PRZJordan’s Round 2 Games of the Week Here and Now
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Round one is in the books of IHSA Playoff action throughout 8A to 1A classification. With that being said we had great games across the board and ended up having a few upsets in the makes as well. As we…
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Continue ReadingRound one is in the books of IHSA Playoff action throughout 8A to 1A classification. With that being said we had great games across the board and ended up having a few upsets in the makes as well. As we look at Round 2 action, we have a handful of Games of the Week throughout all classifications and we’re going to highlight some of those below.
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8A
Lincoln-Way East vs Nequa Valley
There’s going to be a TON of talent on both sides of the ball in this contest ranging from Jake Scianna Jake Scianna 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Lincoln-Way East | 2023 State IL to Grant Larkin Grant Larkin 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL and company. If I were a college coach I would head here as there’s a lot of D1 caliber prospects competition in this one. Lincoln Way East has a handful of very talented young men that will more likely than not go play D1 ball once their high school careers are over. This includes Jayden Cook Jayden Cook 6'2" | 180 lbs | RB Lincoln-Way East | 2023 IL , Josh Janowski Josh Janowski 6'2" | 275 lbs | OL Lincoln-Way East | 2024 State IL , Cade Serauskis Cade Serauskis 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Lincoln-Way East | 2024 IL , DJ Ritter DJ Ritter 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Lincoln Way East | 2023 State IL , Trey Zvonar, and Bradley Abbott to name a few. Switching over to Nequa Valley, QB Mark Mennecke Mark Mennecke 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL is a dominant dual-threat QB that is as good as they come and has a darn good HB in Jaden McGee Jaden McGee 6'1" | 210 lbs | RB Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL as a 1-2 punch when running the option. Let’s also not forget about a top LB in Cole Dutkovich Cole Dutkovich 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL who is easily a Top 100 player in IL for his class. This will be a great game with great prospects on both sides of the ball, a game you don’t want to miss.
7A
Hersey vs Batavia
You want to see some of the top talent in the state go head to head? Look no further as Batavia has two of the top 10 LBs in the state that are both going to play P5 ball with Jack Sadowski and Tyler Jansey Tyler Jansey 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Batavia | 2023 State IL . Their QB Ryan Boe Ryan Boe 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Batavia | 2024 State IL is also an up-and-coming prospect that has untapped potential, pair this with Ryan Whitwell Ryan Whitwell 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Batavia | 2023 State IL switching over to RB and you have a team that is primed for a deep playoff run. Moving over to Hersey, we have one of the top young gunslingers in Colton Gumino at the helm working in tandem with Ryan Stearns Ryan Stearns 5'8" | 155 lbs | WR Hersey | 2023 State IL , Logan Farrell, and Carson Grove Carson Grove 5'11" | 185 lbs | ATH Hersey | 2024 State IL to name a few.
6A
Simeon vs Crete-Monee
Simeon has had an impressive season so far staying undefeated at 10-0. Everyone knows about Malik Elzy Malik Elzy 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Simeon | 2023 State IL being one of the top WRs in the state, but standout Andre Crews Andre Crews 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH Simeon | 2023 State IL has taken control of the backfield and completely set his recruiting on fire being a dominant force each game and earning himself multiple P5 offers. Let’s also not forget about Angelo Stockstill Angelo Stockstill 6'4" | 175 lbs | ATH Simeon | 2023 State IL , Mikeshun Beeler Mikeshun Beeler 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Simeon | 2024 State IL , Jaykwon Armour Jaykwon Armour 6'2" | 150 lbs | DB Phillips | 2023 State IL , Christian Burgess Jr, and Cameron Ashley Cameron Ashley 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Simeon Career Academy | 2023 State IL either as they all can make their impact felt. Switching over to Crete-Monee, the duo of Joshua Franklin Joshua Franklin 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Crete Monee | 2023 State IL and Lynel Billups-Williams Lynel Billups-Williams 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Crete Monee | 2023 State IL is as dominant as they come in the receiving core that are straight playmakers. Pair this with QB Corey Stennis’ dual-threat ability and DB standout Edward Clark III Edward Clark III 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Crete-Monee | 2023 State IL you have a team that can score in an instant and limit opposing offensive attacks.
5A
Sycamore vs Carmel
Sycamore is one of the few 10-0 teams left in the state and have had one heck of a season being led by the connection between QB Eli Meier Eli Meier 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Sycamore | 2023 State IL to WR Burke Gautcher Burke Gautcher 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Sycamore | 2025 State IL on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, they are held down by LBs Kiefer Tarnoki Kiefer Tarnoki 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Sycamore | 2023 State IL and Ethan Bodie as well as DB Tyler Curtis Tyler Curtis 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Sycamore | 2024 IL . One thing to note about Burke Gautcher Burke Gautcher 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Sycamore | 2025 State IL is that he’s been a menace at receiver after switching over from QB once he got to the Varsity level having high potential at both positions. QB Eli Meier Eli Meier 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Sycamore | 2023 State IL is as good as they come with his spin rate, ability to make all level throws, and be one heck of a pro style QB. Switching over to Carmel, their offensive attack has a 1-2 punch with RB Donovan Dey Donovan Dey 5'11" | 185 lbs | ATH Carmel Catholic | 2025 State IL and ATH Torey French Torey French 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Carmel Catholic | 2024 State IL as the can both gash opposing defenses if you don’t fill holes and/or secure open field tackles. Once they get into open space they have the foot quicks to be off to the races and are both threats in the air attack. Can’t forget about QB Johnny Weber that’s at the helm of this offensive attack working as sa pro style QB that can put the ball into the recevier’s basket and can lead them open as well. On defense, this is lead by LB Kyle Lynch along with DB Dev’ion Reynolds and DL Rosevelt Henderson Jr.
4A
Carterville vs Coal City
Carterville is another undefeated team left in the playoffs sitting at 10-0 entering this 2nd round contest. My way too early MVP pick for 4A football is on this team in the dominant DL Jordan Cordes Jordan Cordes 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Carterville | 2023 State IL who is a dominant edge rusher and can stuff the run consistently – so much so that opposing offenses try to run plays away from him and he still comes away making the tackle on the play. On offense, Carterville has the connection between QB Andrew Hellriegel Andrew Hellriegel 6'1" | 165 lbs | QB Carterville | 2023 State IL to WR Kade Lustenberger to keep the chains moving and take deep shots downfield as WR Kade Lustenberger uses his long reach to play above the rim – he stands at 6’5 185. Let’s not forget about OL Eli Moorse & OL Jaden Smith keeping the pocket clean for their QB in pass pro as well as creating running lanes. Switching over to Coal City, it all starts with QB Braden Reilly being at the helm and using his offensive weapons to his advantage. These include RB Landin Benson, ATH Derick Carlson, WR Wyatt Wickiser, and ATH Braiden Young – all of which got into the endzone when I saw them LIVE in action during Week 7. On defense, they have LB Austin Davy along with ATHs Derick Carlson and Braiden Young making their mark here as well.
3A
Unity vs Mt. Carmel
This is a battle of 9-1 teams that both have outstanding young men on both sides of the ball in 3A action. Starting with Unity, they have a dominant DB in William Cowan William Cowan 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Unity | 2023 State IL that is a complete ball hawk in the secondary and plays the alley well delivering heavy blows on ball carriers. Playing underneath him in the box is LB core Boden Franklin and Austin Langendorf along with DL Alex Abrahamson that do a good job plugging gaps in run support. On offense, you’ll need to keep an eye on QB Cale Rawdin connecting with WR Jay Saunders and the run game with RB Matt Brown running behind OL Jacob Maxwell. Switching over to Mt. Carmel, they have arguably one of the top players in the 24′ Class in ATH Blayne Sisson Blayne Sisson 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL that is a sure fire P5 caliber prospect. His playmaking abilities are on full display on both sides of the ball as a QB/WR and as a DB where he can put the team on his back and will them to a win. Also be sure to keep an eye on OL Connor Shelby and WR Gavin Smith.
2A
Johnston City vs Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Johnston City has one heck of a front seven DL Brock Baker Brock Baker 6'1" | 220 lbs | DL Johnston City | 2023 State IL and DL Logan Hunter Logan Hunter 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Johnston City | 2023 State IL that have the ability to control the line of scrimmage as well as LBs Connor Mowery and Boston Peyton Boston Peyton LB Johnston City | 2023 State IL working gap to gap well. On offense, they have the dynamic RB Isiah Watson Isiah Watson 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Johnston City | 2023 State IL that can gash opposing defenses if you give him a sliver of an alley where he can then use his foot quicks to break a long run. Switching over to Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, they have one of the top players in IL in RB Kaden Feagin Kaden Feagin 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Arthur-Lovingston/Atwood-Hammond | 2023 State IL who is committed to The University of Illinois. This power back is as dominant as they come being able to run through defenders and break long runs in the process when doing so with his foot quicks. Pair this with fellow RB Landon Waldrop Landon Waldrop 6'0" | 175 lbs | RB Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond | 2024 IL and WR Jayce Parsons, you get a high powered offensive attack. The matchup between Johnston City’s defense going up against this offensive attack is going to be one to watch – I’ll be sure to get the popcorn ready.
1A
Chicago Hope Academy vs Forreston
Chicago Hope Academy is 10-0 coming into this matchup going up against a 6-4 Forreston team that knocked off the 7-2 St. Bede team by 24 even though they were pegged as the underdog. Chicago Hope Academy has one heck of a player in WR Judah Mallette Judah Mallette DB Chicago Hope Academy | 2023 State IL that can take the top off of opposing defenses as well as break defenders off running underneath routes. He is also one heck of a safety on defense being a ball hawk. Speaking of other names to watch, these include QB Eddie Jenkins Eddie Jenkins 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Chicago Hope Academy | 2024 IL Jr along with LBs Joseph Okoh and Nehemiah Wilson. Switching over to Forreston, they’re coming off one heck of a game against St. Bede winning by 24 points. As they have the momentum coming into this game, look for them to continue to play with confidence against this talented Chicago Hope Academy team.
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