiting for that website to update, had that
countdown clock on and I thought Chris Jericho was going
to come out, but uh yeah, they had. What kind
of first thing across my mind is kind of what
changed for our conferences around because that's obviously what drives
the schedules. And you know, we don't have to get
(02:52):
into the district talk this week. We'll save that for
weeks one, two, three, four, five, seven, and nine of
the when we get in season. But you know what
it's changed for our conferences. I have a couple of
little changes here. I listened in to Sus and Josh's
podcast yesterday, the main flagship Friday Night Drive podcast. Seuss
mentioned that there's really not a lot of big changes
in terms of conferences. Things are pretty steady in terms
(03:14):
of how many teams are playing like one one to
eight man, but an eight man came back or a
team came back from playing just JV divarsity. So statewide,
there's a lot of changes to the schedule, but not
necessarily in the conferences, which is the thing that drives
thes schedules. I do have a couple of little ones,
kind of in my neck of the woods. The Illinois
Central eight Lyle is only playing a JV schedule this
year due to low numbers at their you know, junior
senior level. So that left seven other teams, you know,
(03:38):
scrambling to find opponents. There's some interesting ones that they've
found already that we talked about. Four of them have
found opponents, three still have open weeks in there. So
that's one and the other ones the Chicago Land Prairie,
which we talk a lot about on this conference because
you know, here in the Illinois Valley it kind of
has the four powerhouses of that conference, you know, Marquette, Ottawa, Marquette,
Saint Bede, Seneca and Dwight or at least the four
(03:59):
teams that kind of dominated the brief history of that conference.
It's still a conference, but it's down to four schools now,
So if that's a conference, I don't know technically it is,
but they're not getting an automatic bet or anything. So
that messed up some schedules, and man, we have some
interesting ones crossing over into you know, your your neck
of the woods and my neck of the woods. With
that conference kind of falling apart on and were there
(04:21):
any other ones you can think of in terms of
conference wise that kind of forced some of these schedule
changes we're going to talk about.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, probably the oddest one would be the big Northern
Is it nine schools for the second year in a row.
Rocker Christian dropped the eight man very late in the
game last year, left everybody scrambling a little more time
this time around. And I think the Chicago Chicago Land Prairie,
I think they're filling in a bunch of the holes.
Yeah around. I know, there's a couple other conferences. I
(04:51):
think the other one you mentioned too is also filling
in some of those holes. Excuse me, Yeah, I think
the ice is filling in some of those as well.
You know, obviously down your neck of the woods wasus
my neck of the woods. An interesting one we're talking
about specific games is that Week four at GK Seneca
matchup seems really interesting getting brought about because of the
I think the odd number of teams and both of
(05:13):
those conferences.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That one kind of jumped out to me a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, Chicago Lamprairie, it's an even number, but it's very
small and it's very odd that a conference only has four.
So I'm gonna I'll give you a pass that.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, it's not the bill. Six weeks is the points.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It's so funny because you mentioned I kind of sent out.
We send notes to each other ahead of time, so
we know what we're talking about. We're not that good
that we're just this good right off the off the cuff.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But yeah, this is with preparation people. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
But the weird thing with Seneca is, you know I
marked down three games that they have, and they still
have an open week in Week two at least last
time I checked. But uh, you know, they had three games,
and honestly, the Genoa Kingston one is I don't want
to say not the headline for for for Seneca, but
on Seneca schedule, you know, they open up Week one
against the defending two A state champs, Chicago Christian. They
(06:00):
have a Week eight game with Saint Joe Ogden that's
you know, gonna.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Be a war.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And then you got that Genoa Kingston where you're talking,
you know, a couple perennial playoff teams you know, kind
of going at it. So Seneca really beefed up their
non conference schedule. But when you only have three conference games,
you know, you gotta you have six weeks to fill.
So they found some good ones. And and the other
strong thing with that is I think Seneca has a
run going up. It's here four or five consecutive years,
way back to when they're in the Vermilion Valley Super
(06:27):
Conference or whatever that was down there, where somebody cancels
on them every single year and they can't find a replacement.
I think they're taking a forfeit four or five years running.
So one way to combat that and not have to
deal with that, you schedule really good programs that you
know we're gonna field teams and want to play it.
So Chicago Christians, Genoah Kingston, Saint Joe Ogden, I mean,
those are three programs. I don't think they have to
(06:48):
worry about getting a forfeit.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah I would.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I think that that's an understanding problem and that's saved money.
So also look at around the schedule. I know, down
out your way. He starts off with a dousey. I mean,
we've been talking about what's it Wilmington, Cole City or no, sorry,
Morris Cole.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
City the last couple of years. It's gonna be a
little switch in week one, but still a goodie.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I think, Yeah, Wilmington Morris week one. That's one, you know,
kind of one of those ones that kind of the theoretically,
I wonder what would happen if you know, kind of
for years, you know Wilmington and this is no blast
on Coal City, who I think everyone knows is a
phenomenal program. Wilmington the past handful of years has been
just that half step above, you know, Beaten Cole City
(07:31):
in that big matchup for the whatever conference, whatever the
conference was named at the time, match up, but Wilmington's
owned it the past few years. So now we get
that Wilmington Morris matchup that people kind of wondered about.
Morris has handled Coal City usually competitive games, but kind
of pulled away from him in like the third and
fourth borders from coal City in recent years. We'll see
how Wilmington does. I think that's a good one. And
then Wilmington also we talked about lyle on that fielding
(07:53):
of our city team. Wilmington replaced them with Thornton in
Week six. So you talk about strange bedfellows, that's that's
a that's a matchup. I didn't think i'd, you know,
seeing the carge, you know, Wilmington Thornton.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, it seems that there's a lot of these weird ones,
although anytime the schedule shifts there's always matchups you wouldn't see.
But one of the ones that's jumping out at me
apparently met Seymour is applying for status in the Interstate eight.
Maybe obviously they played Sycamore last.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Year down there. That was a pretty good game.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It was close for a little bit, but then uh,
I think Metzeymore had an injury to like a key player.
Like they threw the ball a lot, but then like
the receiver got hurtled. Then they had to run and scramble,
and Sycamore, obviously really good against the run, shut it down.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
They ended up winning by a few scores.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Mit Seymore's back up here at Sycamore this year, apparently
afore mentioned Morris team and after playing Wilmington in Week
one will head to the met Seymour just outside of
Champagne for a Week two match up, and then met
Seymore and Sycamore play. I think that's a week four,
week three or four.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
So yeah, Mohammed Mohammed Seymour for the places Juliet West
on Morris's schedule. So you know, again two great programs
should should be a I think a really interesting game.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yeah, it's like what's it called? See, I got the
nau on the brain with like they're at the affiliate
status in the Mountains, Mets was gonna be an affiliate
Interstate eight member fall homely member.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
You see a lot of them in Yeah, I see
a lot of that with these holes in common. You know,
the Interstate eight is six teams now the Illinois Central
eight is seven teams. You know, going collegiate, we're known
to the numbers matchup, you know. The NIB twelve is
ten teams for how many years, which we'll talk about
them in a little bit going, but I think right
now would be a great time to bring in our
colleague Sam Ramirez.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Hey, guys atd e j T. It's hard to believe
it's that time and you're already.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Very excited, happy mid July.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, very excited and excited to have you with us, Sam, Sam,
with our cohort, with our radio stations up in the
Sauk area. And I'm going to talk some kind of
sock valley football. One that would introduce kind of bring you,
bring Meyer and yours together for the first time in
a long time I know, is we have a week
eight talk about kind of not necessarily strange bedfellows because
(10:11):
they weren't a conference together for what I have in
my notes fifty four years or something like that. But
Dixon and Streeter playing those are the two teams who
were the first to leave the Northern Illinois Big twelve
that kind of started its collapse, even though it wasn't
around that long. Two old NCIC teams. They both went
different directions and reunited again like the first time, right.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Sam, Yeah, like the first time, and like you said,
for fifty four years, and you know, these were long
time rivals for a lot of years. So then in
twenty fourteen, Dixon went to the Big Northern and Streeter
went in a different direction. And I'll tell you, Dixon
had their struggles trying to find an opponent for this
year's scheduled, and for a long time it sounded like
maybe they were just going to have to have a
(10:51):
forfeit and it would not have been a forfeit win,
it just would have been a bye on the schedule.
They only played eight games, and then this Streeter game
opened up. Now, with that being said, Dixon is only
going to play three home games this year because they
were hoping to get a team to come to a
C Bauers but that didn't happen. But you know what,
they would rather go on the road and play that
(11:11):
extra game than not play a game. And that's how
the Dixon Streeter game came about. In Week eight.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, being a Streeter kid, I got to hear some
of the horse trading as it was going on or
at least rumors of the horse trading. I wasn't in
on the conversations, unfortunately, but yeah, some of the I
know Dixon originally was hoping Streeter would go there, and
Streeter was like, it's our senior night, man, I mean,
what are we going to do?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And they were looking to replace Lyle, So so I'm
glad it worked out. I mean, I know, on paper,
Dixon's had a much more successful program in recent years.
That'd be obviously a tough one for Streeter to pull off.
But it'll be neat seeing them back together again, you know,
facing off on a football field. It's been a few ticks.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
You know, in the last ten eleven years. They've met
in a couple of basketball games here and there, but
I don't think they I know, they haven't played in
a high school football game since the fall of thirteen, so,
you know, when you go back to the fall of thirteen,
Dixon had a rough year that year. But since they've
joined the Big Northern, like you said, Dixon, over the
last ten to eleven years, they have made the playoffs
(12:11):
every year. So it's a much improved Dixon team than
those teams we used to see in the NCIC, in
the Northern Illinois Big twelve.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Absolutely, and Sam, I know you were talking kind of
some other ones that jumped out at you as some
games you wanted to talk about. I mean, let's talk
some Big Northern. I mean, you know, with the schedule
drop kind of eyes go to that conference immediately because
of its success.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
You know, I always say when the schedules come out,
and I'm a Newman guy, I went to Newman Central
Catholic High School, the three things I always look at
when the schedule comes out, When does Newman play Princeton?
When does Dixon play Byron? And that I'm always interested
in the non conference matchups because for so many years
the Big Northern they were sort of a locked in
conference where they didn't have any non conference games. I
want to say, from like twenty sixteen up until a
(12:55):
couple of years ago when Rockford Christian wasn't able to
field a team, the Big Northern didn't see non conference games.
So I'm always intrigued. Last year we got to see
Byron Williamsville. That was a big matchup. Last year Dixon
made that five hour trip down to Johnston City. I
know last year Genoa Kingston went up to Dupeck. Dupek
will be joining the conference next year, but there's there's
(13:17):
some good matchups this year. I think in the Big
Northern you got Byron at Dupec this year, and I
know Dupek lost a little bit from last year, but
it's still Dupeck. It's still a good football program. They
got a new coach, as you mentioned, Dixon Streeter. I
like that Seneca Genoa Kingston matchup, and Oregon will play
Dwight Gardner South Wilmington. So as of right now, all
(13:37):
nine teams in the Big Northern do have a non
conference opponent, which is exciting to be able to play
those games.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Just for a one quick interjection, Eddie, and then I'll
for I think I think I have heard that Gardner
South Wilmington's not coopering with the White this year, that
they do.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
You are right, that's right, but I'm like.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
You, out of reflex. I always say Dwight GCW yes
GSW and then I keep having to catch myself. So
I just thought i'd put it out there now so
that when we mess it up later in the season,
I can refer to this week when I actually knew
what we were talking about. Uh, sorry to interrupt, jedny Oh.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
No, I was just going to point out about.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, I was really interested in how the BNC was
going to fill their schedule, especially with some of those
later in the year games.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Was we were pointing out earlier with JT.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
You know, there's a lot of conferences down his way
with either not odd necessarily but just four teams or
you know, an odd number of teams, and so it
actually kind of worked out going down that way for them.
And then obviously it's just a one year thing because
like you said, Dupex coming in next year and they'll
back up to ten. For you know, it's been one
of the more stable conferences for for a while. I
(14:42):
mean since what the KRC split off. Whenever that was about,
was that fourteen or fifteen It was after I first
got out here, where all those schools pretty much left,
and then it's been really stable more or left, and
it seems like they're going to be getting back that way.
So it was really interesting to see for me too.
I was looking at those games and say, okay, you've
got like one year of being able to plan in
(15:04):
the Hong.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Kongen's game, where we all choose.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
In yeah, and I know last year I broadcast the
Oregon Hawks. Athens came up to Oregon last year and
the year prior, Athans went into the state championship game
in Class two way, And it's just fun to see
to me those kinds of matchups because for so many years,
as we talked about, the Big Northern was a conference
only schedule. And not that it gets boring. I know
(15:27):
the ads love it because the schedule's easy to come
up with, but for guys who broadcast and for guys
in the media, I like seeing different teams. I know,
Oregon we go down to Dwight this year and that's
going to be exciting to go down there and visit
a stadium I've never been to before. So I like
the fact there's the one non conference game. But it's
like you said, Eddie, next year it'll be the way
(15:48):
the Big Northern has been for a lot of years.
It'll be back to that enclosed conference when Dupek joins.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And I don't think it's just us with podcasts and
platforms either. I mean I would think from.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
A fans standpoint, you know, playing the same you know,
nineteen's every year for eight years.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
That that you know.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
But hey, you know, like you said, it's easy and
orcs and it's the system that there is. And I've
been told not to mention a word that starts with
the letter D. So we're gonna can.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I ask you a question?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Yeah, pronounce Athens Athens? Yeah, the country in Greece is Athens. Yes,
down south the town is actually called Athens. And I
actually heard that last year and then I actually made
a phone call down to the school last year just
to confirm it. And it is Athens.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
So add that to our k Ro Marseilles.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yes, we've had a.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Few over a couple of years. We've been doing this
podcast where scratch our head and say, wait, that's pronounced
like that.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I never knew, right, am I saying orion height because
it's freaking Ryan?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
But yes, Orion, yes, Orion Orion yeh.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Come on, dudes, Okay, Athens, I guess it is.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you mentioned your you mentioned you're a Newman Catholic guy,
saying I noticed in your notes two Saturday games this year.
I when it comes to me not having to cover them,
I love Saturday games. I hate having to be there,
but I like I like going to Saturday games recreationally,
you get the best photographs. You're not freezing, although early
(17:20):
in the season that's never an issue. I love Saturday
high school football as long as I don't have to
sit down and like crudshot a story on deadline right
after it. But I love going to.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I love Saturday games to cover more than Friday and night.
It's a lot less stressful and everything. Yeah, obviously I
don't get to cover a lot of Saturday games, and
you dudies, I keep that from happening.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
But I love Saturday See.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I need that momentum. Otherwise I'm sitting there pecking at
a story for like, I need that inspiration, that that
deadline hanging over me more.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Than to get the story done. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Saturday games. I get to go as a fan, and
I know September thirteenth, Newman plays Eerie Profitstown and I'm
a big NAU fan. I've had season tickets now for
thirty one years. NIU does not play on September thirteenth,
So I get to go to Rosco ed Stadium and
just get to sit there as a fan, and Newman
has a game later on in the year I think
in October against Mercer County, and you know, we like
those Saturday games. But I know, Mike Lea May the
(18:16):
Newman coaches, for a lot of years they've played Saturday games.
Because Sterling plays the home games on Friday nights, Newman
gets bumped to Saturday. But I do know that come
playoff time, you're going to see a lot of those
games on Saturdays. So when the playoffs roll around in
October November, a lot of those Newman kids have already
had a taste of what Saturday afternoon games are like.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I always think people underestimate that. Back in like my
youth baseball coaching days. You know, if we had an
eight o'clock game to open the season, I would start
my last practice for that at eight o'clock. I'm a
big believer in kind of those bio rhythms. You know,
you listen to your NFL coaches, you know, when they
decide to fly to Brazil or going west coast to
East coast, or you know, on long road trips. It's
(18:55):
I find that stuff fascinating when they decide to you know,
when the Bears side to go to England as opposed
to whoever they're playing or I find that stuff because
there's a lot of science behind it and emerging behind it,
and you know, stuff like that makes a difference. I
think that's a great point. I mean, if you're going
to be playing Saturday playoff games, why not get used
to playing a couple of Saturday games during the season.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And I'm a big UFC guy. I love MMA, And
when a lot of guys know they're going to be
fighting in a city that's high elevation, they train in
the high elevation. They want to get accustomed to the
high altitude. And you know, there's nothing wrong with playing
those Saturday games because you see it in Round one.
You'll see some Friday night games, but by the time
you get to round two and especially round three, you
don't see many Friday night games. It's mostly on Saturdays.
(19:37):
So why not get a few Saturday afternoon games under
your belt.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Unlike Athens, Athens, we don't have to worry about the elevation, So.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
No, Athens, no elevation about five hundred feet.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
And Lina Winslow as as the rest of Illinois, and
Lina Winslow was one of the ones you had in
your notes too. What do you see on their schedule, Sam, they.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
You know they, I don't know if you guys, you
probably knew this story. But again they they did that
big project up there where they're gonna have a brand
new stadium this year. They're gonna have the field turf.
I know they raised over a million dollars. It was
a three million dollar project and from what I've been told,
it's just gonna be incredible. And Rick Oran has just
done a fantastic job at that program nearly now for
(20:18):
thirty years. And you know, right off the bat, Lina
Winslow at Forreston and I know Forreston went two and
seven last year, but that's a rivalry game. That game
is in Forreston, and then week two they'll usher in
the brand new stadium against a very good Stockton team.
Watch out for this Stockton team in Class one A.
They got a lot of talent coming back from a
quarterfinal team a year ago. But I think out of
(20:39):
all the non conference games, the one that intrigues me
the most is in week three when Lina Winslow travels
to Rochelle. And Lina Winslow has never shied away from
non conference tough opponents. Last year they played Dupek. They
took on Decatur Saint Teresa a couple of years ago,
Woods Doc Maryon three years ago. They played a Rower
Christian back in twenty one. But how fun will that be?
(21:01):
Lena wins though Perendal every year in one A against Rochelle,
a team that you know fits into four eight five A.
I love that matchup in week three for a non
conference game.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Yeah, that that one actually kind of caught my eye
as well.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Really interesting. Like I said, the win doesn't shy away
from stuff, but you know, Rachelle I was kind of
interested that Rachelle played that game.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Let's just put it that way, because it seems like,
you know, one of those games like you know what's Rochelle.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Have the game by playing that.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
But it's definitely gonna be interesting in a fun one.
So because I mean again, because it's one of those
where okay, they should win, right, they're the bigger school,
they're probably playoff teaming themselves. They're you know, we're second
in the I eight last year, losing only a close
one to Sycamore. So it's like it's one they should
win and you know, so they don't get like applauded
(21:52):
if they win it, and it's going.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
To be like, oh the sky is falling if you lose.
But you know you got to get big ups to
them for scheduling at that game as well.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Yeah, kudos to them for scheduling that game because, like
you said, on paper, you're the larger school, You're a
second in the Interstate eight. Last year you went to
the playoffs. You're supposed to win that game on your
home field. But Lina Winslow. They have no fear. And
I was even thinking back now to the COVID year
they played at Princeton. I know Lee win lost that game,
but I'll tell you that the Panthers are not afraid
(22:22):
to play anybody in any class and I like that fact.
But yeah, kudos to Rochelle for taking on a game
like that at home.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
I guess the last thing maybe to talk about while
we got you here, is any think pop about the
Sterling schedule for you this year.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Well, the thing with the Western Big Six this year
rock Ivan Aloman is back playing eleven man football. They
did not play football the last couple of years, so
teams in the Western Big Six had to go out
and find three non conference games right off the bat.
So this year the Western Big Six is set up
where you've got your first two weeks or non conference
and in weeks three through nine of your conference games,
(23:02):
and I'll tell you Sterling Metamora right off the bat.
Jonathan Schlemmer, the long time Sterling coach, is obviously a
Metamorat grad. So this has become a nice rivalry over
the last several years. Obviously for him and his Sterling team.
Playing as alma mater in Metamora, that's always a fun
matchup in Week one right away. And I know Sterling
is on a role. They have made the playoffs I
want to say every year for about the past maybe
(23:24):
thirteen or fourteen years. So yeah, Sterling this year, I
think they'll bounce back. I think they'll have a good
team that went five and five a year ago, but
I think Sterling does well this year.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
One thing, Sam that kind of don't want to put
any on the spot, so I won't ask any questions.
Just offer what you're willing to offer. But I know
kind of, you know, on the message boards, just kind
of talk. You know, there's a lot of shippings, as
as my daughter would call it, of maybe getting some
of that old NCIC together. This involves all of our areas,
(23:54):
but kind of and I know, down around this way
people say, you know, I wonder if Sterling and Geneseo.
I wonder if Sterling and Geneseo might be interested again
and maybe you know, joining up with what's right now
the Interstate the six schools of the Interstate eight, and
you know, maybe maybe they're a better fit than you know,
kind of the situation that they're in now and stuff.
Can of have you heard any rumbles like that? I
(24:15):
know those those names have come up, some of some
others have come up as possible, you know, as the
Interstate eight, the six Schools of the Interstate eight kind
of look around and realize that, man if someone doesn't
play eleven, man if someone drops out, we don't have
a conference anymore, and kind of looking to expand.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Yeah, you know, and I've seen the same stuff that
you have seen online. I haven't seen anything official, but
it does kind of get the brain thinking, It kind
of gets the wheels running a little bit. But yeah,
there has been I don't want to say rumors, but
there has been maybe talk about you know, maybe Geneo.
It's not a perfect fit in the Western Big Six
(24:51):
for them. The Western Big Six obviously right now has
the eight teams, and for so many years Sterling and
Geneseo they were not a part of the Western Big Six.
It was the original six. But you know, you could
throw in Rochelle, you could throw in Sycamore. You could
have a really nice football conference where you're not making
trips down to Quincy. And you know, for Sterling, every
time they have a road game, they got to go
(25:12):
into the Quad Cities or down to Gaylsburg. But I've
seen the rumblings online, but I don't think there's anything
confirmed yet on anything like that.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Yeah, and obviously that would involve you know, a lot
of markets. These are kind of the you know, the
we're talking football, so these are the five A, six
A schools that kind of are cornerstones of a lot
of the markets we cover. So it'd be very interesting.
It's it's neat to see them kind of navigate. I
know that. You know, we talked about the Illinois Central
eight and lie on that fielding a team this year.
You know there's talk about yeah, you know, hey that
(25:43):
that maybe their eyes are kind of looking around, Hey,
is there someone we could add, is there someone that's
a good fit. So it's always interesting to kind of
hear hear those rumors and like I said, kind of
ship things in your head and kind of try and
put the puzzle pieces together and see what works well.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
And I think athletic directors I alway think they're thinking
a step ahead because I think maybe even five years ago,
there was riding on the wall that Rock for Christian
wasn't going to be able to field football programs, and
so you have to start thinking outside the box. And
what better fit than to get somebody liked Pek, a
three A school that predominantly plays in a one A conference.
(26:18):
This is a great fit for Dupek playing in a
conference here next year that mostly has three A teams Dixon,
with the exception being in FORA. But I think athletic
directors are always trying to think ahead, and who knows.
By twenty thirty, who knows we could see the landscape
shaped again with team shifting conferences around over the next
four years.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
You know, you said twenty thirty and I'm like, oh
my god, that is like so far in the future.
Why are we talking about that?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Yeah, it's five years.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Anything else jump out at you, Sam, Otherwise we kind
of let you be free for the rest of your Friday.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
No, I just want to thank you guys for having
me again, and yeah, I could talk football time. And
you know, I was a little nervous about the new
IHSA website. I got on this morning and I saw
a little countdown ticker and I thought, oh, I hope
this is a good, you know, revamp with the website.
But I don't know if you guys have got a
chance to get on there yet. But it's still user friendly,
(27:15):
it's still easy to navigate. It just looks different. But
that was my biggest fear, I think, even more than
looking at the schedules. Don't mess up that website too much,
and they really didn't.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, we had talked about it earlier and little incomplete,
but I'm kind of liking the direction it's going and
when when it all fills in, I think it's gonna
be a nice improvement. So Sam, you love talking football,
and we love talking football with you. Once the season
starts off, We're gonna really look forward to having you back.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
It's appreciate it, dude.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Thanks guys, Eddie JT have a great rest of your summer.
We'll probably see you guys next month.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Take care, Sam, Thanks Man and Eddie. You know, I
was kind of gonna pivot while we're talking some a
little bit around your area kind of.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
I know.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
One of the games you had was a Week two
matchup for the Calb that you know we talked about
strange bedfellows and we got a few more of them coming.
But Phillips at the CALB seems like a couple of teams.
I haven't heard their name together in a while.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah, No, I'm pretty sure this will be the first
time they're meeting the football I know Phillips, And actually
I think it's probably how the game ended up coming
about was Phillips, I know has been competing lately in
the basketball tournament holiday tournament they host in December, so
I'm I'm sure that had something to do with them
coming out here football wise week two. Obviously, these teams
(28:37):
were really good in the last part of the last decade.
We both kind of, you know, hitting on a little
harder times. But no, this is a really good game.
Should have happened, I guess the big asterisks when when
I was on the site earlier and It was actually
a boy sus who pointed this out. It was that
Phillips apparently is a double booked week two. I think
(28:57):
they had Morton the Suburb team on there. But I
did talk to the calb ad Peter Golf actually before
we recorded this. Seems optimistic, very sure that the Phillips
the calve is happening.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
So I have to keep an eye on how that
plays out.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
But what's squad the spring training game?
Speaker 1 (29:17):
There split squad games counting standings, ties do not. But no, no, no,
it should be a really that is one of those
strange bedfellows new games that will We'll see what how
that one plays out.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
But that that that's really interesting one to me. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I had a few kind of on a list and
I'll just go through them quick kind of. When we
talked about strange bedfellow we got I'm not gonna say
strange Bedfellows for the remainder of this season, I promise.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Yeah, we should have probably used it the source.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Yes, but Ottawa Marquette Week three is going to Edgar, Wisconsin,
and I've never heard of Edgar, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
But you look it up. I put you on the spot.
I did.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
There was wsconsin Division seven state champions which sounds impressive.
I'm not sure what Division seven means. I assume that
means that's a smaller school division up there, but it
sounds great. That's a two hundred and ninety seven to
one way trip. And then Marquette has three other new
opponents on their schedule. They finished Week seven through nine
at Elmwood Brimfield versus Knoxville, and at Morrison. Morrison a
(30:21):
team they used to be in the Three Rivers Conference
with or twin Big Rivers, Big Rivers, some sort of river. Yeah,
there were rivers, and there was the Mississippi and the
Illinois divisions and uh, going.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Back, those are rivers exactly.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Some other some other ones that stuck out of me
as Cole City will be hosting Pontiac in week one,
and then in week three, Cole City is hosting Bloom
Yeah schools. I didn't think I'd hear their names together
in a football matchup. Blooms. I mean that's an eight
A school, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
I'm seven a eight a larger.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
But yeah, last the Chicago School's coming. You know, we
mentioned the Philip game and last year, you know what
that was Gk's. That was their last minute had in
week one to replace Rockford Christian was Leo.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Getting on the schedule. So yeah, yeah, that trend continuing
with a bloom in a cool city. That's because what
what happened Lyle? Do we know what it was? I
feel like we know what that was. Had a drop.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
I think that what I was told was just low,
low numbers in the junior and senior classes, good numbers
in the underclasses. They seemed optimistic that they would be
back in the short term, you know, aiming for next season,
so I certainly hope that's the case too. And and speaking
of the ice, you know, Mantino added an interesting one.
They replaced Lyle with Gibson City Melvin Sibley, which is,
(31:46):
you know, one of those heart of Central Illinois powerhouses
down there, you know, a couple of state championships in
their recent past or state title game appearances. So uh,
that'll be that'll be an interesting one with Mantino Ottawa.
And Week nine is going to be hosting Granite City,
which I had to look that one up on a map.
I knew it was south, it just sounded south. But
that's a two hundred and twenty seven mile drive one way.
(32:08):
So that's that's some of them that just kind of
stuck out at me. Is like I don't remember seeing
Mantino Gibson City or Granite City Ottawa or you know
ever kind of lined up against each other. So I
think those are some on the schedule release day when
you go through and you kind of you know, maybe
teams you don't follow as closely and you see that,
you're like, whoa.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
You know you didn't have that on a bingo card.
There's another way to phrase it, and that's not an
irritating phrase at all either.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Well, the ISSA has it on their newly updated Bingo
card Addy.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
So there was one more up here that I thought
was intriguing when we were looking around, and that's a
Week nine game Caitlin actually has against alpof Catholic that
could qualify in the You wouldn't think of them playing.
They didn't play last year. This is the reciprocating game
up here. Really good game last year. Obviously alpof Catholic
(32:58):
went on twin the one A state title. Believe they
just pretty much steamrolled everybody. But you know, it's one
of those, like we were talking about with Sam. It's
one of those one A versus uh, you know, got
a one A power versus a solid perennial playoff team
in Caaitland's case at the six A level.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
It's gonna be interesting. Last year was really close. It
was fourteen ten Autop Catholic was missing their stud running
back for that game. He tweaked something they had rested
him and then he.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Went and like ran for like eight hundred yards per
playoff game as they rolled to the title. That one
of the things that kept it close. But it should
be interesting this time around up in Maple Park. How
that one plays out again? You know the Wooden Rochelle game.
This one's kind of similar as well. You know, your
small school versus your big school. And I know Cainland
(33:48):
is probably you know, in the same boat as Rachelle.
And you know a lot of these schools we talked about,
got a schedule. Who's gonna play?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Yeah, and you know we'd be remiss. You mentioned Aldhoff
in one A. You know that's the multiplier is gonna
mess up a lot of classifications. It goes as Susan
Josh talked about it on their podcast that dropped yesterday
on the Friday Night Drive podcast network or so to speak.
But you know, they kind of mentioned that, you know
that a lot of teams that you're traditionally think of
(34:14):
as this and I don't know Aldhoff situation exactly, but
you know, there's going to be a lot fewer multiple
waivers handed out on the multipliers. The success factor is
going to hit a lot of these schools that you're
used to being locked in in a certain class are
going to be bumped up. The non boundaried school the
private schools, and as they get bumped up in a
(34:34):
corresponding move, a lot of these schools that have been
on a threshold, you know, up in four A, five A,
all of a sudden are a three A four A school.
So that'll be fun to watch play out here over
the next couple of years, just where these schools are
where they fall when you when you actually get to
playoff time.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Yeah, you know, it makes you wonder if maybe I
know Caitlyn's been relatively solid at six A, but I
think they've been on the back end of the six
A numbers. Will be interested if they're one of those
teams that end up falling down to five A.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
If and when they make the playoffs, you know, without
like you.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Said, all these are I guess like you through proxy
quoted Steve saying yes, and they're one of these teams
bumped down with all the multiplier things.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Yeah, I believe the other one of the other privates
we were talking about was Ottawa Marquette, and I believe
Seuss reached out to me right when the HSA dropped
the news of the change and said, holy cow, even
with a multiplier or a success factor or whatever, they're
still in one a because there I know, as of
a couple of years ago, there the smallest eleven man
playing school in the state. I don't know if that's
still the case, but if they're not the smallest, they're
one of the smallest, so some won't be affected, but
(35:36):
a whole lot will.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I think that was a good warm up.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah good, I'm ready for football, my man.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Yeah. No, it always a phone schedule drops. It's like
you know, Christmas in July.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Absolutely absolutely well. Obviously our Friday Night Drive website is
getting absolutely flooded today today being Friday, but all week
end with information about schedules, games to watch in each market.
I think every market did a week by week thing.
That's really cool. I enjoy reading them, even for schools
I don't normally see your cover just kind of man,
this is great if you were just a football fan
(36:12):
with no ties to any school. It's a blueprint for
you know, your Friday nights and Saturday afternoons for the
upcoming couple months. So very very lot of cool stuff
at Friday Night Drive dot Com. Definitely recommend if you're
a high school football fan, and if you've been listening
to us for a half hour, I have to assume
you are. That's we have a lot of stuff, and
that we don't take summers off.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Not anymore anyway.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
So yeah, I should also point out on Friday Night
Drift a lot of great podcasts. We mentioned the obviously
the flagship, The King County Podcast is up there, and
I think there's a couple new ones. I don't know
if they're just for this week, for schedule drops or
for expanding out with Mason and Kan.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yes, yeah that's coming, So.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Keep checking wherever you get your podcast, hopefully it's on
our site. We appreciate that, appreciated you listening. Uh, we'll
be back in what about a month? Anth Less probably
with the Week one stuff. So we're calling it, dude.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
We're calling it. Thanks for listening, everybody, and thank you.
I'm JT. Penalty. That's Eddie Carripfio and we'll see you soon.
Welcome to the Friday Night Drive South and West Edition podcast.
I'm Daily Chronicle Sports editor Ready Carrifia on alongside Shaw
Media Regional editor JT.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Penalty. Welcome back. I guess it's been well.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I mean we talk like eight times a day, but
I mean for purposes of this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, it's been a minute, old buddy.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yeah, for everyone else, No kidding. I'm sitting here. I'm
trying to navigate the new ISHSA website and trying to
figure out how to get around and look at things.
I'm just starting to learn it. Change is rough, so
it's nice to be back with something familiar talking football
with you.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
By the way, I've seen the potential for the website.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I feel like it's like a third of a product
right now, you know, but I see where it might
actually be a lot better than the old one. I'm
kind of looking forward to it as it kind of
fills in here. I've got a big question mark about
how we're going to find old history stuff. I don't
see any obvious links to that, but which is obviously
big for us.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
But I kind of like the direction that's going in.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, there's a way to navigate through conferences I didn't.
I didn't have a ton of time to check it out.
Before this, we were kind of fact checking some of
our information we had that we were getting, you know,
getting from directly from schools or from max Preps. So
I didn't get to get all of I didn't get
to explore all of it. But I know there's a
way to go through conferences. I haven't figured it out,
and I still about one out of every four schools
(01:22):
I click on it brings up a blank page for
me and I have to go back and reload it.
So I'm sure those are all things that iron out.
But you know, change is weird. You know, you got
to get used to it. But it's an awesome resource.
I'd recommend it to all fans as is, of course
Friday Night Drive. Listen to Steve Susie and Josh Welgy's
podcast yesterday as I was mowing my grandma's grass and
(01:45):
really got me juiced up for today, Eddie, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, I know this is gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
We are going to talk more than website design, right
or are we sticking the website design?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I didn't get the memo we are I mean, I
have I.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Have expressed I have exhaust stood my knowledge on website design.
So let's talk about something we know.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Well, then, how about the football schedule. The aforementioned release
happened a little earlier, recording this ten am on Friday,
and it was very nice of the we scheduled this
time before we realized it was going to be nine
am at the IHSA released their schedule, So that worked
out perfect. To get a big shout out for that.
I just say to apparently accommodate us. That was pretty awesome.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So now do too.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Let's start down your way. What's what's jumping out to you? Man?
When you look at the schedule?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
You know, kind of my first thing that I kind
of looked at, uh you know, kind of coming into
this waiting waiting for that website to update, had that
countdown clock on and I thought Chris Jericho was going
to come out, but uh yeah, they had. What kind
of first thing across my mind is kind of what
changed for our conferences around because that's obviously what drives
the schedules. And you know, we don't have to get
(02:52):
into the district talk this week. We'll save that for
weeks one, two, three, four, five, seven, and nine of
the when we get in season. But you know what
it's changed for our conferences. I have a couple of
little changes here. I listened in to Sus and Josh's
podcast yesterday, the main flagship Friday Night Drive podcast. Seuss
mentioned that there's really not a lot of big changes
in terms of conferences. Things are pretty steady in terms
(03:14):
of how many teams are playing like one one to
eight man, but an eight man came back or a
team came back from playing just JV divarsity. So statewide,
there's a lot of changes to the schedule, but not
necessarily in the conferences, which is the thing that drives
thes schedules. I do have a couple of little ones,
kind of in my neck of the woods. The Illinois
Central eight Lyle is only playing a JV schedule this
year due to low numbers at their you know, junior
senior level. So that left seven other teams, you know,
(03:38):
scrambling to find opponents. There's some interesting ones that they've
found already that we talked about. Four of them have
found opponents, three still have open weeks in there. So
that's one and the other ones the Chicago Land Prairie,
which we talk a lot about on this conference because
you know, here in the Illinois Valley it kind of
has the four powerhouses of that conference, you know, Marquette, Ottawa, Marquette,
Saint Bede, Seneca and Dwight or at least the four
(03:59):
teams that kind of dominated the brief history of that conference.
It's still a conference, but it's down to four schools now,
So if that's a conference, I don't know technically it is,
but they're not getting an automatic bet or anything. So
that messed up some schedules, and man, we have some
interesting ones crossing over into you know, your your neck
of the woods and my neck of the woods. With
that conference kind of falling apart on and were there
(04:21):
any other ones you can think of in terms of
conference wise that kind of forced some of these schedule
changes we're going to talk about.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, probably the oddest one would be the big Northern
Is it nine schools for the second year in a row.
Rocker Christian dropped the eight man very late in the
game last year, left everybody scrambling a little more time
this time around. And I think the Chicago Chicago Land Prairie,
I think they're filling in a bunch of the holes.
Yeah around. I know, there's a couple other conferences. I
(04:51):
think the other one you mentioned too is also filling
in some of those holes. Excuse me, Yeah, I think
the ice is filling in some of those as well.
You know, obviously down your neck of the woods wasus
my neck of the woods. An interesting one we're talking
about specific games is that Week four at GK Seneca
matchup seems really interesting getting brought about because of the
I think the odd number of teams and both of
(05:13):
those conferences.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That one kind of jumped out to me a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, Chicago Lamprairie, it's an even number, but it's very
small and it's very odd that a conference only has four.
So I'm gonna I'll give you a pass that.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, it's not the bill. Six weeks is the points.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It's so funny because you mentioned I kind of sent out.
We send notes to each other ahead of time, so
we know what we're talking about. We're not that good
that we're just this good right off the off the cuff.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But yeah, this is with preparation people. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
But the weird thing with Seneca is, you know I
marked down three games that they have, and they still
have an open week in Week two at least last
time I checked. But uh, you know, they had three games,
and honestly, the Genoa Kingston one is I don't want
to say not the headline for for for Seneca, but
on Seneca schedule, you know, they open up Week one
against the defending two A state champs, Chicago Christian. They
(06:00):
have a Week eight game with Saint Joe Ogden that's
you know, gonna.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Be a war.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And then you got that Genoa Kingston where you're talking,
you know, a couple perennial playoff teams you know, kind
of going at it. So Seneca really beefed up their
non conference schedule. But when you only have three conference games,
you know, you gotta you have six weeks to fill.
So they found some good ones. And and the other
strong thing with that is I think Seneca has a
run going up. It's here four or five consecutive years,
way back to when they're in the Vermilion Valley Super
(06:27):
Conference or whatever that was down there, where somebody cancels
on them every single year and they can't find a replacement.
I think they're taking a forfeit four or five years running.
So one way to combat that and not have to
deal with that, you schedule really good programs that you
know we're gonna field teams and want to play it.
So Chicago Christians, Genoah Kingston, Saint Joe Ogden, I mean,
those are three programs. I don't think they have to
(06:48):
worry about getting a forfeit.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah I would.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I think that that's an understanding problem and that's saved money.
So also look at around the schedule. I know, down
out your way. He starts off with a dousey. I mean,
we've been talking about what's it Wilmington, Cole City or no, sorry,
Morris Cole.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
City the last couple of years. It's gonna be a
little switch in week one, but still a goodie.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I think, Yeah, Wilmington Morris week one. That's one, you know,
kind of one of those ones that kind of the theoretically,
I wonder what would happen if you know, kind of
for years, you know Wilmington and this is no blast
on Coal City, who I think everyone knows is a
phenomenal program. Wilmington the past handful of years has been
just that half step above, you know, Beaten Cole City
(07:31):
in that big matchup for the whatever conference, whatever the
conference was named at the time, match up, but Wilmington's
owned it the past few years. So now we get
that Wilmington Morris matchup that people kind of wondered about.
Morris has handled Coal City usually competitive games, but kind
of pulled away from him in like the third and
fourth borders from coal City in recent years. We'll see
how Wilmington does. I think that's a good one. And
then Wilmington also we talked about lyle on that fielding
(07:53):
of our city team. Wilmington replaced them with Thornton in
Week six. So you talk about strange bedfellows, that's that's
a that's a matchup. I didn't think i'd, you know,
seeing the carge, you know, Wilmington Thornton.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, it seems that there's a lot of these weird ones,
although anytime the schedule shifts there's always matchups you wouldn't see.
But one of the ones that's jumping out at me
apparently met Seymour is applying for status in the Interstate eight.
Maybe obviously they played Sycamore last.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Year down there. That was a pretty good game.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It was close for a little bit, but then uh,
I think Metzeymore had an injury to like a key player.
Like they threw the ball a lot, but then like
the receiver got hurtled. Then they had to run and scramble,
and Sycamore, obviously really good against the run, shut it down.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
They ended up winning by a few scores.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Mit Seymore's back up here at Sycamore this year, apparently
afore mentioned Morris team and after playing Wilmington in Week
one will head to the met Seymour just outside of
Champagne for a Week two match up, and then met
Seymore and Sycamore play. I think that's a week four,
week three or four.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
So yeah, Mohammed Mohammed Seymour for the places Juliet West
on Morris's schedule. So you know, again two great programs
should should be a I think a really interesting game.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yeah, it's like what's it called? See, I got the
nau on the brain with like they're at the affiliate
status in the Mountains, Mets was gonna be an affiliate
Interstate eight member fall homely member.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
You see a lot of them in Yeah, I see
a lot of that with these holes in common. You know,
the Interstate eight is six teams now the Illinois Central
eight is seven teams. You know, going collegiate, we're known
to the numbers matchup, you know. The NIB twelve is
ten teams for how many years, which we'll talk about
them in a little bit going, but I think right
now would be a great time to bring in our
colleague Sam Ramirez.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Hey, guys atd e j T. It's hard to believe
it's that time and you're already.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Very excited, happy mid July.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, very excited and excited to have you with us, Sam, Sam,
with our cohort, with our radio stations up in the
Sauk area. And I'm going to talk some kind of
sock valley football. One that would introduce kind of bring you,
bring Meyer and yours together for the first time in
a long time I know, is we have a week
eight talk about kind of not necessarily strange bedfellows because
(10:11):
they weren't a conference together for what I have in
my notes fifty four years or something like that. But
Dixon and Streeter playing those are the two teams who
were the first to leave the Northern Illinois Big twelve
that kind of started its collapse, even though it wasn't
around that long. Two old NCIC teams. They both went
different directions and reunited again like the first time, right.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Sam, Yeah, like the first time, and like you said,
for fifty four years, and you know, these were long
time rivals for a lot of years. So then in
twenty fourteen, Dixon went to the Big Northern and Streeter
went in a different direction. And I'll tell you, Dixon
had their struggles trying to find an opponent for this
year's scheduled, and for a long time it sounded like
maybe they were just going to have to have a
(10:51):
forfeit and it would not have been a forfeit win,
it just would have been a bye on the schedule.
They only played eight games, and then this Streeter game
opened up. Now, with that being said, Dixon is only
going to play three home games this year because they
were hoping to get a team to come to a
C Bauers but that didn't happen. But you know what,
they would rather go on the road and play that
(11:11):
extra game than not play a game. And that's how
the Dixon Streeter game came about. In Week eight.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, being a Streeter kid, I got to hear some
of the horse trading as it was going on or
at least rumors of the horse trading. I wasn't in
on the conversations, unfortunately, but yeah, some of the I
know Dixon originally was hoping Streeter would go there, and
Streeter was like, it's our senior night, man, I mean,
what are we going to do?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And they were looking to replace Lyle, So so I'm
glad it worked out. I mean, I know, on paper,
Dixon's had a much more successful program in recent years.
That'd be obviously a tough one for Streeter to pull off.
But it'll be neat seeing them back together again, you know,
facing off on a football field. It's been a few ticks.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
You know, in the last ten eleven years. They've met
in a couple of basketball games here and there, but
I don't think they I know, they haven't played in
a high school football game since the fall of thirteen, so,
you know, when you go back to the fall of thirteen,
Dixon had a rough year that year. But since they've
joined the Big Northern, like you said, Dixon, over the
last ten to eleven years, they have made the playoffs
(12:11):
every year. So it's a much improved Dixon team than
those teams we used to see in the NCIC, in
the Northern Illinois Big twelve.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Absolutely, and Sam, I know you were talking kind of
some other ones that jumped out at you as some
games you wanted to talk about. I mean, let's talk
some Big Northern. I mean, you know, with the schedule
drop kind of eyes go to that conference immediately because
of its success.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
You know, I always say when the schedules come out,
and I'm a Newman guy, I went to Newman Central
Catholic High School, the three things I always look at
when the schedule comes out, When does Newman play Princeton?
When does Dixon play Byron? And that I'm always interested
in the non conference matchups because for so many years
the Big Northern they were sort of a locked in
conference where they didn't have any non conference games. I
want to say, from like twenty sixteen up until a
(12:55):
couple of years ago when Rockford Christian wasn't able to
field a team, the Big Northern didn't see non conference games.
So I'm always intrigued. Last year we got to see
Byron Williamsville. That was a big matchup. Last year Dixon
made that five hour trip down to Johnston City. I
know last year Genoa Kingston went up to Dupeck. Dupek
will be joining the conference next year, but there's there's
(13:17):
some good matchups this year. I think in the Big
Northern you got Byron at Dupec this year, and I
know Dupek lost a little bit from last year, but
it's still Dupeck. It's still a good football program. They
got a new coach, as you mentioned, Dixon Streeter. I
like that Seneca Genoa Kingston matchup, and Oregon will play
Dwight Gardner South Wilmington. So as of right now, all
(13:37):
nine teams in the Big Northern do have a non
conference opponent, which is exciting to be able to play
those games.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Just for a one quick interjection, Eddie, and then I'll
for I think I think I have heard that Gardner
South Wilmington's not coopering with the White this year, that
they do.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
You are right, that's right, but I'm like.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
You, out of reflex. I always say Dwight GCW yes
GSW and then I keep having to catch myself. So
I just thought i'd put it out there now so
that when we mess it up later in the season,
I can refer to this week when I actually knew
what we were talking about. Uh, sorry to interrupt, jedny Oh.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
No, I was just going to point out about.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, I was really interested in how the BNC was
going to fill their schedule, especially with some of those
later in the year games.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Was we were pointing out earlier with JT.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
You know, there's a lot of conferences down his way
with either not odd necessarily but just four teams or
you know, an odd number of teams, and so it
actually kind of worked out going down that way for them.
And then obviously it's just a one year thing because
like you said, Dupex coming in next year and they'll
back up to ten. For you know, it's been one
of the more stable conferences for for a while. I
(14:42):
mean since what the KRC split off. Whenever that was about,
was that fourteen or fifteen It was after I first
got out here, where all those schools pretty much left,
and then it's been really stable more or left, and
it seems like they're going to be getting back that way.
So it was really interesting to see for me too.
I was looking at those games and say, okay, you've
got like one year of being able to plan in
(15:04):
the Hong.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Kongen's game, where we all choose.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
In yeah, and I know last year I broadcast the
Oregon Hawks. Athens came up to Oregon last year and
the year prior, Athans went into the state championship game
in Class two way, And it's just fun to see
to me those kinds of matchups because for so many years,
as we talked about, the Big Northern was a conference
only schedule. And not that it gets boring. I know
(15:27):
the ads love it because the schedule's easy to come
up with, but for guys who broadcast and for guys
in the media, I like seeing different teams. I know,
Oregon we go down to Dwight this year and that's
going to be exciting to go down there and visit
a stadium I've never been to before. So I like
the fact there's the one non conference game. But it's
like you said, Eddie, next year it'll be the way
(15:48):
the Big Northern has been for a lot of years.
It'll be back to that enclosed conference when Dupek joins.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And I don't think it's just us with podcasts and
platforms either. I mean I would think from.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
A fans standpoint, you know, playing the same you know,
nineteen's every year for eight years.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
That that you know.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
But hey, you know, like you said, it's easy and
orcs and it's the system that there is. And I've
been told not to mention a word that starts with
the letter D. So we're gonna can.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I ask you a question?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Yeah, pronounce Athens Athens? Yeah, the country in Greece is Athens. Yes,
down south the town is actually called Athens. And I
actually heard that last year and then I actually made
a phone call down to the school last year just
to confirm it. And it is Athens.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
So add that to our k Ro Marseilles.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yes, we've had a.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Few over a couple of years. We've been doing this
podcast where scratch our head and say, wait, that's pronounced
like that.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I never knew, right, am I saying orion height because
it's freaking Ryan?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
But yes, Orion, yes, Orion Orion yeh.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Come on, dudes, Okay, Athens, I guess it is.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you mentioned your you mentioned you're a Newman Catholic guy,
saying I noticed in your notes two Saturday games this year.
I when it comes to me not having to cover them,
I love Saturday games. I hate having to be there,
but I like I like going to Saturday games recreationally,
you get the best photographs. You're not freezing, although early
(17:20):
in the season that's never an issue. I love Saturday
high school football as long as I don't have to
sit down and like crudshot a story on deadline right
after it. But I love going to.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I love Saturday games to cover more than Friday and night.
It's a lot less stressful and everything. Yeah, obviously I
don't get to cover a lot of Saturday games, and
you dudies, I keep that from happening.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
But I love Saturday See.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I need that momentum. Otherwise I'm sitting there pecking at
a story for like, I need that inspiration, that that
deadline hanging over me more.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Than to get the story done. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Saturday games. I get to go as a fan, and
I know September thirteenth, Newman plays Eerie Profitstown and I'm
a big NAU fan. I've had season tickets now for
thirty one years. NIU does not play on September thirteenth,
So I get to go to Rosco ed Stadium and
just get to sit there as a fan, and Newman
has a game later on in the year I think
in October against Mercer County, and you know, we like
those Saturday games. But I know, Mike Lea May the
(18:16):
Newman coaches, for a lot of years they've played Saturday games.
Because Sterling plays the home games on Friday nights, Newman
gets bumped to Saturday. But I do know that come
playoff time, you're going to see a lot of those
games on Saturdays. So when the playoffs roll around in
October November, a lot of those Newman kids have already
had a taste of what Saturday afternoon games are like.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I always think people underestimate that. Back in like my
youth baseball coaching days. You know, if we had an
eight o'clock game to open the season, I would start
my last practice for that at eight o'clock. I'm a
big believer in kind of those bio rhythms. You know,
you listen to your NFL coaches, you know, when they
decide to fly to Brazil or going west coast to
East coast, or you know, on long road trips. It's
(18:55):
I find that stuff fascinating when they decide to you know,
when the Bears side to go to England as opposed
to whoever they're playing or I find that stuff because
there's a lot of science behind it and emerging behind it,
and you know, stuff like that makes a difference. I
think that's a great point. I mean, if you're going
to be playing Saturday playoff games, why not get used
to playing a couple of Saturday games during the season.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And I'm a big UFC guy. I love MMA, And
when a lot of guys know they're going to be
fighting in a city that's high elevation, they train in
the high elevation. They want to get accustomed to the
high altitude. And you know, there's nothing wrong with playing
those Saturday games because you see it in Round one.
You'll see some Friday night games, but by the time
you get to round two and especially round three, you
don't see many Friday night games. It's mostly on Saturdays.
(19:37):
So why not get a few Saturday afternoon games under
your belt.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Unlike Athens, Athens, we don't have to worry about the elevation, So.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
No, Athens, no elevation about five hundred feet.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
And Lina Winslow as as the rest of Illinois, and
Lina Winslow was one of the ones you had in
your notes too. What do you see on their schedule, Sam, they.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
You know they, I don't know if you guys, you
probably knew this story. But again they they did that
big project up there where they're gonna have a brand
new stadium this year. They're gonna have the field turf.
I know they raised over a million dollars. It was
a three million dollar project and from what I've been told,
it's just gonna be incredible. And Rick Oran has just
done a fantastic job at that program nearly now for
(20:18):
thirty years. And you know, right off the bat, Lina
Winslow at Forreston and I know Forreston went two and
seven last year, but that's a rivalry game. That game
is in Forreston, and then week two they'll usher in
the brand new stadium against a very good Stockton team.
Watch out for this Stockton team in Class one A.
They got a lot of talent coming back from a
quarterfinal team a year ago. But I think out of
(20:39):
all the non conference games, the one that intrigues me
the most is in week three when Lina Winslow travels
to Rochelle. And Lina Winslow has never shied away from
non conference tough opponents. Last year they played Dupek. They
took on Decatur Saint Teresa a couple of years ago,
Woods Doc Maryon three years ago. They played a Rower
Christian back in twenty one. But how fun will that be?
(21:01):
Lena wins though Perendal every year in one A against Rochelle,
a team that you know fits into four eight five A.
I love that matchup in week three for a non
conference game.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Yeah, that that one actually kind of caught my eye
as well.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Really interesting. Like I said, the win doesn't shy away
from stuff, but you know, Rachelle I was kind of
interested that Rachelle played that game.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Let's just put it that way, because it seems like,
you know, one of those games like you know what's Rochelle.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Have the game by playing that.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
But it's definitely gonna be interesting in a fun one.
So because I mean again, because it's one of those
where okay, they should win, right, they're the bigger school,
they're probably playoff teaming themselves. They're you know, we're second
in the I eight last year, losing only a close
one to Sycamore. So it's like it's one they should
win and you know, so they don't get like applauded
(21:52):
if they win it, and it's going.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
To be like, oh the sky is falling if you lose.
But you know you got to get big ups to
them for scheduling at that game as well.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Yeah, kudos to them for scheduling that game because, like
you said, on paper, you're the larger school, You're a
second in the Interstate eight. Last year you went to
the playoffs. You're supposed to win that game on your
home field. But Lina Winslow. They have no fear. And
I was even thinking back now to the COVID year
they played at Princeton. I know Lee win lost that game,
but I'll tell you that the Panthers are not afraid
(22:22):
to play anybody in any class and I like that fact.
But yeah, kudos to Rochelle for taking on a game
like that at home.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
I guess the last thing maybe to talk about while
we got you here, is any think pop about the
Sterling schedule for you this year.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Well, the thing with the Western Big Six this year
rock Ivan Aloman is back playing eleven man football. They
did not play football the last couple of years, so
teams in the Western Big Six had to go out
and find three non conference games right off the bat.
So this year the Western Big Six is set up
where you've got your first two weeks or non conference
and in weeks three through nine of your conference games,
(23:02):
and I'll tell you Sterling Metamora right off the bat.
Jonathan Schlemmer, the long time Sterling coach, is obviously a
Metamorat grad. So this has become a nice rivalry over
the last several years. Obviously for him and his Sterling team.
Playing as alma mater in Metamora, that's always a fun
matchup in Week one right away. And I know Sterling
is on a role. They have made the playoffs I
want to say every year for about the past maybe
(23:24):
thirteen or fourteen years. So yeah, Sterling this year, I
think they'll bounce back. I think they'll have a good
team that went five and five a year ago, but
I think Sterling does well this year.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
One thing, Sam that kind of don't want to put
any on the spot, so I won't ask any questions.
Just offer what you're willing to offer. But I know
kind of, you know, on the message boards, just kind
of talk. You know, there's a lot of shippings, as
as my daughter would call it, of maybe getting some
of that old NCIC together. This involves all of our areas,
(23:54):
but kind of and I know, down around this way
people say, you know, I wonder if Sterling and Geneseo.
I wonder if Sterling and Geneseo might be interested again
and maybe you know, joining up with what's right now
the Interstate the six schools of the Interstate eight, and
you know, maybe maybe they're a better fit than you know,
kind of the situation that they're in now and stuff.
Can of have you heard any rumbles like that? I
(24:15):
know those those names have come up, some of some
others have come up as possible, you know, as the
Interstate eight, the six Schools of the Interstate eight kind
of look around and realize that, man if someone doesn't
play eleven, man if someone drops out, we don't have
a conference anymore, and kind of looking to expand.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Yeah, you know, and I've seen the same stuff that
you have seen online. I haven't seen anything official, but
it does kind of get the brain thinking, It kind
of gets the wheels running a little bit. But yeah,
there has been I don't want to say rumors, but
there has been maybe talk about you know, maybe Geneo.
It's not a perfect fit in the Western Big Six
(24:51):
for them. The Western Big Six obviously right now has
the eight teams, and for so many years Sterling and
Geneseo they were not a part of the Western Big Six.
It was the original six. But you know, you could
throw in Rochelle, you could throw in Sycamore. You could
have a really nice football conference where you're not making
trips down to Quincy. And you know, for Sterling, every
time they have a road game, they got to go
(25:12):
into the Quad Cities or down to Gaylsburg. But I've
seen the rumblings online, but I don't think there's anything
confirmed yet on anything like that.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Yeah, and obviously that would involve you know, a lot
of markets. These are kind of the you know, the
we're talking football, so these are the five A, six
A schools that kind of are cornerstones of a lot
of the markets we cover. So it'd be very interesting.
It's it's neat to see them kind of navigate. I
know that. You know, we talked about the Illinois Central
eight and lie on that fielding a team this year.
You know there's talk about yeah, you know, hey that
(25:43):
that maybe their eyes are kind of looking around, Hey,
is there someone we could add, is there someone that's
a good fit. So it's always interesting to kind of
hear hear those rumors and like I said, kind of
ship things in your head and kind of try and
put the puzzle pieces together and see what works well.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
And I think athletic directors I alway think they're thinking
a step ahead because I think maybe even five years ago,
there was riding on the wall that Rock for Christian
wasn't going to be able to field football programs, and
so you have to start thinking outside the box. And
what better fit than to get somebody liked Pek, a
three A school that predominantly plays in a one A conference.
(26:18):
This is a great fit for Dupek playing in a
conference here next year that mostly has three A teams Dixon,
with the exception being in FORA. But I think athletic
directors are always trying to think ahead, and who knows.
By twenty thirty, who knows we could see the landscape
shaped again with team shifting conferences around over the next
four years.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
You know, you said twenty thirty and I'm like, oh
my god, that is like so far in the future.
Why are we talking about that?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Yeah, it's five years.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Anything else jump out at you, Sam, Otherwise we kind
of let you be free for the rest of your Friday.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
No, I just want to thank you guys for having
me again, and yeah, I could talk football time. And
you know, I was a little nervous about the new
IHSA website. I got on this morning and I saw
a little countdown ticker and I thought, oh, I hope
this is a good, you know, revamp with the website.
But I don't know if you guys have got a
chance to get on there yet. But it's still user friendly,
(27:15):
it's still easy to navigate. It just looks different. But
that was my biggest fear, I think, even more than
looking at the schedules. Don't mess up that website too much,
and they really didn't.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, we had talked about it earlier and little incomplete,
but I'm kind of liking the direction it's going and
when when it all fills in, I think it's gonna
be a nice improvement. So Sam, you love talking football,
and we love talking football with you. Once the season
starts off, We're gonna really look forward to having you back.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
It's appreciate it, dude.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Thanks guys, Eddie JT have a great rest of your summer.
We'll probably see you guys next month.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Take care, Sam, Thanks Man and Eddie. You know, I
was kind of gonna pivot while we're talking some a
little bit around your area kind of.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
I know.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
One of the games you had was a Week two
matchup for the Calb that you know we talked about
strange bedfellows and we got a few more of them coming.
But Phillips at the CALB seems like a couple of teams.
I haven't heard their name together in a while.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah, No, I'm pretty sure this will be the first
time they're meeting the football I know Phillips, And actually
I think it's probably how the game ended up coming
about was Phillips, I know has been competing lately in
the basketball tournament holiday tournament they host in December, so
I'm I'm sure that had something to do with them
coming out here football wise week two. Obviously, these teams
(28:37):
were really good in the last part of the last decade.
We both kind of, you know, hitting on a little
harder times. But no, this is a really good game.
Should have happened, I guess the big asterisks when when
I was on the site earlier and It was actually
a boy sus who pointed this out. It was that
Phillips apparently is a double booked week two. I think
(28:57):
they had Morton the Suburb team on there. But I
did talk to the calb ad Peter Golf actually before
we recorded this. Seems optimistic, very sure that the Phillips
the calve is happening.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
So I have to keep an eye on how that
plays out.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
But what's squad the spring training game?
Speaker 1 (29:17):
There split squad games counting standings, ties do not. But no, no, no,
it should be a really that is one of those
strange bedfellows new games that will We'll see what how
that one plays out.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
But that that that's really interesting one to me. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I had a few kind of on a list and
I'll just go through them quick kind of. When we
talked about strange bedfellow we got I'm not gonna say
strange Bedfellows for the remainder of this season, I promise.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Yeah, we should have probably used it the source.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Yes, but Ottawa Marquette Week three is going to Edgar, Wisconsin,
and I've never heard of Edgar, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
But you look it up. I put you on the spot.
I did.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
There was wsconsin Division seven state champions which sounds impressive.
I'm not sure what Division seven means. I assume that
means that's a smaller school division up there, but it
sounds great. That's a two hundred and ninety seven to
one way trip. And then Marquette has three other new
opponents on their schedule. They finished Week seven through nine
at Elmwood Brimfield versus Knoxville, and at Morrison. Morrison a
(30:21):
team they used to be in the Three Rivers Conference
with or twin Big Rivers, Big Rivers, some sort of river. Yeah,
there were rivers, and there was the Mississippi and the
Illinois divisions and uh, going.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Back, those are rivers exactly.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Some other some other ones that stuck out of me
as Cole City will be hosting Pontiac in week one,
and then in week three, Cole City is hosting Bloom
Yeah schools. I didn't think I'd hear their names together
in a football matchup. Blooms. I mean that's an eight
A school, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
I'm seven a eight a larger.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
But yeah, last the Chicago School's coming. You know, we
mentioned the Philip game and last year, you know what
that was Gk's. That was their last minute had in
week one to replace Rockford Christian was Leo.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Getting on the schedule. So yeah, yeah, that trend continuing
with a bloom in a cool city. That's because what
what happened Lyle? Do we know what it was? I
feel like we know what that was. Had a drop.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
I think that what I was told was just low,
low numbers in the junior and senior classes, good numbers
in the underclasses. They seemed optimistic that they would be
back in the short term, you know, aiming for next season,
so I certainly hope that's the case too. And and speaking
of the ice, you know, Mantino added an interesting one.
They replaced Lyle with Gibson City Melvin Sibley, which is,
(31:46):
you know, one of those heart of Central Illinois powerhouses
down there, you know, a couple of state championships in
their recent past or state title game appearances. So uh,
that'll be that'll be an interesting one with Mantino Ottawa.
And Week nine is going to be hosting Granite City,
which I had to look that one up on a map.
I knew it was south, it just sounded south. But
that's a two hundred and twenty seven mile drive one way.
(32:08):
So that's that's some of them that just kind of
stuck out at me. Is like I don't remember seeing
Mantino Gibson City or Granite City Ottawa or you know
ever kind of lined up against each other. So I
think those are some on the schedule release day when
you go through and you kind of you know, maybe
teams you don't follow as closely and you see that,
you're like, whoa.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
You know you didn't have that on a bingo card.
There's another way to phrase it, and that's not an
irritating phrase at all either.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Well, the ISSA has it on their newly updated Bingo
card Addy.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
So there was one more up here that I thought
was intriguing when we were looking around, and that's a
Week nine game Caitlin actually has against alpof Catholic that
could qualify in the You wouldn't think of them playing.
They didn't play last year. This is the reciprocating game
up here. Really good game last year. Obviously alpof Catholic
(32:58):
went on twin the one A state title. Believe they
just pretty much steamrolled everybody. But you know, it's one
of those, like we were talking about with Sam. It's
one of those one A versus uh, you know, got
a one A power versus a solid perennial playoff team
in Caaitland's case at the six A level.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
It's gonna be interesting. Last year was really close. It
was fourteen ten Autop Catholic was missing their stud running
back for that game. He tweaked something they had rested
him and then he.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Went and like ran for like eight hundred yards per
playoff game as they rolled to the title. That one
of the things that kept it close. But it should
be interesting this time around up in Maple Park. How
that one plays out again? You know the Wooden Rochelle game.
This one's kind of similar as well. You know, your
small school versus your big school. And I know Cainland
(33:48):
is probably you know, in the same boat as Rachelle.
And you know a lot of these schools we talked about,
got a schedule. Who's gonna play?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Yeah, and you know we'd be remiss. You mentioned Aldhoff
in one A. You know that's the multiplier is gonna
mess up a lot of classifications. It goes as Susan
Josh talked about it on their podcast that dropped yesterday
on the Friday Night Drive podcast network or so to speak.
But you know, they kind of mentioned that, you know
that a lot of teams that you're traditionally think of
(34:14):
as this and I don't know Aldhoff situation exactly, but
you know, there's going to be a lot fewer multiple
waivers handed out on the multipliers. The success factor is
going to hit a lot of these schools that you're
used to being locked in in a certain class are
going to be bumped up. The non boundaried school the
private schools, and as they get bumped up in a
(34:34):
corresponding move, a lot of these schools that have been
on a threshold, you know, up in four A, five A,
all of a sudden are a three A four A school.
So that'll be fun to watch play out here over
the next couple of years, just where these schools are
where they fall when you when you actually get to
playoff time.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Yeah, you know, it makes you wonder if maybe I
know Caitlyn's been relatively solid at six A, but I
think they've been on the back end of the six
A numbers. Will be interested if they're one of those
teams that end up falling down to five A.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
If and when they make the playoffs, you know, without
like you.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Said, all these are I guess like you through proxy
quoted Steve saying yes, and they're one of these teams
bumped down with all the multiplier things.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Yeah, I believe the other one of the other privates
we were talking about was Ottawa Marquette, and I believe
Seuss reached out to me right when the HSA dropped
the news of the change and said, holy cow, even
with a multiplier or a success factor or whatever, they're
still in one a because there I know, as of
a couple of years ago, there the smallest eleven man
playing school in the state. I don't know if that's
still the case, but if they're not the smallest, they're
one of the smallest, so some won't be affected, but
(35:36):
a whole lot will.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I think that was a good warm up.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah good, I'm ready for football, my man.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Yeah. No, it always a phone schedule drops. It's like
you know, Christmas in July.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Absolutely absolutely well. Obviously our Friday Night Drive website is
getting absolutely flooded today today being Friday, but all week
end with information about schedules, games to watch in each market.
I think every market did a week by week thing.
That's really cool. I enjoy reading them, even for schools
I don't normally see your cover just kind of man,
this is great if you were just a football fan
(36:12):
with no ties to any school. It's a blueprint for
you know, your Friday nights and Saturday afternoons for the
upcoming couple months. So very very lot of cool stuff
at Friday Night Drive dot Com. Definitely recommend if you're
a high school football fan, and if you've been listening
to us for a half hour, I have to assume
you are. That's we have a lot of stuff, and
that we don't take summers off.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Not anymore anyway.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
So yeah, I should also point out on Friday Night
Drift a lot of great podcasts. We mentioned the obviously
the flagship, The King County Podcast is up there, and
I think there's a couple new ones. I don't know
if they're just for this week, for schedule drops or
for expanding out with Mason and Kan.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yes, yeah that's coming, So.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Keep checking wherever you get your podcast, hopefully it's on
our site. We appreciate that, appreciated you listening. Uh, we'll
be back in what about a month? Anth Less probably
with the Week one stuff. So we're calling it, dude.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
We're calling it. Thanks for listening, everybody, and thank you.
I'm JT. Penalty. That's Eddie Carripfio and we'll see you soon.
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