WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.120 Schwiker, Cannison, Krizak Rundio proudly sponsors for Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike 2 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:07.240 Krizak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance 3 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.480 company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of 4 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:14.599 dollars for our clients. Visit G A N A S S I N dot 5 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:29.440 com Friday Night Drive Pill Valley edition of the podcast. I am the Calviali 6 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:34.119 of the Chronicle Sports editor, Eddie Carriffio. I am alongside JT. Penalty, 7 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:39.240 the shaw Shaw Media regional sports editor. I'll get it one of these 8 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:43.200 days, is we have like one of these, Max left. I don't 9 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:46.000 know what I'm dude. I don't know what I do here either. I 10 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.000 Oh, I know what you do. It's invaluable. I just don't know 11 00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:56.640 how to say the words in the right order. So that's that we all 12 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.439 know what you do here. JT. And it is like a rose by 13 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:03.039 any other name would smell as sweet. Eddie, how's it going, man, 14 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:06.519 it's going great. I want to start with a little story. I 15 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:11.359 usually don't talk about NIU that that's not what this podcast is about. But 16 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:17.640 I want to tell a story from the NIU from the NU game on Saturday, 17 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.519 and you'll see the relevance of this immediately, and it's gonna lead us 18 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:25.319 into something we definitely want to talk about here on the much more high school 19 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.560 local scale. So after an IU one, they beat Ohio OHIOO the fifth 20 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:34.079 ranked defense in the country coming into the game, and IU wins by a 21 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:38.439 couple of scores. After the game, coach Hamnet comes in. Now Ship 22 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.760 pointed out that at the end of all my previews, I predict the score 23 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.799 of the game. I have gotten every NAU game except one wrong this year. 24 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:49.400 If I say they win, they're gonna lose. I say they lose, 25 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:55.920 They're gonna win. Hammock comes in, walks past me to get to 26 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:57.840 the podium, points right at me and said, who'd you pick this week? 27 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.239 Like I went with Ohio. Yeah, that's two weeks in a row, 28 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:10.120 isn't it. So now I bring this up because during the press conference 29 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:14.680 he talked about how they block out the outside noise too, that that's something 30 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:16.599 they try to they block it. They don't care about what's being said outside. 31 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.400 Now, if I'm not the noisiest noise that ever noised. I don't 32 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:27.159 know what noise it is they're blocking out. But why I bring this up 33 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:31.159 is it seems I think the Patriots they didn't invent it, the New England 34 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:35.879 Patriots, but they perfected it. Then nobody believes in US, even when 35 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:40.360 you've won eighty three Super Bowls in a row. Exactly. It looks like 36 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.879 JTU pointed this out in our notes, it looks like Byron was playing that 37 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:51.240 card this week after they did what they did all year against Dixon. Yeah, 38 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.439 we talked last week and kind of previewed that game pretty pretty heavily because 39 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:58.719 you know, I was showdown to undefeated teams in the big Northern kind of 40 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:00.479 a big matchup, and you know, Byron did what they've done all season. 41 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:04.560 You know, they beat Dixon forty nine to six. And you know, 42 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:08.400 running back Cayden Considine ran for two hundred and fifteen yards and four touchdowns. 43 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:10.759 I think he had one hundred and ninety some yards in the first half. 44 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:15.199 So that gives you sometimes that gives you an even better picture than the 45 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.560 final stats. You know, if one kid has one hundred and ninety some 46 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.879 yards in the first half, but afterwards he said, which you know, 47 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.360 ties beautifully with a bow with what Eddie was saying, which, by the 48 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:29.000 way, obviously noise is filtering in if the first thing he does is press 49 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.360 conference, point at you and talk about who you're picking. Wasn't even sitting 50 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:36.599 down, walked in saying it trying, which is fine if you want to 51 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:38.120 do it, do it. It's mean I messed up. I've been horrible 52 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.120 picking your team's games. We don't say you're blocking out the noise because again, 53 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.479 hello noise. Well don't point at the noise and say, hey, 54 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:49.120 noise, I can't hear you noise. What did you say? Noise? 55 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.479 But no it really struck me. Cayden Constantine in the story of Byron beating 56 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:00.919 Dixon. In Dan Lusso's story for our Sister Paper up in Soccer Our, 57 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.120 I guess Sister Paper is the wrong way to look at one of our great 58 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:09.560 Friday night drive local markets. But you know, Consantine said afterwards, he 59 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.680 said some people might have thought were overrated. We shouldn't be number one in 60 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.879 the state. I think tonight we prove we're the best in the state. 61 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:23.000 I don't think anyone thought Byron is overrated, and I don't think anyone thinks 62 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:27.120 that Byron isn't probably the best team in Class three A. But what stuck 63 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.560 out to me and the reason ninecluse to my notes is you know, holy 64 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.199 crap, man, if if you can outstore outscore your opponents, excuse me, 65 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:35.759 if you can outscore your opponents by an average score is sixty two to 66 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:40.279 five and still have that kind of chip on your shoulder, you know, 67 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:44.160 good luck Class three. I have fun with Byron because if this is how 68 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:47.720 if this is the mindset they really have at going into these games no matter 69 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:53.839 how much they're up, you know, good luck. It's it works. 70 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.639 I mean, like like I said, the paint, it's I don't think 71 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:00.560 the Patriots invented that, but man did they perfect it. You know in 72 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.959 the in the aughts, and the teams with that no one believes in us. 73 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:06.639 It's something a lot of teams copy here all the time. Now. 74 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:11.319 I mean that's just especially at the college level, definitely in the NFL. 75 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:16.600 It's you occasionally hear it high school wise that there is a lot less noise 76 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:20.160 just in general. That's well, that's why I would love to know who 77 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.120 who exactly is he referring to? Like did the coach just say this to 78 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.759 fire them up. Was there someone saying, oh, they should have been 79 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.360 like on some like random Twitter guy they found, or like I would love 80 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:38.959 to know the context of that, like where obviously they Yeah, obviously they 81 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.959 weren't listening to us, because pretty much every week we've been like, wow, 82 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:46.279 Byron. So I'll say Byron is overrated. They don't look like a 83 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:48.839 team that's outscoring opponents sixty two to five. They look like a team that's 84 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:56.199 outscoring opponents like sixty one to five at best. I said it exactly, 85 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.160 and you know what I was going, And I'll just say on the flip 86 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:01.600 side of that, you know, Dixon, you know you lose that game, 87 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.519 and I'm sure you know your crestfalling. You know, weird word to 88 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:09.800 use on a Tuesday morning, but I'm sure that you're you know, you're 89 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:12.560 coming in undefeated. You're like, man, this is for the championship, 90 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.720 and you know you kind of get railroaded a little bit. But you know, 91 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.600 if you're Dixon, you're still seven to one. You've made the playoffs 92 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.079 for the ninth straight year, which is still weird for me to think of 93 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:25.519 from back in the old n se IC NYM twelve days. Let's just say 94 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:30.160 that move away from the Morrises and Sycamores and Ottawa's of the world has done 95 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.439 Dixon a world are good. You know, you're in the playoffs nine straight 96 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.680 years and you know you got six and two North Boon team that's going to 97 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:40.319 be a nice playoff prep for you coming up this week. So I really 98 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:42.560 hope Dixon can you know, kind of bounce back and get some of that 99 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:46.720 momentum back going into playoffs, because losing forty nine to six to Byron's nothing 100 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:49.079 to hang your head about. And you know, Dixon's obviously a very good 101 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:54.120 team, so hopefully they can bounce back. Yeah, obviously it's the closest 102 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:58.639 game, right that. Yeah, they replace k They're the only team that's 103 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.920 played Dixon that close to this year less than fifty I believe, right, 104 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:06.600 so in the forties. So I mean there's that. Obviously, that's not 105 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:11.879 something that hang you know whatever, It's still a forty six point loss. 106 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:16.079 Whatever it is. Math isn't a strong suit, but it's I think you 107 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.360 said it. This game against North Boon is is just huge for them. 108 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:23.680 I mean, I mean they have and this is anecdotal, but just going 109 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:25.759 for me, looking at things. I think if you go back and look 110 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.439 at it, like every year there's a b NC loss that Dixon has that 111 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:33.079 maybe they shouldn't of and you know, this is like, right for one 112 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.879 of those, you know, not the North Woon's bad. Obviously there's six 113 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:42.360 and two coming in. It's but this is one of those that Dixon should 114 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:46.199 win, that should be motivated to win. A big difference playoff wise between 115 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.639 eight and one and seven and two. That's a it's a really nice seed 116 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:53.720 if you're going in eight and one. So there's a lot of them to 117 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.839 play for and I think it's gonna be very telling. And I think it's 118 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:59.120 also important to kind of see where North Boon is at. You know, 119 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:05.199 we we've talked about that, uh that those five teams in the b NC, 120 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:07.560 and we'll get into more here in a second, but you know, 121 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:11.360 North Moon's kind of at the top end of those five. They've still been 122 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.319 been on the butt a couple I think once, but you know, by 123 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:18.560 one of those seeds back there. But for their sake going in, I 124 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.040 mean, if they want to prove they're closer to Dixon than they are to 125 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:24.360 that that middle is a big one for them. There's a lot going on 126 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:28.959 in that game, and it's not one to sleep on this week and four 127 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:35.879 and four matchups or eight and no versus eight and no spoiler alert. Well, 128 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.200 and you know what else is, and this is you know, we 129 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:41.840 talk about morale and bouncing back and blah blah blah. You know, very 130 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:45.320 realistic thing here is, you know, playoff seeds matter, and and you 131 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:48.720 know in other sports maybe you know, sometimes not as much. You know, 132 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:50.320 Okay, well you're going to have to beat the top seed in order 133 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:54.320 to win the region. You know, in football it means are you home 134 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.159 for the first week of the playoffs. A lot of times that means you're 135 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.720 also home for the second weeks of the playoffs and also means you're home for 136 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:03.279 the four round of the playoffs. So winning getting a higher seed matters. 137 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:07.120 And for Dixon, you know, every year we see seven and two teams 138 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:09.159 go on the road that first year of the playoffs. So you you know, 139 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:13.080 it depends on playoff points, depends on geographical breaks. So you know, 140 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:16.159 if you're Dixon, you want to fin it ain't just about morale and 141 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.799 raw rod and we can prove we're still good, and you want to be 142 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:22.519 eight and one, so that you can be home in week one, probably 143 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.039 home in week two barring a I'd call it an upset. But these seeds 144 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:28.679 aren't really seeded by people with point spreads. They're just kind of based on 145 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:35.200 how you did and who you played and Whatnotill, yeah, I suppose so 146 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.960 been there for years. But yeah, I mean this game, this game 147 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:45.120 has, this game has actual meaning beyond the you know, raw rod bouncing 148 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:46.480 back. They you know, you want to win this game. You want 149 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:50.320 to be at home, you know, next Friday night, next Saturday night, 150 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.039 and you want to you know, a chance to start the playoffs a 151 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.919 week or two. Two of the first three games are almost guaranteed to be 152 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.440 on the road if you can, you know, get to eight and one, 153 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:03.559 if you're seven and two, who knows. Yeah no, And obviously 154 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.519 North Boon's in a similar vote, they go in at seven to two. 155 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:09.039 That that's getting them a home game, and that's you know, not putting 156 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:13.879 them probbably on the road. And round one so that that that's a good 157 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:18.039 one that I think is gonna fly under a lot of Radaris this week. 158 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:24.399 Also, you know, sticking in the BNC, I want to go through 159 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:28.960 this middle here for a second. We've talked about it all year. Obviously 160 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:31.879 Byron's up at the time. Okay, Byron no one. I don't think 161 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:39.399 no actual person other than you know, football Monster for twenty on Twitter is 162 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:46.519 putting Byron down. So I don't know. Yeah, so their top I 163 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:50.720 think Dixon your second. But then you've got North Boone, Stillman, Valley, 164 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.919 GK, Rockford Lutheran, Oregon, North Boone. They might finish the 165 00:10:54.919 --> 00:11:00.200 Europe six and three. You know, you're gonna have five teams between four 166 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:03.559 and six wins in that conference. Chances you are going to have a four 167 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:07.519 wing team. One of the group's definitely gonna have four wins, either Genoa 168 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:13.200 Kingston or Rockford Lutheran. They're playing both four and four. Someone's going to 169 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:15.879 the playoffs, someone's going home. It's like a playing game, you know, 170 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.440 like those all those soccer games that have happened late last week. It's 171 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:24.320 a it's a player. Do you know what else I love to see, 172 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:28.759 Eddie And I just I pulled up on on the ihs's website the big Northern 173 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.519 Conference standings. I'm just you did that, and I always you know, 174 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.960 over the years, you know, conference has changed so much. You have 175 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:37.960 closed conferences, and when you have a closed conference like this where basically, 176 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.480 for those of you who don't know, it's there's ten teams, you play 177 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.759 nine games, so everyone plays each other once and that's your football season. 178 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:48.759 Have fun. And uh, when you when you have those and you look 179 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.679 at these standings, uh, it's it's like if you look at the records 180 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:56.399 and then the playoff points, it's simply math. There's no non conference things 181 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:01.399 where Okay, we've scheduled a tough opponent week one and now maybe made a 182 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.440 loss to them, but they're gonna go eight and one and we're gonna get 183 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:07.559 eight plays. So just going right down Byron has thirty two play playoff points, 184 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:11.759 Dixon thirty three, North Mooon thirty four, Stillman Valley thirty five, 185 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:15.759 Genoah Oregon, and Rock even by the end of the year, right, 186 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.399 because that'll all be right. That's how playoffs was basically. I mean, 187 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.840 the only way you can cost yourself playoff points in a close conference is by 188 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.919 winning, and wins are more important than playoff points. So the only reason 189 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.279 I bring that up, and I wanted to look that up is number one. 190 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:33.279 And it always strikes me, is it? It soothes my mathematical ordered 191 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.320 soul to when it just plays out like that. But beyond that, you 192 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.240 know, also all of these four and four teams that you're talking about, 193 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.159 that half of them are going to be five four. None of them are 194 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:46.320 gonna have any problem getting in the playoffs because their playoff points were pretty much 195 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.240 predetermined. If you're gonna have this record, you're gonna have this many playoff 196 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:52.039 points, and in a close conference, everyone's gonna end up. Everyone who 197 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:58.759 wins right around five six four games is gonna end up right around forty playoff 198 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.840 points. It's just math. So you know, in the big Northern if 199 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:05.159 you can get that fifth win, you're pretty much in. And like I 200 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.759 said, you know, Kingston, Rockford, Luther and are playing each other 201 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:13.240 for that fifth win coming up on Friday, Oregon there four and four they 202 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:18.000 need to win being at Rockford Christian who is and eight, And I think 203 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:22.840 you would say decidedly Oen eight. So barring something massive happening there, it 204 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.799 looks like Oregon we'll get to five and four, And like you said, 205 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.679 that's pretty much your birth Stillman Valley also probably going in five and four because 206 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:35.000 they're five and three at the moment. They get themselves Byron in the week 207 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:39.519 nine. So yeah, but I mean yeah, when you're in a close 208 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.240 conference like this pretty much every week, if you win, you get what 209 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:46.600 is it, four playoff points and if you lose, you get five playoff 210 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:48.159 points. And that's just that's all there is to it. I love, 211 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:52.279 I love close conferences. I think they should if we don't go to districts. 212 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.519 Not to bring that up, but if we don't, I think everything 213 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.639 should be a close conference. And that way just you know, it saves 214 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.879 you. You mentioned this morning you were writing for the Daily Chronicle area all 215 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.679 of your kind of playoff scenarios of story, and I did one yesterday for 216 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.600 the Illinois Valley area and I'm going to dive into one for the Joliette Harold 217 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:15.120 News Morris Harold News area today. And boy, close conference sure makes writing 218 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.840 stories like that easy. When you're in lose, you're out. No, 219 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.120 Absolutely, the ten team conference is the way to go. The problem is 220 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:28.879 is the practicality of it just doesn't work, especially when you have the biggest 221 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:33.039 thing is like rivalries between teams that aren't the same size. You know, 222 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:37.120 if you were to go to like a ten team district, or if you 223 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.279 were to keep the conference model, but somehow mandate they're all tended. They're 224 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.519 gonna do that. You might as well make it a freaking district. It 225 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.879 doesn't matter at that point. But you know, because like the Calm Sycamore, 226 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.120 you know, that's the one that jumps up in my head, you 227 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.840 know, with the cal being a class or two ahead of Sycamore, or 228 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:56.879 at least two classes ahead of Sycamore. Yeah, Streeter, Yeah, and 229 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.879 I have that with Streeter Ottawall where Ottawa was U a class big, a 230 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.240 lot class larger than Streeter, and they're not no longer after you know, 231 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:07.360 decades in the same conference, they no longer are and you know, something 232 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.080 like that might make them lose that but but you know, lose that game, 233 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:16.240 which would be a shame. But that's the biggest issue. Yeah, 234 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:20.519 that's the biggest issue with the close conferences. So which the BNC is and 235 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:24.799 then you're gonna end up with you know, usually it's close you chalk or 236 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.360 close to chalk. You know, we are the nine win team, they 237 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:31.159 win team. Maybe the team that should have won six only wins five because 238 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:35.279 one of the fives beat them and some of both or whatever. But you 239 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.559 know, basically it's usually chalking. The BTC. This year is just like 240 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.240 I said, you're gonna have three five win teams and another four win team 241 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:48.159 by the time it's all set and done. Yeah, look at at it 242 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:52.480 with whichever one doesn't make the playoffs g K or Rockford Lutheran. I mean, 243 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.000 boy, you know you'll get your schedule and you're just like man. 244 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:58.960 And I think for them it comes down to that North Boon North Boon, 245 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.600 for both of the North Boon just put the hammer down on both of them, 246 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:04.360 and I think that was unexpected going into the year. I mean, 247 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.600 obviously North Boone. I think most people probably thought they were more middle of 248 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.559 the pack, you know, in that pack, and not on the top 249 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.240 of the middle of the pack, or perhaps separated. We'll see how it 250 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.840 all is a planer, but anyway, just a fascinating conference this year, 251 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:22.840 I thought, anyway, with a clear cut team that deserves to be number 252 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:29.799 one in the States. Yes, and no matter what Caden Constantine's neighbor is 253 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:33.000 yelling at him from the backyard to get in his head before the game, 254 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:37.519 to get a motivated know I think you know, you know, they're they're 255 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.919 they're probably you know, I guess you can't say that they're gonna win a 256 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.879 win a state championship, but boy, they're sure high up on the list 257 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:48.559 of favorites. Yeah. Well, I never know what private school they're running 258 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:52.240 to. That should probably be two classes higher. Same thing, so many 259 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:57.840 public schools running to every year. Yeah, so I think we can call 260 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:03.799 this a break. We're gonna pay some bills and then we're gonna hop back 261 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:10.359 in a little bit more to talk about before we get to the biggie, 262 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.599 the big one, Sycamore Morris eight and oh eight and oh, we'll hit 263 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:21.720 that all when we when we get back. This is State Representative Steve Reich, 264 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.200 and I'm happy to sponsor this year's Friday Night Drive. There will be 265 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.720 plenty of time for politics down the road, but for now, let's enjoy 266 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:32.920 some high school football. Whichever school you follow, give him your support. 267 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:40.119 Welcome back to the Friday Night Drive podcast, Illinois Valley Edition. And you 268 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:42.200 know, Eddie kind of we were talking a little bit during the break that 269 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:47.680 you know, most weeks we spend probably two thirds of the show talking about 270 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.480 what happened the week before and about a third preview in the week to come, 271 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:56.039 and then we get sidetracked on districts or lake kickoffs or what brought it 272 00:17:56.119 --> 00:18:00.400 up. You said the D word white, I know, to get me 273 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:03.559 rolling. But uh, you know, this week obviously be in week nine 274 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.440 season ending, it's much more important to look ahead, not just to week 275 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:10.359 nine, but to the playoffs and the ramifications of these games. These are 276 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:12.480 always kind of back in our days when we still did agate, you know, 277 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.519 and designed it ourselves and our scoreboards in the paper. Yeah, I 278 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.440 know, Eddie did a shiver, and that's exactly how I feel about it. 279 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.119 You didn't like being in the office at two am waiting for West Coast 280 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:27.440 Baseball and the least favorite job, and I'm glad it barely exists anymore, 281 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.079 although it's also sad it doesn't exist because it shows you how much papers are 282 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:34.839 shrunk. But Agate monkey was the least favorite physician I think I've ever held, 283 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.759 amen and one of my favorite things that I did like running in the 284 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:41.359 agate, but I did not like coding it, putting in all the spaces 285 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:47.400 and the bolts and everything. So we should point out that that's when when 286 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:52.119 you look at the sta scoreboard, box scores, that's that's that is a 287 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.000 yeah. And at the end of every professional sports season, they would, 288 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:00.440 uh the Associated Press would release a here's all the playoff scenarios for a week 289 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.519 sixteen, back before there were bys and whatnot, and here's you know, 290 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:06.559 if this team beats this team, then this I love those things. I 291 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.880 would like reserve an extra page in the paper just to run all those scenarios 292 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:12.480 if this team loses. But if they tie, then there's a coin flip 293 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:17.839 on Thursday. And so I always enjoyed. I think this is the funnest 294 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:19.880 part of a sports league with the postseason that you have to win to get 295 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:25.119 into. Is you know this talk about what has to happen this last week 296 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:27.839 and who can get in and who might they play and Friday Night Drive Steve 297 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.799 Susie is like your ultimate source for that for high school football. But we're 298 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:34.920 gonna try and do a four man's version here just around kind of our neck 299 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.519 of the Neck of the Woods. And I was gonna start kind of maybe 300 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:42.480 with the Illinois Central Eight, the Ice Conference, no real thrilling Week nine 301 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.680 matchups kind of going around. I'll be at Street or Wilmington I'm not expecting 302 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:51.240 a thrilling game, but hoping it's a good one. Get to see Streeters 303 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:56.559 Christian Benning slinging around one last time. The kid's really really good. But 304 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.440 you know, no, nothing fantastic. The one that kind of sticks out 305 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.920 of me is Mantino's four and four. They have to play Cole City, 306 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:07.319 who's six and two. They need to upset them to get in. That's 307 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.680 gonna be a tough one. Uh, patone already has five wins, but 308 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:15.160 they only have thirty playoff points. They're not in a closed conference, so 309 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:18.799 that thirty playoff points with five wins probably gets you in every year they kind 310 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:21.519 of it kind of feels like that goes down a little where the playoff point 311 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.000 cut off goes, but thirty now they'll probably end up with thirty five ish. 312 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.839 That probably gets them in. But you know, they could use it 313 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:30.599 really used to win at a two and six Herscher to kind of cement it, 314 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.039 you know, and then kind of sliding over to the Chicagoland prairie before 315 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:41.400 we run away. Yeah, yeah, what do you think Mantino's odds are? 316 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:44.000 We know Cole City and then we've talked high Cole City a lot this 317 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:45.839 year. We thought they might have had that upset bit against what was it 318 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:51.640 Willington might have had that upset, but obviously it didn't pan out for them. 319 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:56.640 But does Mantina what what? What's got a click for Mantina to get 320 00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:00.640 that done? So I did get to see them cover them once this year 321 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:04.839 and they're they're they're a good football team, are they Cole City level? 322 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.640 I've also seen Cole City this year. I mean, I don't think so 323 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:14.480 proved me wrong, guys, just just it works for a Byron. But 324 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:18.559 yeah, I don't I don't see Mantino upsetting them. But you know, 325 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:21.279 that's why you play the games. I think Cole City is definitely probably the 326 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:25.480 more talented team, the more you know, solid team Mantino. What they 327 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:30.279 did was they took great advantage of a weaker stretch of schedule and they won 328 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:33.519 all those close games and they got got themselves in this position where now it's 329 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.599 Week nine and if you can pull off an upset, you can get in. 330 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.599 So that's uh, you know, that's sometimes that's all you can ask 331 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.960 for. Give yourself a chance that week nine and have something to play for. 332 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:45.160 Yeah, they did what they had to do earlier. See if they 333 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.640 get the upset as big as the road as it might be. Okay, 334 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:52.039 I'm sorry to interrupt. You're going on to uh the Chicago Land Prairie. 335 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:55.640 I was gonna ask you, Eddie. Has the Chicago Land Prairie won you 336 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:59.440 over these past few weeks? They've had good games, great matchups with playoff 337 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:07.039 ram if itations, you know the playoffs. Three weeks it's about all you 338 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:10.680 could ask. Definitely a step in the right direction. Give me districts. 339 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:15.160 We should have invited Suh. Sus volunteered to come on and and uh be 340 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:23.240 the devil and argue against districts since you're agnostic and obviously a devout believer, 341 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:30.200 a fanatical believer in the districts. But we shout him down. I guess 342 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:33.400 yeah. I think he's got to be stuff going on. He's got a 343 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:36.519 little bit going on here. Week nine of the season. I think that 344 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.720 could be a fun one, maybe to put a bowl on the season. 345 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:41.079 Maybe is just kind of sitting down with Sus and let him kind of vent 346 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:45.759 on it, because sometimes he's so busy with the details of things that he 347 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:49.599 doesn't get to to share his opinions on the bigger picture of things on his 348 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:55.039 podcast, which he does with Kyle Kyle Neighbors, which you should definitely be 349 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.240 checking out. If you're checking this one out, I can't imagine you're not 350 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:00.119 listening to that one. But he's got you know, we just let them 351 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:03.079 come on to this one and just rant. You know. It's it's like 352 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:07.759 when whenever you get a big celebrity to a guest star on a small show, 353 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:11.759 that would be uh, let them just ran against it. But now 354 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:15.240 I still think the Chicago Land Prairie is as good as the games have been 355 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:17.559 the last couple of weeks, and as good as the games are shaping up 356 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:22.960 to be. Uh. This week kind of proof with how spread out it 357 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:26.880 is forfeit issues that we're there's still kind of proof that the districts are a 358 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:29.920 good idea. But like I said, yeah, it looks like some good 359 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.799 ones coming up this week. Yeah. Yeah. For the first year of 360 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:36.079 the conference, I said, I imagine it had to be intentional where all 361 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.640 of the regional rivalries all took place over the last three weeks. I think 362 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:41.279 it's kind of surprising that, you know, the four top teams in the 363 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.880 conference happened to be the four from down around the Illinois Valley. I'm not 364 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.960 saying that they're not good programs. I was the Ottawa and Seneca and Saintete 365 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.960 have nothing to prove. Dwhites kind of popped its head up and looked around 366 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:55.440 and said, hey, we're not too bad and and you know, interesting 367 00:23:55.480 --> 00:24:00.480 for them this week. You know they have five wins right now, but 368 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.519 you know their playoff points there are at thirty one, so they're kind of 369 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.160 one of those teams walking that line. So Dwight could really use a win 370 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:11.000 this week. Saint Bede probably has enough to get in even with their five 371 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:14.440 and three. They take on eight no Seneca, so that's a that's a 372 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:18.759 tough one to go. But I think I think we've seen what this conference 373 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:22.640 could be here these last few weeks. Some of these teams you know that 374 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:25.759 are having to forfeit. You hope they keep varsity football or keep playing eleven 375 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:29.079 man. But you know, what we're seeing here at the end maybe is 376 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:32.319 enough to draw the eyes of some other Class one A, Class two A, 377 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:34.880 maybe even Class three A schools from down around this area to get them 378 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:37.559 to start looking around and being like, well, you know, if if 379 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:41.720 someone does you know, if Walter Christian does go to eight man football and 380 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:44.279 you need a hole to fill, you know, maybe that is a good 381 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:47.720 fit for us, you know, whereas maybe a month ago it looked more 382 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:51.839 likely that the conference would just fall apart. So it's exciting. It's exciting 383 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:55.839 for the teams in the air and the communities down here all playing each other, 384 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:59.920 all having playoff ramifications the last third of the season, week after week 385 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:04.640 after week. So definitely definitely looking forward to a strong finish for that conference. 386 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.599 And really the only other thing that kind of stuck out in my mind 387 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:11.039 that I wanted to bring up was down in my neck of the woods, 388 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:15.400 we have LP, Bureau Valley, and Fieldcrest are all four and four, 389 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:22.680 And when I was writing those aforementioned playoff scenario stories for the Illinois Valley area, 390 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:29.319 that kind of I kept putting Sea above see above, as I said 391 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:33.640 for LP. Yeah, because what you got Field Cress is playing seven to 392 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.359 one, Leroy, Bureau Valley playing seven to one Morrison, and lasal Prue 393 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:42.400 playing Caitlin, which I believe spiritually is a seven to one team at least. 394 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:45.640 Yeah, I think I put in in that one. I think Caitlin, 395 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.920 and you would know this better than me, but I think Caitland is. 396 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:51.839 It's something like their three losses are the teams that have a combined one 397 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:55.559 loss, and those losses are by a combined seventeen points or something. It's 398 00:25:55.720 --> 00:26:02.279 ridiculous how close they are to being a team. It's about to become two 399 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:07.240 combined losses at the very least, because either Sycamore or Morris is losing week 400 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:11.680 nine. So well, maybe Caitlin's not that good then bad. Yeah, 401 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.920 but yeah, all three of them are four and four. Uh, and 402 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.880 the four of them LP Bureau Valley and Field Crest, and all of them 403 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:22.960 really have to pull up an upset to get there. So I just I 404 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:26.039 find that interesting when you come down to those scenarios. We talked about the 405 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:30.359 same thing with Mantino having to beat Cole City. They're in that boat too, 406 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:33.440 you know, those four and four teams you know that are sitting there 407 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:36.440 with you know, it's fun to have something to play for in week nine, 408 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:40.160 but boy, you wish you were playing someone else. Yeah, that's 409 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.839 the way the cookie crumbles. I said, you take care of the games 410 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:45.200 you're supposed to win. Although, uh, the South correct me if I'm 411 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:48.400 wrong. If they had taken care of one of those games, because they 412 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:52.920 lost the Woodstock North a couple of weeks ago, right, correct, Correct, 413 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:56.119 they had taken that one, they'd be five and three and not in 414 00:26:56.279 --> 00:27:00.920 the must win situation. I assume their playoff points would be fine to get 415 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:03.160 it just fine, Yeah, it would. It would be the exact same 416 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:06.000 thing LP's done the previous three years, which is getting it five and four. 417 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.119 Beat the teams you're supposed to play, a couple of tough non cons 418 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:11.400 have, you know, the monsters that are in the now Keshwaukee River, 419 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:17.160 Interstate eight White and next year maybe just the Interstate eight before that, NIB 420 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:21.160 twelve whatever West where they I think they were a West. But yeah, 421 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:25.440 just kind of You know, LP's played pretty much chalk and this year they 422 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.759 one of them got away from them, and that's probably gonna keep them out 423 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:30.720 of the playoffs. I mean, they do have a decent amount of playoff 424 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:34.160 points, but I don't think enough for consideration to get it at four and 425 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:37.519 five. So and and Cainland, you know, I mean you're sitting there 426 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:41.279 at five and three, Eddie. You know, this is a big game 427 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:44.839 for Caitlin. They're going to be in regardless. I would think, you 428 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:48.039 know, when you playoffs, conference or the playoff points, but but this 429 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:51.480 is kind of a big game for them. I would think to kind of 430 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.839 number one, you know, boost that possible momentum in the playoffs. But 431 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:56.680 secondly, six and three and five and four can be a big difference on 432 00:27:56.759 --> 00:28:02.920 those seedings. It is, and they're also dealing with the injury to uh 433 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:07.839 A quarterback Troyer Carlson. It was hurt two weeks ago. They dom Deblasio 434 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:11.759 has taken over a quarterback at running almost exclusively. I don't know exactly how 435 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:15.000 much they're throwing the ball, it's not a lot, and they're still being 436 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:21.000 productive on offense. They've switched there Johnson, a lethal wide receiver into a 437 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:27.960 lethal running back now. So if they are without Carlson a little longer term, 438 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:33.200 Supposedly he was a game time decision last week, so you would think 439 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:36.680 that it's an even stronger chance he's back this week. But it could also 440 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:40.119 be one of those things it's just not healing the way they thought so well. 441 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:45.160 Obviously, I have an update on that on Friday Night Drive dot Com 442 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.839 later in the week. I will probably by the time you listen to this, 443 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:52.480 it'll be up there, to be honest. So it's also worth worth 444 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:56.039 pointing out in this LP Caitlin game, this is a reversal I believe of 445 00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:00.839 last year when Caitlin was one and four coming in playing a five and three 446 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:06.000 Lecyle team needing a win to make the playoffs. Caitlin got that way. 447 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:10.960 Yeah, so yeah, maybe LP can return the favor of this week. 448 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:15.799 Kevin would know there's better than I would, But I think the Caitlin LP 449 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:22.559 history is very one sided. Yes, yeah, the Caitlan Sycamores, Morris's 450 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:26.440 they've they've done alright since since they've joined forces, you know, within the 451 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:30.359 mid twelve and then kind of latched onto those old nc IC teams and kind 452 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:34.720 of have traveled around with them. So yeah, they've that area has done 453 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.480 very you know, your area has done very well. Morris has done very 454 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:41.119 well. You know, LP Atawa they've had their moments, but not a 455 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:44.240 ton of success. And you know we're talking, we're talking, uh, 456 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:48.079 you know, Interstate eight. And I think that leads us right into we've 457 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:52.039 had our mazzarella sticks and our hold on. I still want to shove the 458 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.640 go ahead, give us some guacamole dip. Yeah, okay, no, 459 00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:04.240 see I'm discrediting al Peru in the COVID year beat Camland. Oh there you 460 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:11.839 go. So yeah, that year had wins over both Morris and Camland. 461 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:17.240 That was a weird year. And I'm not saying just because the lpbat in 462 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:21.599 March. Yeah it was. It was spring. It was the sun was 463 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:25.319 in the wrong place when you were covering games, and and the stands are 464 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:29.400 half. It was a very lots of weird things happened that that shortened COVID 465 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:33.920 season. Yeah, little South, Yes, the salth Peru went five and 466 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:37.400 one that year, including a win against Caitland and the win against Morrise. 467 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:42.440 They didn't play Sycamore that year, apparently that their only loss was apparently a 468 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:47.359 forfeit loss the Sandwich. I don't. I didn't even know they were giving 469 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:51.279 awarding forfeits that season. Yeah, I thought I understood them out. So 470 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:53.440 they actually might have gone five and oh that year. Because I just say, 471 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:57.799 sits usually very iffy when it comes to, uh, the that spring 472 00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:02.240 of twenty twenty year, because it's I guess just it's nature, you know. 473 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.480 So Okay, yes, I'm done. I'm wiping the thrums off my 474 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:18.960 face, cleaning the Marion Earra sauce up. Let's Gore Moors at Morris on 475 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:23.359 Friday. You know, I'm win the contest between oh yes, no, 476 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:26.920 I'm not. I'm not covering the game. Yes, I'm saying, uh 477 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:29.799 yeah, at the game's at Morris this Friday. And I think that's like 478 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:33.880 a big, a big thing. Sycamore took care of Morris at Sycamore last 479 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:36.680 year. You know, I think I'll take the home team. I've seen 480 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:40.440 Morris a couple of times, and uh boy, they're just they're just impressive. 481 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.799 I think uh. I actually pitched to Eddie about maybe doing like a 482 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:47.920 little point counterpoint if if he wanted to take the Sycamore side and just kind 483 00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.119 of say what each of these teams has going for him going into this. 484 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:52.480 One of my first one is that, you know, Morris is home. 485 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:56.079 They've won nine straight regular season home games, and the last time they lost 486 00:31:56.119 --> 00:32:00.519 on their home field in the regular season was that weird COVID twenty twenty one 487 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:04.519 spring season. We were just talking about that no one really knows what the 488 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:07.839 heck was going on, and whether you were playing or which kids were there 489 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:12.440 or if the IHSA site even has the results or so, so you know, 490 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.880 I mean, that's the last time they've lost a regular season game at 491 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:17.720 home, so I mean that obviously big home field advantage, big stadium, 492 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:22.839 awesome experience on game day, and I think that's definitely a plus for Morris. 493 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:29.160 I've covered one game there. It was way early on when I first 494 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.759 got here, but I didn't even minut as far back as fourteen and had 495 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:34.960 to be fourteen or fifteen because it was at the cow playing down there, 496 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:37.680 So I'm pretty sure it was the Coup. It might have been Sickmore. 497 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:39.039 I'm pretty sure it was the Barbs though, but yeah, you're right, 498 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:45.359 just the experience is ridiculous down there. I think, yeah, we could 499 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:50.000 do it point counterpoint definitely. I'm pretty sure the home team is won, 500 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:54.039 at least since the Interstate eight version of this rivalry. Since twenty nineteen, 501 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:59.640 I think the home teams won every time that they've played, definitely over the 502 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:02.400 last the two years when it's basically come down to the two of them last 503 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:07.279 week in the year for the conference title. So definitely, I think Moore's 504 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:10.799 gotten the games there. I think the most interesting matchup of this one, 505 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:15.680 and I guess you could call this a key for Sycamore is that defense. 506 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:23.359 Morris's offense obviously it scuare at least thirty five points every game. Sycamore's defense 507 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:29.039 has allowed less than six points or said seven points or less than every game 508 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:34.799 except one they gave up twenty one to game. So I think that that's 509 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:37.200 what this game comes down to, is which team is going to be able 510 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:42.599 to play their style, you know, if it's low scoring in defensive oriented. 511 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:47.319 Morris obviously great defense, but I think that that speaks better to Sycamore. 512 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:52.400 I mean, Sycamore loves these really long drives that love the ball control. 513 00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:55.400 If they're able to do that and keep the Morris offense off the field 514 00:33:55.519 --> 00:34:01.880 and keep Morris from doing what they do offensively, I think it's a And 515 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:07.359 I realized when you say that that's asking a lot, it is. It 516 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:09.000 is, And you know I wouldn't be that being said. I'm right there 517 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:13.639 with you on that. I think that you know Morris, they they put 518 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.480 up thirty five points in Week six win over Richmond Burton. That's the lowest 519 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:20.880 point totally been held to this year. They're averaging I think thirty or what 520 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:23.760 is it. I can't remember a lot. It's like forty five. Yeah, 521 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:29.800 a game. But I think I think it should be pointed out. 522 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:32.480 I I fully suspect Sycamore is going to hold Morris under thirty five points. 523 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:37.000 I'd be stunned if they didn't. Oh, I think they absolutely will. 524 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:40.639 I think they'll hold them. I'll put a number. I I think it'll 525 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.559 be in that twenty one. I don't know if they have a field goal 526 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:49.079 kicker, twenty four have a good kicker then and then that twenty one to 527 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:52.880 twenty four range. Yeah, but you know, I don't think they shut 528 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.760 them out like last year. You know, A Carter Button and a j 529 00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:00.039 z Weiers, the quarterback and number one receiver for Morris, are just you 530 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:01.760 know, they've both been setting school records left and right here these past few 531 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:06.000 weeks. Running back Jacob Sports, I just saw him last week at Ottawa. 532 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.360 You know, he's really muddy, so they kind of kept it on 533 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:10.159 the ground a little bit more to establish things before they opened it up. 534 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:14.519 And boy, he's a great running back that you just don't hear anything about. 535 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:17.760 And and you know, I think Morris is gonna you know, put 536 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:22.239 some points on the board, and I think their defense is good enough to 537 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:24.880 limit Sycamore to where I think I'm I think I'm there with you. I 538 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:29.079 would not be a bit surprised if we saw something like a you know, 539 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:35.679 seventeen sixteen game or or something in the in the team's low twenties by the 540 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:38.559 time this one's all over. Yeah. No, I think that that's definitely 541 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:43.000 where it's ending up. I mean, Sycamore Simmers offense isn't bad, but 542 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:47.199 good defenses can present problems with them. I mean, I mean Michelle holding 543 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:51.000 the twenty one, Kaitlin holding the twenty two, that was in back to 544 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:54.880 back weeks, you know, and Kaitlyn's defense has been up and down this 545 00:35:55.079 --> 00:36:01.559 year. That was definitely en up for them. Yeah. So I think 546 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:06.320 it's gonna be ball control, you know. I say that, But for 547 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.880 Sycamore is gonna be one of the big keys is ball control. But they're 548 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:13.719 they're gonna need a big play at some point. They're they're gonna need a 549 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:16.639 big play and that probably means Burke Goucher. He seems to be the one 550 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:20.679 who prides and by the way, uh Burke Coucher. Burke goucher at their 551 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:28.599 quarterback committed yesterday or Sunday to Iowa, So the junior juniors all taken care 552 00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:35.960 of. He's got his plans figured out. So that's obviously continues that Sycamore 553 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:40.840 Iowa pipeline that Ben and Nick Neeman both started. I've been and Nick Neeman 554 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:45.039 are both I think they're both still in the NFL. Won won a Super 555 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:50.280 Bowl with the Chiefs, so at once with your boys on the charger, 556 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:53.880 so it was on your with your boys on the chargers. So the point 557 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:57.880 is that pipeline is alive, and well, the big play probably means gonna 558 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:00.440 come from him, either with his arms or with his legs. You know, 559 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:06.119 he finds Carter York on a deep route like he's done so many times 560 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:09.840 this year, or just turns a little run up the left side into you 561 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:15.159 know, fifty sixty seventy yards. They're going to need the big play at 562 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:19.440 some point because they're probably gonna need a quick score because it might be behind 563 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:22.199 at some point. You need to get back in a hurry before they can 564 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.320 roll off. You know, twenty a play eighty R drive. Yeah, 565 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:30.639 and you know you wonder how first up, I mean, how exciting, 566 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.519 you know for the teams, you know, the kids and these teams. 567 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:37.639 You know, we consider we know we've recorded this podcast since what week two, 568 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:40.559 week three, and every week this game has come up, even if 569 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:43.480 it was just a mention, oh yeah, but week nine, you know 570 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:46.800 that more is sick and it's come up every week in might be it just 571 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:52.199 a mention or a detail or you know, looming on the horizon is can't 572 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:58.199 look ahead past and now you know it's well, now certainly it's gonna be 573 00:37:58.239 --> 00:38:00.840 such an exciting environment and and uh, you know, such a such a 574 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:04.400 such a big game feel two weeks in a row, and you know, 575 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:07.239 we talked about the Chicagoland Prairie. Good job scheduling. I don't know how 576 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:09.039 much of it's intentional, how much of it just kind of works out that 577 00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:13.639 way, but uh, you know, credit to the k r I eight 578 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:16.360 pick your favorite color of the rainbow for for this one, because you know, 579 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.800 this is two years in a row where we've had just a fantastic Week 580 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:23.239 nine game that's gonna feel like playoff football between two of the top teams in 581 00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:28.320 their classes. Yeah, I think I think some conferences try to do that 582 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:30.519 on purpose. They try then you know, I see does it? I 583 00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:32.920 mean they got the big one coming up here with the win, and uh, 584 00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:38.480 I think it's forresting playing the b n C. I mean, I 585 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:43.159 think theoretically they did it with Byron and Stillman Valley. I think they were 586 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:45.039 playing the odds on that one for what it's been the last couple of years, 587 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:50.599 and so I think conferences to try to get them the match up like 588 00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:54.000 that. I think clearly that's what the I'm just gonna say the I eight 589 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:58.880 because this is the I eight portion with the woodstocks in there. It's the 590 00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:04.199 I eight division based. So I think I did it as why My guess 591 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:08.239 is it would be on purpose and Sycamore or more closed the year against each 592 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:15.119 other and now and it is of interest, I believe unless something changes here 593 00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:17.960 in the very new near future, be it the district proposal that you broke 594 00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:22.039 last week getting on the ballot and passing, or some other teams jumping in 595 00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:28.679 here. I believe when I spoke with Atoa's athletic director for the story about 596 00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:32.760 kind of kind of the district breakdown and whatnot and the interstate signing off on 597 00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:36.360 that, I believe Week nine is going to be an open week, is 598 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:38.199 the intention. It would be Week three and Week nine would be two weeks 599 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:42.280 that are non conference games that the Interstate would have to fill because of their 600 00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:45.039 weird number of teams. So this will be the last time we get this 601 00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:49.840 in Week nine for a little while unless something changes, and hopefully it does 602 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:54.840 so. But out of the I actually said, we'll see if it changes 603 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:58.679 by the time the capsules come out. But oh well, it's not technically 604 00:39:58.719 --> 00:40:00.840 my pick of the caps anyway, it's the consensus, and I assume when 605 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:06.840 you see the capsule will probably say Morris. But that's what I'm thinking right 606 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:09.360 now too. I'm kind of leaning toward Morris. It's gonna be a great 607 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:15.079 game, and it's I think it's close to a coin flip. They could 608 00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:17.320 play ten times. I think each team would win five. Love to actually 609 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:20.960 see them play ten times. Maybe instead of a playoff, they can work 610 00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:25.239 something out and do that again, because it would be a tremendous series. 611 00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:29.679 But well, I'll reach out to coach Hammock and see what he thinks about 612 00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:34.400 your prognosticating skills, and yeah, there we go. Put a button on 613 00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:40.559 that back. So oh, I got a press conference in like an hour 614 00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:45.760 and a half, I get to go back there. I'm I'm really upset 615 00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:46.800 and bring up about the noise. It's like killing you know when you come 616 00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:52.400 up with the comeback after the fact that it just if you bring it up, 617 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.400 and if you bring it up now, it just looks pathetic, like 618 00:40:53.639 --> 00:41:00.480 thought exactly George Costanza the Jerk Store called. Yeah, it's just it's exactly 619 00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:07.159 when you realize you're being George the Stanza. It's definitely a time to reflect. 620 00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:10.880 So anyway, we got some good games this week. We will be 621 00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:15.440 back next week next We haven't talked about it, but I'm assuming next week's 622 00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:19.800 are a season finale. I hope season and not serious finale, but it's 623 00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:24.119 I think our season finale next week as the teams have been reduced. But 624 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:30.679 anyway, we'll be back finale or no finale to talk about week one of 625 00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:34.199 the playoffs coming up. We'll talk about that Sycamore and Morris week nine game. 626 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:37.039 It's it's a great time. Yeah, it's this is you know, 627 00:41:37.119 --> 00:41:42.039 the nights are chilly, the sun, it's pitch it's already dark out when 628 00:41:42.079 --> 00:41:45.320 the when kickoff happens. And this you know, this is what feels like 629 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:47.960 high school football. I love I love wearing shorts on the sideline and being 630 00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:52.440 warm and blah blah blah. But this is what feels like high school football. 631 00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:55.079 You know, the pork chops, smoke hanging on the field because there's 632 00:41:55.119 --> 00:42:00.199 no moisture in the actual air. And this feels like high school fo all 633 00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:01.480 to me. And it's gonna it's gonna be a fun finish to the season. 634 00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:06.880 Wow. Well, we'll have all your updates Friday Night Drive dot com. 635 00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:13.039 Make sure you're on there Friday Night the Live show with Seuss and Jake 636 00:42:13.159 --> 00:42:21.960 Bartleson. Your favorite correspondence calling in plus me So anyway, that was a 637 00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:27.480 cheap That was a cheap self depreheating humor anyway for JG. Battlety, I 638 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:34.679 met a Carriffio. Thank you very much. Take care, Schwiker Gannison Krizak 639 00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:37.519 Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krizak. If you've been 640 00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:40.519 injured, we are ready to take on the insurance company and get you to 641 00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:44.880 the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. 642 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:47.159 Visit the g A N A s s i N dot com,