WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:04.480 SGKR Injury Attorneys proudly sponsors the Friday Night Drive. 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:05.639 I'm at round you. 3 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:07.919 We are ready to take on the insurance company for 4 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.640 you and get you to the end zone. 5 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.000 Visit US G A N A S SI N dot com, 6 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:14.960 Gannison dot com. 7 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.239 This is State Representative Steve Reich. Since twenty sixteen, it's 8 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.920 been my privilege to represent the sixty third district in 9 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:24.199 the Illinois House. I'd like to continue representing you, and 10 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:27.039 I'm asking for your vote on November fifth. Thank you 11 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:27.600 pay for. 12 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:29.320 By citizens to elect Stephen Reich. 13 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.640 Hello everybody, and welcome to the Friday Night Drive Championship 14 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:39.920 Game preview podcasts. I'm Josh Welby here with Steve Sustie 15 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:43.159 and Michael Dweljack, and we're a day away from Thanksgiving, 16 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:46.079 which must mean it's time to talk to football. So 17 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.840 I say in the forecast it's going to be hi 18 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:52.640 of the twenties this weekend in Bloomington normal area. So 19 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:54.039 it's great football weather. 20 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:54.960 You know. 21 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:56.399 How are you guys doing as we look ahead to 22 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.560 Friday and saras looking. 23 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.479 Forward to it. I think it's going to be interesting 24 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.439 weekend of games. I'm not sure how a few of 25 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:05.480 them are going to play out, and some of the 26 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.239 other ones, I guess we're just gonna have to wait 27 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:10.920 and see. But it's always pretty intriguing because usually you 28 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:13.560 get a lot of these matchups that you're not going 29 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:16.319 to see in the regular season. So and there are 30 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.079 quite a few of them that have created that. And 31 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.159 there are some really elite talents across the board, I mean, 32 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.439 even into some of the smaller classifications. I'm not really 33 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.959 accustomed to seeing two Power five D one prospects in 34 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:32.040 the one A game, but that's what we're getting. So 35 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.799 you know, it's I think there's a lot of really 36 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.480 interesting individual talents over the course of the eight games 37 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:40.000 that will have the opportunity to see. 38 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:45.519 No doubt about that, guys. And Susan. He brought it out, 39 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.239 so I'll bring it out. You know. We'll start with 40 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:49.120 one A and worker way up to the top eight 41 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.280 A and Susan, I tell you what, it's not every year. 42 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.760 I mean, I think you get some good teams in 43 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:57.560 one A every year, but I'm not sure if there 44 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:01.359 is the sizzle with this one A game that there 45 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.840 is in this particular game with bellvel Aldhoff and Lena Winslow. Obviously, 46 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:09.080 Alena Winslow has been quite the regular here. I think 47 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:11.280 this is what they're fifth championship game in a row, 48 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:14.599 nineteen twenty one, twenty two, twenty three they won three 49 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:16.960 and more. They lost last year to Camp Points Central 50 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:19.719 and then Aldhoff, a team that I think you and 51 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.319 I and probably Michael two have been kind of following 52 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:24.599 all years, sort of like we can't wait to see 53 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:26.919 this team live, you know, with the likes of Deer 54 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.439 Hill and things like that. You know, what do you 55 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:31.560 make about this matchup? Just a lot of excitement for 56 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:31.879 this one. 57 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:34.800 I think, yeah, it's just really interesting because you kind 58 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.759 of get into these games when in one A and 59 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.000 like you mentioned, with Lena Winslow's track record, it's kind 60 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:43.840 of a situation where you're like, they're not the favorite, 61 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:47.280 and like, I mean, I don't necessarily think that ALTAF 62 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.759 is the you know, huge favorite in this game, but 63 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.599 even the conversation that you're having entering a one A 64 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:55.840 final where it seems like Lena Winslow has been in 65 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:58.639 this final so many times over the last decade and 66 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.840 they're not. They're not the odds on favorite. Here's that's 67 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.599 pretty surprising. In a lot of ways. And that's too 68 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:10.400 all TOFs credit because there's just, like you mentioned, there's 69 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:13.599 just talent on this football team that you don't typically 70 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:18.039 see at the one A level. You know, you look 71 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.879 at the air Hills statistics. The Oregon recruit. He had 72 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:24.719 a ninety I believe in ninety eight yard touchdown run 73 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:28.039 in the semi finals, ran for almost four hundred yards. 74 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:30.879 It seems like that was happening a lot over the 75 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.319 stretch of the postseason. Maybe not four hundred yards, but 76 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:37.919 a disgustingly high number. He's averaging almost eighteen yards to carry. 77 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.719 Think about that for a minute. I mean, that's just insane. 78 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:44.680 So there are just things about this team and I 79 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.520 haven't seen them as much on tape as I would 80 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:49.120 have liked to. I did get I did look a 81 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.159 lot at them in Week nine when they're playing a 82 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.439 six to a playoff team in Caitlin. They didn't have 83 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:57.360 Hill in that game. But this is just this is 84 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:00.520 not your prototypical class one A football team. But on 85 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.280 the other side, you've got a Lina Winslow team that 86 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:06.439 runs an offense that sometimes gives people a little bit 87 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:09.400 of trouble, and I guarantee there's not a single person 88 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.080 over on that Lina Winslow sideline. It doesn't think that 89 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.319 they they can't win this football game against All TOV 90 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.319 and that usually makes for an interesting matchup. 91 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.319 And you mentioned deer Hill averaging, you know, eighteen yards 92 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.439 to carriers, So I looked at your ear story in 93 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:24.959 a one A game and and Lina Winslow has their 94 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.399 own running back Alec I think it's last probably noun sleasting. 95 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:32.480 He's averaging fourteen yards to carry it, So crazy stuff. 96 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:34.639 And you mentioned a few times on this podcast that 97 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:38.079 Lena Winslow maybe during the regular season there wasn't that 98 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:40.079 quite the dominance that we've seen in the past, but 99 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:41.839 they've really turned it on in the playoffs. 100 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:44.279 Yeah, they've got a nice one to two punch in 101 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:47.560 the backfield and that you know, the way Lina Winslow 102 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:51.639 runs their offense, you know, it almost comes down to 103 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.959 a guessing game because if you're not if you're not 104 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:56.519 on the right guy, the other guy's gonna burn you. 105 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.199 So it becomes kind of this chess match in regards 106 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:01.959 to trying to stop because they run things so well, 107 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.120 they run their systems so well, they have such a 108 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:07.600 great understanding of what they need to do to be successful. 109 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.519 So you know that I think this is a game 110 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.399 that could potentially be a high scoring shootout because it 111 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.560 looks like both teams have the potential to do that 112 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:16.680 if things align. 113 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:20.639 And you know, similar to last week Loyola, you don't 114 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:23.399 like picking against them in a playoff game, but you 115 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:26.079 do come out you do like all off in this game. Though, 116 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:28.319 if I'm not mistaken, yeah I do. 117 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.439 But I'm not Like there's a lot of games this 118 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.839 weekend where I feel like I'm pretty confident in the 119 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.160 team that I'm picking. It is not the case in 120 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.079 one A. I am not very confident that I am 121 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:42.680 right in that situation. It's it's little more than a 122 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:44.399 coin foot game to me on paper. 123 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:48.240 So a couple, you know, real powerhouse programs in one 124 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:50.360 A and the one A Championship two it's a little 125 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:53.160 bit different. I mean moreau Forsyth. They're a team that 126 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.480 you've seen quite a bit, had stayed over the years, 127 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:58.759 at the very least getting the semifinals. They've had that 128 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:02.879 run of getting this semi finals. Chicago Christian Man, They're 129 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:06.439 another story altogether. They've really I thought they were going 130 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:08.120 to be good this year. I did not think they're 131 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:09.600 going to be playing on Thanksgiving weekend. 132 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:12.959 Yeah, it would have been hard to look at, you know, 133 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:16.040 what Chicago Christian has done in the past, and then 134 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.160 even knowing that it looked like they were going to 135 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.120 have a pretty good team this year, making that leap. 136 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.319 I mean I mentioned it a little bit on Monday's 137 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:27.519 podcast in regards to Chicago Christian. They've won four playoff 138 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:31.120 games this year, getting to the finals. In school history. 139 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:35.120 Prior to this year, they'd won six. So we're talking 140 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:39.199 about a program that just simply is in rarefied air 141 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:42.480 for it getting to the final. So you just really 142 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.879 don't have a track record to know how they respond. 143 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.759 But they're a fascinating team. You kind of look at 144 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.839 what they've done all year long and how they've done it. 145 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.759 It's a very senior dominated football team. I believe there 146 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:57.120 are eight players that start on both sides of the ball, 147 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:59.959 and I know that happens sometimes at the small school level, 148 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.079 but maybe not quite to that level. I mean, it's 149 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.800 about as close to ironman football as you're gonna get. 150 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:09.639 I mean, they have multiple players that literally do not 151 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:12.759 leave the field offense, defront special teams. They are on 152 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:16.720 for every single play, and in some ways I think 153 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:19.439 that's pretty cool, But in some ways it gives me 154 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.360 a little bit of pause for how they might deal 155 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.560 with a morea forsythe team that really likes to crank 156 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:29.519 up the tempo, high octane, take as many snaps as 157 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:33.000 they can get off, and in that sense, that might 158 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:35.839 be a problem for Chicago Christian with so many guys 159 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:38.959 that they rely on to be out there so much. 160 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.639 And you mentioned some of the you know, high end 161 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:43.600 division one town in a one A game, I mean 162 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.680 the same thing in two A with with Merrell Foresty. 163 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:48.680 They have Grant Smith. He's a tight end linebacker. Believe 164 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:51.160 going to u of I, it's got I think, I 165 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:55.160 think eighteen touchdowns this year, you know, so obviously he's 166 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.879 going to be a guy that keep an eye on. 167 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.120 And like you said, Merrie forest that team that really 168 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.480 plays an up tempo style, well. 169 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:03.040 He's another one of those two way guys too. He's 170 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.360 got eighteen touchdowns. He's also got one hundred hundred plus 171 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:07.920 tackles on the defensive side of the ball, so he's 172 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.240 probably gonna be everywhere from aural forsythe You're going to 173 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:12.720 hear that name called a lot on both sides of 174 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:16.759 the football, but he's by far not the only weapon 175 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:19.240 that this team has. They they really like to air 176 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:22.160 it out, but they can run the football and run 177 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.560 it effectively. So, uh, just it's a very it's a 178 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:27.759 high powered team, and you would kind of expect that. 179 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.480 This is their tenth finals since two thousand and six, 180 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.679 so they know how to get there. They haven't maybe 181 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:35.919 had the success level in the actual title game that 182 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.639 they wanted to, but but it's a very pedigreed program 183 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.840 that understands what it wants to do. 184 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:43.960 Kind of makes them you know, I think Chicago Chrishi, 185 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:45.320 if they would have finished it off and win a 186 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.480 state championship, my god, that would be a that'd be 187 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:49.320 that'd be one of the better stories of the weekend. 188 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:53.159 But man, with with their with Murraah forsite, their experience, 189 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:55.720 their talent level, you know, it's kind of hard to 190 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:58.080 go against them in this game. Yeah it is. 191 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:00.559 You know, it's just like all the things that we 192 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.360 talked about, like building up to this point. You know, 193 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.960 I morele Force I think is the favorite here, you know, 194 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:09.960 the the underdog story in me is pulling for Chicago 195 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:13.480 Christian a little bit to finish the job. But you know, 196 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.960 I think it will be intriguing to see how it 197 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.240 plays out. I think more is a very is a 198 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:22.159 favored team here. But you know, it would not surprise 199 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:25.200 me if Chicago Christian comes in there, you know, devil 200 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:27.639 make care attitude and and and put it out there 201 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.759 all on the line and see what happens, because they 202 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:32.080 do have some really they have some really talented players 203 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:33.840 in their own right. We didn't we didn't really go 204 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.200 into them specifically, but there are some guys on that 205 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.440 team that can break some plays and make some things happen. 206 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.840 The three a matchup as Mantini playing Monticello. Mantini is 207 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.480 a program that I mean, guys, you know, last decade, 208 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:49.159 Mantini was like every year they are at State either 209 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.759 winning it or more often than not winning it or 210 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:54.919 or taking second. But it's been a little bit of 211 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.919 a while, you know, Michael and they got in that 212 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.919 c C L E SEC and and just to grind 213 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.080 of that conference. And you know, I mean, I think 214 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.559 you know, in Roman numbers a little bit down, and 215 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:06.759 you know, they lost a few players that were with 216 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.759 the program. But you know, they really came back in 217 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:11.919 a big way last year to get to the semifinals 218 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:14.399 and then there they took the next step this year 219 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:17.639 and Michael, they do it with a very experienced defense. 220 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:20.799 I taught to Nicki Costaldo defensive tackle. He's one of 221 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:23.200 those guys they have. I think they have ten guys 222 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.320 that were starters or played a lot of sophomores, and 223 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.879 and you know that experience has really shown, it. 224 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.039 Really has, and you know, kind of looking at you know, 225 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.759 we get these team team info and stats and all 226 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:35.480 the kind of stuff that you don't really get throughout 227 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.759 the season, and when you look at it, I mean, 228 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:41.440 Montini has only given up thirteen points in the first 229 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:45.440 quarter throughout the entire season. And that's huge, right, just 230 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:47.519 being able to kind of limit your opponents from what 231 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:49.840 they want to do at the beginning. I know those 232 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:52.440 numbers are sometimes skewed based on who you're playing, but 233 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:55.720 I mean that that alone just kind of says how 234 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:59.720 much experience you have, just being able to start off 235 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:02.200 from the beginning and limit your opponents from really building 236 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:04.720 a lead or you know, building any sort of confidence. 237 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.279 And you've seen that throughout the year where they've been 238 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:10.720 able to get big stops, they were able to limit 239 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:14.559 opponents from really getting damage. And you know that also 240 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.279 comes from having an explosive offense to go along with 241 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:21.039 an experienced defense. But yeah, I mean that defense is 242 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.240 just really limited opponents for much of the season. And 243 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:26.960 when they have broken this year, I mean it's come 244 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.039 against some of the best teams in the state. Obviously, 245 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.720 when they've competed in their c CLU CEC schedule. 246 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:34.840 And then you know, on the offensive side, I mean 247 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.600 there was a few games earned the year where they 248 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:38.759 played in some low scoring games. I think Fenwick was 249 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:41.919 a really low scoring loss where you know, the offense 250 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.399 didn't quite you know, rise to the level that defense 251 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.759 is at. But you know they made a few tweaks, 252 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.120 you know, earn the year. I believe they're rotating quarterbacks. 253 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.840 They went to the sophomore or Israel Abrams full time. 254 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.519 He's got to offer from Iowa State. I believe, really talented, 255 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.279 kind of dual threat kid good arm can run the ball. 256 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:01.919 And then you know Arami Peterson. I mean he was 257 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.279 their middle linebacker last year. They had a few injuries 258 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:06.720 at running back and now he's taken over and Mike. 259 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.720 You know, Sus he talked about him as a as 260 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.360 a battering ram type running back. He has every bit 261 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:14.159 a battering ram running back. He is, as he has 262 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:16.000 a load, he is very difficult to bring down. 263 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.600 Yeah, you just kind of get that feel, even though 264 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.480 you look at the stats and they haven't you know, 265 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:23.480 they haven't overworked him by any sense of the imagination 266 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:26.080 in terms of carries or things like that. But if 267 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.960 Montini gets into a grind it out type of football 268 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.600 game where they need to put together a twelve play 269 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:34.559 fourteen play drive to kind of keep the opponent from 270 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.720 carrying the ball or taking you know, taking you know, 271 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:40.720 control of the game tempo wise, that's an asset that 272 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:42.759 they definitely have. They have a guy that they can 273 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:44.799 just say, Okay, we're gonna grind six minutes off this 274 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:47.080 clock and see what happens. They can just work the 275 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.200 ball to him and usually that works for their advantage. 276 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:52.600 You know. On the other side of Monticello, you know, 277 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.360 there is a little familiarity there. It has been that 278 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:57.000 long Sinceider in the state championship game and then Sus 279 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:59.000 They've had a few games along the way that it's 280 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.759 kind of like you know, to say it's destiny is 281 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:03.919 Darling's type of thing, but it is a little bit 282 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.279 like that. I mean, they had a close quarterfinal game, 283 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.440 they had that kind of crazy finish against the Lonely Unity, 284 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.720 and they got a really good offensive player. Actually he's 285 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.200 a two way player like Young. I think he's a 286 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:17.600 baseball recruit for Illinois. Something crazy. He's accounted like four 287 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.240 thousand yards of offense and over forty touchdowns. 288 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.840 Yeah, and that's one of those things where I think 289 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:25.919 it's going to be interesting to see what factor the 290 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:30.000 weather plays this weekend because Monosall is kind of a 291 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:32.879 free wheeling offensive team and they need to be able 292 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:35.000 to do all the things that are in their offense, 293 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:39.879 especially against this Montini defense that has not cracked against 294 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.000 a lot of quality opponents. So Montini needs to have 295 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.120 all the tools that it's disposed. It will really make 296 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.440 a run at Montini. It'll be interesting to see if 297 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.320 the weather has maybe an impact on whether or not 298 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:54.240 they're able to access every page in their playbook because 299 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:57.399 over time, if you watch the Monacello program, you know, 300 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.919 under Kuley Welter, it's a creative program. They do creative things. 301 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:04.039 I'm sure they're going to have some things in their 302 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:07.519 bag that they're going to roll out specifically for this 303 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:09.919 week in an attempt to, you know, maybe maybe pull 304 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.600 a rabbit out of their hat in certain situations. But 305 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:15.720 will the will the surrounding conditions allow those things to happen. 306 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.080 That's going to be interesting to watch. 307 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.720 And and you know, with respect mount of Cell, they 308 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.360 might need a little bit of a rabbit out their head. 309 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:24.440 I mean, Montini, I think after they that that Byron 310 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.200 game was kind of like, all right, whoever comes out 311 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:28.759 of that is going to be the prohibitive favorite to 312 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.759 win three A. And I think that still bears out 313 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.000 when you're talking about an experienced defense, a good running game, 314 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.879 a talented quarterback, albeit a young quarterback. So we'll see 315 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:40.600 how he does, you know, circumstances. But you know, it's 316 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.200 hard to go against Mantini in this game. 317 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:45.960 Yeah, it's tough. I mean, it really does look like 318 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.480 like you said that, that Montini Byron game was kind 319 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.840 of the kind of the prelude to the actual state 320 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:55.279 championship game. That's been the situation that it's kind of 321 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.399 been for the last two years, with Byron winning last 322 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.679 year's game and then rolling over every everyone else along 323 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:04.279 the way. So you know, I think Montini is a 324 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.720 clear favorite in this game, and I'm interested to see 325 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:10.519 how mont Solo tries to attack this defense because I think, 326 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.159 regardless of class, I think this is a really really 327 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:16.919 good defensive unit and it's shown throughout their very difficult schedule. 328 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.399 The four A Championship game, which is Friday night at 329 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:24.000 seven o'clock, give or take, interesting game. Two teams that 330 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:25.879 I don't know that being the year Suis or Michael, 331 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.559 we would have said, all right, you know I got 332 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:29.360 to Paul Prep against Mount Zion in the four A 333 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.600 Championship game. I think we could have probably won a 334 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:34.080 few bets with that one with respect to those programs. 335 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.519 But you know, Michael'll start with de Paul Prepp. You know, 336 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.559 why are they here? 337 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:37.720 What? 338 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.840 Like what what has put them in position to do this? 339 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.679 Because you know, it's been a long time since well, 340 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:47.399 not that school, the previous iteration of it, Gordon Tech, 341 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:48.519 has been in a championship game. 342 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:51.000 Yeah, it just kind of feels like they're on a heater. 343 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.120 If we're sticking with like gambling terms and that kind 344 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:55.879 of stuff, it just feels like this group, you know, 345 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.759 they were able to eke out a twenty six to 346 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.080 four team win over Saint Lawrence in the quarterfinals. They 347 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:06.720 continue their momentum in the semi finals to get Okayst. 348 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.679 Coles City twenty one to fourteen. I think this is 349 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.840 an experience group for which is funny to say for 350 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.360 a group that obviously, you know, is back in the 351 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.360 playoffs for the first time since twenty fifteen and won 352 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:20.960 its first playoff game since you know, two thousand and 353 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:23.440 five when it was Gordon Tech, Right, So you know 354 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.720 this team hasn't been here too often, but it seems 355 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.559 like it's got experience and doesn't really buckle under pressure. 356 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.200 You've got a pretty dominant running it run at rusher 357 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.200 and you know, Nick Martinez, he's really stable. He really 358 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.799 gives them a bunch of you know, chunkyards. You're there. 359 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:41.919 You've got a really stout defense where you know, yes, 360 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.320 there are some talented players that can maybe lead you, 361 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.519 but it does feel like it's a whole effort as 362 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:49.559 opposed to one guy. And you've got a dual thread 363 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.480 quarterback who can you know, scramble, who can pick up yards? 364 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.039 Who can you know sometimes maybe he doesn't make the 365 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.639 right throw er, you know, takes a sack, but you've 366 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.559 got a quarterback that can kind of keep you alive. 367 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.279 And that is the common theme here in playoffs, right. 368 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:06.240 You talked about Abram Fermontini. Juji Rodriguez kind of does 369 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.039 the same thing for DePaul where he just keeps plays 370 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.759 the lives and finds players open. Then maybe when the 371 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:15.200 play would have been done four or five seconds ago, 372 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.400 he's able to kind of keep it alive. So that 373 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.720 kind of makes him a dynamic offense that kind of 374 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.720 makes it, you know, fairly difficult to stop. 375 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.480 On the other side. Sus Mountain Zion, I mean, you know, 376 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.519 I think they're three and three at one point this year, 377 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:30.880 so probably wondered if they were gonna, you know, even 378 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.000 get to the playoffs at that point, and then you know, 379 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.519 getting this far. I don't think we necessarily expected them 380 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.279 to win, you know, their last week's game, but but 381 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.359 you know, they got a lot of big time talent 382 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.240 on their team as well. When you're talking about high 383 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.160 Division one recruit caliber players. 384 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.960 Well, this was a team that at the beginning of 385 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.160 the season I was pretty high on, to be completely 386 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:53.359 honest with you, because of the things that they have 387 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.279 that you just mentioned. I mean tight end J. C. 388 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:58.799 Anderson is a junior who's been recruited by every major 389 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.319 collegiate program nation. 390 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:01.599 You know. 391 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.599 Wide receiver Brandon Trimble is kind of I think I 392 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.240 referred to him early in the earlier in the week 393 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.079 as the Swiss Army Knife of the Mountain Zion offense. 394 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:12.440 He pretty much does whatever they need him to do 395 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.400 at any time. He's a u of I recruit. These 396 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.119 guys can really do it, and it was really confusing 397 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.000 to me early in the season why they were having 398 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.000 so much trouble, you know, you know, kind of getting 399 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:26.200 some momentum going. I found out through the grapevine that 400 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:28.400 there were some health issues. They had some some key 401 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:31.079