WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:04.080 Schweiker, Gannison, Krazek Rundio Proudley sponsors to Friday Night Driver. I'm Mike 2 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.240 Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance 3 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:10.480 company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of 4 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:24.160 dollars for our clients. Visit GA nassi n dot com. What's up everyone, 5 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:27.679 and welcome back to the Friday Night Drive Podcast. I am Kyle Nighbors 6 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:32.119 along with host Steve Susi, and it is week one, so we are 7 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:37.280 here to talk to you about this weekend slate of games. And we thought 8 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:41.159 we'd have football on Thursday night here this evening. Susy, you had a 9 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.719 nice one lined up. Mother nature is being kind of weird to start the 10 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.960 year, though. Yeah, it's been crazy. I mean, we had 11 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:52.600 a we had a handful of games that were originally scheduled for Thursday night, 12 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:57.039 and of course that got me immediately amped up to have an opportunity to get 13 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:00.520 an extra marquee game in on a weekend like THEU So it was really kind 14 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.920 of looking forward to that. But early in the week you started to see 15 00:01:03.040 --> 00:01:07.400 signs that we were probably looking at about one hundred degree temperatures for that Obviously, 16 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:14.200 the risk area involved in putting players in that type of situation was kind 17 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:17.799 of frowned upon, and we didn't we didn't get that materialized. A lot 18 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:22.359 of those Thursday games have been pushed to Friday or Saturday, most to Saturday, 19 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:26.000 including the game. I was looking forward to seeing that Kenwood Lincoln Waight 20 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:30.920 East game that's now on Saturday morning. So I was pretty upset about it 21 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:33.280 at the time when it, you know, when they canceled the game, 22 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:38.239 because I was really looking forward to it. But after going outside and experiencing 23 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.400 what the temperature is likely going to be, I've I've come I've come to 24 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.920 peace with it. So that's basically what it comes down to now, is 25 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:49.480 that I understand why they're doing it. I'm interested to see how much of 26 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:53.359 an effect Friday night. Actually, some people are pushing it back an hour 27 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.840 hour and a half from original games time to try to get away from the 28 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:00.400 heat a little bit more. I don't know how much of effect that's gonna 29 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:07.480 have, but that's what people are trying. So yeah, it's man. 30 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.800 The wife and I took the dog out for a walk about eight o'clock last 31 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:15.919 night and it was still hot, humid. Just I was drenched by the 32 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:19.039 end of it. If you're going out to a game this weekend, one 33 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.520 make sure to double check the time. We'll have a list of game time 34 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:24.800 changes at Friday Night Drive dot Com. A bill will for you. But 35 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:30.280 make sure that you wear a hat, drink plenty of water. It's it's 36 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.439 been pretty miserable out there, Susan. Yeah, it looks like for the 37 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.960 northern part of the state by Friday evening that the heat's gonna break. But 38 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.400 from looking at weather forecast, really as you get south of Peoria, they're 39 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.599 still talking about mid nineties for a lot of the day on Friday. I 40 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.199 got a feeling that we're going to see more games pushed the Saturday, which 41 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:53.080 could present you know, multiple problems. Well, you know, I've been 42 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:54.400 wondering about it when I saw, like, you know, the Public League 43 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:59.280 making the move that they did. You know, they have to really finesse 44 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.680 their schedule to begin with, just to ensure that they get enough officials to 45 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:07.280 places where that they need to be. So adding those Thursday games into the 46 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:12.199 Saturday mix is probably going to cause a problem for not only venues, but 47 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.439 officials as well. So that's just in the CPL. If you get a 48 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:20.800 bunch of programs, you know in Central Illinois, Southern Illinois moving their games 49 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.960 to Saturday as well, I wonder if we're going to have enough officials to 50 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.199 go around on Saturday. Now, that's I think that's a legitimate concern. 51 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.319 It's definitely something that we're going to have to monitor all year long. We've 52 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:36.680 seen it before we even got to Week one games getting moved off of Friday 53 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.719 to Thursday or to Saturday to accommodate for that. I don't know what happens 54 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:46.360 if almost everybody goes to Saturday. I think it just creates the same problem 55 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:51.400 on a different day. Absolutely, it's going to be it's gonna be a 56 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.879 storyline all weekend long. And join in you Thursday night, well, what 57 00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:00.319 we thought it was going to be a Thursday night game at Lincoln Way East 58 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:02.039 and Kenwood over at Gately. Michael Dweljack was going to be over there. 59 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:04.319 It was just too good of a matchup to pass up when you live in 60 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:08.759 Chicago, right Michael, Yeah, I was definitely excited for that matchup. 61 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:11.960 I haven't seen Kenwood. I've heard about Kenwood for the last couple of years 62 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.080 and just you know, the talent that they've built over there. I was 63 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:17.160 really excited to see you know, Lightfoot, Marian Stewart and all that kind 64 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:21.439 of stuff. But yeah, I just didn't feel like sweating through a polo 65 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.279 and just you know, going through the whole spiel, like let the kids 66 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:29.439 like stay safe and it's better to push it back a couple of days in 67 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:32.560 that deal with anything that might have a long term issues. But yeah, 68 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.160 I was definitely looking forward to seeing that one. But you know, maybe 69 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:39.439 we'll see that one. There's something else down the road. So we wanted 70 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.360 Michael to join us this morning to talk about the Chicago Catholic League in the 71 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.319 East Suburban Catholic Conference at twenty four team Conference. He covers that league for 72 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:51.399 us over at Friday Night Drive dot com. Make sure you follow Friday Night 73 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:56.759 Drive on Twitter at f and Drive. You can also find us on Facebook, 74 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.240 Instagram, and TikTok. Michael is it at Michael dwel Jack for your 75 00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:04.800 Twitter and Michael M. Dwoljack ninety four. There you go, Thank you. 76 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:10.680 You got also at the SUS and I am at Kyle neighbors on Twitter 77 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.480 x whatever you want to call it, whatever Elon names it. Nowadays, 78 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.199 you know, threads and Instagram, you gotta go. I'm trying to boost 79 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.040 my Threads account. If anyone wants to follow me there, I've got a 80 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:26.839 twelve followers, so follow me there as well. I kind of forgot Threads 81 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:30.720 existed already. It's just kind of the age we're living in right now. 82 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.839 But yeah, Michael's joining us to talk about the Catholic League, and Michael, 83 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:42.040 one of the biggest conversation points all summer was the realignment after the first 84 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:45.639 two year period of this twenty four team conference. When you went around and 85 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.839 talked with coaches and players this summer, what did you hear. It's been 86 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:54.759 an interesting process, you know, just trying to incorporate two teams that you 87 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.319 know, haven't been playing in the conference or anything like that. So how 88 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.439 do you kind of bring that in? And it's it's been kind of like 89 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:05.639 interesting just to hear the coaches talking about about they mostly used an algorithm to 90 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:09.680 figure out who belongs of what division. They didn't want to leave it up 91 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:12.279 to, you know, human judgment. They didn't want, you know, 92 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:15.279 one coach to accuse another coach or and it's like acuach another athletic director, 93 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:19.160 you know, of wanting to play up to one school as opposed to another. 94 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:24.720 But with that you had saying Ignatius jumping all the way up from the 95 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:29.040 white up to the blue and talking to mad Miller at saying nations, they 96 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.160 obviously would love that, you know, to be in the blue and kind 97 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.720 of get to that level. But he also knows that he's still building a 98 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:39.399 program and the school enrollment numbers aren't there, and the program numbers aren't there 99 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:43.879 to compete against teams like Loyola, Mount Carmel, Saint Rita and Marris who 100 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:46.160 was just recently in the conference as well, or in the division as well. 101 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:51.240 So he was like listen, like we it'd be interesting to see what 102 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:55.519 they do. This is a one year trial period. This year they're going 103 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:59.879 to figure it out, kind of see how things go. But it's been 104 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.439 interesting. I'm kind of curious to know whether they take less of the algorithm 105 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:05.720 and more into like, you know, here's what we saw and like this 106 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.959 team deserves to be in here. They have this money, players and the 107 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:14.439 kind of stuff. So it'll be interesting to see what happens this year and 108 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:15.959 how they kind of handled it next year, and whether they have the same 109 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.879 approach or they changed things up in an off season. I was talking to 110 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:26.160 another Catholic league coach earlier this year and he was expressing how they thought they 111 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:29.600 might do it, and I thought they were going to put He was explaining 112 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.360 they thought they were going to put a heavier emphasis on you know, numbers 113 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.199 in the program. But then relate to me an interesting piece of information that 114 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:41.560 said, well, if they did it strictly on that, LEO has experienced 115 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:46.720 a massive resurgence and program numbers, and if they did it just on that 116 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:51.560 metric, LEO would catapult up in a way similar to what you're saying in 117 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.920 regards to what Saint Ignatius was about to do in the current system. So 118 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:03.879 I think it would be un to put you know, not disparagingly or anything, 119 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:07.399 but fully up fully on program numbers might not be the best idea either. 120 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:11.399 So I think they've got to find some sort of creative balance here, 121 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:16.160 because I understand that can be a wait, but it can't be the only 122 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:20.399 way. Yeah, And I think they'll get more of that because you know, 123 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:24.360 I think they're It's kind of hard because obviously both IC Catholic and Saint 124 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:28.199 France has come from different conferences, So it's like, how do you kind 125 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:30.000 of, you know, mix that in and how do you kind of, 126 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.360 you know, how do you kind of you know, incorporated team and decide 127 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.679 where they're going to be when they having played against the same competition the other 128 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:39.120 teams in the conference have. So I think that's why they're doing the one 129 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.559 year thing. For this year. They like looked at, you know, 130 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:46.360 how those two schools did against previously against CCL E SCC teams and that's how 131 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:52.360 they kind of both wound up in the OAR. And so I think it'll 132 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.720 be really interesting to see how they look at this year, see whether it 133 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.360 worked or not, whether the divisions make sense, or whether you just have 134 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.320 all right, well, there's two teams shouldn't be in the same division. 135 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.799 We got to figure out a different algorithm. I think that would be really 136 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:07.399 interesting. Is something to watch for next season. I know we haven't even 137 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:11.919 started this season, but uh as definitely something to watch after the state championships 138 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.440 finished at the end of November. Are you getting the impression just by looking 139 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.279 at the conference itself? Is that because it's kind of what I feel like, 140 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:24.919 there just could be a situation this year where there's just a ton of 141 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:30.360 teams sitting there with three, four and five losses, because it's going to 142 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:35.279 be a you know, a battle royale every year, both with the crossovers 143 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:41.600 and inside of divisions. I just don't feel like there's as many teams that 144 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:45.519 are just clearly separated from everyone else. Is maybe there have been in the 145 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:48.679 year's past. No, I would agree with you. I think that the 146 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.000 the race for suprematy is really interesting just based on each I mean, each 147 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.159 division race in this conference is going to be so interesting because you know, 148 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:01.080 you've got Mount Carmel and you got Loyola. I feel like those are two, 149 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.000 you know, as you you know, I've seen in your pole, 150 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:05.600 I've seen in other people's polls. Those are like two of the top three 151 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:09.639 top four teams in the state. But everyone else I think is just really 152 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.159 interesting to see. You know. I wouldn't be like Brother Rice in the 153 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:16.919 cclu cc Blue is so interesting to me because they can really you know, 154 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.559 they could play spoiler to Loyola and to Mount Carmelo, and that wouldn't be 155 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.279 a big like they're just a lot of teams I agree with you that are 156 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:26.679 just you know, very good, and you are kind of going to have 157 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:30.480 a situation where I feel like we see this, a lot of team is 158 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.679 going to be like the number twenty two seed. I think this has happened 159 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.200 Loyal, and I think this has happened to other teams where you have a 160 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.480 number twenty two seed. I think this happened to Jacobs and Rice last where 161 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.120 brother Rice is clearly the better team than Jacobs, no disrespect to Jacobs. 162 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.840 Are Algonquin, but it's just like they're just playing different schedules at this point. 163 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:50.159 And you will see that a lot where and I think you'll see that 164 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:54.200 a lot where a number twenty seed, maybe you have like a I don't 165 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:58.240 know, like Juliet Catholic or any other team that's going to kind of be, 166 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:01.720 you know, having a down year. I'm using air quotes because they 167 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.879 have three losses, but they'll probably make the state semifinals. Oh, they 168 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.960 make it the state championship. I think everything NAS was a twelve last year, 169 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.360 for example, Yeah, exactly. And I love NAZ and I think 170 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:15.399 they're gonna be a really good football team again. This year, but I 171 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.759 think there's a possibility NASK could be at twelve twelve again this year just based 172 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:22.360 on the schedule. I mean, So that's what I think the situation is 173 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.320 going to provide, is that I mean in five, six, seven, 174 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.440 and eight, when you look at those seeds, you can almost it's cliche 175 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:33.320 to say grow seeds out the window, because you have to keep that into 176 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:37.240 consideration the factors and the quality of schedules that all of these teams are going 177 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:41.120 to play. It's not just three or four or five of these teams that 178 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.720 got the short end of the stick. Every one of these teams has you 179 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:48.080 know, crossover games that look terrifying, Indivision games that look terrifying. It's 180 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:52.279 just I think we're gonna have a situation where it's just gonna have a lot 181 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.480 of teams that week seventh, week eight, we're not sure if they're going 182 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:58.000 to be able to get the five. Yeah, and if there are two 183 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:01.720 things that coaches like when I did all my previews and talked all the different 184 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.679 coaches, there are two things that I heard from literally every coach how excited 185 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:07.919 they were to start the season, and also how much that schedule is going 186 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:11.399 to prepare them for the playoffs. Every coach has said that schedule is just 187 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:16.320 a meet like you are just if you it's basically a race to five wins. 188 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:18.080 If you get those five wins, you're in and you are well prepared 189 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:22.039 and are probably going to make a deeper run, unless you have a situation 190 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.879 like Saint Rita Mount Carmel where they just have to play against each other in 191 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:28.679 the quarterfinals. Like those two teams probably could have played in the state finals 192 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.039 last year if they were not pared against each other in the state semifinals. 193 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.120 That's just how talented this conference is. And I don't really expect they had 194 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.919 to change much of the season at all. And then we get the added 195 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:45.600 wrinkle of two power programs in the conference of Loyola and Saint Rita having new 196 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.960 coaches this year that you know, that put a little more intrigue in it. 197 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:52.200 It is really interesting and I didn't realize this until I talked to Mount 198 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:56.639 Carmel coach Jordan Lynch, who is now the senior of the CCL SCC blue 199 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:03.080 longest serving coach. With bodshro taking over at Loyola, Martin Hopkins takes over 200 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:09.840 at Saint Rita and Casey Quentinfeld's in his second year at at Brother Rice. 201 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:13.559 Obviously round Check had had a Lynch, but Marri's moved down to the Green, 202 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:18.679 soa now Lynch is the statesman there, which he was kind of thought 203 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.240 it was funny when he brought that up. I was like, I didn't 204 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.279 even think about that, but that makes sense. But yeah, it'll be 205 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:28.240 really interesting. I think, you know, for two programs like Loyola and 206 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.639 seeing Rita, you kind of don't change what's been working for two elite powerhouses. 207 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:37.360 For for Loyola, it's been they haven't really changed anything. The offensive 208 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.960 coordin area is the same, the defense is staying the same, the practices 209 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:43.320 are the same. Everything is pretty much the same. I think the terminology 210 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.240 is pretty similar. It's just a new coach. It's just Bodshro taken over. 211 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.360 He's been a coach in the program, so he knows how Loyola likes 212 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:52.879 to run it stuff and Loyal likes to reload. Yeah, they're gonna have 213 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:58.440 to change up maybe how they run their offense with an inexperienced quarterback and you 214 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.960 don't have Jake Sterne or Declin fur there anymore. But for Loyola. I 215 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.799 think it's going to be the same old, same, Well, you just 216 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:07.320 reload and fight for a state championship and just gain experience. And for seeing 217 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.799 Rita with Martin Hopkins, I mean it's it's kind of the same thing. 218 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:15.279 They have a new defense, which I don't know if that defense needed to 219 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.519 be changed, considering it limited most of the best teams in the state and 220 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:22.919 didn't really let them score them. Coach Hopkins talked about having a more of 221 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:28.440 a collegiate freestyle and Zach Clark, the secondary player for the Mustangs, is 222 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.799 really excited because that's going to mean more turnovers for what the defense is going 223 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:33.759 to be. But it's going to still be a really good defense with a 224 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:37.399 lot of returning talent. And you had DJ Stewart coming back and running back 225 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.799 and that's going to be tough to stop. They're going to just run the 226 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.000 ball like they always do. And you got Jed Hilding coming back who has 227 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:48.320 some experience at the quarterback position. So for both of those two powerhouse programs, 228 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:52.120 Yeah, they have new head coaches. Yeah, maybe things look a 229 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.600 little bit different and they have to replace a lot of talent, but I 230 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:58.720 don't really expect things to really be that different. I mean, sure things 231 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:01.080 will look a little bit different to fensively for Saint Rita, but you know, 232 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:03.840 why change something that isn't broken, you know, for both of those 233 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:07.519 programs, And that's kind of the approach that both coaches have kind of taken 234 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:15.200 upon themselves as they've taken over. Let's you already went through a few there, 235 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.960 but let's hit on some of the top names to watch this year. 236 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.600 I think any lists with the any list with the CCL, SCC honestly with 237 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:28.840 Illinois starts with Justin Scott. He's just a phenomenal athlete. Just what he's 238 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.919 been able to build over the last what two and a half years that he's 239 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:37.639 been playing football. He didn't play football before high school. He didn't play 240 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:41.080 football as freshman year because of the COVID nineteen pandemics, so he just has 241 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:46.000 barely any snaps and he's just phenomenal. He's a really good defensive end. 242 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.639 That's what he's a five star recruit going to Ohio State. For offensive line 243 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.840 wise, he's really developed well over the past year. He's doing really well 244 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.879 and it's really started really hard to stop. And then that's someone that I'm 245 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:03.919 really excited to see for Fenwick, Nathaniel Marshall, I'm really excited to see 246 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:07.399 a lot of guys are in on him right now, huge Power of Five 247 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:11.720 programs. He should be really fun to watch. He's such a fun athlete 248 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.759 just you know, with his build and what he's able to do. He 249 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:18.720 should be really fun and really helped Fenwick create a lot of problems. And 250 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.759 I think those two teams, I forget what oh they played week two, 251 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.039 that should be really fun to watch, you know, justin Scott go against 252 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:30.799 Nathaniel Marshall on the offensive and defensive line, that'll be a really fun matchup 253 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:34.159 as well. But you got Dylan Johnson the at Juliet Kaplack. He's obviously 254 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:40.360 a very talented not only on the line but also as a wrestler. Recently 255 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:45.200 committed to Wisconsin, flipping from Northwestern. So Dylan Johnson is a really fun 256 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:51.559 guy to watch. And obviously Darian dupri he's going to Wisconsin. A foot 257 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:56.080 injury took away his postseason last year, which was you know, Mount Carmelo 258 00:16:56.120 --> 00:17:00.320 didn't now that Mount Carmelo didn't need him, but like they were fine, 259 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:03.160 you know, with the talent that they have to replace him. But Darien 260 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:06.880 can do it all man Like. He can run the ball, he can 261 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.799 sprint it, he can you can know. He can play as a play 262 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.960 as a pass catcher, two as a running back. And that's something that 263 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:15.839 Jordan Lynch, you know, he loves to create different offense sinces for Mount 264 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:19.319 Carmel, and that's exactly how they're going to incorporate Dairy and they're going to 265 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:22.680 use them as a rutner. They're going to use them as a pass catcher. 266 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:26.960 He can block as well. So I'm really excited to see what a 267 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:30.640 healthy season hopefully looks for him, because you know, Alabama has offered, 268 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:33.880 so obviously he's a Wisconsin commit, but when Alabama offers, I don't know 269 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.759 how. I'm not trying to break any news here or anything like that, 270 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:41.640 but obviously you start to listen when Alabama calls your name, and I think 271 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.720 Alabama sees what a lot of us have seen with Dairy and then just you 272 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.000 know how talented he is and what can he what he can do for that 273 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:52.400 program? Coming back all right, Well, you know, we could really 274 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:57.119 sit here and talk players to watch this this league all day if we had 275 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:00.880 the time, but we gotta get going here. We've got Joe Stevenson going 276 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.119 to join us a little bit to talk about the Fox Valley conference with Michael. 277 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.880 Tell us a little bit about the two games you got this weekend. 278 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:11.319 Yeah, I'll be seeing I'll be staying in the city on Friday night. 279 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.680 I'll be going to sing Ignatius and checking out a game there. I'm kind 280 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.279 of excited to see that one. Obviously. For those who know, you 281 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.920 know, Ignatius is pretty close to downtown. You get a beautiful view of 282 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.039 the skyline and that's kind of The campus is kind of like Hogwarts, so 283 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.200 it's kind of fun. It's kind of you know, you've got a football 284 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.359 field with the skyline in one end and then you've got Hogwarts in the other 285 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:32.000 end. So I've never covered a game there, and that'll be a lot 286 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:36.119 of fun. But I've got Saint Patrick and Saint Ignatius playing against each other. 287 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:40.319 Saint Patrick finished four and five, just missed odd on the playoffs with 288 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:45.640 second year coach Luke Meurns. And for Ignatious, obviously it starts with Justin 289 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.319 Scott. They're in Class eight A now. But man, there's a lot 290 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:52.440 to replace with this team and Saint Ignatius. They lose Viney Rouge, they 291 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:56.119 lose Jake Petro, they lose a lot of talent. So I'm really curious 292 00:18:56.160 --> 00:19:00.519 to see, you know, how does this program reload after back to back 293 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:03.240 historic seasons, making the state semifinals last year for the first time, how 294 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.000 do they reload? So I'm kind of curious to see what happens there, 295 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:11.839 and kind kind of a similar story with Marist and Glembard West on Saturday. 296 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:15.400 Marist only has a few returners on their team, like they only have Mark 297 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:18.880 Coy coming back. They got Brad fitz Gimming, Duke k Whit coming back, 298 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.839 but that is pretty much it. So I'm really curious to see what 299 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:27.880 does Maris look like against a Glembard West team that's pretty talented. Joe Steve 300 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.559 and I, you know, saw that game last year and that was such 301 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.119 a thriller. It'll be really interesting see what happens this year, just to 302 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:40.000 see how Maris is kind of able to reload with so many new players. 303 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:44.519 I know that obviously they finished and what were they they like were number nine 304 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:48.319 and the eight people. I'm kind of curious to see how they kind of 305 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:52.200 you know, how they look just based on I think a lot of it 306 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:55.200 is, you know, maris reloading as a program, and I think that 307 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.480 they have the talent to do it, but I just think there are a 308 00:19:56.519 --> 00:20:00.279 lot of uncertainties and they kind of used that as fuel to start the season 309 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.519 trying to prove a lot of people wrong and be like, well, a 310 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.480 lot of people don't know what we are, but we know who we are 311 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.839 and we're going to play a lot of games. So I think those two 312 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:11.240 games should be a lot of fun to kind of start the season, to 313 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:15.039 kind of see what those two programs are, what three CCL ECC programs are 314 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:18.000 going to be like this year. Before we let you go, I want 315 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:22.400 to put you on the spot. I'm gonna take Mount Carmel and Loyola off 316 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.559 the table as answers here, because I mean, there are two of the 317 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:29.799 top ranked teams in the state. We know we're going to see multiple teams 318 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.799 from this league down in Bloomington on state championship weekend. Give me two other 319 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:37.799 teams. Give me two predictions of two other teams from this league we will 320 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:45.119 be watching on the final weekend. I think I think it feels right to 321 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.599 say Nazareth because they just bring so much talent, just so much, like 322 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:52.119 they have so much Division one talent, so much college talent, and they 323 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.759 figured it out last year. They needed to win the remaining games of last 324 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.880 year in order to make the playoffs, and they took it all the way 325 00:20:56.920 --> 00:21:00.720 to winning a state championship. I asked Tim Raki, you know, do 326 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.079 you kind of get complacent when you kind of do that? And he's like, 327 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:06.799 no, Like these guys know what it was like, like barely been 328 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:10.240 making the playoffs and going on a run like that. So I think I'm 329 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.519 really interested to see what Nazareth is able to do. They have a lot 330 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:17.039 of talent, they have so much you know, offensive power. I think 331 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.559 they're going to be able to score a lot of people out of the building, 332 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:22.799 and that defense should be really good as well. For another team, 333 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:29.359 I think, you know, I'm really timed and caught in between Providence and 334 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:32.759 Juliet Catholic. I think Providence, you know, made the state championship game 335 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.400 last year. Tyler Plants brought a fresh of a breadth of fresh air to 336 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.079 that program, you know, the way he's doing stuff. I think they 337 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:41.839 bring back a lot of talent, So I think I'll go with Providence just 338 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:45.200 getting back there. Yeah, they have to replace a lot of guys, 339 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:48.079 and listen, there are other teams. I see. Catholic isn't very easy 340 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:52.880 as team to say. They're like a lot of programs saying Rita, Brother 341 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:55.880 Rice. I would not be surprised if they made a push toward the state 342 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.279 championship. Like, there are a lot of teams that I'm really excited to 343 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.119 see what they can do. It is here, But you know, if 344 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:03.079 you're putting me on the spot, I'm definitely gonna say Nazareth, then I'll 345 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:07.559 go with Providence kind of being there with Mount Carmel loyal of that weekend. 346 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:11.240 This is a loaded question because you might not be able to get both of 347 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:15.799 those teams that you just potentially predicted into this into the state the same state 348 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:22.960 final game, because if Providence ends up in five A, they might end 349 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:26.559 up in six A, Joliet Catholic could end up in five A and the 350 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:30.279 same bracket with all these teams could potentially all end up in the same North 351 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:33.359 South bracket, which is why once again, one to thirty two is the 352 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:37.960 best formula for everything. Let's let's do it immediately. Let's get rid of 353 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:41.519 the North South. But that's an argument for another day. But I think 354 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:45.640 I kind of agree with your choices. I think Nazareth would be the favorite 355 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:48.079 if I had to make that answer that same question. Kyle didn't ask me 356 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.279 the question, but I'm gonna answer it anyway. Sleeper for me here that 357 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.079 we didn't mention at all on this list. And this might sound a little 358 00:22:56.119 --> 00:23:00.640 crazy, Carmel, No, I am. I am definitely there with you. 359 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:03.319 They have the talent. I yes, I am definitely there with you. 360 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.559 I think they have their talent in order to make a deep run. 361 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:10.640 Suits You had your mic off so quickly there that I thought you were about 362 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:12.200 to pull a lead course Old Not so fast, my friend, and have 363 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.680 a helmet ready to go there for Carmel, that's why I thought you were 364 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:18.799 doing there. Yeah, it's just one of those things when you look at 365 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:22.799 it and you look at where they factor in, and I mean, granted, 366 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:26.880 it's one of another one of those bracket challenges, but yeah, I 367 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:32.559 mean five is going to look so much different than it has looked in the 368 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:37.240 past. No matter how the class breaks the last couple of years, you 369 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:41.079 would be hard pressed to, you know, come up with four or five 370 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:45.680 legitimate threats to win the state championship. I think that bracket is going to 371 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:49.759 be super fun, but especially if the bracket breaks from a geographic perspective the 372 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:53.279 way I think it might. Yeah, I'm definitely Brett glad you brought up 373 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:56.640 Carmo because they they've got talent and they should you know. I know that 374 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:00.559 they're in the Purple and some people but might overlook them or something like that. 375 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.880 But I just think that that program is has the talent. They got 376 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:08.000 the college talent on there, and I think that they've They're definitely someone that 377 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:12.480 people should keep I un throughout the year. All right, Michael, Well, 378 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:18.680 enjoy the first weekend of high school football, and thanks for joining us 379 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:21.440 this morning. Yeah, thanks for having me. Hopefully maybe we can talk 380 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.920 some White Sox the next time you guys have me on weekend. Us spend 381 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:30.160 an out around that organization. No, I've just I've turned in my fan 382 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:33.519 card for now at least. But yeah, make sure to follow Michael on 383 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:40.160 Twitter, Facebook, threads, Instagram. He's pretty much everywhere, right, 384 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:45.720 pretty much anywhere, all right, I go to see that goes all right? 385 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:48.400 Stick with us. We're gonna take a quick commercial break and then Joe 386 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:53.680 Stevenson will join us to talk about the Fox Valley Conference. Schweiker, Gannison, 387 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:57.640 Krazak Rundio Proudley sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krazak. If 388 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.680 you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance company and get 389 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:03.880 you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our 390 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:11.960 clients. Visit GA nassi n dot com. All right, welcome back, 391 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:15.559 and now we bring in Joe Stevenson, who covered McHenry County for Friday Night 392 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:22.319 Drive dot com and the Northwest Harold, Joe, you get a fun double 393 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:26.240 dip in week one this week and write two games. I do. Yeah, 394 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.960 I'm really looking forward to it. Richmond Burton at Marion Central on Friday 395 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:41.720 and then Johnsburg at Woodstock North in a Kishwonkee River conference. Slash interstated on 396 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:48.720 Saturday that is that Friday Night game is such an intriguing matchup because I think 397 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:55.200 all three of us have a high opinion of Mary and Central as a team 398 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:59.799 to begin with, and then their potential if they're able to get into the 399 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:03.160 to a playoff, which I'm sure you can fill us in on a little 400 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:07.039 bit more, Joe. But this it's kind of a let's see where the 401 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:11.160 Hurricanes are at, because this isn't not just going up against a larger for 402 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:17.119 a program. This is going up against a program that has lost what five 403 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:22.839 times under Mike Nol Yeah, only four I think, I mean fifty four 404 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:26.759 and four in his five years there s Sorry, I don't mean to tag 405 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:30.400 an extra extra loss on Mike. Yeah, yeah, it's it's pretty amazing. 406 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:37.119 I remember well when when he was hired their, their principle up there 407 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:40.279 said what do you what do you think of this? I said, I 408 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:42.200 don't think you could hire anyone better. I don't know how you could. 409 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:48.000 Here's a guy that's going to be in the Hall of Fame and he's retiring 410 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:53.119 from teaching, and it's it's a great program anyway, and that now now 411 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:56.839 we see what's what's you know, become of it? Now that he's there, 412 00:26:57.079 --> 00:27:00.880 they're they're even better. And yeah, I mean I really, I 413 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:06.160 truly believed that the COVID year, had it not been for that, they 414 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:08.319 would have won two in a row. So yeah, I was looking I 415 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:12.359 was looking at Richmond Burton just kind of trying to get a track record for 416 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:17.279 the last time they lost a regular season game. You know when that was, 417 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.839 Joe, just out of curiosity because I do, because I looked it 418 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:23.680 up. It was. Yeah, it was Maringo and Knowl's first year, 419 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:30.440 right, Yeah, fourteen thirteen lost in two thousand and eighteen. Yeah, 420 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:33.359 that's that's what we're talking about for random season dominance. That was a really 421 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:37.960 good Maringo team. They had Finn Sherman who was winning all kinds of state 422 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:41.799 track titles and went on and had a tremendous track career at Minnesota. That 423 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:47.000 was their their big ball carrier. And so yeah, yeah, that's the 424 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:52.680 only that's the only regular season game Richmond has lost under Noel Crazy. Did 425 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:57.200 they come back in speed Maringo in the playoffs? I believe they did, 426 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:02.200 or they might they might. No, No, they didn't. They didn't. 427 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:04.359 They didn't, they didn't. They went in different ways. Okay, 428 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:12.920 Yeah, So Joe, let's let's dive into the Fox Valley Conference because it 429 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:18.000 finished last year in a three way tie between Prayer Ridge, Jacobs and Huntley 430 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:23.559 at eight and one. Those are three teams coming into the year that I 431 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:30.319 think we could justify. As in the conversation, Crystal Lake, Central, 432 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:37.519 despite you know, not making the playoffs last year, has a lot coming 433 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:41.279 back. You know, it seems to be right in the conversation, I 434 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:44.680 know you're really high on them. And then you have a carry Grove program 435 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.319 that was really really young after winning a state title in twenty twenty one, 436 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:56.240 now with a lot back, it's this feels about as wide open as the 437 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:59.799 conference has been. I completely agree with you. I think, you know, 438 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.720 most years we're look, okay, is it gonna be Carrie Grover or 439 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:06.640 Prairie Ridge this year? And they seem to kind of trade off. And 440 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:10.440 I completely agree with you. I think it's really wide open. It should 441 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:17.680 should make for a really fun season and interesting season. I really like Central. 442 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:21.359 I think, you know, Central with Jason Penza coming back at quarterback, 443 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:26.839 a dynamic runner and thrower, and they got some guys that can catch 444 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.079 the ball. With George Demopolis, who's going to Northern Illinois. Uh, 445 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:33.480 you know, good for George. Last year he had to play out of 446 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:38.240 position after Penza got hurt in the opener. He played quarterback because he was 447 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:42.240 all they had to play a quarterback. And you know now he's back at 448 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:47.160 his regular position and he got his Division one scholarship, so good, great 449 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:52.559 for him. Griffin Bueller's another guy, Tommy Hammond. They got some guys 450 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.839 that can catch the ball. I think I think Central is really going to 451 00:29:55.880 --> 00:30:00.039 be I don't know for sure what it has on defense, but the Tigers 452 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:03.200 could could be one of those teams, you know a little bit like Prai 453 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:06.920 Ridge last year, where they just go out and score forty or forty five 454 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:14.359 or fifty points on you every night. Yeah. The question I've always had 455 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:19.440 with Central is are they going to be able to stop anyone go? I 456 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:22.039 think, you know, they have some people back on defense too. They 457 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:26.559 got a lot of guys, a lot of guys back on defense. So 458 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:30.359 I think this is a team. You know, we're used to the FEC, 459 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:37.119 you know, sending someone to that six A state championship game. Maybe 460 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:41.200 it's the Tigers this year. Wow. I mean that's I know that's a 461 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:45.839 lot to say, but I mean we've seen how well the FEC's done in 462 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:51.359 the north half of six A. I mean, particularly, you could have 463 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:56.599 a scenario here, Let's say like you have a bunch of them go seven 464 00:30:56.680 --> 00:31:00.599 and two. Right, they split some of these games. Get every Ridge 465 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:03.319 in five A, Crystal Lake Central and carry grow baling Out in six A, 466 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:07.720 Jacobs and seven A and Huntley in eight A. That'd be fun, 467 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:11.680 right, SEUs. Yeah. But the thing that kind of was a really 468 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:15.640 frustrating endeavor for me, Like looking through this conference, you know, heading 469 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:22.279 into the season, is you just listed five teams, and if math works 470 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:26.680 the way that math works, unless it stacks perfectly and you have no upsets 471 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:32.039 from any of the teams that are underneath there, do they all get to 472 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:37.119 five? Like it becomes a really complicated thing, like like you just listed 473 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:41.359 five teams that you think, okay, maybe they can make some post season 474 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:47.799 noise. It's really mathematically difficult to make sure in a conference with this much 475 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:51.920 potential up people that you get the five that you're guaranteed to get. I 476 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.559 think there's a real concern here that you could end up with a bunch of 477 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:57.599 seven and two, six and three and then get down to that last week 478 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:01.079 of the season and you've got a team with three wins playing a team with 479 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:05.240 four wins. The team with three wins knocks that team out of the hunt, 480 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:09.880 and you get where you only have maybe four teams get through this gauntlet, 481 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:14.480 because when I looked at it became very very difficult. I like Joe, 482 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:16.599 I like Crystal Lake Central and a lot of the things that they have. 483 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:22.799 How many times do you think Prayer Ridge is gonna lose? I mean, 484 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:27.440 it's it's not a safe bet to you know, keep them out of 485 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:30.440 the mix. What do you do with Huntley? Huntley's kind of a wild 486 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:35.680 card. Like I was taking a lot of criticism from the folks at Burlington 487 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:38.839 Central because I picked them as a non playoff team and I look at I 488 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:42.519 mean, I know they had some success against some of these teams that we 489 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:46.799 were talking about as you know, probably going to the playoffs, but it's 490 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:50.920 such a there's such a churn there. I think in the middle of this 491 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:55.720 conference potentially that I mean, I think we're gonna have a scenario, it's 492 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:59.640 you that potentially could play out in this league where we get to Week nine 493 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:05.400 and there are three teams that like have to win just to get to the 494 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:09.039 five win plateau and then maybe playing each other. So it's it's gonna get 495 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:15.519 I think this is gonna be potentially one of the messier locked conferences that you 496 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.839 can find this year. Yeah, I think you're right, Steven, And 497 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.119 unless you get you get some runk paper scissors going on. You have like 498 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:27.680 three or four teams that are at five and four, and you get a 499 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:31.400 couple extra in at You're right, Yeah, it's it's gonna be It's gonna 500 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:35.680 be tough. I really like you know, another team I really like that 501 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.519 I think is going to put up a lot of points is Chris Lake South. 502 00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:42.440 We haven't mentioned them yet, and that's you know, they lost a 503 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:47.039 terrific running back in Nate van Witzenberg, but Cayton Casamino is a really good 504 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:54.079 quarterback. And I love wide receiver Michael Prokost. That kid, he's he's 505 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:58.440 over the last two years. I think he has something like one hundred ten 506 00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:04.000 catches over the last two years. I think maybe he's a little under recruited. 507 00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:07.720 I know, he's not real big, he's really fast, he gets 508 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:10.840 a lot of yards after the catch. He plays, plays really hard. 509 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:15.039 He's fun to watch, and I think he could. I think he, 510 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:17.400 you know, maybe should get some more division. One looks that guy. 511 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:22.400 That guy is tough, and they got a really one of the better linemen 512 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:27.199 in the area and Andy Berberia, who's a state placer in wrestling as well. 513 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.480 And I think South's going to be really good. And and you know 514 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:36.760 you mentioned pray Ridge pretty rich. I don't think you know last year with 515 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:40.760 Tyler Vasy that you're losing obviously a lot there, but I think pray Ridge 516 00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:45.079 has a lot back on defense and still is going to be in the mix 517 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:50.440 at the end of the day you go through him, and I think we've 518 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:52.360 done a pretty good job already. But just because out of the summarize all 519 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:58.559 these teams, even the top five teams, there are question marks a despite 520 00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:00.880 as you know, as high they are. As I said earlier Crystal Lake 521 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:04.920 Central, we mentioned the defense, is it gonna be where it needs to 522 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:07.840 be? South? The same thing, right, Prairie Ridge replacing Tyler Vacy 523 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:10.079 and their defense last year. While they have a lot back, they gave 524 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:13.840 up a lot of points last year, they had a lot of things that 525 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:15.199 they were trying to figure out on the defensive side of the ball. Will 526 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:20.920 carry Grove progress the way that you know I expect they will because their carry 527 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:23.519 Grove It's a fantastic program. I with so much back, I just assume 528 00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:28.599 they're going to do that, but they still have to prove it and Huntley 529 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:32.159 great Defensively, the offense has to get better. It has to get more 530 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:36.840 consistent, it has to get more you know, they have to get more 531 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.199 out of the passing game, and it has to be more vertical at times. 532 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:42.079 If they can get that, there are a lot more dangerous teams. 533 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:45.719 So there's there's a lot of question marks through these teams. It's gonna be 534 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:50.039 it's gonna be a dog fight, and it's probably gonna be a month or 535 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:54.199 so before these teams really put it together. We know who they are exactly. 536 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:59.159 Yeah, I agree, all right, Joe. Before we let you 537 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.719 go, I'm gonna put you on the spot though, at the end of 538 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:06.760 the day, who are you taking to win the FBC. I'm taking Chris 539 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:10.920 Lake Central Chris. Yeah. I just I like I like what the Tigers 540 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:15.960 have. I think they're going to be really difficult to stop. All right, 541 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.400 well, Joe, thank you for joining us. Enjoy the first weekend. 542 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.000 I will, I will so glad it's back. All right. Make 543 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:29.559 sure to follow Joe on Twitter at NWAH Underscore, Joe Prep Zone, and 544 00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:32.280 again you can find all of Joe's work at Friday Night Drive dot com. 545 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:37.880 You can also read Joe in the Northwest, Harold stick with us, Susan, 546 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:40.559 are gonna come back one more time to wrap up with some of our 547 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:46.440 top games to watch in Week one. Schweiker, Gannison, Krazak Rundio Proudley 548 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:50.880 sponsors the Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, 549 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.800 we are ready to take on the insurance company and get you to the end 550 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:57.840 zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. Visit Ga 551 00:36:58.119 --> 00:37:06.719 Nassim's all right, sus Well, let's finish this first episode of the season, 552 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:09.920 or the week first preview episode of the season with our top games to 553 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:16.039 watch of the week. And you know it's you gotta start this conversation with 554 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:21.239 that game down in Bloomington on Saturday night with E Saint Louis and Mount Carmel. 555 00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:24.199 You'll be down there. I'm not gonna make the trek down, but 556 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:29.920 definitely hit game that I'll be following along watching. Well, you know, 557 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:34.199 it's one of those games that you just don't often see in this environment. 558 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:38.679 A creation of two of the if not the the two marquee programs in Illinois 559 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:43.639 right now agreeing to play in an on con game in a situation where, 560 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:46.800 you know, scheduling you have to do it so carefully and so precisely, 561 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:51.880 and especially just having it kick off the season, so you're not gonna give 562 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:55.079 either of these teams to you know, get get in their groove or finding. 563 00:37:55.320 --> 00:38:00.079 They gotta go from the drop, and both of these two teams have 564 00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:02.920 a lot of talent on both sides, both have some issues that they have 565 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:08.559 to make sure that they've resolved from. So just a fascinating matchup of you 566 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:13.320 know, two of the best programs that you're gonna find. I was delighted 567 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.159 when they scheduled it because you, just like I said, don't usually see 568 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:21.920 games like this, and I'm really happy that it's stayed true and we're going 569 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:25.280 to have an opportunity to see it a game that I really want to I'm 570 00:38:25.320 --> 00:38:29.960 really looking forward to see how it plays out. Is an old rivalry game 571 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:35.440 being renewed between Wilmington and Seneca and the last time these two teams played, 572 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:40.480 oh it goes back to when they were both members of the Interstate eight Conference, 573 00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:45.719 so that's been a while because we've had a Seneca has been gone from 574 00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:52.440 the league for a while, so interesting matchup right now. In years past, 575 00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.719 you would have looked at this game on the schedule and said it was 576 00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:58.840 a slam dunk win for Wilmington's. You have to go all the way back 577 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:04.119 into the nineteen nine to find when this was a competitive rivalry where the outcome 578 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:08.400 was was in doubt. But now it's this is a very interesting game. 579 00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:13.599 Yeah, let's say the last time, you know, you talk about when 580 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:15.400 seeing these two teams on the schedule, and I don't mean this as any 581 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:20.480 disrespect to Seneca, but this was usually one where I just, you know, 582 00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:22.480 kind of crossed it off, Like I know, I know the outcome 583 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:28.199 of this game. This is a really like these are gonna be two teams 584 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:31.199 that are just gonna pound the ball at each other. Yeah. I was 585 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:37.039 talking to coach Jeff Ren's about this earlier this week and uh, and he 586 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:38.199 was like, yeah, we figured we're gonna get this game done in about 587 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:42.679 an hour and a half. And I and I actually and I actually think 588 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:45.320 if if, if you could bet on such ridiculous things, I take the 589 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:51.280 under. I don't think either one of these two teams really have any interest 590 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:54.519 in throwing the ball in this game. Both of these teams, especially Seneca, 591 00:39:54.920 --> 00:40:00.719 have experienced offensive lines that are going to try to estab I wish themselves 592 00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:02.679 and say, hey, we're gonna do this, And both of these two 593 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:07.199 teams know what the other one's gonna do. It's just a matter of hey, 594 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:09.760 who can establish that dominance in the trenches. I think it's gonna be 595 00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:15.679 a tremendous battle, a real fun one. Like like, if I could 596 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:20.079 somehow teleport myself the multiple games on Friday Night, I would end up in 597 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:23.440 Seneca in some capacity because I'm really interested to see how that one plays out. 598 00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:29.800 Yeah. I will be of course Live with Jimmy Musual from eight to 599 00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:34.559 eleven PM as we do Friday or Live with Friday Night Drive for the first 600 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:38.239 week, and we'll be doing it all season long with you. Friday Night, 601 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:44.440 we'll have live looking with our reporters at halftime from games. They'll be 602 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:46.719 joining us after with some coach interviews as well. It's gonna be a lot 603 00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:51.199 of fun throughout the season. We hope you'll join us live on YouTube at 604 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:57.159 Friday Night Drive dot com and across all of Shaw Local suits. What other 605 00:40:57.320 --> 00:41:00.119 games are you really? What are standing out? Which game they're standing out 606 00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:04.079 to you this weekend? You know, there's there was a fun one that 607 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:07.119 we were talking about before with Rochester and Peoria. I think that will be 608 00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:10.119 an interesting determiner or the way things go. A lot of people seem to 609 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:14.480 think Peoria isn't going to skip a beat. I am interested to see how 610 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:19.599 they replace Maliki Washington, the absolute taint that was running all over the place 611 00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:22.719 in the five A state championship game. But I think that's one where I 612 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:25.800 think it would not surprise me if that came back with like a sixty to 613 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:31.039 fifty five score or something ridiculous of that nature. It's just a it's a 614 00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:36.239 it's it's a lot of interesting things that potentially play out in that game. 615 00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:40.360 I'll be at Nazareth and kanky Key on Friday night, which is kind of 616 00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:45.800 an odd game to get a handle on it. You know, we looked 617 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:49.719 at it a lot of different ways and saw things. Uh, you know 618 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:52.880 this last year year. Last year there was a two to nothing game last 619 00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:55.280 year, So you never know what you're gonna get. But I love the 620 00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:00.719 way that that group of underclassmen matured at Nazareth over the course of the season. 621 00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.679 Last year, they were two and four at one point, ran the 622 00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:07.320 table to get into the postseason, and then won the state championship that had 623 00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:10.679 never been done in state history before. And a whole bunch of that team 624 00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:14.880 is back, and a lot of them at key positions. So I'm interested 625 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:17.440 to see them now with a little bit more experience and a little better footing 626 00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:21.320 under there. I don't expect them to be held at two points on Friday 627 00:42:21.400 --> 00:42:24.440 night, key another interesting story. I mean, they've got a new coach 628 00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:29.559 in that situation, They've still got some talent back, some top shelf talent, 629 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:35.360 you know. Offensive lineman Marquise Easily has committed to Georgia. Obviously a 630 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:37.480 program that has been on the rise for several seasons. It's going to be 631 00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:40.360 interesting to see if they can keep that momentum. Yeah, you mentioned a 632 00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:46.079 new coach over there and Miles oc coming over from Elk Grove. What changes 633 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:51.480 to their philosophy do you expect, you know, from what I've what I've 634 00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:54.639 taken in, I think that, you know, there might be some changes 635 00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:59.159 on the horizon, but a lot of a lot of things just in terms 636 00:42:59.199 --> 00:43:02.760 of how that program will function and try to utilize the athletics, the athletic 637 00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:06.960 players that they have at their skill positions to the best of their ability. 638 00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:09.760 They still have a stable of those they lost a few graduation but you know, 639 00:43:09.880 --> 00:43:14.639 Tony Phillips is still back in the backfield for them. Expect him to 640 00:43:14.760 --> 00:43:17.360 kind of take leadership of the running back room. But they have a lot 641 00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:22.159 of talented guys. It could be one of those situations where it's a different 642 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:24.840 k every week because there are a lot of different guys that could potentially step 643 00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:29.880 up. They're obviously gonna miss They're gonna miss Hill, who's at Michigan now. 644 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.519 But it's one of those situations where Kankie still has a lot of talent 645 00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:37.880 in that program and this is going to provide, once again an excellent measuring 646 00:43:37.920 --> 00:43:43.480 stick for both of these two teams. One of the couple more obs just 647 00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:46.480 throw out there before we sign off, SS Warren at Barrington a pretty good 648 00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:52.639 matchup up in the North Suburbs, and then another one Palatine at Saint Charlos 649 00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:55.239 North. Got any prediction from those two games? You know, those are 650 00:43:55.320 --> 00:44:00.280 both interesting games. I mean, I still need to have it proven to 651 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:05.000 me that Warren is not a team to be in the North suburban. So 652 00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:07.679 out of the gate, I'm gonna go with Warren and that one really really 653 00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:13.880 interested in that Palotine Saint Charles North game. That is a bold Week one 654 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:19.239 schedule game for both teams, particularly for Saint Charles North who faces a brutal 655 00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:24.760 Dukane schedule down the line. So I like. I only saw Palatine live 656 00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:30.760 once last year, they pretty much dismantled Minook in a playoff game in an 657 00:44:30.760 --> 00:44:35.639 eight a second round playoff game. I like everything about that team, and 658 00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:37.840 a lot of it is back. They are one of my favorite teams coming 659 00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:42.119 into this season. As much as I like what Saint Charles North could be, 660 00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:45.800 I think out of the box, Palotine looks to be primed and ready 661 00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:50.480 to go, and I'll take Palatine in that one. All right, Well, 662 00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:53.920 here we go everyone, It is finally upon us Week one the twenty 663 00:44:54.039 --> 00:45:00.360 twenty three season. Make sure stick what with Us at Friday Night dot com 664 00:45:00.599 --> 00:45:06.920 all weekend long, and of course join us eight to eleven pm live on 665 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:10.840 YouTube live at Friday Night Drive dot com across all of the SHAW local platforms. 666 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:16.400 We'll be with you Live Jimmy Musual and myself and then stick with us 667 00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:22.039 all weekend. We'll have coverage from well over three dozen games, tons of 668 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:25.280 photos. All of our reporters will be out and about Friday and Saturday, 669 00:45:25.559 --> 00:45:29.800 and then you know what, come back with us on Saturday. On Monday, 670 00:45:29.880 --> 00:45:34.159 Susan, I'll be back here to recap week one. Enjoy the weekend. 671 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:38.679 Schweiker Gannison, Krazik Rundio. Fradley sponsors the Friday Night Drive. I'm 672 00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:42.519 Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the 673 00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:45.159 insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions 674 00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:50.559 of dollars for our clients. Visit GA Nassi n dot com.