WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.960 Schweiker, Gannison, Krazak, Rundio Fridley sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm 2 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.759 Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the 3 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.400 insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions 4 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:23.800 of dollars for our clients. Visit ga Nassim dot com. What's up everyone, 5 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:27.359 and welcome back to the Friday Night Drive Podcast. I am Kyle Neighbors 6 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:31.519 here along with Steve Susy, ready to get you set for week two. 7 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:35.799 It is Thursday morning when we're recording this, and we got a small smattering 8 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.880 of games taking place here on Thursday evening, but the main slate on Friday 9 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:46.280 is absolutely loaded in week two. Sus and I were talking about it yesterday, 10 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.560 sus Man, as you said, I don't think we've ever seen a 11 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:56.000 week two non conference slate as loaded as this one. Yeah, it's It's 12 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:02.799 simply a crazy situation in regards to the level and number of games out there 13 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.239 that are of great quality. You're looking at a situation where most weeks you 14 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:14.280 have three to five marquee games. Is that you're really kind of scoreboard watching 15 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:19.560 for and then maybe another list of about twenty games where you think maybe these 16 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.359 are toss ups and it'll be interesting to see how they come out. You 17 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.519 know, I think you can double or triple those numbers this week. It's 18 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:30.959 it's crazy. I mean, there are just so many games out there. 19 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.519 When you look at them on paper, you're like, I honestly don't know 20 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.680 what's going to happen in that contest. Yeah, we're gonna get into all 21 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:42.200 the games to watch here in Week two later in the podcast. We got 22 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:47.079 a lot to get to first. First off, make sure you follow us 23 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:51.840 on Twitter at Kyle Neighbors at the Suits. You can find Friday Night Drive 24 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:56.519 on Twitter at fn drive. You can also find Friday Night Drive on Facebook, 25 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.519 Instagram, and TikTok. Go to Friday Night Drive dot com you'll find 26 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:06.040 all your Week two previews, including suss updated playoff projection. After Week one 27 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.199 Suits, what was the most difficult thing of putting that together? Well, 28 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:13.879 the week one one is always really difficult. I mean you have some data, 29 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:17.960 but in some cases you have so very little and always kind of One 30 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:23.479 of the X factors is the Chicago Public League and they did another reorganization of 31 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:28.039 how they do things, So it just makes it really kind of hard to 32 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.879 parse the data right now with some of these programs that you just don't know 33 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:37.680 a lot about at this point in time, and that's ultimately going to have 34 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.960 a pretty big effect on the field because as if you know a lot about 35 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.680 this process, you know, the enrollments on the public league schools are kind 36 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:50.000 of all over the map, so it kind of shapes the playoff field in 37 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:54.599 different ways if you have different public league teams make the field. So sometimes 38 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:59.560 you'll have a you know, a smattering of mid level schools, you know, 39 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:02.840 mids schools, and that will change you know, where the break lines 40 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:07.400 are in each of the individual classes. So it usually takes a couple of 41 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:10.039 weeks to kind of really kind of get a clearer picture, particularly in the 42 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:15.960 CPL. But right now there's there's data, but there's just not enough data 43 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.879 to feel real strong about some of the picks that you make. It was 44 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:25.680 it was funny because prior to the season, Prairie Ridge is up here in 45 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:30.479 mckenry County. Their enrollment has been going down the last several years. They've 46 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.000 kind of been on that five A, six A bubble. As you've been 47 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:36.759 doing your enrollment projections this year. For the first time, you felt really 48 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:38.400 strongly though that they were going to be in five A. But because of 49 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:42.759 those CPL changes you're talking about when you did your projection, they ended up 50 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.560 right again on that five A six A bubble. And I bring it up 51 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:47.960 because it's funny because every time I go over to PR, someone on the 52 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.520 sideline always always gives me and gives you a little bit of crap because they've 53 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.919 heard this five A six A talk for several years now. They always end 54 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:00.000 up in six A. So it was kind of funny seeing them right back 55 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.199 on that bubble when you were expecting them to be firmly in five A. 56 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.520 Yeah, those you know, there are a couple of teams that I look 57 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:12.120 at immediately in regards to like wear the bubble ultimately falls and and Prairiege is 58 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:15.400 definitely one of those schools. But you know, early look at the numbers, 59 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.399 it looked like they were going to be safely in six seven eight teams 60 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.800 in that nature, but they tumbled down the list because of some of the 61 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:27.600 public league things and some variables right now that just honestly haven't fared at themselves 62 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:30.519 out because there are some programs that are included in the projection this week that 63 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:35.160 aren't usually playoff teams. I see a path to them getting there, but 64 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:40.680 there's also so many variables right now that could change those things. So, 65 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:44.120 you know, there's some traditional programs that I didn't have in the field this 66 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.879 week because I don't like the remaining schedule very much, and maybe they lost 67 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:53.399 their Week one game. But right now that the air bars are enormous on, 68 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.759 you know who gets in and who doesn't get At this point in time, 69 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.079 it gets more precise every single week. But really, right now, 70 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:05.360 it's kind of an exercise and looking at what's what the interesting results were more 71 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:10.800 than making it like a real accurate reflection of what I think the field's going 72 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:14.120 to look like all right now. Well, speaking of Prairie Ridge and the 73 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:17.199 Fox Valley Conference in general, I want to bring in Joe Stevenson, who 74 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:23.040 covers McHenry County for the Northwest heraldon Friday Night Drive dot Com. Joe, 75 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:28.120 starting outside of the Fox Valley Conference. Actually, you got to see an 76 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:31.800 interesting game on Friday night with Richmond Burden picking up a win against maryon Central. 77 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.879 What would your takeaway from that game? It was you know what that 78 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.959 game lived up to. The billing Richmond was last week was number three and 79 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:45.639 four A. Marion was seven in two A. And that first half was 80 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:48.920 about as good as it gets. It was tremendous first half. Richmond led 81 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:58.000 twenty one fifteen and a halftime and almost It was funny Marian scored with less 82 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:02.000 than two minutes to go. Richmond, not a prolific throwing team, through 83 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:05.079 a big pass, got down and scored with twenty eight seconds and then Maryon 84 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.240 almost scored right before halftime. Christian bitten Kerr caught a pass in the end 85 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:15.480 zone was was just out of bounds. A terrific first half, but in 86 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:19.040 the second half, Marian really had to deal with a lot of physical problems 87 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.040 from the heat, a lot of guys cramping up. I think at one 88 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:26.480 point there was like four plays in a row where they had a guy cramped 89 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:30.600 up and they had to stop and get you help him off the field and 90 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:34.040 stuff. And Benton Kerr it happened to him two or three times in the 91 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.800 second half because he's playing both ways. You know, he's running long pass 92 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.480 patterns, then he's coming back and playing on defense. Richmond didn't have those 93 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.920 problems, and Richmond played a great second half and one forty one to twenty 94 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.399 nine, really kind of control things in the second half. And I know 95 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:56.000 Mike coach mc noel was really proud of his guys because, you know, 96 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:00.920 whatever they had done, drinking the things they were supposed to do, you 97 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.279 know, they didn't have the problem scramping up that that Mary did. Marion 98 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.879 might have had a few more guys going both on both sides, and we 99 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:11.879 were some real significant problems. Yeah, we were talking about that Live a 100 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:14.759 Love with Friday Night Drive, Jimmy Mugil and I we were following your game 101 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.759 along. And this was kind of an issue throughout the state at you know, 102 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:21.680 common week one for you know, injury kids cramping up to begin with, 103 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:27.240 but then you had the heat all week long. Practice schedules moved around 104 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:30.600 on kids, and then it was still it wasn't nearly as hot on Friday, 105 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.639 at least in the northern part of the state. Down south that was 106 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:36.199 still incredibly hot. Northern part of the state wasn't as hot, but it 107 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:42.720 was still warm for week one, and I definitely had a feeling, particularly 108 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.480 with Marian going up again. Richmond Burden Maryan gonna be in two A this 109 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:48.720 year if they're in the postseason. Richmond is a four A school. You 110 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:54.759 just figured that that was going to play into RB's favor. Yeah, yeah, 111 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:57.639 I think a little bigger roster, maybe not so many guys going. 112 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.240 There's there's a few guys going both sides. But yeah, you know, 113 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:03.120 Richmond, Richmond looked really good. I don't know if this is going to 114 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.519 be as explosive of a Richmond team as we've seen, but you know, 115 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:13.160 their quarterback JT grow seven pass the PEMH. I want to say in that 116 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.000 game seven past attempts all in the first half five for seven, hit a 117 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:22.519 couple of nice long balls to Luke Resnihan and Max Loveall and and really looked 118 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.920 good for his first varsity game. They got the big fullback Braxton Nellison and 119 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.600 Jack Martin's is really fast. That's he's a really good track guy. He 120 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.440 was on a couple of their relay teams last spring that meddled at State and 121 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.720 he's he's a real fast guy. So you know, kind of looks like 122 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:46.080 Mike Noel and Richmond are going to do Richmond type things. Again, did 123 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.200 you get the sense coming out of that game though, I mean Christian Bennick. 124 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:52.000 What was the final statu for Christian benn and Kerr And that, my 125 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:56.720 goodness, nine for two, twenty and three touchdowns. Yeah, that'll that'll 126 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:00.679 work. There's a reason the Clupton commit, right, Oh my goodness, 127 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:03.519 you know. And that was a little bit of a factor there in the 128 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:07.759 second half when he had some problems cramping that. You know, he only 129 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.159 caught two balls after halftime. And I noticed when he was when he was 130 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:16.840 running, it didn't look like he was able to like go full speed, 131 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:20.000 you know. After he cramped up a little bit, which is understandable with 132 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.440 the way he was going in the first half. I actually live on the 133 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:26.679 show, was trying to pay attention to what was going on. But I 134 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:31.120 had to go to the IHSA record books and start looking up to see touchdown 135 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:35.480 and yardage totals for a single game because I thought he was going to smash 136 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:39.120 it at that rate. Yeah, it was pretty it was pretty crazy. 137 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:43.240 At halftime, it was what seven for one, I'm trying to think seven 138 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.000 for one, fifty and three touchdowns? Yeah, yeah, and like I 139 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.960 said, he almost had that fourth. I was on the other side of 140 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:52.320 the field. I don't know how close he was, but he caught the 141 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:56.399 ball and he was a step or two out of bounce. All right, 142 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:01.120 well let's let's go over to the Fox Valley conference. And you know, 143 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.720 Joe, I'm you're gonna have to to take your loves I guess to start 144 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.519 here, right. You know, I'm just happy that you asked me back 145 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:11.759 this week after I was singing the praises of Krista Lake Central last week and 146 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:16.879 uh and Huntley beats them the first week, and I'm like, I was 147 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.720 just happy that you asked me to come back home because I thought you probably 148 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:22.480 didn't think I knew when I was talking about No. I mean to listen, 149 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.840 that was a close game. Central had the lead laid into that game. 150 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:30.919 Huntley is an a day program, it's a you know, it's a 151 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.919 large roster. I think that's a and it's an encouraging sign that Krista Lake 152 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:41.480 Central was right there in that game. It's I guess what I'm The counterpoint 153 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:46.440 to that is that just shows a little bit how much, like you know, 154 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:52.039 for Krista Lake Central to get over that hump, they really have to 155 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:54.240 play at a high level. Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right, 156 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:58.159 and uh yeah, they had the lead, and you know, kudos 157 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:03.080 to Huntley for for coming up with a couple of big stops and two sounds 158 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.799 and what like the last four minutes to win that game. And Braylon Bauer 159 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:11.879 and his first varsity start at quarterback had had a magnificent game two hundred nine 160 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:16.840 yards rushing and ran in for the winning score. And yeah, so great 161 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:22.840 job by Huntley. Absolutely. Looking around the FBC, what else stood out 162 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.679 to you? Well, you know, the funny game I think that that 163 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:33.840 really kind of cut everybody's eye was Prairie Ridge six zero over Jacobs, which 164 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:37.240 these two teams, you know, had no problem in the last two years 165 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:43.840 just pouring on points and you get a sixth nothing game. Alex Kentucky, 166 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.480 our writer, you know, sent us a picture of his box scories is 167 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:50.639 this is the shortest box I think I've ever seen because one scoring play and 168 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:54.080 it was you know, you know, it's like it looked like it was 169 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.080 about five lines long. And yeah it was, you know, just not 170 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.120 what you expect. But on the other hand, you know, before the 171 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:05.639 season, Praye Ridge coach Chris Shrimp, you know, thought that this defense 172 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:09.919 would be much better. Like last year. They just had to go out 173 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.320 and outscore people, and they did it. They did it pretty well. 174 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:16.039 But you know, I think they're gonna have to win. That's not what 175 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:20.279 you expect from a prairie Prairie Ridge defense. No, no, yeah, 176 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:24.200 I mean oh last year. Yes, yeah, yeah, they've they've been 177 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:28.480 yeah. And so they've got like seven guys back on that side this year, 178 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:35.639 and so apparently they're gonna be a much much improved defense. And wow, 179 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:41.080 wow six to nothing. What a what a funny game. One other 180 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.279 team I want to mention before you get out of here, Joe, We 181 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:48.480 thank you for joining us here on Thursday morning as we record this with Carry 182 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:52.759 Grove, missed the playoffs last year, picks up a win in Week one 183 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.879 against Burlington Central. Uh, you know, an expected win, I would 184 00:12:56.919 --> 00:13:01.080 say, but I felt really good with looking at the way that game played 185 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:07.200 out, Carry Grove. The defense looked solid. And Logan Abrams, uh, 186 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:11.600 you know, we we we've we've heard of the Abrams boys before. 187 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:15.399 This is not uncommon here at Carry Grove. So here in a sophomore uh 188 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:20.200 in Logan Abrams already with big size. I want do you know offhand I 189 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:24.480 was talking to Tim Frowley, who covered that game, and he mentioned the 190 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.039 size. I want to say, he said, like, was it six 191 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:30.919 foot like two ten already? Oh no, No, he's six three two 192 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.000 twenty five. Okay, see I'm selling him, selling him short. Yeah, 193 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:37.080 he his sophomore. Yeah, he went to state last year in uh. 194 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.360 I can't remember if he went in wrestling. I'm not sure if he 195 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:45.279 went in wrestling. I know his brother wrestled, but he went to state 196 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.000 as a thrower in discus and track. Yeah, he's a big kid. 197 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.480 He's bigger than his brother Wade, who was on the state championship team, 198 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:56.200 played such an integral part a couple of years ago on the team that beat 199 00:13:56.279 --> 00:14:01.799 d Saint Louis an hard nosed player, like yeah, yeah, he's six 200 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:05.559 three, two twenty five, so he's he's kind of the size of even 201 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:11.960 a little bigger than Nick his song who was on the twenty twenty one state 202 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:15.120 champion team. And yeah, I think people are going to get tired of 203 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.440 tackling him for the next three years. He's a he's a big dude, 204 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:22.080 and and yeah, that's a that's that's gonna be a real problem for people. 205 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.960 And I'm that's gonna be That's a that was a tough game for me 206 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:31.840 to pick this week A week two with Kerry Grove going to Crystal Lake Central, 207 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.679 that's a that's an intriguing game to me. That's a that's a big 208 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:39.799 game for both those teams. Yeah. I was just gonna ask you before 209 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.279 you got out of here, what are you looking forward to in McHenry County 210 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.960 this week? And you mentioned that game. I know you have prayer Ridge 211 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.240 and Crystal Lake South another good game in the FBC. Yeah, I have 212 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.360 South and prayer Ridge, And that's an interesting because you know, now you're 213 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:58.519 looking at prayer Ridge is a really defensive a great defensive team. Wasn't able 214 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.320 to get a lot of offense, you know, out can score because they 215 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:07.519 got you know, Kayden Casamino's a terrific quarterback and has some great targets with 216 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:11.799 Michael Prokos and Colton Hass and some other guys. So that's gonna be A 217 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.960 that's gonna be a fun game for me to see. And I really you 218 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.039 know, those two those two matchups between the four D one fifty five schools 219 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.919 are real intriguing this week. All right, Joe, Well, thanks for 220 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:26.440 joining us with a great week one. Have a good time out there this 221 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:31.600 weekend. Yeah, thank you for having me back in spite of my predictions 222 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:35.200 last week. Oh no, listen, We're used to getting things wrong, 223 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:39.919 Susini, So don't don't feel bad the listeners. The listeners let us know. 224 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.320 So, especially early in the year, you don't really know yet now 225 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.399 I have. I certainly haven't given up any hope on christ Lake Central being 226 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:52.039 a very good team. I still think they're there. I still think they're 227 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.639 going to cause a lot of problems for people. All Right, well, 228 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.240 we're gonna take a quick commercial break and then we'll be back here. Michael 229 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:00.840 dwo Jack can I'm joined us to talk about the Chicago Catholic League and eat 230 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:07.759 Suburban Catholic Conference. Schweiker Gannison Krazak Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday Night Drive. 231 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:10.720 I'm Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on 232 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:14.200 the insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of 233 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:21.120 millions of dollars for our clients. Visit ga nassi n dot com. Welcome 234 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.720 back now to the Friday Night Drive Podcast. And we're gonna bring Michael Woljack 235 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:30.639 in now, who is joining us from the car here. Michael is getting 236 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:33.279 married this week until he actually won't be out covered in any games the next 237 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:37.000 couple of weeks. I'm guessing your trip out here in the car might have 238 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.679 a little something to do with that. You know, Surprisingly it doesn't it. 239 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:45.639 Actually, I was really smart. I'm the condo president from our h 240 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.080 OA here and we're doing some work, and I decided, you know, 241 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:51.960 one would be a great time to do some work around the building. Wedding 242 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.320 week would be the group for best time. So I am in the car 243 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:59.960 doing work. They're working inside the place, and I'm regretting all my decisions 244 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.080 right now. But we are in a good spot and we're here to talk 245 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:06.240 about football. Soa let's distract me for the next fifteen minutes and make everything 246 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:11.599 good. Yeah, so let's let's go back and start last weekend. What 247 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:15.720 give me a couple of things that really stood out to you from that first 248 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:19.279 weekend around the Catholic League. I think the first thing that really stood out 249 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:22.400 to me, and I was I don't know if Elon Musk made this hard 250 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.079 or anything like that. I wanted to go back to a tweet I had 251 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:32.160 last year after Week one when Mount Carmel destroyed Saint Rita and then Loyola beat 252 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:36.039 Saint X from Ohio, and I was like, just get me to Week 253 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.359 nine, like let's get that matchup. And I wanted to retweet that because 254 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:44.200 that's exactly the same way I felt after seeing what Loyola was able to do 255 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:47.960 and watching what Mount Carmo was able to do. I can't wait for that 256 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:52.839 Week nine matchup. Both Loyola Mount Carmel look for real. Both programs lost 257 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:56.440 a lot, but you know, they just bringing new quarterbacks Jack Elliott from 258 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.839 Mount Carmela and Ryan Fitzgerald for Loyola, and it just looks like the same, 259 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.920 same old And I can't wait for that Week nine matchup for these two 260 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:06.279 teams. I know, obviously we still have a whole season to look forward 261 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.880 to. There's a lot of great stuff that's going to happen, but that 262 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:14.240 Loyola Mount Carmel matchup that just looks juicy in Week nine and Loyola on the 263 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:18.400 Saturday again, and I can't wait for that matchup. But I know we 264 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.680 have a lot of good stuff to look forward to, but those two teams 265 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:22.799 is just the way that they came out. I'm really excited to see what 266 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:29.200 those two teams especially can do. In particular, I'm excited about Mount Carmel 267 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:33.799 because if they got the answer at quarterback, and it certainly appears to be 268 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.759 the case with Jack Elliott with that debut, then the fact that they have 269 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.680 Darien Dupree back and healthy this year, that is just a really scary combination 270 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:47.640 to go along with everything else. Of course the Caravan have. Well it's 271 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:51.319 crazy because, like I know, Steve was at the game and he actually 272 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.359 passed along a quote that I used in the notebook that I wrote this week, 273 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:57.039 But Jordan Lynch said, how are you supposed to stop that? Too? 274 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:00.920 Aheaded monster? You got Jack Elliot, who throw it and who can 275 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.599 run it on any play, and then you got darry And Dupre who isn't 276 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:07.680 only a good running back, but he's a really great pass catching running back 277 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:11.240 as well. So I think that offense is going to be so tough to 278 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:14.799 stop. And then once you get the wide receivers kind of into it. 279 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.599 As the season kind of progresses, I mean, they're just gonna get, 280 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.079 you know, more and more dangerous. I mean, you got a big 281 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:22.559 offensive line that you know, Mount Carmel's used to bring him back, and 282 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:26.880 they looked pretty good against East Saint Louis on Saturday as well. But yeah, 283 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:30.640 you got Elliott and dupre and both of them are big playmakers. Obviously, 284 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:37.839 Dupree's going to Wisconsin being recruited by Alabama. Elliott, I'm sure as 285 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.000 at the top of my head right now, I don't think he has any 286 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:42.240 college offers. That could be wrong, but I'm sure he'll get some college 287 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:45.400 looks with his talent, you know, to throw the ball and run the 288 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:48.680 ball. But yeah, I don't know really how you stopped at Mount Carmel 289 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.640 offense. And I'm really curious to see as we've kind of progressed throughout the 290 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.519 season. You know, brother Rice, they have a really good defense. 291 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:59.079 How are they going to match up against him? You got saying Rita and 292 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.839 you got Loyal obviously at the end of the year, so that offense will 293 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.200 definitely be tested. But I'm really curious to see again some of the better 294 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:08.279 defenses in the state. You know, what Jordan Winch is able to come 295 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:11.599 up with, and what those defenses, how they kind of game plan for 296 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:17.079 that two headed monster. You also on Saturday got a chance to see Maris 297 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:21.839 and you were over there with Josh Welki. By the way, if you 298 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:26.000 haven't yet, go over and listen to the Western Suburbs edition to the Friday 299 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:30.359 Night Drop podcast. Josh Welgi and Jake Bartleson talked about this game a little 300 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:37.160 bit. Glenbard West came away there with a seven six win, but Maris 301 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:41.200 that game was tied zero zero late in the fourth quarter. Michael, what 302 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:45.559 was kind of your takeaway from that? It was kind of interesting because Josh 303 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:48.119 and I were on the sideline and we were talking and we're like, are 304 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.279 these like just two really good defenses or is this like a two offenses? 305 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.400 They are still trying to figure things on, And it kind of felt like 306 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:59.559 both where Marit's defense and Glenbard West defense both really made a lot of great 307 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:03.799 plays, but also vice versa. The offense is really you know, they 308 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.559 were missing throws, there were some bad penalties, there were some drop balls, 309 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:11.319 and so it's kind of curious. I'm very curious to see, you 310 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:15.319 know, how Maris does against Brother Rice, because special teams really sunk Maris 311 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.960 in this game. I mean, they missed an extra point. On the 312 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:22.880 next play, Glembard West, Mason Ellen's returns a kickoff for a touchdown, 313 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:29.640 and then and then Maris misses a thirty three yard field goal to essentially win 314 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:33.039 the game after the defense kind of created a fumble in Glenbard West territory. 315 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.319 So I'm really curious to see how Maris responds from this week. You know, 316 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.880 they got a big rivalry match against Brother Rice. The Battle of Pulaski 317 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:45.680 takes place on Friday. But I'm very curious to see. You know, 318 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.440 Maris only had four returners from from last year's team, and obviously you saw 319 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:52.920 out of it an experience. And I know it's coach cliche to say that, 320 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.559 you know, the biggest growth happened from week one to week two, 321 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.839 but I am very curious to see how Maris is able to grow in that 322 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:03.759 week. Especias don't need to grow really quickly against Brother Rice. Yeah, 323 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:08.920 that Brother Rice matchup. Brother Rice coming off an impressive ten seven win against 324 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:14.240 Maine South in week one, but they really kind of grinded out that win, 325 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:19.279 that round out that win. This is a matchup here where it kind 326 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:22.960 of feels like it's gonna be another really low score and affair. Yeah, 327 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:26.279 I would kind of. I'm very curious to see. You know, obviously, 328 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:29.839 Maine South is a really good defense, and I saw that, you 329 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.599 know, Brother Rice is still doing their two quarterback systems, so they brought 330 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:36.599 in one quarterback at the beginning, second quarterback in the in the second half. 331 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:40.920 But I'm very curious to see how both teams offense is fair in this 332 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:44.720 matchup because I think we know that both Maris and Brother Rice have really strong 333 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:48.519 defenses. Obviously, Christian Pierce for Brother Rice has offers from mich Ohio State. 334 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:53.119 He's a junior linebacker, Trey Pierce's brother who is at Michigan right now. 335 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.960 And then obviously you've got Brad Fats Gibbons and Duke White for Maris. 336 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:00.160 But yeah, I am very curious to see how both of these offenses are 337 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:06.160 able to compete because I think we're still learning a lot about these offenses for 338 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:08.880 both of these teams. Because defense will take you as far as you can 339 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.880 go into the postseason. And obviously both of these teams are looking for deep 340 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:15.720 runs. But you know, if Brother Rice and Maris want to make the 341 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.440 semifinals, want to go down to Bloomington Normal. Their offense is going to 342 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:22.680 need to score, and I'm very curious to see, you know, how 343 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:26.000 they're able to do, how they're able to grow really quickly, whether that 344 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.079 passing game opens up for both of those teams, and whether the running attack. 345 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:33.720 You know, Mark Coy had a good game for Maris against Glembard West. 346 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:37.400 Obviously you're a good defense, but I kind of wanted to see more. 347 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.640 I wanted to see more of a you know, more of a ten 348 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.240 yard run, a twenty yard run, anything like that, as opposed to 349 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.720 maybe the more of the four and five that we saw against Glembard West on 350 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:53.039 Saturday. There were not a lot of surprises from the Catholic League's slate in 351 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:57.480 week one. Those teams a twenty four teams went seventeen and seven overall. 352 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:04.480 Was what did surprise you? Though? From week one? I feel like 353 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:08.480 the biggest thing that I was maybe surprised about, and maybe I shouldn't. 354 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:12.200 Maybe I just under valued, you know, how good kan Kiki was, 355 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:15.599 But I was surprised that Nazaret kind of had to Claud's way back into that 356 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:18.920 game. I thought the offense, you know, we we talked about it 357 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:22.240 last week. They've got a lot of offensive whip power. You know, 358 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:25.759 they have got a lot of you know, talent on that offense, and 359 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:27.160 I was kind of surprised that they kind of fell into a hole there. 360 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:30.559 And I'm not surprised that the defense kind of, you know, let kan 361 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:33.160 Kiki kind of, you know, do what it wanted to do. And 362 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:38.440 maybe I just undervalued, you know, how good kan Kiki was, especially 363 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:41.599 you know, looking at you know, what they returned, maybe some lack 364 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:45.880 of you know, returners from last year's team, and maybe just relying too 365 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:49.720 much on what Nazareth did at the end of last season. But I think 366 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:53.960 that probably was the most surprising game. Fenwick really put it on opr ref, 367 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:57.359 which is kind of interesting to me. I'm really curious to see, 368 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:02.519 you know, how that matchup was saying Nations goes this weekend in my rivalry 369 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:07.359 matchup, but I'd probably say naz and fen Work were probably my new two 370 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:14.279 surprising scores. Carmel one pretty handily twenty four to nothing against creed MONI you 371 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:17.720 got obviously seeing the Nations in the game I covered against Saint Patrick, they 372 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:19.720 were kind of get able to get away in that game. But yeah, 373 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:22.960 Nas and Fenwick seemed to be the biggest surprises for me in the week one. 374 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:26.559 All right, well, thank you for taking time to join us this 375 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:33.000 morning. Michael. You know what, Uh, don't think about football after 376 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:37.079 today for about two weeks. About that. Really, I'm really tempted because 377 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:40.079 there are a lot of great matchups over the next couple of weeks. And 378 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.960 I don't know how much in trouble I'll get in this new marriage if I 379 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.960 started just checking scores during the wedding and at the rehearsal dinner. But you 380 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.799 are you will see how it goes. I mean, you really are a 381 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.599 brave guy, because I know you well enough to know that you love football 382 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:57.279 and a marriage, getting married and a honeymoon. Right, not just you're 383 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:02.160 in high school football either, but the start of college football NFL be I'm 384 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:04.799 pretty sure the NFL first weekend is while you guys are still out on the 385 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:10.480 honeymoon. I'm gonna have to gonna have to find a way to keep the 386 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.799 phone tucked in the pocket. Right Listen, you do amazing things for love 387 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:17.200 him already, you know, Kyle, how it is so I missed the 388 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:19.039 first couple of weeks. Honestly, the first couple of weeks are probably sloppy. 389 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.559 I mean, I'm gonna watch Illinois beat Toledo pretty easily, and then 390 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.880 the Bears take on the Pad. I don't know, that's probably the biggest 391 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:26.920 one. But I'll probably have some juicy matchups when they come back, so 392 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:30.319 at least that'll have me interested in make sure that I actually do come back 393 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:33.720 as opposed to staying out abroad for the rest of my life. All Right, 394 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:37.400 well, we're gonna take one more quick commercial break and then we'll come 395 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:40.920 back with Steve Susy Susan I will break down the top week two games to 396 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:47.200 watch. Schweiker Ganison Krazak Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike 397 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.319 Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance 398 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:52.559 company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of 399 00:26:52.599 --> 00:27:00.599 dollars for our clients. Visit ga Nassim dot com. Thank thank you once 400 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:04.440 again to sgk R for sponsoring the Friday Night Drive podcasts that they also are 401 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:08.759 the title sponsor for Live with Friday Night Drive. You can hear that or 402 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:14.359 you can join us live that is on YouTube and at Friday Night Drive dot 403 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:18.359 Com or any of shall Locals publications including the Northwest Harold, the Harold News, 404 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:25.640 the Daily Chronicles, Sauk Valley or all all over northern Illinois get all 405 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:30.480 your local news in addition to prep sports and professional sports and coverage of NIU 406 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:36.160 athletics if you go to shall Local dot Com, Friday Night Drive dot Com, 407 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:38.839 or any of those sister papers. And like I said, eight to 408 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.599 eleven live on YouTube, Jimmy Usual and I Sushi'll be joining us live from 409 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:48.599 the sidelines from Joliet Catholic and Providence. And that's where I want to start 410 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:52.359 this week when we break down the slate of games. That is gonna be 411 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:57.880 an interesting game. Yeah, historically, I mean over recent years it has 412 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:03.519 been a series had been dominated by Joliet Catholic when they had played, but 413 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:07.640 last year things got a little bit more interesting with Providence just kind of storming 414 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:12.839 back into relevance under new coach Tyler Plants. They actually played two times last 415 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:17.400 year and a little bit of a quirk they played a divisional game which joliett 416 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:19.920 Catholic won. It turned into kind of a shootout. And then they met 417 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:23.119 again in the second round of the Class four A playoffs, and to be 418 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:27.000 frank, Providence kind of dominated that game, and it was a little bit 419 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:32.319 surprising the nature the way that they took care of that, care of that 420 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:36.759 and one and eventually ended up going to the state championship game. But let's 421 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:41.920 just say there's a lot more sizzle in the Providence Joliett Catholic rivalry than there 422 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:45.160 had been in the past, you know, five or six years going back, 423 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:52.279 because you know, both of these teams have pretty lofty aspirations. Both 424 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:56.519 of these teams played pretty well in Week one. I was really impressed with 425 00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:59.960 what Joliett Catholic was able to do making that road trip over to Iowa City 426 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:03.839 against a good program in Iowa and they seemed you know, what I was 427 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:07.720 worried about with Joey Catholic coming in the season was whether or not they'd be 428 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:11.640 able to score, you know, you know, be highly productive offensively, 429 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:17.279 and they certainly demonstrated that they could. Hja Griggsby had a huge game just 430 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:19.319 all around. It looked like Joey Catholic has got it clicking out of the 431 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:23.960 gate. Providence was a little bit more. I guess Iffy and there win 432 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.359 over Lake Central. Lake Central is a good team out of Indiana. It's 433 00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:32.400 also a very large school, and they also had the benefit of already having 434 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:36.119 a game under their belt because Indiana starts a week sooner than Illinois does. 435 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:40.200 But uh, you know, a couple of mistakes, but I still think 436 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:44.880 this Providence team still has its mojo going. If you would, I think 437 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:49.119 they're they they believe in themselves. There's a there's a there's a great vibe 438 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:55.079 coming out of that program. This should be a really fun one. Uh. 439 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:59.640 Moving on, you saw Kenwood in week one against Lincoln Way East. 440 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:04.079 A matchup here against Saint Rita coming off of forty two twenty one win against 441 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:10.559 Sandberg. Both of us really like Kenwood. That would be challenging matchup that 442 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:15.680 they gave themselves in week one, not taking any steps down in class against 443 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:18.440 Saint Rita here in week two. What do you think about this one? 444 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:22.440 You know, I think the biggest thing for Kenwood, at least in the 445 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:27.880 grand scheme of things, is Marquis Lightfoot. Their outstanding defensive end played about 446 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:33.559 two series in the game against Lincoln was East and you hate to pin it 447 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:37.119 all on one situation there because Lincoln Way East did pretty much dominate that football 448 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:41.640 game. But I still wonder what may have happened if he still would have 449 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:45.200 been in there. He was a he's a disruptor, he's a very good 450 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:48.200 player, and that was a game that, to be frank, it ended 451 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:52.200 up fifty two twelve. It was scoreless at the end of the first quarter. 452 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:56.720 I mean, it did not really get away from Kenwood until you know, 453 00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:00.759 early in the second half, where it felt like Lincoln East was you 454 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:04.039 know, had got the machine going like they tend to do. But Kenwood 455 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:08.559 still has a ton of talent. They actually use two quarterbacks in this game, 456 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:11.720 so I'm kind of interested to see which one of them they choose to 457 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:17.920 use moving forward. Uh, you know, so that's that's a decision that 458 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:21.480 I think they have to make. But there's still just a ton of talent 459 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:27.640 on this Kenwood roster. But I just wonder if they have enough I guess 460 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:33.599 team going on right now rather than just individual, you know, individual talents. 461 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:37.359 So basically, when it comes right down to it, I think Saint 462 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:41.599 Rita's probably a substantial favorite in this game. They demonstrated that they you know 463 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:45.359 that they've they've got it going pretty well. Uh, you know, it 464 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:48.039 took them a little while to pull away from Sandberg in week one, but 465 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:52.240 they were eventually able to do it. But still a pretty interesting game just 466 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:56.119 to see how it ferrets out. I don't know how serious the injury to 467 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:00.759 Lightfoot is. It didn't seem that serious when we were I guess briefly chatting 468 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:05.680 with him on the sideline while he was out, but it was, you 469 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:09.440 know, you never know what those types of things. Lincoln Way East gets 470 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:14.559 a matchup this week with number four Batavia. Number three lincoln Way East number 471 00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:17.400 four Batavia in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. It's the game that also 472 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:22.079 was played during the regular season last year, sus I believe you saw that 473 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:25.559 game last year, right. Last year's game was interesting because Lincoln Way East 474 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:30.640 kind of pulled away early. Batavia had made a couple of mistakes and it 475 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:35.160 looked like they were just going to kind of cruise home with a fairly comfortable 476 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:38.279 victory. But Batavia, you know, a prideful program, fought them tooth 477 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:43.359 and nail in the second half, made it kind of an adventurous game. 478 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:45.480 A little bit late where you thought maybe if they caught a break or something, 479 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:49.319 we might have, you know, a tighter football game at the end. 480 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:52.119 Kind of a deceptive score in that it makes it look like Lincoln Way 481 00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:57.039 East just completely rolled to that game. They really didn't so, and I'm 482 00:32:57.079 --> 00:33:00.079 sure that's in the back of the minds of the Batavia kids that returned this 483 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:04.119 year, that they felt like they did not put their best foot forward in 484 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:07.319 that game at Lincoln Way East. Now they got it back on their home 485 00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:10.079 turf. They're always tough there, you know. I think it will be 486 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:15.680 a very interesting game between two programs that pride themselves on being disciplined, doing 487 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:20.880 the things that they're supposed to do, and kind of forcing the other team 488 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:24.119 to kind of into submission. That's what both of these two programs like to 489 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:29.480 do. It'll be kind of a rock and meets a hard place type of 490 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:32.480 game, I think in this situation. You know, I'm just counting down 491 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:38.160 here, and I believe we have seven matchups this week's suits between teams that 492 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:42.119 are ranked in the top twenty five of the Friday Night Try Power rankings, 493 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:46.480 showing just how loaded this slate is. A standout one is between number fourteen 494 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:52.640 Main South going to number twenty two War And it's the standout game because these 495 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:55.839 are two teams that are now one of them is going to be oh and 496 00:33:55.960 --> 00:34:00.119 two and you're just not used to seeing either of those teams really at O 497 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:04.519 and two very often. And I actually I'm not sure. I feel like 498 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:07.759 maybe Main South had a rough start a couple of years ago if I'm thinking 499 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:12.519 back to it, But outside of that, I can't imagine there's been many 500 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:16.639 instances of these two teams being O and two. Yeah, there really isn't 501 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:21.599 it. I mean, I think that's that's one game where there are uh, 502 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:23.400 you know, where somebody's gonna come out O and two. There are 503 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:28.440 several others this week where you're just gonna have a list of oh and two 504 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:30.280 teams that you're going to be like, what, now, this doesn't make 505 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:35.079 any sense. I mean, these are programs that at worst you'd expect to 506 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:38.840 be one and one after two games, regardless of the scheduling, and now 507 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:44.039 they face an uphill climb. You know, it's it's it's it's just kind 508 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:46.880 of one of those things where we were talking about this before. H Now 509 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:52.360 we've gotten into a situation in Illinois where the power programs have I don't want 510 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:57.119 to say alienated a lot of the programs that are beneath them, but they 511 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:01.039 don't the smaller programs, the the programs that maybe don't have as much pedigree, 512 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:07.519 simply don't see the advantage of playing playing powerhouses in those first couple of 513 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:09.679 weeks of the season. So now the only options for these teams are to 514 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:13.400 play each other, and that's why we're getting a lot of these matchups. 515 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:17.719 This Mainsouth Warren game has existed for a couple of years, but both of 516 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:22.599 these two teams probably didn't expect to be sitting at oh and one heading into 517 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:28.280 this game with the possibility of dropping to Owen two. So I think Mainsouth 518 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:32.639 has has a little bit more problem if they fall fall to O two here 519 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:37.679 than than Warren does because Warren has typically dominated as conference. Mainsouth has some 520 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:42.039 more challenging games down the hill, But I don't think either one of them. 521 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:45.559 Relish Is relishes staring at at Owen two, record, heading at Owen 522 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:47.519 three, heading and down three. Yeah, just a couple of others in 523 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:52.039 our top twenty five that has a chance to go to fight itself Owen two 524 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:57.840 surprisingly Palatine with a matchup going to Buffalo Grove. That's not going to be 525 00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:01.239 an easy one there after Palatine law late to Saint Charles North last week. 526 00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:05.039 And there was one other one I was looking for here, Oh, Nazareth 527 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:09.000 after taking the loss to Kankakee has to play number six York a couple more 528 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:14.159 instances right there. Sis, Yeah, that's that Nazareth York game is an 529 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:17.119 absolute doozy. I thought when it was scheduled it was a very intriguing game. 530 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:22.159 Having seen Nazareth last week, They've got some things that they got to 531 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:28.400 fix. It's really that simple. You know. York has now established itself 532 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:31.920 as as one of the elites. I think they power moved their way up 533 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:37.960 into that conversation last year. It looks like that's continuing solid win in week 534 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:43.559 one for them. But I mean this is this is a marquee game in 535 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:47.480 week two between two programs that have obviously big aspirations. For Nazareth though, 536 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:52.679 once again it's another situation where we might have an own two here and and 537 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:57.000 their schedule is an absolute behemoth the rest of the way, So, uh, 538 00:36:57.280 --> 00:37:00.199 you don't want to call anything I must win and week two that's ridiculous. 539 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:05.360 But this is about as close as it can get for a team in 540 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:10.960 regards to looking out for their future. So we haven't got into one game 541 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:14.880 yet. That is my personal favor of the week. I bet I'm guessing 542 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:17.760 you can guess it, though, you know, I'm not sure what it 543 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:22.159 is. What is it, Kyle, No, it is number ten Prospect 544 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:27.920 at number eleven Barrington. I'm shocked. Actually, yes, yeah, my 545 00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:36.239 mid suburban love coming out there. Barrington incredibly impressed with them putting up the 546 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:39.159 amount of points they did against Warren last week. You know Prospect is going 547 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:44.360 to have run a fast paced offensive put points on the board. I love 548 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:49.519 this matchup. Yeah, I mean this is a game that on paper, 549 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:53.760 before the season started, I would have had a strong opinion in favoring Prospect, 550 00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:59.440 just based on the hiccups that Barrington has experienced over recent campaigns. But 551 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:01.960 now I look at this game as I mean, I got no idea what's 552 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:05.559 going to happen here. I mean, we could have we could have a 553 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:08.719 ton of points scored. I think that's a possibility here. But you know, 554 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:14.000 Barrington just stormed into the conversation and it pulled the you know, hey, 555 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:16.519 what about us? Move on us? I mean, this is this 556 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:20.679 is a really notable thing. And once again, I'll give you credit for 557 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:22.599 it. You kind of you kind of were touting Barrington a little bit more 558 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:25.480 than I was expecting it out of the gate. Big win for them, 559 00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:30.599 like you mentioned against Warren, puts them in a position now where not that 560 00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:36.000 the schedule got any easier, but they're fortunate to have that one win in 561 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:39.440 the bank. Because we talked about it a lot in the preseason. Barrington's 562 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:43.800 got one of the most brutal schedules in the States. So to get wins 563 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:45.920 whenever they get wins, I'm sure that's going to be great for them. 564 00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:52.880 And you know, having prospect on the schedule here, even if they lose 565 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:55.760 it, it looks a lot better for them than I thought that they would 566 00:38:55.800 --> 00:39:01.079 be in this situation. After two weeks, they're the Barrington definitely a team 567 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:04.960 to keep an eye on here as we move forward. If you haven't already 568 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:07.760 discovered it for yourself, We've launched a new edition of the Friday Night Drive 569 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:14.559 podcast this week with host Eddie Carriffrio and JT. Penalty. They are doing 570 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:20.280 the Illinois Valley Podcast, which covers Ottawa Street or up into our South Sauk 571 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:24.719 Valley market DECLB as well really anywhere out west that Sus and I don't get 572 00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:29.360 to as much. Sus. It was a great debut episode for those guys. 573 00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:30.920 They had a lot of fun. But what are you looking forward to 574 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:36.280 out of the western part of the state this week? You know, there's 575 00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:38.280 just a lot of stuff that you know that we're still trying to figure out. 576 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:44.960 It's it's a very it's a very strange situation in some of these conferences. 577 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:49.440 You can't really get a handle on it based on you know, those 578 00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:52.519 week one results. I mean when you look far west to like the Western 579 00:39:52.599 --> 00:39:57.840 Big Six, there were some crazy results in the opening week of that conference 580 00:39:57.920 --> 00:40:01.840 in regards to what you're used to. And then even you know, when 581 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:05.000 you look out into the you know, the middle part, you know, 582 00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:09.679 the middle part of northern Illinois out there just trying to ferret out some of 583 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:15.800 these battles and like the Kishwaukee Conference and things of that nature. It's just 584 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:20.119 right now, it feels like there's a lot of teams out there that are 585 00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:24.760 about in the same place and you're looking for those breakout games tough to uh 586 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:29.880 tough to figure them out in some of these cases. I felt like, 587 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:34.280 uh, Sycamore put on a good showing last week with their win over to 588 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:38.119 Calb But you know now they now they're you know, going into the city 589 00:40:38.199 --> 00:40:42.960 to play Simion this week, So a very interesting non conference schedule for them. 590 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:45.599 You know. I was impressed with what Morris was able to do to 591 00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:50.840 Cold City last week, and kind of an interesting non conference game for them 592 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:54.280 this week too when they host Joliett West. I mean, I know Juliette 593 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:58.679 West isn't considered to be like a power program, but they are in eight 594 00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:02.440 A school. A lot of a lot of interesting matchups this week, you 595 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:06.920 know, just trying to figure out, you know, where some of these 596 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:12.400 teams stack up, because there's I mean, you just can't get as much 597 00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:15.280 out of Week one as you want in some situations, but a lot of 598 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:20.880 intriguing matchups where on paper it looks like these teams are really really close together. 599 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:23.960 So hoping to get some I guess a little bit more resolution this week 600 00:41:24.039 --> 00:41:29.000 from that area of the state. You will be able to follow the action 601 00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:32.920 live at Friday Night Drive dot Com and live on YouTube. We'd love it 602 00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:37.599 if you come and join me and Jimmy usual will be hosting Live with Friday 603 00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:42.800 Night Drive at from eight to eleven PM. Our reporters will be joining us 604 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:46.239 from the sideline at halftime and after the game. We got about eight to 605 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:52.519 ten coaches lined up for postgame interviews as well. SEUs, you'll be along 606 00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:58.440 to enjoy that, right and then afterwards he'll be after We call it essentially 607 00:41:58.519 --> 00:42:02.079 Live with Friday Night Driver, Friday Night Drive after Dark, whatever you want 608 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:06.559 to call it. But Zeus is at that point just plugging away in results 609 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:08.679 and you know, answering whatever question do you have, SEUs, what was 610 00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:13.639 that like in week one? No, it was interesting because it was kind 611 00:42:13.639 --> 00:42:15.639 of a crazy night with some of the weather things and stuff like that. 612 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:19.920 So it's kind of getting to results a little bit later than I usually do. 613 00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:22.960 But the fun thing about that is it just kind of gives me an 614 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:29.239 opportunity to I guess while I'm in putting those scores, kind of provide a 615 00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:34.960 little bit of I guess insight into what the actual results mean. So I 616 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:37.800 enjoy that process. I mean, it'll be more comprehensive as we get deeper 617 00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:42.519 into the season when we'll have a little bit more information about these teams. 618 00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:46.480 But as I'm getting those results, I kind of, you know, admit 619 00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:52.599 surprise or add a little bit of you know, depth into what that means 620 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:55.480 in the grand scheme of things. And that was really kind of fun for 621 00:42:55.559 --> 00:43:00.239 me because I was really I didn't have as much opportunity as I usually due 622 00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:02.960 to scoreboard watch in week one because my game was running long and it was 623 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:07.280 close. So some of the information that I was gathering and putting into into 624 00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:12.639 my spreadsheet I was seeing for the first time. So and that's always kind 625 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:15.360 of fun to, you know, get those little nuggets after the fact and 626 00:43:15.639 --> 00:43:20.239 try to ascertain what's going on. And I expect there's gonna be a lot 627 00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:24.159 more of that this week in regards to picking up information because we've talked about 628 00:43:24.239 --> 00:43:27.960 quite a few games in this podcast, you know, the things that we're 629 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:31.199 looking through week two, we didn't touch on another twenty five or thirty games 630 00:43:31.239 --> 00:43:35.800 that I think are completely fascinating. So it's just gonna be I mean, 631 00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:38.599 one of the it's not until Saturday, but you know, East Saint Louis 632 00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:43.039 is hosting a nationally ranked opponent on Saturday, and then prior to that, 633 00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:45.440 Glenbard West is playing a really strong team in Saint Louis, both at the 634 00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:50.760 same place. So that's interesting for Saturday, I mean, but there's countless 635 00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:52.760 other games on Friday that we didn't get to. So I think that this 636 00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:57.800 week, if if you're considering going out to a high school football game, 637 00:43:58.360 --> 00:44:00.519 you literally could throw twenty twenty five games in a hat pull one out. 638 00:44:00.599 --> 00:44:02.920 I doubt you're going to be disappointed with what you see. I mean, 639 00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:07.880 there are so many good matchups out there for people to enjoy. Yeah, 640 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:13.199 I have roughly three dozen games on my watch list for Friday Night or Live 641 00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:17.599 with Friday Night Drive. That's just an incredible amount even before the week starts, 642 00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:21.480 to see what game they're you know how things are playing out to have 643 00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:24.360 that many games already that I know I want to be tracking, So make 644 00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:30.000 sure you join us live from eight to eleven PM this week or on Friday 645 00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:34.320 night at Friday Night Drive dot com and on YouTube. For now that we 646 00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:37.840 are going to sign off, I am Kyle Neighbors. You can find me 647 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:42.400 at Kyle Neighbors. You can find a SEUs on Twitter at the SEUs or 648 00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:46.400 x You can also find us on Twitter, slash x at Friday Night Drive. 649 00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:51.719 Find Friday Night Drive on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok as well. SEUs, 650 00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:53.960 you got any final thoughts before we say goodbye. Well, like I 651 00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:58.519 just said, just I fully am expecting a crazy week two. This is 652 00:44:59.039 --> 00:45:04.719 this as as good a non conference or in some cases conference schedule that I 653 00:45:04.800 --> 00:45:07.960 can ever remember, Like honestly, in terms of the games and the depth 654 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:14.039 of the quality of these matchups that we have. It almost crazily. It 655 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:17.760 almost feels like second or third week of playoffs type of matchups, where you've 656 00:45:17.800 --> 00:45:22.800 got matchups all over the board that are interesting and you're not really sure how 657 00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:27.440 they're going to go. It is a fantastic week of high school football that 658 00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:30.480 I think is on tap for us. All right, everyone, enjoy week 659 00:45:30.679 --> 00:45:34.440 two, join us live Friday Night, and then we'll be back with you 660 00:45:34.599 --> 00:45:37.159 next week. Susan, I will break down everything that happens this weekend. 661 00:45:37.400 --> 00:45:44.440 Talked everyone later. Schweiker Ganison Krazak Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday Night Drive. 662 00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:46.400 I'm Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on 663 00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:50.880 the insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of 664 00:45:50.920 --> 00:45:54.599 millions of dollars for our clients. Visit GA Nassi n dot com