Week 9 Games of the Week in Illinois

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt Carmel vs Loyola </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the last week of the regular season this is the game that will draw most of the attention. This will most likely be the game of the year let alone of the week, as two Illinois powerhouses square off in Week 9. Mt Carmel will be traveling to Wilmette Saturday at 1pm. This has all the makings to have a big game atmosphere. The Caravan have rolled through their schedule with their only real test coming in the season opener when they took down East St Louis 36-33. Loyola has been on a similar path as they cruised through their schedule with no real test up until this point. Loyola has outscored their opponents 294-56 on the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Loyola): 2024 RB Will Nimesheim, 2024 DB Kenny Langston, 2025 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1291979' first='Donovan' last='Robinson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Mt Carmel): 2024 DL [player_tooltip player_id='277121' first='Darion' last='Williams'], 2025 QB [player_tooltip player_id='131488' first='Jack' last='Elliott'], 2024 RB [player_tooltip player_id='148856' first='Darrion' last='Dupree']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams look to be pretty evenly matched and equally well coached. This game will come down to the turnover battle to see who can steal a position. I predict the Ramblers will need all 4 quarter and possibly overtime but will end up making a few more plays late to come away with the victory. Prediction: <em>Loyola</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sycamore vs Morris</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 9 will feature another battle of the unbeaten as Sycamore makes the hour drive south to take on #15 ranked Morris. Sycamore has been playing some good football all year especially on the defensive side. They have been stout only allowing around 6 pts a game. On the other side Morris offense has yet to been slowed down in 8 games averaging 45 pts a game. It should be fun to see both sides battle it out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Sycamore): 2025 DB [player_tooltip player_id='278895' first='Burke' last='Gautcher'], 2024 DB [player_tooltip player_id='271875' first='Tyler' last='Curtis'], 2025 WR [player_tooltip player_id='358308' first='Carter' last='York']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Morris): 2024 QB Carter Button, 2024 WR AJ Zweeres, 2024 RB Jacob Swartz</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As good as Sycamore's defense has been this year Morris will be their biggest test. It could be a slow start as both teams try to feel each other out but Morris' offense weapons might be too much for Sycamore to handle. I look for Button to distribute the ball down the field to his playmakers and come away with a Week 9 victory as they head into the playoffs. Prediction: <em>Morris</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rochester vs Sacred Heart-Griffin </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams are no stranger to one another, Rochester will make a quick trip over to take on SHG Friday night. SHG comes into this game 6-2 after getting upset by Decatur MacArthur last week. They can get the bad taste out of their mouth with a win over their cross town rival this Friday. To do so they will have to find ways to slow down the high powered Rochester offense who has been averaging 55 points a game! Coach Leonard's offenses are notorious for scoring a lot of points and can attack defenses in a multitude of different ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Sacred Heart-Griffin): 2025 LB [player_tooltip player_id='179735' first='Kelen' last='Wilson'], 2024 RB [player_tooltip player_id='271901' first='Ethan' last='Hagele'], 2024 EDGE Jake Kepler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players (Rochester): 2024 RB Nolan Mrozowski, 2025 QB Bryan Zulauf, 2024 DE/TE [player_tooltip player_id='899319' first='Lance' last='Ingold']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rochester has proven this year that they are an offensive juggernaut and have yet to be slowed down let alone stopped. Even though SHG has key pieces on defense, the Rockets offense just looks too strong for SHG to handle. Prediction: <em>Rochester</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->