WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.000 Schwiker, Gannison, Krazak, Rundio Bradley sponsors for Friday Night Drive. I'm 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.799 Mike Krizak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the 3 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.400 insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions 4 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:14.359 of dollars for our clients. Visit g A n A, s SI M 5 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:26.440 dot com. What's up everyone, and welcome back into the Friday Night Guary 6 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:30.480 Podcast. I am your host, Kyle Neighbors along with Steve Seussie. It 7 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:34.280 is Thursday, October twenty sixth. We are a little more than twenty four 8 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.200 hours away from the first round of the twenty twenty three playoffs. Suits you 9 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:42.439 ready to go? Absolutely, you know, having an opportunity to kind of 10 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:45.479 break down these brackets and take a look at, you know, in depth 11 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:48.880 at these games. It really looks like we're gonna have a lot of fascinating 12 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.079 first round matchups. Not that that's something we haven't had in the past, 13 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:56.039 but it certainly looks like there are a few more to choose from than maybe 14 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:00.119 in past years. Yeah, definitely a lot of fun matchups here in the 15 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:02.359 first round. We got a lot to get to today, we're gonna be 16 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:04.280 live with you for the next forty five minutes or so. You can join 17 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:08.599 us throughout the playoffs. On Mondays and Thursdays at eleven am, SUS nine 18 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:14.359 will be here taking your question breaking down the brackets today like we would normally 19 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:17.079 if you listen to the Friday Night Drive podcast, which of course you can. 20 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:19.239 If you're not watching this live, you can download this anywhere you get 21 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.239 your podcasts from. On Thursday, we have Michael Duojack join us and Joe 22 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:27.200 Stevenson join us, and we're gonna go ahead and dive right into that stuff 23 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.480 right away. Today. We got a lot to get through, obviously, 24 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.359 one hundred and twenty eight games in the first round, plenty to talk about 25 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.439 here. Again, if you are watching live on YouTube, you can send 26 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:41.920 us questions and comments. We appreciate it. It helps us figure out what 27 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.840 you guys want to talk about. And of course if you can give a 28 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:49.000 thumbs up and subscribe to the channel, it really really helps people find this 29 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.560 show and grow the channel. We appreciate that. Now, with that, 30 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:55.519 I am gonna go ahead and bring mikeel on. Michael Dwoljack covers the Chicago 31 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:57.760 Catholic League and East Suburban Catholic Conference for Friday Night Drive dot com. How 32 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.120 you doing, Michael good? Are you guys doing playoff football? Man? 33 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:07.760 I couldn't be happier. Yeah, you like it. I know it's It's 34 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:09.800 a great time of year right now. And yeah, I'm a football guy, 35 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.960 Michael. I know you do some soccer coverage for the Northwest Herald helping 36 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:19.039 us out there. I actually suits. I know you don't cover a lot 37 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:23.199 of this, but I actually love this time of year for postseason volleyball too, 38 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:24.360 Michael. Have you got any of that over the years, Yeah, 39 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:28.560 I've got. Postseason volleyball has always been fun. Some good teams you know, 40 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:30.599 making it and those you know, I feel like that's where a lot 41 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:34.639 of upsets happened too, because, like you know, the third said match, 42 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:37.599 anything can happen if you tie it after one. So those are always 43 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.039 fun environments to be a part of as well. I yeah, high school 44 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.520 volleyball is a lot of fun, particularly when you get to like really good 45 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.879 levels like huntley volleyball. I'm taking this completely off course. I don't care. 46 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:50.800 It's our show, right huntley volleyball, like you get like multiple dividual 47 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:53.639 players and they're just slamming balls down. High schoolvolleyball is a lot of fun, 48 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:57.719 but that's that way we're here. We're here to talk football and you 49 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.000 get a really good game. We're gonna start with your game on Friday night, 50 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:06.199 Saint Rita, Mount Carmel. I think it's fair to assume that the 51 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:10.000 Caravan are going to be a little upset after suffering that loss here to Loyola. 52 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:14.080 I think both coaches are going to be pretty upset after what happened in 53 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.879 Week nine to both of them. I mean Mount Carmela obviously lost Loyola, 54 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:20.639 and Saint Rilo lost to Brother Rice, so I mean both. I feel 55 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.560 like both teams are going to be pretty determined. I'm sure when Martin Hopkins 56 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.199 and Joan Lynch Boast saw who they're playing in the first round, they're like, 57 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:30.599 don't this Isn't this more of a quarterfinal matchup or a semi final matchup 58 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:34.400 like it was last year. But I'm sure both teams will be pretty motivated 59 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.919 out when they kick off on Friday for a what feels like a deeper postseason 60 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.879 game as opposed to a game that's happening here in Week one. Yeah, 61 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.319 these two teams obviously met during the regular season. What do you think they 62 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.120 learned from it and what differences do you expect in a rematch. I think, 63 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:53.879 you know, familiarity always plays a role into this. Obviously, they 64 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:55.960 played each other twice last year, they played each other in the semi finals 65 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:00.800 in last season's postseason, and then you know Mount Karmel beat him three to 66 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.759 eight to seven earlier in the year. But I'm I think the biggest thing. 67 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:08.479 You know, obviously familiarity plays a role, but is Signorita going to 68 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:11.759 have it? Starting quarterback is a really big question here. Jeded Hilding got 69 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:15.399 injured in the Week eight he missed that game, and then he didn't He 70 00:04:15.480 --> 00:04:19.519 missed the rest of the game against Brother Rice after being hit hard on a 71 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:24.079 on a run in the third quarter against Brother Rice. The backup had to 72 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:26.759 come in. He played pretty well in Week eight and did well in backup 73 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:30.600 duty in Week nine. But I think that's a big factor into what's going 74 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.680 to happen in this game, and whether you know Saturita is going to be 75 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:36.160 able to throw the ball at all. Obviously they can run the ball pretty 76 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.680 well with DJ Stewart, and they've got a good cast over there. But 77 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:45.720 if you take away the pass game for this Mount Carmel defense, that makes 78 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.160 it pretty easy for them to just stack the box and really limit what Sanerita 79 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:54.079 is able to do running the ball. You can follow Michael on Twitter or 80 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:59.040 x at m Dwojack ninety four. You can also find him on Instagram and 81 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:03.360 threads. You mentioned Brother Rice. Another CCL Blue team there that is in 82 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:09.360 the postseason that had a you know, it's week nine, it's week nine 83 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:14.120 outcome put itself or put them in a matchup here another game that you would 84 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.399 not expect to see in the first round, Number twenty six for the Rice 85 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:19.040 facing number seven Batavia. You what are you hearing about that game? I 86 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.680 think that game is obviously really interesting. I'm sure you know, same thing 87 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:25.360 with Mount Carmelsey and Rita. You know, they don't want to be playing 88 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:28.439 against each other in the first round. But I mean for Brother Rice, 89 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.199 it's been pretty much, you know, it hasn't been the season they wanted 90 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.399 it to be. You know, they beat Main South to start the year 91 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:36.160 ten to seven. Things are looking great, like they look like a pretty 92 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:41.759 dominant team in that opening win, and then everything like falls apart Christian Pierce, 93 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.600 their junior linebacker who has offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, 94 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:49.439 Texas, a lot of big schools. He gets injured and he's out for 95 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:53.600 the rest of the regular season. A lot of seniors on their defensive line 96 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:58.199 are out for much of the season here and there. Their secondary is made 97 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.800 up of sophomores basically, so coach Cleddenfeld really had to change up the defense, 98 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.879 you know, in the middle of the year, and they were able 99 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.040 to kind of come together and you know qualify. You know, they beat 100 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:12.160 Montini in Week eight, they beat sat Rita and week number nine to make 101 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:15.519 the playoffs. So I'm really curious to see, you know, has Brother 102 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.040 Rice kind of figured it out now, like they know who they are this 103 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.240 year they have they're not the team that they thought they were going to be 104 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.720 and don't have all the players they thought they were going to have, But 105 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.959 a lot of guys have come back. Now obviously Pierce, he's not going 106 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:30.639 to come back for the rest of the right, you know, for the 107 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:33.040 playoffs. But Brother Rice has a lot of you know, good defenders and 108 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.600 they've got an offense that clicks. Randall Nowden really runs the ball well, 109 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:43.399 and Ryan Harts and Marcus Brown both come in a quarterback for Brother Rice to 110 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.279 throw the ball, and they can do that as well. So I'm really 111 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.279 curious to see Candy keep this momentum and those going through that rugged you know, 112 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:54.680 c clac schedule kind of prepare them for this moment playing against the Batavia 113 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:58.720 team. Obviously they're trying to win a state championship here. So I think 114 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.879 when we come into this post and eight A Loyola is one among the favorites 115 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.079 Mount Carmel and seven eight among the favorites, neither of those things that are 116 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:12.560 surprised, right, sus when you look past those two though, Yet Brother 117 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.839 Rice there as a twenty sixth seed up and down these different brackets in the 118 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.680 different classes where some of the Catholic League teams that you think could kind of 119 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:24.600 sneak up on people. Well, I'm kind of intrigued by stating ignations and 120 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:29.680 that's a little bit because of their path. I kind of like the setup 121 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:32.279 for them to make a little bit of a move here. Now granted they're 122 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.959 in that you know that eight nine pod is a lower seed, which means 123 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:43.160 they get potentially get to Loyola pretty quickly, but still I like where they're 124 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:46.160 at in the bracket, and then going farther down, I think the thing 125 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:51.519 that really kind of stands out to me Mantinian three A. You know, 126 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:56.399 all season long they're playing, you know, the behemos of the Catholic League. 127 00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:59.639 Granted, they started real fast and I don't want to say stumbled down 128 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.680 the street. That was kind of schedule related as well, But when you 129 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.040 go down all the way down to Class three A, after you've been playing 130 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:11.600 six to sevens and eights all season long, there's quite a dramatic change in 131 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:16.040 the opponent that you're going to be facing. And sitting there as kind of 132 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:20.240 a six seed in that bracket, they look really really interesting to me in 133 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:26.519 three another team in five. I like Carmel Straw. I think they're in 134 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.959 good shape to be around quite a while. I about you, Michael Warrier, 135 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:35.360 you agree with sus anyone else? I'm really curious about Saint Francis as 136 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:39.679 well. Obviously, the biggest thing any team really wants and football is a 137 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.799 great quarterback, and that's what Alessio maybe Hobik has been for Saint Francis this 138 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.840 year. He's just been really helping them win a lot of big C c 139 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.519 L E SEC games this year. So if you have a hot quarterback like 140 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.600 that who and a really good defense like Saint Francis does, obviously the running 141 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.879 attack is working as well. But if you have a quarterback who can make 142 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.399 a lot of big plays and big moments, I think that really helps you 143 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:05.080 go on a deeper run. So yeah, I would agree with all the 144 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:09.240 other guys, obviously Ignatius if they're going to run out justin Scott, you 145 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:13.120 know more often than not now after week now now that you know the Cats 146 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:16.879 out of the bag, But I would agree with most of them. Also, 147 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:20.120 curious to see how Carmel does start running back justin Scott, right. 148 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.759 Yeah, let's go ahead and bring Joe Stevenson in now. Joe Stevenson covers 149 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:30.159 mckenry County for the Northwest Herald and Friday Night Drive dot Com, and I 150 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.360 want to bring him in right now because we get a matchup between a Catholic 151 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.159 League team and one of the best teams in mckenry County, Prairie Ridge team 152 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.559 that has been in multiple state championship game. Usually we find them in Class 153 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:45.679 six A. We find them in Class five A this year, Joe against 154 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.759 a Nazareth team that comes in at four and five, but it's the defending 155 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:52.720 state champion. This is not a four and five team by any measure. 156 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:58.399 I liked coach Chris Schremp's reading your preview story getting that ready that goes up 157 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.559 on Friday Night Drive dot Com Morning Coach Chris sh Repp, you know, 158 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.519 like it's a bad draw for us, but it's a bad draw for them 159 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:11.879 too, exactly. Yeah, you guys were mentioning a couple of games earlier 160 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:15.360 that didn't seem like first round games. This definitely doesn't seem. This seems 161 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.679 more like a quarterfinal or semi final game. With the pedigrees of these two 162 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:26.320 teams, Prairie Ridge three state titles and two other runner up finishes since twenty 163 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:31.720 eleven and nas has four state titles and two runner ups since twenty fourteen. 164 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:37.559 So yeah, it's a real interesting game. And you know, this time 165 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:43.360 of year, we always hear Chris Shrimp at Prairidge and Brad Seeberg at Kerry 166 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:46.799 Grove talk about how you know the triple option. They do it so well 167 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:52.000 and it's not an offense that the teams see a lot, and they always 168 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:56.000 feel like that can be an advantage in the playoffs. You know, the 169 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.559 Fox Valley Conference teams are used to seeing it two or three times a year 170 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:03.759 now because they see them. But it does seem to be it does seem 171 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:07.519 to play to their advantage in the playoffs. And I know that, you 172 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.080 know, coach Shrimp is hoping that that can be the case again because they 173 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.440 do it so well. They always talk too about how much faster they run 174 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.600 it toward the end of the year than they do it the first year. 175 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:24.360 They'll watch the video on this and they noticed it on video, how much 176 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:28.080 crisper and cleaner and faster they run it the more they run it through the 177 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.360 season. Michael, what are you hearing out of the NASA Nazareth side of 178 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.399 this. I am curious to see. You know, Joe talks about the 179 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.759 triple option. A lot of teams, you know, aren't familiar with it. 180 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:41.559 But naz did play same Ignacious this year and they beat Sam Ignacious and 181 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:45.000 I know obviously that was a big matchup last year of the triple option teams. 182 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:48.360 So naz has seen the triple option this year and they're you know, 183 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.799 they have some experience with it, so I'm kind of curious to see how 184 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.759 much that plays in a factor into the game. And you know, obviously 185 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:58.279 we've talked about NAS all year, toughest schedule, all that kind of stuff. 186 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:00.840 I mean, I didn't expect them to lose thirty five seventeen to Saint 187 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.200 Francis the way they did. But I think they're just going to take the 188 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:07.159 mentality that they have, you know, during this you know, after the 189 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:09.039 oh and fourth start of just trying to build upon every single week. They 190 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:13.720 have drawn upon last year's experience. Everyone knows two and four going on to 191 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:16.960 win a state championship, all that stuff. But I think Nyas obviously has 192 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.960 the talent. It's just about whether it can keep up with the triple option 193 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:24.000 that Prairie Ridge is able to throw out there. And obviously going up to 194 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.159 Prairie Ridge and playing on grass as opposed to, you know, being pretty 195 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:30.879 used to playing on turf for much of the season, I'm also curious to 196 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:33.639 see how much that kind of plays a factor into the guy's kind of getting 197 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.399 adjusted to playing on that surface up there. That's a good point actually about 198 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:41.360 being on grass, and it's been you know, I'm up here in mckennery 199 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:45.720 County with Joe. It's been rainy up here the last twenty four hours or 200 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.960 so. I think it's supposed to continue to be over the next forty eight 201 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.519 hours or so heading into that game. It could be a slobby one on 202 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:54.519 Saturday. Joe, what do you think? Yeah, I think I think 203 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.120 you're right, And I don't know if that I'm not sure which team that 204 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:03.480 UH favors. If that's the case, I know, you know coach Shrimp 205 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:05.759 was talking about when I asked him, what are you concerned about with Nasrith. 206 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:11.320 They're going to see a much different team that than most of what they've 207 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.399 seen this year because nas is just going to throw it and throw it and 208 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.840 throw it and has He was really he was concerned with their speed. He 209 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.919 said they got a lot of team speed that they that they have to worry 210 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:24.799 about. So I don't know if that nullifies it being on a on a 211 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:31.039 wet track. I'm not sure, but I guess you always think that you 212 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:35.000 tend to think that it would help the running team more than the passing team. 213 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:39.440 That that might uh that might it might be more like if if it's 214 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:43.240 windy or something, you know as part of that coming into it. I'd 215 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.480 rather have the wet track than we had the frozen track. Remember last year 216 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:52.440 for for Prairie Ridge. Yeah, that was terrible that nobody could do anything, 217 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:54.679 no one could cut on it. They get slip in. Yeah that 218 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:58.840 was brutal. Michael will let you go. But you got anything else for 219 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:03.080 yes, No, I'm just I think the biggest thing I'm kind of looking 220 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:05.519 forward to see is I feel like this time of year is when you finally 221 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:09.639 find out like how good the c CLE E S c C is. I 222 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:13.399 think obviously, you know, Mount Carmel's good and Loyola is good. Obviously 223 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.879 they're big teams, but there are a lot of good teams that missed the 224 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.919 playoffs because they had to play in the c CLEE c C this year, 225 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.240 and I'm really curious to see, you know, a lot of five and 226 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.799 four teams. There are a lot of six and three teams that are probably 227 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.240 going to make the quarterfinals or semi finals this year. Obviously it depends on 228 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:33.320 the matchups. But I feel like now we're finally going to get a chance 229 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.519 to see how good the conference really is. Now that they finally get a 230 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:39.799 chance to play, you know, other teams other than just beating each other 231 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.080 up for most of the seven weeks throughout the season. All Right, you 232 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.120 can find Michael's work at Friday Night Drive. You can find him on Twitter 233 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:50.679 at m dual Jack ninety four and on Instagram and Facebook or Instagram and threads 234 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.320 as well. Michael, thanks for joining us. Man. All right, 235 00:14:54.360 --> 00:15:01.600 happy football guys later. This is State Representative Steam and I'm happy to sponsor 236 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:05.639 this year's Friday Night Drive. There'll be plenty of time for politics down the 237 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.679 road, but for now, let's enjoy some high school football. Whichever school 238 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:18.159 you follow, give them your support, all right, Joe, So we 239 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:22.240 talked Perry Ridge. We got some other Fox Valley Conference teams in the postseason, 240 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:26.879 though. Let's start with Huntley in eight A A matchup against Niles West. 241 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:31.000 We've seen Huntley with some brutal draws in the eight A playoffs over the 242 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:35.039 years. In the first round, I actually think this one sets up pretty 243 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.639 well for them. I agree with you. I think Huntley has a real 244 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:43.159 good chance here. Niles West first time in the playoffs since twenty fourteen and 245 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:48.320 only one playoff victory in school history, which was nineteen ninety one. So 246 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.120 I don't know a lot about the Wolves, but I really like the way 247 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.720 Huntley's playing Hayden Jankie, They're big running back, has scored in every game. 248 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:03.200 I thought that was kind of interesting. He has a rushing touchdown in 249 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:07.919 every game. And their quarterback, Junior braylen Bauer, they don't throw a 250 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.480 lot of they throw a lot of short passes, so he has a really 251 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:17.840 good completion percon He's like seventy five percent. But that's really helped them this 252 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:22.960 year with their offense to take a little bit of the pressure off Jankie. 253 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:26.720 He hadn't carried it nearly as much as he did last year. So they're 254 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:32.879 way more than one dimensional like they were last year. And their defense has 255 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.759 played pretty well too, So I really like how this sets up for the 256 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:40.399 Red Raiders on Friday. Joe all right, sus I just was noticing this. 257 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:45.720 Huntley would play or Hanley O'Neill's West would play the winner of Saint Nignatius 258 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.240 and Jolie out West. I want to ask you a little bit about this 259 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:52.159 matchup for Jolia West. Dan Tito, by the way, laying the Chicago 260 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:56.080 Bears Illinois Coach of the Week today. I saw that announced Brad to coach 261 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.919 Dan Tito for that. What does Joliat West have to do to win this 262 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:03.879 well, I think the biggest thing for them is they have to be extremely 263 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:07.400 disciplined on defense. We were talking a lot about the triple option. We 264 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:11.240 were discussing, you know how it factors into that. Juliet West doesn't have 265 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:18.079 a lot of experience seeing that type of offense going up against them, so 266 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:22.279 in doing that, they just have to be prepared to be disciplined. And 267 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:26.400 it's a capable defensive unit. They're capable of making big plays, but just 268 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:30.759 really got to stay in their lanes and give their offense, which is multifaceted 269 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:37.000 and talented enough quality opportunities to get some points on the board. Because I've 270 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.720 seen Santy Nations do this before, and you guys probably have to where they've 271 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:45.359 just kind of taken over a game and more importantly, taken over the clock. 272 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:49.440 I've seen them take over an entire quarter one time where they just simply 273 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:55.640 march the ball down the field and a methodical nature, and with Juliette West, 274 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:57.160 they like to get out there and make things happen, So it might 275 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.960 just get really frustrating for them if they're unable to get those stops and get 276 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:04.400 sant Ignatius off the field and let their offense have some room to run. 277 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.920 Guys in Class seven eight, we got a matchup between number twenty three Jacobs 278 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:15.960 and number are at number ten Lincoln Way Central. Looking for some intel on 279 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:19.680 this one because this is to me one of the more difficult matchups I've had 280 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:23.559 trying to figure out picking this week. Joe, how do you feel about 281 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:27.920 Jacobs heading into the postseason. I really like where Jacobs is at right now. 282 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:32.200 Five wins in a row, and the defense has really played well. 283 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:38.119 You do look at their wins and there is one win over a playoff team, 284 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:42.039 which was Crystal Lake Central. You know, they lost six to nothing 285 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:47.680 in the season opener to Prairie Ridge. Neither team could get their offense going 286 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:52.359 that night, and then their other losses were to you know, Cary Uh, 287 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:57.839 Terry Grove and Huntley. And but Jacobs has played really well. They 288 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:03.759 seem to of fixed their offensive problems and they moved running back Caden Demel to 289 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:08.559 fullback and I don't know why, but he seemed to have He was really 290 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:11.680 good at running back, but he's even better at fullback and that seemed to 291 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:17.839 have kind of sparked their offense. Their offenses has been really good. I 292 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:19.039 think, I think this is an interesting game. I don't know a lot 293 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:23.559 about Central. I know that it's rank seventh in seven A and I think 294 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:27.240 Jacobs is definitely going to have its hands full. But the Golden Eagles have 295 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:30.960 been playing really well. Yeah, Central is a team that surprises lincoln Way 296 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.960 Central that is all year long suits. Yeah, I feel like this could 297 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.359 maybe evolve into a little bit of a rock fight. I mean, Lincolnway 298 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.920 Central is is really good on the defensive side of the ball. They don't. 299 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:47.079 I mean, you ask their coach for a name or two on the 300 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:49.960 defensive side, and he can't help himself. He names like eight because it's 301 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:53.680 it. I don't want to call it a no name defense because that's not 302 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:57.039 what it is. They're just getting contributions from so many guys it's hard to 303 00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:00.680 single one out. So and then offense, they've got the human bowling ball 304 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:07.200 Anthony Noo, who is about five foot seven and just runs with power and 305 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:10.759 energy and tends to seem to break plays that it doesn't look like he's going 306 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:14.400 to break. So I really feel like this could just be a field position 307 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:18.519 battle where one or two mistakes by one sideline over another could make the difference 308 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:22.359 in the game. In Class six A, we find two more Fox Valley 309 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:29.920 Conference teams Joe both matched up against North Suburban Conference teams number sixteen christ Lake 310 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:33.680 Central at number one Lake Zurich at seven pm on Friday. Also six thirty 311 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:37.839 pm on Friday, Number three Kerry Grove hosts number fourteen Liberty. But what 312 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.680 do you think of those matchups? Well, I really like how Kerry Grove 313 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:47.000 looks going in to hear you know, the one point loss to Prairie Ridge, 314 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:52.960 a one point loss to Huntley, and the Trojans can play good defense 315 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:56.920 and they you know, they run the option really well. I do know, 316 00:20:57.880 --> 00:21:03.839 I do know some of the information from Liberty Bill coach Mike Jones mentioned 317 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.839 that they they lost a triple overtime, they lost an overtime, and they 318 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:11.240 lost in the last minute. So three of those four losses were really close, 319 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:15.279 didn't Didn't they lose by what was it, sus one point to Lake 320 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:19.599 Zurich. Yeah, one point lost. So this is you know, this 321 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.200 is a team not to be taken lightly, I think, and but but 322 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:29.000 I really like the way the Trojans are playing regarding Chris Lake Central. You 323 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:33.559 know, a really tough break for the Tigers in losing quarterback Jason Penza in 324 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:38.759 Week eight against Prairie Ridge to the shoulder injury. I did stop by practice 325 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.240 this week because they had the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week MVP to 326 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:48.480 deliver the belt and Jason was out there. But he hasn't really been cleared 327 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:52.880 yet, so I think you're going to see their best receiver, George Demopolis 328 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:59.279 playing quarterback again this week, which really it's too bad for for Central because 329 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:03.519 you got your best receiver throwing balls instead of catching them. Yeah. I 330 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:08.200 was watching that game last Friday Night in week nine, and when Penzela had 331 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:12.759 gone out, they had brought in a sophomore to finish that game. Abraham 332 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:17.440 Quinn Yeah yeah, yeah. So like I'm watching early in that game and 333 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:21.559 I see George Mopoulis walking over to the sideline to get a play call. 334 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:23.079 Well, first I saw number fourteen. I went, wait a second, 335 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:26.359 I'm pretty sure that Demopolis. I looked at him. I'm like, oh, 336 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:29.240 they moved him back to the quarterback. All right, that makes sense. 337 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:33.880 Yeah, he had he had too much experience there last year. Unfortunately 338 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.920 because pens they got hurt in the opener and he wound up playing seven games 339 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:41.799 and then and then you know, we got a little hint of what they 340 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.359 could have been last year when Penza returned for Week nine and they losch to 341 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:49.279 pray Ridge fifty six to forty nine. Is what a crazy game? Well, 342 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.319 just and just to give you an idea, I mean it won. 343 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:56.400 I mean it's hard to go from wide receiver to quarterback and make that transition. 344 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:59.640 I'm in a week. So I mean that alone shows how good of 345 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:03.880 an athlete George Demopolis's. But also he played quarterback last year, but he 346 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.359 still ended up getting offers and signing at Northern Illinois University, at Division one 347 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:11.599 school for wide receiver, despite not having that much tape playing hide receiver. 348 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:15.519 Yeah, I can't remember feeling better for a kid, you know, to 349 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:21.240 get to get that D one offer and to commit that then George, you 350 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.799 know, with the misfortune of last year. Yeah, and the Tigers hill 351 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:29.359 with a tough matchup against lake Zerxso so this seems odd to see lake Zerk 352 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:32.480 sitting there in the six A field. Yeah, I mean, they were 353 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:34.400 kind of bubbling back and forth between seven and six A, and I just 354 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:40.319 feel like this has been one of the quietest eight to one seasons in a 355 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.480 good solid league that I can remember in a while. That lone loss back 356 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:48.480 in week five to Warren, I believe it was twenty one to seventeen in 357 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:53.440 that game, just kind of indicative of just a good, solid football team 358 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:59.039 just going about its business. Defense really really good again. But I mean 359 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:03.480 we talked about Libertyville a little bit earlier in this segment, and Libertyville, 360 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.119 you know, put up twenty eight points on them. That's the season high 361 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:11.279 against this defense. But it's Lake Zerk's just a really, really good, 362 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:15.559 solid football team. And in kind of a bracketing quirk, the only one 363 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:21.480 loss team on the north side of the six A bracket. So that's that's 364 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:25.119 kind of odd too. I Mean, we've got only one undefeated team in 365 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:29.240 the entire bracket and then just one one loss team on the north side, 366 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:32.319 so kind of a wide open bracket there. But it looks like Lake Zeric, 367 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.720 at least in my mind, is on top of that list. All 368 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:37.559 right, Joe, one more game before we let you go. Richmond Burden 369 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:42.599 sitting here at the number five seed in Class four A, coming off a 370 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:48.400 somewhat surprising loss to Rochelle, how do you feel about the Rockets heading in? 371 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:53.400 Well, I think that lost, you know last week thirty to twenty 372 00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:56.960 to Rochelle, and Rochelle looked really good. I have to say that defense 373 00:24:57.559 --> 00:25:03.000 was tough. Rich Men could not run outside against them, and and and 374 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:07.960 really grinded it out on offense and held the ball and really played well. 375 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:12.559 I would feel a lot better for Richmond if it had won that game and 376 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:17.920 got it got a different drunk because Saint writer, you know again you're you're 377 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:21.880 talking c C C C L E, s c C. You know, 378 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:25.400 it's played a really strong schedule all the way through. So I think this 379 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:30.000 is a lot tougher first round game for the Rockets. I still think, 380 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:33.680 you know, Richmond can can win this game and get through the second round, 381 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:40.640 but a lot a lot tougher first round game than the Rockets are accustomed 382 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:42.519 to seeing in the last few years. Yeah, I definitely think this first. 383 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:48.000 I think this first round game for them might be the biggest obstacle for 384 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:51.480 them making a really deep run. I think they can they can go really 385 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:55.920 deep if they get this game. And I unlike past years, like you 386 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:59.480 just said, uh, this isn't a this isn't a ninety ten game. 387 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.680 In my mind, this is a this is a you know, a sixty 388 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:07.119 forty game. In favor of Richmond Burton, Saint Vider, young but tricky 389 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.599 h Cooper Comet, Cole Comet's younger brother, you know, is a heck 390 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:15.519 of a player. They've got some players in here. It's you know, 391 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:18.839 it's a four A team, but you know they've been playing Behemus all year 392 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:22.880 long. Yeah, it's kind of it's kind of weird, Like they get 393 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.680 Saint Vider, Richmond Burton gets Saint Vider here in the first round. If 394 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:30.599 they survive, uh, I'm you know, would be absolutely shocked if it 395 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.119 wasn't Weedon Academy in the second round. And then I feel like their quarterfinal 396 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:36.279 matchup, if they made it that far, would probably be easier than the 397 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.400 first two matchups. Sous Yep, Yeah, I agree, And that's that's 398 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:41.799 really kind of the way it broke down. It was, you know, 399 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:44.680 when you look at kind of the public league placement on this bracket, it's 400 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.640 all kind of clustered in one area there, including a public league against public 401 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:52.920 league matchup in the first round, so you know, it opens up nicely. 402 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:57.160 I think if Richmond Burton can get past these first two rounds, I 403 00:26:57.160 --> 00:27:03.039 think they're in pretty good shape. You can follow Joe on Twitter at NWH 404 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:06.640 Underscore Joe Prep Zone. Joe, what two games you got this weekend? 405 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:11.759 I have? I have Huntley Niles West at Huntley on Friday, and I'm 406 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:17.160 actually watching some cross country Saturday morning, but then I have to go over 407 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:22.279 and watch that NAS PR game at two o'clock. Then I'll go and finish 408 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:26.400 my cross country riding after that. So yeah, I'm kind of enjoy that 409 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.119 I'm going to go over and watch NAS and PR play too after. You 410 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:32.799 know, it was a lot a lot of fun doing live with Friday Night 411 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:34.960 Drive, but that also meant like, I don't know, sushi are the 412 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:38.319 same way, like we were here doing this and not on a sideline somewhere. 413 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:42.359 So I'm looking forward to hearing some pads popping, some some helmets clank 414 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:47.400 together this weekend. Joe. You remember the last time we saw NAS and 415 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:52.119 PR. It was such a great game as a Fantastic six a state championship 416 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:56.160 game in twenty seventeen. And you know what I'll always remember about that is, 417 00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:03.759 you know, Samson Evans was so good and NAS tied it with I 418 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.119 don't know, six or seven minutes to go twenty one to twenty one. 419 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:11.480 And on the kickoff, it was a brilliant move. Oh yeah, I 420 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:18.720 looked down and instead of putting Samson Evans deep, Chris Shrimp moved him up 421 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:22.519 to the twenty yard line. They thought NAS thought it was kicking it away 422 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:26.519 from him and bounced it a perfect one hopper right to him and he took 423 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:30.160 it from like the twenty five yard line to NAS's forty to set up the 424 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:34.160 winning, the winning scoring drive. But then you know, NAS came back 425 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:40.519 and and was intercepted in the end zone. Yeah, at the end of 426 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:42.599 that game, almost came back and tied with only like a minute. Some 427 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:47.240 of that was that. JJ McCarthy, Yes, yeah, that's funny. 428 00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:52.240 They're your current betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, Joe. I don't 429 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:56.079 know if you saw that. I didn't. I knew he's having a great 430 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:59.920 season, I didn't know that. That's wow. Yeah, JB. McCarthy, 431 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.799 currently the favorite to win the hide in Pretty Wild. All right, 432 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.640 Joe, we'll let you go. We appreciate you joining us today though. 433 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:11.799 Oh always fun guys. All right, calculator, Yeah right, all right, 434 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:15.519 everyone, So Sus and I stick around here for the next fifteen minutes 435 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:18.160 or so. If you're watching live on YouTube, you have any questions for 436 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:22.119 Sus or you can throw those into the comment. We will get to those. 437 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:26.480 Sus, where do you want to go? You know, we're going 438 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:30.039 through here kind of breaking it down, and I think one of the most 439 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.960 interesting things that was kind of developing over the week is how close we had 440 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:41.680 we came to having the brackets look differently in some situations. You know, 441 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:48.279 when we were talking about that Prairie Ridge matchup with Nazareth, A lot of 442 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:52.079 people don't realize how close we were to having that look a lot different. 443 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:56.839 On Saturday, when everyone was focused on Loyola and Mount Carmel, this weirdo 444 00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:03.480 was focused on Peyton and Lincoln Park because what that game meant was if Lincoln 445 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:07.440 Park won that game, it changes seven a bracket significantly. Was that the 446 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:11.799 one you were soliciting, was that the one you were solictening up as it 447 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:17.000 actually it actually wasn't because this one was just kind of a you know, 448 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:21.319 whatever happens happens. But Peyton, who ended up being the number one seed 449 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:25.480 in the bracket, had they lost that game to Lincoln Park would have tumbled 450 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:27.720 down. You would have had Praier Ridge move up to the one seed, 451 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:33.240 you would have had Antioch move up to the two seed, and then your 452 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:37.480 first round matchups would have been Prairie Ridge against Sterling, Antioch versus Nazareth. 453 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:45.119 And what happened in that game thirteen twelve in favor of Peyton, so you 454 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:48.200 know, and so that was what we were kind of watching that from the 455 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:51.480 periphery and not really I don't think a lot of people realize that that was 456 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:55.640 the impact of that one point result in a Saturday afternoon public game. So 457 00:30:56.079 --> 00:31:00.359 and then I could get into the whole fascinating situation with seven, a double 458 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:03.039 forfeit that ended up causing a seed stack to change, which I talked about 459 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:10.240 in the What we Learned It on Monday. So definitely and interesting situations that 460 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:14.759 kind of little machinations that were behind the scenes that I don't think people realized 461 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:18.319 on that final day how much of an impact they had. You know, 462 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:21.880 when we finally put it all together, got a couple questions coming in here. 463 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:26.319 Really appreciate it, guys. Trevor ass a little late to the stream, 464 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.799 But do you guys think Chicago Hope has a chance to play in the 465 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:33.039 title game? Talking about Class one A here, let's pull that bracket up 466 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:37.839 here, let's see sus Hope's in there as the three seed. What do 467 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:41.799 you think you know, I've talked about this the entire time. I like 468 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:45.039 Hope. I like a lot of the things that they have, But the 469 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:48.799 fact remains that they could potentially play a team in the second round that beat 470 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:55.160 them during the regular season, so they would have to clear that obstacle. 471 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:59.799 Likely second round matchup between Aura Christian and Hope Academy. Granted it would be 472 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.559 Home and Hope. It was a close game when they played the first time, 473 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:08.400 but Hope's obviously larger obstacle if they could keep going is I won't pick 474 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:13.519 against Lena Winslow until they lose, and I'm not sure when that's going to 475 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:15.839 be, and I don't really think it's going to be this year, either, 476 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:22.319 So I think we got to go all the way back to a regular 477 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:28.240 season game against Forreston I believe two years ago, which they probably maybe did. 478 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:30.799 They promptly avenged in the playoffs by winning by like forty or something, 479 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:36.359 so they they don't lose very often. There's still the clear favorite in one 480 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:40.000 A. And that's the biggest obstacle for any team that resides on the North 481 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:45.079 bracket on whether or not they can get to normal is how how Lena winslow 482 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:50.200 and if they can get dispatched. Yeah, I completely agree with that. 483 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:53.200 All right, so we got let's see term followed up here. So both 484 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:57.720 very good teams, hope. It's very big upfront and very athletic in the 485 00:32:57.720 --> 00:33:00.720 backfield. Might be the biggest team in one A. Dude, if you 486 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.880 had a chance to look at their offensive line. I did see their coach 487 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:06.400 posts their starting offensive line on Twitter and tag Briday and I drive in that 488 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:09.000 today. Yeah, I've seen a little bit of it on tape. I 489 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:13.680 have not seen them live this year. Not the same thing, but that 490 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:19.000 is something that definitely stands out. It's it's a very big and talented offensive 491 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.359 line, very talented quarterback play there, and a lot of explosive playmakers, 492 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:25.720 a lot of it's just a lot of fun. It's it's a fun team 493 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:30.279 and I wish them the best because they're i mean, their coaching staff a 494 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:35.640 great bunch of guys. Had the opportunity to speak with head coach Chris Mallet, 495 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.519 you know, at a summer event this year at a showcase. I 496 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:42.119 talked to Chris a lot on the phone in the past when I've tried to 497 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:44.880 help him put together a schedule as an independent. Now he doesn't have to 498 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.559 worry about that as much as he used to. But I mean, they 499 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:51.200 still went to California this year in a non conference game. So it's a 500 00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:55.519 very interesting program led by an a very interesting guy. So, you know, 501 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:59.359 I always kind of have you know, I'm not supposed to have a 502 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:01.119 rooting interest as the member of the media, but I always like it when 503 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:06.319 Hope Academy's playing well because it's a fun story when they do. The man 504 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:09.639 you're listening to talk is Steve Sussie as our former colleague at The Daily Darrenald 505 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:13.639 Timaron, who just say the man, the myth, the legend, the 506 00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:19.679 SEUs breaking down the playoffs for playoff first round playoff matchups for you. Here 507 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:22.039 you can find sus on Twitter at the Suits. You can find myself on 508 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:27.400 Twitter at Kyle Neighbors. You can also find Friday Night Drive on Twitter at 509 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:30.719 f and Drive. You can also follow Friday Night Drive on Facebook and Instagram. 510 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:35.199 We had a question from Jimmy who says who advances in the top half 511 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:39.679 of a top half bracket for seven A sus. You know, it's it's 512 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:44.880 really chalky to say this, but I really like the top seed. You 513 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:49.199 know, Normal Community has had a very fine season. You always kind of 514 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:52.400 wonder about, you know, the big twelve teams kind of transferring into this 515 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:57.000 seven A playoff field, whether or not their schedules prep them for it. 516 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:02.639 But I think their defense translates against any level of competition. You know, 517 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:08.280 have really done a nice job of like taking care of some pretty quality programs, 518 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:14.000 either shutting them down entirely or limiting them to very few points. They're 519 00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.320 a good team. But the other team that I like on the north side 520 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:19.039 of the bracket, I really like Hersey a lot. I kind of like 521 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:23.000 their path they're in that situation. And if you want to talk a few 522 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:29.599 underseeds that I think are interesting here. You know, I just said that 523 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:32.800 I like Hersey. But I also think a potential second round matchup against either 524 00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:37.159 of those two teams that they could play between downers Grove North and Kenwood. 525 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:44.800 Kenwood has some incredibly explosive athletes and downers Grove North is just a really, 526 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:47.679 really solid football team. So whoever gets through that first round game I think 527 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:52.239 is going to give Hersey an interesting test. And we talked about this before 528 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:55.880 with some other teams. I feel like that second round game might be more 529 00:35:55.920 --> 00:36:00.480 difficult than games they would face down the line, So you know, in 530 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:04.920 that situation, you know, I think there are a lot of interesting teams 531 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:09.159 here. Wouldn't surprise me to see, you know, a double digit seed 532 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:13.440 make a bit of a run here. There are a lot of candidates for 533 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:16.000 that. I think that sixteen to seventeen game is interesting between Bradley and Saint 534 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:20.679 Charles North. That's where I was going, you know, So that's one 535 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:23.880 of those I have a two o'clock game in Central Illinois. I'm hoping to 536 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:27.840 make it back to my home area to catch the second half of that game. 537 00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:30.440 That's how intrigued I am with that contest. But like I said, 538 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:34.719 there's a lot of teams in here that I think I wouldn't be shocked to 539 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:37.880 see them on the quarterfinal lines. And I feel like there's you know, 540 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:45.800 ten to twelve options for those teams to get there. Let's see where are 541 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:49.920 we at here? Got more questions coming in love the question guds really appreciated 542 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:54.159 here, Gacker once is Ducaine represented well in the playoffs four teams in seven 543 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:58.239 A and one in six A. Geneva traditionally had been in seven A. 544 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:01.920 What do you think Geneva's chances this playoff class? Well, I think Geneva's 545 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:07.239 bracket is quite kind, especially early. You know, drawing that Chicago Public 546 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:12.559 League team in the first round sets them up nicely. They're going to almost 547 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:16.480 certainly be playing the fifteen seed in the second round because they also play a 548 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:20.480 public league team. I think Lake Forrest is a good team, but I 549 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:23.800 think Geneva probably gets them. So then we're talking about in the quarterfinals, 550 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:30.480 before they run into their you know, their first I guess significant opponent. 551 00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:34.360 I figure that will be Kerry Grove. Just kind of looking at that group, 552 00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:38.679 so you know, that is a really excellent quarterfinal potential matchup that I 553 00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:43.119 think right there, I think that's you know, almost kind of like a 554 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:45.920 toss up in my mind right now with where those two teams are at, 555 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:50.840 so, I think they have an opportunity to make a really deep run here. 556 00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:55.039 They could potentially beat Kerry Grove. I think you're probably looking at lake 557 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:59.880 Zurich in that semi final game if they were to get that far. So 558 00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:05.760 do I think it's out of the realm of possibilities that Geneva could find itself 559 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:08.360 in normal I don't. I wouldn't put an exceptionally high percentage on it, 560 00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:13.280 but I think it's something that could be done. I would be surprised if 561 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:16.320 coming out that six a North Bracket if it wasn't one of those three though, 562 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:21.519 lake Zurich, Carry Grove, Geneva. I agree. I think I 563 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:25.719 have Krry Grove as a slight favorite, then lake Zurich, and then probably 564 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:30.719 Geneva. I think those three teams are close enough though that you could if 565 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:35.760 you order them in any order of those three, I really couldn't really couldn't 566 00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:38.039 argue with you. Yeah, we're in the same page, yeah on that 567 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:40.719 one. All right, let's go over whether on the go, Whether on 568 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:45.280 the go? Nice to have you back Man Dixon's chances versus Saint laws and 569 00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:49.719 for a North bracket in the second round. Let's see here, So Dixon 570 00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:57.480 with a matchup against Plano in the first round. You know, I don't 571 00:38:57.480 --> 00:39:01.239 want to say that's a win. First off. I think that's a win 572 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:07.239 for Dixon, but I'm not completely sure, to be honest with you. 573 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:10.239 With the way the Big Northern Conference played out this year, I don't really 574 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:15.000 know what to make of the teams behind Byron in that conference. Sus Yeah, 575 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:17.239 I mean, I think that's one of the things that I kind of 576 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:21.960 look at here too, not only with the Plano game, but moving further, 577 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:24.320 if they were to get past that game against Saint Lawrence. You know, 578 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:29.639 Dixon, as I described it, at least from an enrollment perspective, 579 00:39:30.239 --> 00:39:32.920 is a big fish in a small pond in the Big Northern. And I 580 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:37.800 don't think the second tier of that conference is anywhere near as good as it 581 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:43.199 has been in past years. When you look at you know, Stillman Valley 582 00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:45.840 and Genoah, they had what I would consider to be down years. They 583 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:51.159 both made the playoffs, but not quite at the level that we're accustomed to 584 00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:53.840 for them. Kind of an up year for North Boone and a little bit 585 00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:59.239 of an up year for Oregon. The conference ended up sending six teams to 586 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:05.599 the playof US. Sometimes that speaks to conference strength, but in this case, 587 00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:09.840 unfortunately, I think it kind of speaks to conference mediocrity that they were 588 00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:15.719 able to get six bids out of a locked conference. So that's kind of 589 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:19.719 my take on that. So, you know, Plano's played a better schedule. 590 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:23.199 I think they're prepared for that game. But let's just happenstance that Dixon 591 00:40:23.239 --> 00:40:27.920 wins the game and answer the question that he asked. Yep. I think 592 00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:31.360 Saint Lawrence is a pretty big mountain for Dixon to have to climb in that 593 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:37.760 situation. I'm seeing some other comments in there from from Trevor Burns about Saint 594 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:42.199 Lawrence and their running back. You know, he's a very very good player, 595 00:40:43.639 --> 00:40:45.960 will be tough to stop, and like I said, there's there's a 596 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:50.719 big difference between, you know, the week on week competition that Saint Lawrence 597 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:53.639 is seeing and the week on week competition that Dixon is seeing. Dixon has 598 00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:59.599 a very good defense, but it also hasn't seen the challenges to the level 599 00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:02.480 that than in the Byron game, and we saw what happened there where you 600 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:05.800 know, the other team is bringing an awful lot of thunder at you, 601 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:08.519 and I think Saint Lawrence is Saint Lawrence would be a very, very difficult 602 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:14.440 vote for Dixon in the second round. Tremor has another question asking about the 603 00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:17.679 Illinois Central Eight Conference. How does Wilmington chances look to make a title run 604 00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:22.639 in two A here, sus we talked about this earlier in the week. 605 00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:28.239 This two way North bracket is absolutely loaded. Sus. Well, you know 606 00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:32.880 that's actually an understatement. When you look at this and you look at Wilmington's 607 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:40.159 potential path. You start with Mercer County, a program that has historically steeped 608 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:44.719 in doing pretty well in the playoffs. To my understanding, this is a 609 00:41:44.760 --> 00:41:47.800 younger, younger team that has had a lot of injuries of this season and 610 00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:52.719 maybe isn't quite to the standard of you know, previous Mercer County programs. 611 00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:59.639 But then you get into the next round and then I can't remember a potential 612 00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:05.159 gaune like this for you know, a team like Wilmington in this situation. 613 00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:07.519 I know Wilmington's going to back down from it, but they go potential second 614 00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:12.159 round game would be Tri Valley. Yeah, and then they would go to 615 00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:15.719 the quarterfinals, where it looks like Seneca would be the favorite to get their 616 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:21.039 Seneca already beat them in the regular season. If they yeah, so, 617 00:42:21.079 --> 00:42:24.400 if they somehow managed to reverse the script there, Hi, you get to 618 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:30.360 play Moroa foresight potentially in the semis or Bloomington Central Catholic or Bloomington Central Catholic. 619 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:35.719 Moroa has consistently been the number one team in two A. Bloomington Central 620 00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:38.639 Catholic obviously a very good football team playing in a predominantly three A four A 621 00:42:38.760 --> 00:42:44.880 conference and winning all of its teams in that league. You know that is 622 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:52.000 I can't remember the last time I saw minefield of that nature for any team 623 00:42:52.119 --> 00:42:55.440 in the postseason. Because you're you're potentially going, let's use their current records, 624 00:42:55.480 --> 00:43:00.400 you're potentially going six and three, nine and oh nine and oh nine 625 00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:05.840 and zero, and then you're in the championship game. Yeah. So where 626 00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:08.519 all you're doing is, yeah, we're talking about a South bracket that is 627 00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:14.159 nowhere near as strong as the North bracket. But still whoever does manage to 628 00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:16.639 maneuver that is probably going to be a pretty good football team too. I 629 00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:22.159 still think getting through the North bracket would potentially put you in great position to 630 00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:25.039 win the state championship because I think the level of competition would drop a little 631 00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:30.079 bit. But which shouldn't really happen. Come on, I can't say that 632 00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:32.559 Nashville, Dude, Nashville is the favorite no matter what. Yeah, oh 633 00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:37.000 yeah, okay, but no, it's it's a crazy bracket one that I 634 00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:42.639 have not you know, I could come up with very few examples of a 635 00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:47.079 situation where you have that many teams and then have so many solid one loss 636 00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:53.320 teams in that bracket as well after the undefeated teams. Wilmington is obviously one 637 00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:57.480 of them. I mean, but there's just so many, so many that 638 00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:00.039 a one loss team is actually on the road in the first round, so 639 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:07.119 loaded to a North bracket. Whoever who ever comes out of it hopefully that 640 00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:13.679 they're actually able to survive physically with enough to go into the state championship game 641 00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:16.599 without feeling like that gauntlet has hurt them too badly. All right, we're 642 00:44:16.599 --> 00:44:20.679 called up on questions. We got to get out of here anyway. Make 643 00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:22.960 sure you stick to Friday Night Drive dot com all week and long. We'll 644 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:27.159 have full cover to the first round for you. All your preview content is 645 00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:30.679 going up on the website right now. I got susa's first round analysis for 646 00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:32.199 one A through five A. All is up. Six a'll be going up 647 00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:36.800 this afternoon in seven and eight A tomorrow morning. Sus, how about you 648 00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:40.159 leave us with some final thoughts though, you know, we talked about it 649 00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:45.840 a little bit before a potentially fascinating first round. So many fun games out 650 00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:49.119 there. I mean, for example, we didn't even talk about the game 651 00:44:49.119 --> 00:44:52.239 that I'm traveling to on Friday night in the five A bracket. I'm going 652 00:44:52.280 --> 00:44:57.559 to Piori to see Juliet Catholic and Peoria square off. That feels nothing like 653 00:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.440 a first round matchup. And if I had more time, I could sit 654 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:04.159 here and point out fifteen or twenty more games like that where it's their first 655 00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:07.400 round games that feel like quarterfinal games. So an opportunity for some really good 656 00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:10.800 football, and I hope everybody has the opportunity to go on season. Thank 657 00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:16.119 you everyone who joined us live this morning on YouTube. You can subscribe to 658 00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:19.559 the channel, leave a thumbs up. We really do appreciate it. You 659 00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:23.639 can find us live on Mondays and Thursday's morning throughout the postseason here at eleven 660 00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:27.559 a m. Will be breaking it down sus and I. For now, 661 00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:30.960 we're going to go ahead and sign off for Steve Susie. I am Kyle 662 00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:35.719 Nabors. We will talk to you guys later. Schweiker, Gannison, Krizak, 663 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:38.280 Rundio, Braudley sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krizak. If 664 00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:42.320 you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance company and get 665 00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:45.519 you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our 666 00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:49.280 clients. 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