WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:04.480 S GKR Injury Attorneys proudly sponsors the Friday Night Drive. 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:05.639 I met 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 --> 00:00:24.239 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 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.039 Hey, welcome to the Friday Night Drive podcast. 14 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:38.920 The West and South Quarterfinal quarterfinal playoff preview. 15 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.240 That was a mouthful. That was a reason. 16 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:46.079 I don't know why. Anyway, he's JT Penalty. I'm Eddie Carriffio. 17 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:49.000 Thanks for joining us here and we should probably jump 18 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:49.840 right into this, JT. 19 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.880 We got a lot to go over this week. 20 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:55.840 It's quarterfinals in the playoffs, you start up at five 21 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:57.119 a work our way on down. 22 00:00:57.240 --> 00:00:59.119 If that makes sense to me, go big and then 23 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:00.000 bring it home. 24 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:01.799 And I'm not just saying that because we got to 25 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:04.519 start with, you know, the school that I'm basically here 26 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:06.159 for and then I can just take a little nap 27 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:09.920 for the rest of the podcast. As usual, they just 28 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:14.239 draw my eyes being open and use some AI for 29 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.120 the podcast. It's very expensive to make it a peer 30 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:20.239 I'm awake. This company a lot of money. 31 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.920 So you're basically saying, like, any bad predictions after this 32 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:25.519 first game is entirely as AI's fault. 33 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.799 Yeah, and all the previous ones it was. It was 34 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.319 the fake smart. 35 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:36.280 So anyway, we'll start off with St. Francis Sycamore. This 36 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:41.480 one's one pm Saturday. The official Friday night Drive pick 37 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:45.640 is for Saint Francis. I may disagree with that, as 38 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.560 we have established my track record may not be the greatest, 39 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.840 but I really like Sycamore in this one. We can't 40 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.359 call them the Spartans because they're both Spartans. But Sycamore 41 00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:00.200 has two wins under their belt against teams still in 42 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:01.000 the quarterfinals. 43 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:01.439 In five A. 44 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:05.040 They haven't beaten Rachelle Morris on their way to a 45 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:10.879 Interstate eight title. It's an intriguing matchup because it's the 46 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:14.639 old really good offense versus really good defense, strong versus strong. Here, 47 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.319 Saint Francis can put up some points, Sycamore don't let 48 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:22.520 a lot of teams score. I think the interesting aspect 49 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:26.159 of this game is Sycamore can force some turnovers, you know, 50 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:28.000 and when you've got a team that's going to throw 51 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:30.800 as much as Saint Francis does, it certainly opens up 52 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.520 the interceptions, of which Sycamore has thirteen this year. So 53 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.120 I think what Sant Francis does plays into all of 54 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:43.280 sycamore strengths. So if Sycamore can ball control on offense, 55 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:47.479 which they certainly have tried to this year, they've had 56 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:50.199 some success running the ball, are really good running the 57 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.560 last couple of games against the CPL teams they beat. 58 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:56.560 I like this game for Sycamore. 59 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:59.240 I'm with you on this. I don't know. 60 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:02.759 And at this point, I mean, I hope no coaches 61 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.560 I have won later where I kind of disagree with 62 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:06.719 Seuss's pick later, and I hope and then one of 63 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:09.039 the coaches that I get along great with and work 64 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:11.599 with every year, and so I hope no one takes 65 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:13.520 it personal when we're not. You know, at this point, 66 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.840 everyone's a really good team, and you know, you're just 67 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.719 kind of picking them based off what you've seen and 68 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.599 kind of what matchups and head to heads and common 69 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.919 opponents and sometimes just kind of the mood of things. 70 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:25.800 This Sycamore team just, you know, it feels like every 71 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:28.680 time they've won a lot of games in close fashion, 72 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.000 they found a way to do that, and then here 73 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.680 down the stretch, they found a way to just kind 74 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:35.840 of dominate opponents. They've when it comes to winning football games, 75 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.560 there's no way they haven't done it with defense, with offense. 76 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:41.199 You know what they were able to do against Morris 77 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:45.159 and Rochelle and I just I think the Sycamore team 78 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:48.439 is a really tough out and obviously it's the quarterfinals, 79 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.120 but I like their chances in this one, Eddie, I'm 80 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.759 with you. I think they're a team that, you know, 81 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:55.960 I would not be a bit surprised to see down 82 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.879 at IU here in a. 83 00:03:58.879 --> 00:03:59.439 Couple of weeks. 84 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:02.560 I mean, yeah, no, I mean they've definitely got the talent. 85 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:05.599 I think the wrinkle with them getting that far comes 86 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:07.120 with the next game. I think we're going to talk 87 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.960 about here, and that is NAS is really really good. 88 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:16.800 They're ahead, Yeah, yeah, Nazareth Academy. You know it's five 89 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:21.480 a's in their half of the bracket. Five a's number. 90 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.360 What is NAS pre seed? 91 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:25.839 Three seed? Yeah? 92 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:27.519 And lot and a lot of that, you know, is 93 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:30.079 built off than the schedule they played during the regular season, 94 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:31.319 as we saw it last year when they won a 95 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:33.240 state championship after they snuck. 96 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:34.759 In at four and five. Is that right? 97 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:36.639 Yes? 98 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:38.879 Yeah, so so, I mean, you know, they only have 99 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:41.879 two losses this year against Rochelle and Rochelle team you 100 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:45.560 mentioned earlier. They only lost to Sycamore handled Morris handily, 101 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.759 a team that's still alive in the playoffs. 102 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.560 On the other half of the bracket. 103 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:50.439 I I. 104 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:54.160 You know, nas NASA is going to be a very 105 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.240 tough team to beat, but I think Rochelle's proven to 106 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:57.839 be that too. That's gonna be just I think, a 107 00:04:57.879 --> 00:04:58.680 fantastic game. 108 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.639 Yeah, I mean, and I'm I'm I'd probably picked nass 109 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.040 in it, but I'm I'm not going to be surprised 110 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:08.079 if there's an upset. I mean, Rochelle again, ball control. 111 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:10.759 That's the way to keep these high powered offenses off 112 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:13.800 the field, you know, and Rochelle certainly controls the ball 113 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:17.959 that Grant Gensler will run for one hundred thirty eight 114 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:21.000 yards and like four touchdowns last week. You pick a 115 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.959 guy every weekday, like two guys at one hundred yards. 116 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:28.800 It's just a very good running team, ball control offense. 117 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:33.480 And you know, I I definitely see I use this 118 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:36.120 phrase kind of a lot packed in one of the players. 119 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:39.600 But there's a blueprint I think that Rachelle can do 120 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:40.439 to beat this team. 121 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:43.439 And you know, I do think NAS comes out on 122 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:45.120 top just because I think they're so loaded. 123 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:47.360 But I mean, I'm not gonna, you know, drop my 124 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:52.560 monocle into my bourbon if Rochelle wins. 125 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.040 Never Yeah, and don't dismiss the fact that Rochelle's at home. 126 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.959 They have that beautiful complex that they built a handful 127 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.920 years ago. You know, it makes a big difference this 128 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.000 time of year, you know, having full stands. I mean, 129 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.120 obviously guys is going to travel as well, they're fans, 130 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:11.360 but you know, it makes a difference being at home, 131 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:11.959 having that. 132 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.920 Familiarity, you know. 133 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:16.920 I I think and people have talked about and Rochelle 134 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:18.879 actually is the higher seed here because they have one 135 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.399 loss in NAS has two this season. But you know, 136 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:23.439 I think that's the conversation that I've seen people have 137 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.800 increasingly year after year after year as we get deeper 138 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:28.959 in the playoffs, is should the IHSA look at some 139 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:31.120 of these, who gets a home game in the semi 140 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:32.600 finals or the quarterfinals. 141 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.120 I don't mind the system as it is. 142 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.560 I think sometimes maybe some common sense would be put in, 143 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.160 But I mean, this is one where Rochelle should be 144 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:39.759 the home team, and. 145 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:42.120 I think it's an advantage for him. I think I'm 146 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:42.480 with you. 147 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.879 I think you have to think boyd Naz has an 148 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:46.839 excellent shot in this one. I like Sycamore in the 149 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.639 upset on the top half of this one, and just 150 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:51.000 a heck of a game next week. 151 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:54.560 Yeah, with the thing about the home games, I mean, 152 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:58.120 obviously I have some thoughts, but do you want to 153 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:03.240 point out that the North bracket here in five A, aside 154 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:07.399 from an eight to nine upset Westinghouse beat Fossor I think, 155 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:10.160 and that that was date and now I match up 156 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.040 in the first round, it has been chalk, it's been 157 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.480 the higher seed is won every game aside from that one. 158 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:21.240 And that's not something you see given that the obviously 159 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:25.879 the playoffs are determined by you know, mathematical strict structure formula, 160 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.600 not like you said, that common sense or subjective element. 161 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:32.240 What you call common sense someone else. 162 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:38.079 Would call lunacy or certainly in my case, but so 163 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:41.720 really weird to see see a bracket coach chalk for 164 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.120 that long and of course the one that didn't go 165 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:45.639 chalk is what resulted in Sycamore playing a road game 166 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:48.040 in the second round and my first visit the new 167 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:53.279 Rockney Stadium last week. But still chalk in the north half, 168 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:56.600 which sidedly has not happened in the bottom half of 169 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:57.800 the bracket. 170 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.399 Professional segue, Thank you very much, an award that is 171 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:01.959 a good one. 172 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.560 Well, it's tough to get a you know, when you 173 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.959 have programs like Morris and Joliet Catholic that you're dropping in, 174 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.560 you kind of assume that chalk's gonna go away by 175 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.240 both programs that play in you know, brutal conferences and 176 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:18.319 do everything they can to schedule up and play bigger teams, 177 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.319 tougher teams go out of state if they have to, 178 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:24.800 which Morris did this year and and took a loss 179 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.639 in Michigan. You know, so yeah, you're not going You're 180 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.560 not gonna see chalk when things like this happen. Morris 181 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:34.440 is a thirteen seed, has four losses this season. They 182 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:36.759 have to go up to Gately in Chicago and visit 183 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.879 a top seeded Morgan Park. And then on the other side, 184 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.320 you know, we have number six seed Joliet Catholic and 185 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:46.000 they'll be going to Peoria Stadium to play Peoria. 186 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:47.600 High which is a two loss team. 187 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.360 So yeah, we have I think, you know, starting with Morris, 188 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.960 you know that this is you know, this is a 189 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.879 challenge obviously when you're playing a top seeded team. Morgan 190 00:08:55.919 --> 00:09:00.440 Park seems every bit a number one seed. Everything they've done, 191 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.639 they're they're ten and one this season. You know, they 192 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:06.279 had a ten game stretch where they allowed thirteen points. 193 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.720 You know that it's Chicago Public League. 194 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.879 Teams to tend not to do particularly well in the 195 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:14.799 playoffs when they come up with teams from outside the 196 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:18.120 city or outside the Public League, I should say both, 197 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:23.559 but this one is. Yeah, I think this is a 198 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:25.600 team that's for real. I think the Mustangs are going 199 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.200 to be a real challenge for Morris. 200 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:32.440 Yeah, you know, I'd love to you know, I've obviously 201 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:35.720 been against Morris unsuccessfully a couple of times this year, 202 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.960 but yeah, no, this definitely looks like a tough matchup. 203 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:42.039 I mean, I could definitely see Morris getting the win here. 204 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.360 I mean, it is Morgan Park, by the way, should 205 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:51.679 point out the team that eliminated Sycamore last year in 206 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.440 the in the second round of the playoffs accurately Stadium. 207 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:56.120 I want to I think it was a one pm. 208 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.039 In fact, I think Sandwich had the four pm game 209 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:01.600 after that. I got a fun Here is reminiscing brought 210 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:02.279 to you by. 211 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:06.879 Yeah. No, it's it's it's gonna be a good game. 212 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.480 I know that it's gonna I think it's gonna be 213 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.879 one of these Byron style games that goes down to 214 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.440 the you know, two one conversion at the end sort 215 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:15.679 of thing. 216 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:19.159 I think it's close. I mean again, then in my head, 217 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.240 I'm picking Morgan Park. 218 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:23.879 But you know again, this isn't a monocle dropping games. 219 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.720 That's my phrase of the week. I'm seeing if we 220 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.320 can catch on. 221 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:26.960 No. 222 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.360 I know, you know Brady Warner, Morris's quarterback. You know, 223 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:32.679 he has lots of weapons to work with. He's a 224 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.759 dynamic playmaker. I think the concern for Morris comes on 225 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.799 that defensive side of the ball. They just haven't been 226 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:40.679 the Morris team on defense that you've expected to see 227 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:42.279 the last four weeks. 228 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:45.000 They've given up. I had this. I added this to 229 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:45.679 our preview. 230 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.600 They give up forty two points to Sycamore, forty eight 231 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.320 to Byron Center, which is that Michigan oponeent I mentioned 232 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.919 twenty eight to Troy Triad in a playoff win, and 233 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.039 then twenty last week to Highland. So on one hand 234 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.960 you can say, well, it's trending downward, but on the 235 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.399 other hand, that's given up a lot of points. And 236 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.879 then Morgan Park conversely, you know, when you look at 237 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:06.360 that matchup, I think they were held to sixteen points 238 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:08.120 in their only loss of the season Week one. 239 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:10.519 Since then, I'll just read this off real quick. 240 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:13.519 This is their points per game score, twenty six, fifty 241 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.200 four twenty not that impressive. 242 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.960 I have fifty four and here we got fifty. 243 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:21.679 Seven, forty eight, sixty two, forty two, thirty four, fifty 244 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:24.440 five knocking on the door for five hundred points in 245 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:27.960 the season. They're just a quarterback Marxist Thaxton. They have 246 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.399 a running back Terrence Gurley. Just shredded Metamora last week, 247 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:37.240 you know, and everyone knows Metamora has a fantastic football program. 248 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.639 You know, I think that's your matchup where Morris has 249 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.919 to play better football than they have. They have to 250 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.799 they cannot allow what happened against Sycamore, what happened against Rochelle, 251 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.960 what happened up in Michigan. They cannot allow their defense 252 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.960 to give up a lot of points because Morris has 253 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.279 the weapons to compete in a shootout, but they haven't 254 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.320 really won a shootout, you know, they had that lost 255 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:55.720 earlier this. 256 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.279 Year to Peoria High, who we're going to talk to 257 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:58.120 it talk about. 258 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.440 In a second. 259 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.720 So I think from I think Morris's path to victory is, 260 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.200 you know, keeping this a respectable normal football score, you know, 261 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.720 in the twenties, in the thirties, and not letting them 262 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:09.440 be come an up and down the field shootout, because 263 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:11.559 I think that's the type of game that Morgan Park's proven, 264 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.159 you know, they can score with the best of them. 265 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:18.200 Should also point out that Morris is about as healthy 266 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.320 as it's been all year going into this one, so 267 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:25.360 that also could make it the responsible for I mean, 268 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.399 not all of the forty two points or forty eight 269 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:29.360 points or whatever they were giving up, but certainly had 270 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:31.600 a hand in some of that. I don't think it 271 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:34.919 changes the outcome any of those games, but could be 272 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.159 a factor in this one for sure. 273 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:36.679 I think it was. 274 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:38.759 Definitely a factor of last week too, So that's also 275 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:44.759 worth pointing that out. As you pointed out Peory, Julia 276 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:47.799 kathay werought a little bit outside of what we normally do. 277 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.879 You want to talk about this one a. 278 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:51.519 Little bit just for a quick second. I think it's 279 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:53.159 worth it just because it's a great matchup. You know, 280 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:55.519 we mentioned Peoria High one and we want to shoot out. 281 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:00.399 You know, their coach, Tim Thornton resigned after fourteen years 282 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:03.440 really just built a Peoria High team that you know, 283 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:06.679 nobody wanted to play because they just not only did 284 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:08.960 they win and just turn that program around to have 285 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.759 you know, all kinds of success, but also they're they're 286 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.360 just played football like nobody else. 287 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.399 They're so up tempo. 288 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.919 They had so many games that finished, you know, seventy 289 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.600 four to sixty two or I'm sure they made all 290 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:25.120 kinds of IHSA score agami's. They're and and they're they're 291 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.279 that type of team again, even though you know, Tim 292 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:29.720 Thornton resigned and took a coaching position in Florida. So 293 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.919 I think this is gonna be a tough test for 294 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.720 Joliet Catholic. 295 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:32.960 I know. 296 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:36.240 Steve Susi's official Friday Night Drive pick is Jolie at Catholic. 297 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.519 I think I'd go along with that. 298 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:40.159 But it's gonna be you know, another team just like 299 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.600 just like we said, with Morris really going to be 300 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:46.120 tested on that defensive side of the football and offensive 301 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.159 on the offensive side to keep up against a team 302 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:52.159 that maybe doesn't put all their focus on defense. So 303 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:56.240 you know, for me following closely, you know sports in 304 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:59.960 the Morris Joliet area as well. You know, I'm really 305 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.879 looking forward to a Julia Katholck Morris matchup. But they 306 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.720 both got the works cut out for him this Saturday 307 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.240 to get there. 308 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.080 See I'm I'm the other way, and that would be 309 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.840 a great matchup, by the way, but Peoria Morgan Park 310 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.679 would be a game. 311 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.039 Man. 312 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.320 That would be you want to talk about a score 313 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:19.279 of garment, You're gonna have both teams hit one hundred. 314 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.039 Yeah, so you know what you get, Like we said, 315 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.320 you get to this point of the year and there 316 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.360 really aren't any bad matchups. I think we got you know, 317 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.879 a couple. Cinderella is still kicking around. I mean, if 318 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:29.879 someone wanted to sit there and try and tell me 319 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.879 that you know, well, you know, Morris is a thirteen 320 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.679 seed there is Cinderella. I'm not accepting Morris as a 321 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.360 Cinderella in any circumstance or anything. 322 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:39.759 I don't think. 323 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:39.840 So. 324 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:41.759 There are a couple kicking around, but in almost all 325 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.080 these classes, you're going to be talking about powerhouse against 326 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:47.840 powerhouse matchups in the semi finals, which is what we want. 327 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.919 Yeah, I wouldn't say Morris. 328 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.799 I mean again, we went over how the seeds work, 329 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:54.639 so even though they're a thirteen seed, I don't think 330 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:58.080 it's once you traditionally think that was an NCAA thirteen 331 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.240 seed getting to this point. 332 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.200 So getting into the illegate. 333 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.720 So we're gonna drove on down the fora for a minute, 334 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:08.600 and this is a very interesting one that stretches from 335 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:11.120 east to west with Dixon and Cole City. 336 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.720 Yeah, Dixon ten and one, coal City nine and two. 337 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:19.600 Cole City's two losses are to Morris and to a 338 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.320 team we already talked about Morris and a team are 339 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:25.159 about to talk about Wilmington, So obviously those are quality losses. 340 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.240 I think coal City hung with Morris into the second 341 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.080 half of their matchup, and then I covered their game 342 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:33.519 with Wilmington, who twenty one to fourteen. Great football game 343 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:37.159 could have gone either way, So no shame in Coal 344 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.159 City's two losses. They get to be at home because 345 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.799 of the system where even though they're the seventh seed 346 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:44.519 and Dixon's the three, coal City's played one fewer home game, 347 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.120 so Dixon has to hit the road and goes at 348 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.720 Cole City. Which I know there's some people up in 349 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.399 the Suk Valley area that don't quite understand the setup 350 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.799 or agree with it. That's where I've heard a lot 351 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:56.000 of chatter in the Dixon area. Why are we going 352 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:59.360 to Coal City? But Cole City has a beautiful facility, 353 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.919 so if Dixon has been there, though anyone who hasn't 354 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.759 been there, they'll be treated well. Parking right there, it's fantastic. 355 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:08.600 But as for the actual football game, you know, this 356 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:11.360 should be another great one. I know our Friday Night 357 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.120 Drive pick is Dixon taking the Dukes, which this would 358 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.639 be the first time Dixon's ever made it to. 359 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.639 The state semifinals. 360 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.799 This is this this year is their deepest run since 361 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.639 making the four A quarterfinals in twenty seventeen. Dixon that 362 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:27.120 one loss was to Byron on a two point conversion 363 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.159 try and the closing seconds or whatever something like that. 364 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:34.159 So I mean Dixon scored over five hundred points. We 365 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.840 talked about Morgan Park and approaching five hundred and right 366 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:40.080 off their ridiculous point totals. You know, Dixon's only been 367 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:42.879 held under forty three times and those three times they scored. 368 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.279 Thirty five, twenty eight and thirty five. 369 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.759 So that's they have a potent offense, a good defense 370 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:50.799 against a Cole City team that is perfectly happy winning 371 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.799 a three zero football game against you. Cole City they 372 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.879 can score if the opportunity is given there, but they'd 373 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.679 love to take the air out of the ball. They 374 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:01.720 love to put together fifteen play eight minute drives that 375 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.639 end in a touchdown and you only get the ball 376 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.160 twice and a half. And so that's all actively so 377 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:09.039 interesting contrast to styles, and I think just a great 378 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.519 football game here. If you made me pick this one, 379 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.359 I would I would be hard pressed not to take 380 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.680 Cole City just based on what I've seen them do 381 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:19.480 this year, but obviously Dixon fantastic as well. 382 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.400 Yeah, I mean I'm leaning a little more toward Dixon, 383 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:24.680 but you don't have to twint really hard to see 384 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:27.279 the Cole City win. First of all, playing at home, 385 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:31.400 which leads right into them being able to enforce their 386 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.640 type of game. You know, they obviously, like you said, 387 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:35.480 I want to take the air out of the Dixon offense. 388 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.359 It's a lot easier to do with your home crowd 389 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:41.359 behind you and everything. So that you know, you mentioned 390 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:44.319 the home factor for Rochelle, I think for Cole City 391 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:48.519 I could definitely be an advantage too, because teams are 392 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:51.880 tried to make Dixon play their style of game and 393 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:54.079 that has not worked this year. 394 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:54.799 Dixon. 395 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.839 Dixon plays their style and Dixon's going to make you 396 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:02.200 score points to beat. That sort of game probably doesn't 397 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:07.400 bode well for Cole City, I would imagine, But you know, yeah, 398 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:11.640 if they can get the low scoring thing that no 399 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.839 one's been able to do yet, But you know, that's 400 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:15.839 why it's the quarterfinals, and that's why they play the game. 401 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.160