WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:04.519 Schweiker, Ganison Krazek Rundio Prudley sponsors the Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krazak. 2 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:07.599 If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance company 3 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:10.880 and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars 4 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:23.960 for our clients. Visit ga Nassim dot com. Hi everybody, and welcome 5 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:29.039 into the Friday Night Drive Western Suburbs Football Podcast. It is week one officially 6 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:32.600 the regular season. We've made it. We're here. We're through the previews, 7 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:36.759 you know the wave, We're through all the seven seven on sevens in 8 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:40.640 the summer and now it's time to get down to real football. Welcome back, 9 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:44.520 Jake Barleston, Josh Wellgi joining you again. You can follow us on 10 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:49.520 Twitter at Jake Barleston, at j Wellgi ninety six and follow all of our 11 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:55.079 colleagues at Shaw Local on Friday Night Drive on Twitter, X and Threads and 12 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:59.000 wherever else people decide they want to throw themselves on. Josh, how are 13 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:02.600 we doing this afternoon? Doing great? Jake? And this is always a 14 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.599 great week because it's it's kind of the week that we really start finding out 15 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:08.719 about teams, right I mean, you know, we were there's teams that 16 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:14.480 we think are going to be really good based on past pedigree and past performance 17 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:17.640 and hand and some of the players that we have coming back. And of 18 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:21.799 course this time of year, everybody comes into the season with high expectations. 19 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:23.959 But you know, Week one is when you know, people have to start 20 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.560 showing their cards and seeing, you know, what what they have, uh, 21 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:30.120 you know, on the field. And there's a lot of teams this 22 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.480 week that that that are going to find out a lot about themselves this week 23 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:38.359 because they're they're really going to be tested in Week one. A lot of 24 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:42.359 great non conference matchups right off the gate that we're gonna be covering for Friday 25 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:47.120 Night Drive. If you haven't subscribed to us already, I encouraged people to 26 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:51.280 do so, we have a ton of great content coming your way. Jake, 27 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:56.439 We're taping us on Tuesday, and see Susie just dropped his first preseason 28 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.599 rankings, so kind of skimmed through that some familiar your faces in different places. 29 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:07.079 So so that's out there. We will be having our Week one previews 30 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:10.800 and picks that are gonna be dropping on Thursday, and of course live coverage 31 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:16.879 Friday and Saturday. A new feature that we're gonna be just here that we 32 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:23.560 kind of started in Week nine last year with Friday Night Live. We're gonna 33 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:30.400 be on from I believe from eight to eleven is Kyle Neighbors and and and 34 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:36.479 Jimmy that are gonna be on eight to eleven every Friday, gonna have reporters 35 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.080 calling in with reports from games. I think there's coaches lining up that are 36 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:46.120 gonna be on as well. So really that's something folks to keep an eye 37 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:49.840 on, in addition to all the covers that we're going to provide. Yeah, 38 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.280 so I think it's gonna be really cool. You know, obviously, 39 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:55.159 people listen to sports talk radio, right and you know, you listen to 40 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.080 Bears games or whatever, and you want to call in at half and talk 41 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:00.680 about it. I know, so if you did that, you know, 42 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:02.800 for the Bears prosusing game on Saturday. I think it's going to be a 43 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:07.719 really cool opportunity for people just to continue get another layer, you know, 44 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.520 we try to bring another piece of high school football to you, and I 45 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.479 know we're really excited about that. We did some testing here in the last 46 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:19.159 early part of the week and really looking forward to it, you know, 47 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.879 Josh, I think as we look ahead the week one and and you know, 48 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:23.439 to your point, you really learn a lot about yourself. I think 49 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:28.280 so much like you practice against each other. There's only so many times you 50 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:30.400 know that the dB is gonna you know, make this read and make this 51 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:37.000 cut, and you know, once the pads are really on and it's live 52 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:39.000 game action speed, you know, that's when things, you know, really 53 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:43.120 kind of fire up. To your point, I think we'll probably start with 54 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.520 at least the game that I'll be at here on Friday, Batavia Phillips. 55 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.439 That'll be the you know, the finish of the home one on one that 56 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:54.039 they had. They were in Gaily last year. Now Phillips able to come 57 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.560 to Batavia since their stadium has been done for a while, but that was 58 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:00.919 the deal with, you know, the construct, and I'm really looking forward 59 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:05.039 just to seeing continuity. You know, they have ten starters coming back from 60 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:09.400 last year. They only started that really well a couple of Let me back 61 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:13.280 up a little bit. I mean they're missing a lot on that linebacking for 62 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:17.120 but from an offensive perspective, they're really missing that one starter Jim Musicus at 63 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:21.560 right guard. Everybody else is back so much should stay the same. Yeah, 64 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.399 I mean, when you talk about Ryan bow at quarterback, Charlie Welpley 65 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.480 kind of a jack of all trades, running back, running back, receiver, 66 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.480 you know, defensively, kind of instant to see the young man that 67 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.480 transferred from from Texas, hearing a lot of great things about him, Malkai 68 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.680 Smith, I believe, you know is his name, you know. And 69 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:46.120 then you know, I know, they graduated some really talented linebackers, but 70 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.600 they seem to just kind of replenish, you know, that that particular position 71 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.920 every year. And and Phillips a team that has been traditionally a very strong 72 00:04:56.040 --> 00:05:00.240 publicly team. You know, I wonder, you know, how how much 73 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.120 they're gonna push Patavia. I think Batavia goes in Is is definitely the favorite 74 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:06.600 in that game. But again, you know, you know, we don't 75 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.439 know until week one. I mean, I don't really know too much about 76 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:15.079 this particular Phillips team, but it's always been one of the stronger programs in 77 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.199 the public League. Yeah, I mean, to your points, I mean, 78 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:19.360 I've been in such preview mode for everything else. I'm still pointing catch 79 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.240 up on a lot of you know, where teams are in week one. 80 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.480 You know, I can just I think from a broad perspective, I think 81 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.360 you can say this is a great tune up. Obviously look ahead to week 82 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:32.959 two. I know teams don't like to do that, and you know week 83 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:38.079 one or week zero and you know whatever, as they say, but I 84 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.560 think, you know, if Patavia can can kind of rack up a couple 85 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.079 of scores early and maybe not play some prominent starters, you know, deep 86 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:47.079 into the second half, I think you know, that's just kind of beneficial 87 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:50.079 for for looking ahead to some Lincoln hit East. I mean, how could 88 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:54.040 you not Yeah, no doubt they won't say that, but how could you 89 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:56.439 not? Right? I mean, I think Patavia, you know, they 90 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:00.199 want to iron out through the kings and work some things out and you know, 91 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.680 kind of get people onto the field that have not been on the field 92 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.720 as much as they go into the game that I'm sure they've been looking forward 93 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:09.240 to, you know, for a year. And then that kind of rides 94 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:13.000 right into the Duquesne Conference. So you know, we'll see how much Phillips 95 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:16.439 tests. Philip test Patavia on Friday night. Tavia team that we're going to 96 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:20.959 be following throughout the year. You know, another Ducuee Conference team that's that's 97 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:26.680 getting a significant test right off the bat. Week one is a defending conference 98 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:30.959 champion, Saint Charles North. They have Palotine coming in there. And Palotine 99 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:33.240 is a team that I'm hearing a lot of good things about. They return 100 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:38.240 eleven stars off of it, believe eleven and two team or tend and two 101 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:42.680 team. I'm hearing a lot about defensive end Jalen Williams, who's one of 102 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.800 the top prospects in the state I believe as twenty one offers, and you 103 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:49.720 know, Saint Charles North that that's a really difficult test for the North Stars 104 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:55.240 right off the bat. I think Shaw I mean especially you know, just 105 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:58.639 like defensively for them. I think that's kind of the big unknown for them. 106 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:00.959 They have a fair amount returners back, you know, on offense, 107 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.439 but defense is I think is really where they're gonna We're gonna find out a 108 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:09.360 lot about them here in the next couple of weeks. I mean Palatine, 109 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.040 you know, Dominants Ball, he's a four year starter. He's going to 110 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.199 lane. You know, he's going to be a tough test for them. 111 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.120 At running back. They got a six five wide receiver the name escapes me 112 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:23.560 right now. But I mean, you just don't have you know, six 113 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.000 foot two, six foot three dvs just falling off a tree, you know, 114 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.079 to you know, to to line up against them. So I think 115 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:32.600 it'll be interesting from a line of scrimmage perspective and just just to see, 116 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:36.639 you know, where you know that game is won. But they're not gonna 117 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:41.759 lay down. They are excited about Joe Holliman. I've talked about him a 118 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:45.199 lot, but I really think that he's about to get on leash year. 119 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:48.959 He's really thick, he's top from the point of attack, and I think 120 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:54.120 that's going to be such a tone setter for the offense while it gets engrooved. 121 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:58.399 Yeah, the wide receiver of Palatine I think you're referring to was Connor 122 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:01.639 May six five, thank you. He's actually a Division one basketball recruit. 123 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.560 I got to see him play basketball last year when Palatine was at the Jacktosh 124 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:09.240 class to get a really good basketball player. But you know, six foot 125 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.560 five translates pretty well to the football field as well, so you know, 126 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:18.959 kind of curious to see how Connor made dozen of football fear Patalitine. But 127 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.600 that's a really It's one of the kind of the games that I've circled in 128 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:24.920 the week one just to curious to see how both of those teams shake down 129 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:28.800 because they're both coming off you know, very successful years. Great non conference 130 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:35.720 matchup. Yeah, another another really good one in our area that I'm curious 131 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:39.200 to see this first time they're playing each other. Downs Grove North is playing 132 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:43.600 at Saint Francis. Kind of a fun matchup between a team from the West 133 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.360 Suburban Silver Downs Grove North that got to the second round of the playoffs last 134 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:52.200 year. They go to Saint Francis, which reached the four A semi finals 135 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:58.360 last year. Of course they're joining that Chicago Catholic League East Suburban Conference this 136 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.080 year. Jake, That's that's just a fun nine conference matchup. I mean, 137 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:07.480 obviously Saint Francis has Lessia Millville. I really butchered that one. Now 138 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.840 we're going with the roll, Yeah, Alessio back in quarterback DeShawn Williams, 139 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:18.679 very talented wide receiver, Dominic Barris their four year starting linebacker. Then on 140 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:20.679 the other side, Downers Grow North. I mean, really the guy that 141 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:26.200 I am very much excited to see as Owen Lance, who their sophomore quarterback 142 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:30.279 in his first year as a starter. Hearing a lot of great things about 143 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:31.440 him. I think he's a kid that we're going to be hearing a lot 144 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:35.039 about the next three years. Yeah, was thatte you were Rosetta Range that 145 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.919 recently just wrote that story. They've been kind of like waiting for him to 146 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.759 like to bring him up, and they've been excited about him for a while. 147 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.080 Yeah, he was a kid that you know, you know, Bob 148 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:48.759 wrote that story and he They had a senior quarterback last year who was a 149 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:52.320 three year starter. But but their coach, Joe Brenny said that that Lancey, 150 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.440 he pushed him last year. It was a close competition as a starter. 151 00:09:54.559 --> 00:10:00.120 And honestly, going into last year, I thought Lancey might start as 152 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:03.600 a freshman because I'd heard so many good things about him. But you know, 153 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:05.120 he's a kid. He's got a big arm. He's throwing the ball 154 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:09.399 apparently like seventy one yards, you know, just kind of throwing a ball 155 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:13.120 around. But but and then they have they had a very good defense last 156 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:18.159 year as well. But you know, tough tests for two teams that they 157 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:22.120 play in such difficult leagues that you know, I know it's week one, 158 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.360 and you hate to put put too much pressure on teams, but both of 159 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:28.960 those teams really could use a win right off the bat. Yeah. I 160 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:31.799 mean a lot of you know, coaches talk about the race to five, 161 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:35.399 you know, race to five, race to six. I like it though, 162 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:39.840 when you really have competitive non cons because I think that it's a tone 163 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.960 center number one, you really get a sense of kind of where you're at 164 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:46.960 and some other teams that you just don't get to see until maybe later in 165 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.000 the playoffs, if at all. So I really like it, you know. 166 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:54.679 So Yeah, I don't know, I kind of ran out of things 167 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.200 to say there. You know, I give credit to Big Mills from Saint 168 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:03.039 Francis. He's really stepped out and played in a non conference you know, 169 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:05.840 the last few years. You know, part of it could be that some 170 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.000 teams probably don't want to play his team and in non conference because they're pretty 171 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:11.720 good. But you know, you look at this year. He's he's playing 172 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:16.279 Downers Grow North. Week two, He's going to Stirling, which is always 173 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:18.559 a very successful program in that part of the state, you know, and 174 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:22.120 then they go right into their conference schedule, which is going to be a 175 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:26.120 bear. This year. So, you know, a good task for Francis 176 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.320 and for downers, go north right off the bad Curious to see how that 177 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:33.519 plays out. You know, Jake, there's a lot of other great matchups 178 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.879 around the area. Maybe we will take a break and come back and talk 179 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.320 about them. That sounds good. We'll come back. We'll break down some 180 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:43.039 more matchups as we go. You're listening to the Friday Night Drive Western Shore's 181 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:48.720 podcast with Jake and Josh John Grow Anywhere, Schweiker, Ganison Krazak Rundio Proudley 182 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.200 sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, 183 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.120 we are ready to take on the insurance company and get you to the end 184 00:11:56.200 --> 00:12:00.159 zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients visited g A, 185 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:05.240 n ass I M dot com. Welcome back after a quick break. 186 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:09.440 You can follow us on Twitter at Jake Barleston at j Welge ninety six and 187 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:13.000 of course all of our colleagues Friday Night Drive dot com. Quick reminder before 188 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:18.159 we jump back into week one, you know breakdowns again. You can join 189 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:22.120 us here upcoming on Friday for Friday Night Live. That's gonna be host to 190 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:28.200 Kyle Jimmy Musical Kyle Neighbors and Steve Susy is leading that we're gonna have reporters 191 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:33.200 calling in from various games from RONDO coverage area. So you don't want to 192 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.919 miss that Friday night Drive dot Com eight to eleven on that Josh, before 193 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.879 we took that break, you know, we were going to talk more some 194 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:46.720 Saturday games. I will be at Wheaton Moorenville South against Simeon again, another 195 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.679 one of those home and home situations. These teams saw each other at Gately 196 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:52.679 last year. The big difference is and I know we kind of talked about 197 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:56.639 this off Mike, Uh, you know in terms of we still have to 198 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:00.240 play catch up a little bit on who's Simeon's got coming back, but we 199 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:03.919 can't tell you who's not coming back, and that's Andre Cruz and Malik Elzy. 200 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.720 Andre Cruz, you know you had that game story. Yeah, what 201 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:11.480 three hundred yards rushing for that one. Wheaton South had an early lead in 202 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:16.080 that second quarter and things fell apart. So Wheaton South is looking for a 203 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.799 better outcome this time. Yeah, no doubt I mean that that that game 204 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:24.440 was. That was the Andre Cruz breakout performance. And then that was Malik 205 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.480 Elzy, who I recall, you know, he didn't have a ton of 206 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:31.039 touches, but whenever he did touch it was a highlight reel. Everyone. 207 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.159 I remember too, you made the observation like, I can't believe he hasn't 208 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:37.320 got the ball yet the second quarter, like immediately like takes the screen for 209 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.879 for sixty yards exactly. No, he he really, I mean that was 210 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.840 a that was a that was a treat to be able to watch him play 211 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.039 this year. And if I'm not mistaken, he's in Illinois though I think, 212 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:50.159 yeah he is. Yeah, so you have originally committed to Cincinnati, 213 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.360 you know, and then he ended up in Illinois. It's a great, 214 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.720 great feather in the cap, you know, for for the olyn I get 215 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:00.679 him Malik Elzy there. But but yeah, I mean, obviously Simeon graduated 216 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:05.240 two of their significant pieces offensively, and also their coach done to Cobreth. 217 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:09.559 He stepped down at the end or at the beginning of pretty much the beginning 218 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.240 of practice actually, which was kind of an unusual timing. Yeah, it 219 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:18.600 was about two weeks ago for that, so you know, obviously, you 220 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.799 know, I don't want to say not turmoil, but sort of kind of 221 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.279 you know, some changes in the era at Simeon. So I'm curious to 222 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.519 see how they're going to come out, you know, on Saturday. Again. 223 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:31.480 They're they're always one of the better teams in the public League. On 224 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.399 the other side, Weeden Weren'tville South. You know, I recall last year, 225 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.840 you know, they was the first time in Week one I got to 226 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.679 see Luca Carbonaro, who was a sophomore quarterback at the time he's now junior, 227 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:45.639 kind of showed some flashes and then he played throughout the year, and 228 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:50.399 interested to see how he does now that he's clearly going to be I'm assuming 229 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:54.840 he's going to be, you know, their starting quarterback and uh, you 230 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:58.360 know, very talented kid, you know. And then Weedon brings Simeon to 231 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:01.960 Week one and again it's a that's that's a tough test for the Tigers run 232 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.960 off the bat, you know, but we'll see how they do. Yeah. 233 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:07.759 So, I mean, without getting too far deep in the weeds for 234 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:11.320 a podcast purpose, but I mean that was a quick, you know situation 235 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:15.480 that they had to pivots a Luca there at the start of the year, 236 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:20.679 and he really kind of just you know, kept things going and leveled out 237 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.679 smoothly. So now that you're coming into this year and you're the unquestioned starter, 238 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.759 I think there's gonna just be a lot more comforts and you know, 239 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:31.879 familiarity with your offensive line. You know, they got two returners back and 240 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:37.240 also circuits at center Aaron vavar I spent some time with their left tackle earlier 241 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:41.039 in the summer. I think really where Wheat and South is going to be 242 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.559 interesting. They have Matt Kryder back, who's a three year starter. You 243 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.639 know, he's a pretty effective running back. And then they have some size 244 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:52.679 in their skill positions and Mary Williams six foot three guy. I want to 245 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.080 make sure I pronounced this correctly. I think it's Gokin Brady Gokin. He's 246 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:58.200 a six five tight end. They're gonna be using him in the passing game 247 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:03.159 as well. So I think I think there's quite a bit there for for 248 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:08.159 Wheaton offensively and then defensively. Most of the returners back were in that linebacker 249 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:12.720 and defensive backfield, so you know how they you know, explicitly match up 250 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:15.919 to Simeon. It's hard for you and I to sit here and talk about, 251 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:19.639 but you know, they do have a fair amount coming back and some 252 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:26.120 continuity. It's some key positions, yeah, be regardless, it's gonna be 253 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:29.240 a fun matchup to watch, just to see what Simeon has this year, 254 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:32.840 and and and and also see you know how Wheat and South is looking. 255 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:37.840 So you know a fair amount of good games on Saturday that you know, 256 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.679 the one that you're gonna be out is one of them. I guess a 257 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:45.879 big matchup statewide. Mount Carmelo is playing East Saint Louis. Steve Sucy will 258 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:49.399 be there for coverage of that Saturday night, looking forward to that. You 259 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:55.080 know, Sandwich is making a return to football after not having football program last 260 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:57.159 year. Game was originally scheduled for Thursday, but I don't know if you 261 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.799 saw the weather forecat, it's gonna be a little warm up Thursday, So 262 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:06.119 Sandwich moved the game to Saturday. They're gonna be hosting Mantino and then the 263 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.240 game that I'm gonna be at along with Michael dwel Jack, who's gonna be 264 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:14.720 writing on that game. Glenbard West is hosting Marist. They played a really 265 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.079 entertaining Week one game last year. Glenbard West came out thirty three to thirty 266 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:22.480 one victory, a huge game for Julius Ellen's in that game. He's back 267 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.640 as as court of Gebard West Balco and you know he's going to be a 268 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:30.519 guy. I'm expecting huge things out of instant to see how they do because 269 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:36.640 they did graduate a ton off of a very good offensive line, so you 270 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.359 know, we'll see how that goes with that. On the other side, 271 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:41.839 Merris is a team that the last I saw them, they were losing New 272 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:48.079 York in a very entertaining double overtime second round playoff game to York. Maris 273 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.920 only returns four starters off of last year's team, so uh, you know, 274 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.720 a little bit of new going on there. But I do know that 275 00:17:56.839 --> 00:18:00.720 Onebard West junior class, it's sixteen and two. The first two years of 276 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:04.599 high school, they're only two losses came of marissed So we'll see how that 277 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.799 goes. But that's certainly a matchup looking forward to seeing. Of course, 278 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.559 is at Deshaun Field on Saturday. For my money, it really does not 279 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:17.759 get any better high school football setting than that Glenbard West on a Saturday afternoon 280 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.039 for DeShawn Field. So you know, a lot of good games on Saturday. 281 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.519 Sure, well, and then I might have my my weeks mixed up 282 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:27.079 here, so forgive me, but I swear East Saint Louis there's a there's 283 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.480 a big one I think at Illinois State. Yeah, that's the East Saint 284 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.440 Louis versus Mount Carmel game. Yes, thank you, that's the one, 285 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:37.559 as SUSI is gonna be. It's it's a Saturday night, but I believe 286 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:41.839 it's seven o'clock kickoff. But yeah, got sus I think as soon as 287 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.680 they announced that one, he knew where he was gonna be going. Yeah, 288 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.519 he threw it in the slack channel like hey, we're here. Yeah, 289 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:52.880 So that's definite insignive. You know, it's a finish up game stories 290 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.599 you know, pretty quickly here and then keep an eye on his Twitter feed 291 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:59.920 for that one, no doubt. So you know, I mentioned Glenbard West 292 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.880 playing Maris week one. You know, the West Suburban silver Light Ducaye one 293 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.359 of the best conferences in the state. But I tell you, Jake, 294 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.720 they are not ducking anybody week one in that conference. Glenbard West is playing 295 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:17.599 Marist. I mentioned downers Grove North is playing Saint Francis. Lyons Township is 296 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:22.079 going to prospect another really good team out of the mid suburban Hinsville Central playing 297 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:26.640 in Napriville Central, and then oak Park is playing another game against their crosstown 298 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:33.519 rival Fenwick. So you know, it's not inconceivable that all those teams could 299 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:36.680 be o on one after week one, which I know none of them want 300 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:41.000 to hear that, and they still could all have great seasons. But and 301 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:45.599 then oh York York is going to Glenbrook South, the team that is always 302 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:51.680 a very good program in eight eight. So with Westburn, Silver's really challenging 303 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:55.319 themselves right off the bat. Yeah, it's some exciting football here on Saturday. 304 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.640 Any quick thoughts here before you got some Kendall matchups, and we need 305 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:02.279 to pay attention to a couple of teams that I'm curious to see how they 306 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.559 come out week one. In addition to Sandwich, who I mentioned is returning 307 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.079 to to varsity football this fall, the first one Oswego. I've mentioned it 308 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.519 on the podcast a couple weeks ago. They're a team that they're coming off 309 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:18.160 only their third losing season since nineteen eighty five, the first time they missed 310 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:22.039 the playoffs since two thousand and ten. They go to Niqua Valley Week one 311 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:25.759 and a very difficult matchup. Right off the bat, you know, I'm 312 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:29.599 curious to see just how oswego does. I mean, even if they don't 313 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.400 win the game, I'm interested to see just how competitive a game last it 314 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:37.400 is, because you know, last year they really struggled to generate anything offensively 315 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.599 in that game, and you know, they had a lot of guys get 316 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:44.039 they had five starters go down with injuries and kind of set a difficult tone 317 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:47.960 for the season. But you know, they're a proud program, as I 318 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.480 mentioned podcast two weeks ago, and they want to get back to where they 319 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:55.559 were traditionally. But you know, Niqua Valley, you know, we'll see 320 00:20:55.559 --> 00:21:00.240 how it goes right off the bat. Another team, Plano. They're a 321 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:03.160 team that two years ago they made the playoffs. Last year they took a 322 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:06.920 step back. They went three and six, and the game that they you 323 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.960 know, they lost four their last five last year. But the game that 324 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:12.880 they really circled when I went out to their practice recently is Week one against 325 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:18.119 Ottawa. They lost that game thirteen to twelve last year, and it kind 326 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.359 of felt like that set the tone for this I mean, it just got 327 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.440 him off to a bat start. This time they have Ottawa coming to their 328 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:26.680 place, and they really think that they can set that tone right off the 329 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:30.160 bat. They have a very talent of running back while wee Johnson who was 330 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.400 back, so you know that will be a good kind of barometer game for 331 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:37.640 them right off the bat. Sounds good. Lots of matchups again, if 332 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:41.240 you haven't subscribed to FND now as the time, be glued to all of 333 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.640 our contents again. We'll have as Josh mentioned earlier, we'll have all of 334 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:51.519 our Week one picks and some breakdowns there. Steve Susie's rankings. Just drout 335 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:56.119 again Friday Night Live. Check that out. We're gonna be doing that consistently. 336 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:59.279 We're really trying to build that up, so make sure you check that 337 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:02.720 out for us as well. Josh An hang out before we sign off here. 338 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:06.599 No, just well, one more thing is that Stephen col nighbors. 339 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:11.599 They also take a podcast. Actually they save podcasts every week and they will 340 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.279 be previewing Week one as well. I believe that'll drop on Thursday again. 341 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.440 You can follow me at j WELG ninety six. You can follow Jake at 342 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.839 j Jake Bartleston of course you can follow Friday and Drive on Twitter at fn 343 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:26.519 Drive, also on Facebook and Instagram. That's all for me, Jake, 344 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:30.400 all right, then I'll do it for us. We'll see you week one 345 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:33.640 in a football field somewhere again. Keep glued to Twitter for for everything else. 346 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:37.400 Thanks so much, and everybody have a great first week of school. 347 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:42.000 Schweiker, Ganison, Krizek, Rundio Proudley sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm 348 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:45.799 Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the 349 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:48.440 insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions 350 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.839 of dollars for our clients. Visit GA nassi n dot com.