Playoff Preview for Southern Illinois 1A-5A

<span id="more-222721"></span>The 2021 season is wrapping up all over the state, and now it is  PLAYOFF time. We are in for a treat in the coming weeks with intense competition all over the state. 19 Southern Illinois football teams will compete in the 2021 IHSA football playoffs. Here are the teams and the matchups with some breakdown of big matchups. <hr /> <strong>CLASS 5A:</strong> (16) <strong>Carbondale</strong> <strong>(5-4)</strong> at (1) Kankakee (Sr.) (9-0) Carbondale played a demanding schedule this season and now has to walk into the #1 seed Kankakee, a juggernaut of talent this fall. Tomele Staples has had a stellar season throwing to Pierre Allen, who has 875 yds and 13tds. Carbondale’s RB [player_tooltip player_id= "65719" first= "Gabe" last= "Hillard"] and WR [player_tooltip player_id="74206" first="DeMarcus" last="Funchess"] will aim to pull off the upset this Saturday on their journey north. (12) Metamora (5-4) at (5) <strong>Marion (8-1)</strong> Marion and Head Coach Kerry Martin have put another solid season together, with their only loss coming from a good Cahokia team. Venson Newsome has been an absolute terror downfield this season and his entire career, for that matter breaking school records for all-time receiving leader in multiple categories. Marion, yet again, will look to make a run through the 5A bracket. <strong>CLASS 4A:</strong> (12) <strong>Harrisburg (5-4) </strong>at <strong>(5) Carterville (7-2)</strong> Carterville faces a Bulldog team they recently beat by a good margin in the season’s final contest, 45-12. Three-year starter 2022 LB [player_tooltip player_id="155411" first="Ivan" last="Jones"] and his fellow Lions plan to do it again this week. Carterville has powerhouse Rochester in their bracket come 3rd Round, though they will have a formidable Freeburg team to get through before that. (15) <strong>Salem (5-4)</strong> at <strong>(2) Breese (Central) (8-1)</strong> The last time these two teams faced off was a 7-6 battle in favor of Breese, so you can’t let the seed placement fool you. Salem has a stout team for 5-4 who won’t go down without a fight. [player_tooltip player_id="155245" first="Caden" last="Bee"] is the top weapon for Salem and could prove to be the difference-maker in this game. (10) Macomb (6-3) at <strong>(7) Murphysboro [Coop] (6-3)</strong> Murphysboro is another Southen Illinois team that is coached extremely well with experience in the playoffs finishing Runner-Up in the Championship game in 2019. They are a younger team led by 2022 OLB/G Justin Hunter and 2023 MLB/HB Ethan Finke, who never come off the field as 2-way starters. The Red Devils are starting seven sophomores on defense and two on offense, making them a young team only going to get better. (14) <strong>Columbia (5-4)</strong> at (3) Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) (8-1) <strong>CLASS 3A:</strong> (12) Hoopeston (H. Area) [Coop] (5-4) at (5) <strong>Fairfield (8-1)</strong> Fairfield is a well-coached hard-nosed team led by Murray State commit DB/WR [player_tooltip player_id="155538" first="Camden" last="Robbins"]. They look to make a statement in the opening Round win heading into the 2nd Round. Two linemen standouts for the Mules in DL/OL [player_tooltip player_id= "149645" first= "Payton" last= "Allen"] and NT [player_tooltip player_id="155281" first="Logan" last="Kreiter"] will also be relied upon to make a run through the bracket. (15) St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) (5-4) at (2) <strong>Mt. Carmel (9-0)</strong> Mt. Carmel has an excellent team starting with an offensive line that locks in every snap, and running behind that is 2022 RB [player_tooltip player_id= "65852" first= "Zeke" last= "Hadra"], who is as dangerous as they come. Newcomer 2024 QB [player_tooltip player_id="132936" first="Blayne" last="Sisson"] has had an excellent season with a balanced attack of 950 passing yards and 750 rushing on an impressive 67 carries for 11 scores. [player_tooltip player_id="155248" first="Zach" last="Allen"], Gage Kennard, and Dirk Knight look to make their presence known in this post-season run. They will more than likely meet #3 Benton in the 3rd Round for a prominent matchup. (10) <strong>DuQuoin</strong> <strong>(5-4)</strong> at (7) <strong>Carlinville (7-2)</strong> (14) Piasa (Southwestern) (5-4) at (3) <strong>Benton (9-0)</strong> Benton is led by All-State 2022 QB [player_tooltip player_id= "65707" first= "Keegan" last= "Glover"], who has a staggering 75% completion rate, 25 TD, 1729 yds, 510 rushing yards, 13 TD, QBR 147.2, and is 1 of 3 QBs with 1500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. His supporting cast of RBs is stellar Wyatt Upton, Landon Bolen, and Jacob Kinsman. FS/WR [player_tooltip player_id= "155522" first= "Chase" last= "Thomas"] is the other All-State player on this team who is a tackling machine with superb technique. Benton could see their biggest season test versus #2 seed Mt. Carmel who is also undefeated in the 3rd Round. <strong>CLASS 2A:</strong> (16) <strong>Flora (5-4)</strong> at (1) Decatur (St. Teresa) (9-0) (9) <strong>Chester (7-2)</strong> at (8) Vandalia (7-2) Chester has 2022 RB [player_tooltip player_id="155142" first="Jordan" last="Merideth"] that runs through bodies on every level of the defense with conviction. 2022 WR [player_tooltip player_id="155251" first="Cooper" last="Eggemeyer"] is tall and long that will stretch the defense often. They will have to get through Vandalia, and if they do, they more than likely meet #1 Decatur (St. Teresa) in round 2. (13) Carmi (C.-White County) (6-3) at (4)<strong> Breese (Mater Dei) (9-0)</strong> Breese plays a freelance schedule, not a conference, and plays schools bigger than themselves all season. The defense allowed an impressive 93 points this season; the opposition will not score easily. Offensively 2022 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id="155536" first="Trey" last="Gerdes"] leads the way with impressive play-making anywhere on the field. The 2nd Round looks like a big matchup against Darkhorse Johnston City, who is playing outstanding football right now. (12) Lawrenceville (6-3) at (5) <strong>Johnston City (8-1)</strong> Johnston City is a darkhorse team led by Wisconsin commit [player_tooltip player_id="57168" first="Austin" last="Brown"] and 2022 QB [player_tooltip player_id="182016" first="Corbin" last="Hickey"]. They have a stingy defense that has allowed 78 points on the season. I can see a deep playoff run out of the team if not a state title. (11) Mendon (Unity) [Coop] (6-3) at <strong>(6) Nashville (8-1)</strong> Leading the Hornets is 6’5 190lb 2022 QB Kolten Gajewski who has put up 345 points offensively. The defense has held their own with 95 points allowed, making them a dangerous team per usual entering the postseason. <strong>CLASS 1A:</strong> (11) Casey (C.-Westfield) (6-3) at (6) <strong>Sesser (S.-Valier) [Coop] (7-2)</strong> Leading Sesser is 2023 RB/CB Brock Chelf, a 2-way starter and returner who plays the game with a high IQ and relentlessness. You can see when he plays; it is with conviction, and he has a true passion for the game.  With Brock running the ball, Sesser has a real shot at a deep playoff run if they can get by a good Athens team in the 2nd Round. <hr /> Next week we will have the winners of Southern Illinois and the breakdown of the winning matchups, plus what to expect in Round 2.