WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.000 SGKR Injury Attorneys proudly sponsors the Friday Night Drive. I'm 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.000 met round you. We are ready to take on the 3 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:09.640 insurance company for you and get you to the end zone. 4 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.000 Visit us G A n A S SI N dot com, 5 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:14.960 Gannison dot com. 6 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.239 This is State Representative Steve Reich. Since twenty sixteen. It's 7 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.920 been my privilege to represent the sixty third district in 8 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:24.239 the Illinois House. I'd like to continue representing you and 9 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.519 I'm asking for your vote on November fifth. 10 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.359 Thank you, paid for by citizens to elect Stephen Reich. 11 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:35.079 Hello everybody, and welcome to the Friday Night Drive semi 12 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:38.439 final preview podcasts. I'm Josh Welge, joined here by Steve 13 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:41.679 Susci and Michael duwaljak As. We taped this on Wednesday afternoon. 14 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:44.159 And guys, it's one of the best weekends of the year. 15 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:45.960 I feel like I see that a lot, but it 16 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.079 really is. I feel one of the best weekends of 17 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:49.840 the year. You know, it's the last games that are 18 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:53.640 playing in high schools and obviously everybody wants to get 19 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.079 to the championship games. 20 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:57.719 You know, what's your thoughts on that, guys. 21 00:00:57.920 --> 00:00:59.759 Well, I think it's it's, like you said, one of 22 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:02.840 those weekends where you look forward to it because you're 23 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:05.359 pretty certain you're going to get at least, at the 24 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:10.400 very least a couple of really really good football games, 25 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.599 some barn burners, and if you're if you're lucky, you've 26 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:15.359 got a whole slate full of them. And I think 27 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:17.519 there's there's a potential for that. I do think there 28 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:19.760 are a couple of games on here that I don't 29 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:21.959 necessarily I'm not that convinced they're going to be all 30 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:24.239 that close. But for the most part, I look at 31 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:26.319 these games and if they're not fifty to fifty games, 32 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.280 they're sixty forty games, and those usually lead to some 33 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:32.760 pretty good football games too. So just in general, this 34 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:35.799 is what you would expect, obviously when all of these 35 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:39.840 three playoff games. 36 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:46.680 Yeah, so I think we'll do it a little bit 37 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:49.120 differently this week, guys, and start with Class one A 38 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.879 and work our way up to Class aight A. You 39 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:54.239 know's start with Class one A and and serious matchup 40 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:57.159 that I'm interested in. Got to start with that belve 41 00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:00.840 All Off Campoint Central game. Uh, you know, to misakem 42 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.319 did they play in a quarterfinal last year? 43 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:03.760 Yes, is that correct? 44 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:07.680 And and and a matchup that a result that you know, 45 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:10.680 maybe it was a little bit surprising the way Aldholf 46 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.159 was doing what doing to doing to teams and then 47 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.360 campoint in Central is able to beat them. 48 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:17.319 You know, again similar situation. 49 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.280 Aldholf looks like a team that you know, looks like, 50 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:22.159 if not the one a favorite, at least one a 51 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.439 co favorite or something. You know, what do you make 52 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:25.599 of the rematchin that one? 53 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:29.120 You know, it's an interesting situation because you looked at 54 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:32.479 like what happened last year, Camp Point Central getting out 55 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:35.319 to that giant lead and then kind of carrying that through. 56 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:37.280 I think at one point it might have been thirty 57 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.719 thirty four or thirty five to nothing in that game. 58 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.719 And that was what really floored me about that initial meeting. 59 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:46.800 And it's interesting between these two teams because what I 60 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.120 know about Altof and what I've witnessed when I've watched 61 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.000 some tape i haven't seen them live this year, is 62 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.919 that they're really really fast and really really athletic, to 63 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.759 the point where they don't they do not resemble a 64 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:02.599 one A football team. They they just got too many, 65 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:06.000 too many weapons that they can use and utilize. But 66 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:08.400 the thing I think that has kind of flown under 67 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:10.719 the radar about this Camp Point Central program, it was 68 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:13.599 a little bit notable before they won the state championship 69 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:16.479 last year. Their coach is kind of an innovator in 70 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:19.240 one area in regards to how it applies to football. 71 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.759 Coach Dixon has been on the speed training UH train 72 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.120 for a long time. So Camp Point Central is a 73 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:30.439 pretty darn fast and athletic team too, and I think 74 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.439 that was what allowed them to UH to get to 75 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:36.599 where they got last year. So you know, on paper, 76 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.919 you're thinking yourself, all tav isn't gonna let it happen again. Well, 77 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:41.840 they might not have a say in that. I think it. 78 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:45.639 I think if anybody matches up well with all tof 79 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.520 in one a at least component wise, it's Camp Point Central. 80 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:55.159 The other semifinal Leroy playing Lena Winslow Leroy is you know, 81 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.759 really they've kind of dominated most most teams in their 82 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:01.520 path this season. They're defense has been great, although I 83 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:03.360 did notice in the story of the Erou that their 84 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.719 defense has been you. 85 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.280 Know, kind of touched a little bit more into playoffs. 86 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:10.919 Now that being said, what do you think is can 87 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:14.000 can they take care of Lena Winslow, or did Lena 88 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:15.120 Winslow do what they do? 89 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:17.839 You know, I kind of think Lena Winslow does what 90 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.879 they do. It was, you know, that that point that 91 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.879 you just brought up in regards to LeRoy's defense, and 92 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:27.279 if you kind of look at the level of competition 93 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:30.160 that Leroy played during the regular season, none of them 94 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.720 did very well in the playoffs. I'm thinking maybe it 95 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.959 wasn't the best year for that conference, So, you know, 96 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:39.879 and if Leroy doesn't come in and give the kind 97 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:43.040 of defensive effort that they did during the regular season 98 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:45.600 where they were shutting people out, holding people to a 99 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:49.560 touchdown or less, you know, I just can't see, especially 100 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:52.360 with the way Lena Winslow recently has been playing offense, 101 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:55.360 I can't see how Lee Roy is able to kind 102 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.160 of get into a game where they're going to trade 103 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:59.639 punch for punch with Lena Winslow. 104 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.680 I just can't envision. 105 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:05.199 It could set up a Class one A championship game. 106 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:09.319 If it's Belle Alina Winslow. I'm gonna brew some coffee 107 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.600 and be nice and early for that one. I'll tell 108 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:14.399 you that. But but we'll see what happens. First things first, uh, 109 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:17.199 this weekend moving up to two A and and Sue's 110 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:19.959 interesting in that I think I read that that what 111 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:22.600 three of the four teams remaining have never been a 112 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.639 championship game. In fact, two of them who happen to 113 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.120 play this weekend, Farmington and Chicago Christian, they're playing in 114 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:30.680 the semi final for the first time and they play 115 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:31.120 each other. 116 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:35.839 What do you what do you make of that? 117 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:36.519 Yeah? 118 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:38.360 I mean you, like you said, you look at this 119 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.519 this situation. You've just got a lot of teams that 120 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:43.720 are in rarefied air right now. You know it's Johnson 121 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:47.800 City has made one semi final, Farmington's never gotten to 122 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:50.720 this stage, neither his Chicago Christian. In fact, I don't 123 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:52.959 think Chicago Christian has ever been pasted the second round. 124 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.480 And then you've got Morolla, who obviously has a lot 125 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.959 more playoff pedigree in this situation. But whatever happens here, 126 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:03.199 we're going to have an interesting looking final. It's just 127 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.800 it's going to involve at least one team that has 128 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:09.319 never been there before. All of these teams that are left, 129 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:13.600 maybe a lesser respect with chicag Christian because it's it's 130 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:18.759 kind of more of a recent uprising from them, but Farmington, 131 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:21.439 Johnston City, both of these programs have had a fair 132 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.399 amount of success to the point where you think, you know, 133 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:25.800 you know, they're a pretty solid program, but as far 134 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:28.920 as going the distance that it really hasn't been a 135 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:31.759 conversation for them. So it's going to be really intriguing 136 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:34.480 to end up seeing who the two representatives are in 137 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:36.199 the state final game in Class two AA. 138 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:40.759 The other semifinal, Johnson City playing Morea Forsyth. Johnstity's had 139 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:42.600 a great year. Their only loss of believe was to 140 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:46.160 Dixon in that interesting non conference game that that materialized 141 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:49.600 this season. Great year for them, but man, it's hard 142 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.160 for me to go against Moreau Forsyth, especially after they 143 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:54.839 able to you know, to get by Quincy Notre Dame. 144 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.959 They put up some just massive numbers this year. 145 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.079 Yeah, I would agree with that. I think I think 146 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:02.759 Morea Foresight is your favorite of these four. But there's 147 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.519 always a little bit of a vested rooting interest in having, 148 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.360 you know, one of these these are let's be honest, 149 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.000 in terms of a state championship. All the other three 150 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.560 are classic underdogs right now. They don't have any they 151 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:16.079 don't have any you know, speculaue they've never been here, 152 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.680 you know, they've never been to this situation before, you know, 153 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.360 Jos City's one semi finals. So I think it could 154 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:24.839 have the potential of being a really intriguing experience for 155 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:27.600 at least one team and maybe two teams come State 156 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:28.079 Final day. 157 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.360 Yeah, moving up to three A. You know, I'll start 158 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.480 with the matchup, a really fun matchup, Montini playing Wilmington. 159 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.959 Montini already beat the defending three A stage champion Byron. 160 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:40.920 Now they get the defending Class two A stage champion Wilmington, 161 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:44.279 who's moved up Montina. I tell you they were there 162 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.519 is a time for about a decade that they were 163 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.600 you know, pretty much pencil them in final week end 164 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.079 of the year on Thanksgiving weekend. It's been a while 165 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:53.319 for them though. It's been seventy eight years since they've 166 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:57.600 Bennett State. But Michael, you know, this is a tough 167 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.199 one for them, but I know they're quite motivated get 168 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:00.639 back there. 169 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.360 Yeah, it feels like if there is gonna be a 170 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:05.279 year that they were going to get back, it doesn't. 171 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:07.319 It feel like it's this year, just based on what 172 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.600 they've been bringing back this year with the defense that 173 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:12.920 they have, their running attack is fairly strong with the 174 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.439 good offensive line, and you got a young quarterback that 175 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.839 doesn't know any better, right Like, he hasn't been through 176 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.519 the experiences of you know, playing in tough playoff pressure 177 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.920 and situations and that sort of stuff, and you know, 178 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.680 maybe that ends up being a big, you know, negative, 179 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:31.959 but sometimes, you know, sometimes the hot team is when 180 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.360 they don't know what to do better and they just 181 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.480 decide to keep playing. And that's what the young kid 182 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:41.399 Abrams is for for Montini. So I'm really curious to 183 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:44.519 see whether he's able to keep by intensity that he's 184 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:47.639 been playing with since he took over midway through. And 185 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.519 if Montini can get the passing game going here, I 186 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:52.200 think that could really be the big difference in this 187 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:55.159 game between two teams that you know, historically are really 188 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.639 good at, you know, running the ball. 189 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.960 And both of these teams have really strong defense. 190 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.320 I mean, Mantini, we talked about their quarterback and their 191 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:05.519 running back, but their their defense has been since week one, 192 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:08.200 the strength of this team. And on the same side, 193 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:10.120 you know, I don't as soon as you know, a 194 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.840 heck of a lot more about Wilmington football than I do, 195 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.360 and I think that's one of their strengths too. 196 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.000 You know, what do you make about this matchup? 197 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:20.399 You know, it's interesting. I think obviously one of the 198 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.639 big components for Wilmington heading into this game is that 199 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:25.799 they lost Kyle Ferrell on the first play of the 200 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:28.799 game against dram Pecatonica last week. And obviously when you 201 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.399 get into smaller classification sometimes you have one of those 202 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.879 kids that's intricral to them on both sides of the football, 203 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.320 and he is, I mean, he's kind of the captain 204 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.480 of their defense at a line from a linebacker position, is, 205 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:44.799 if not their leading rusher, very close to their leading rusher. 206 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:47.320 He's got well over a thousand yards on the season 207 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:51.200 rushing and it's part of a one two, one two 208 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.120 combination with Ketman in their backfield. So when you look 209 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.720 at what Wilmington does, a lot of it goes around him, 210 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.639 and his status is pretty much up in the air 211 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:03.440 for this one. It's it's almost extremely unlikely that he'll 212 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:05.480 If he does play, he'll be at one hundred percent 213 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.240 after that injury, and if he doesn't, it's gonna do 214 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.399 something to Wilmington that I that I think is an 215 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:15.559 interesting factoid. That that coach Reine's pointed out after that 216 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:19.279 game against Iran Pakatonica. They got a really good running 217 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.519 game out of Sean James off the bench. He did 218 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:25.480 very well and their defense didn't really seem to miss 219 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.879 a beat without Farrell. 220 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:27.879 Uh. 221 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.960 Obviously a bigger challenge with Montini on the other side. 222 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:34.559 But the one thing about this Wilmington program is those 223 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:39.120 kids have been in this system since they were almost 224 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.399 since they climbed out of the crib. I mean, that's 225 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.159 that's what we're talking about here. They understand it. So 226 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:47.159 they've got kids on the bench that they can put 227 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.320 into games. Granted, they're gonna lose a little bit without 228 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:52.000 Ferrell in there, and maybe a lot in some circumstances, 229 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.639 but those kids are not going to be clueless about 230 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:56.879 what the expectation is for them if they do end 231 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.000 up having to fill in for Farrell. So they'll they'll 232 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.120 up and they'll do the best they can. They're not 233 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:05.279 going to be not knowledgeable about what the expectation is 234 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:05.679 of them. 235 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:06.559 It's interesting. 236 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:09.039 I mean, I think I bet Wilmington is probably doesn't 237 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.320 go into many games where they're the team that people 238 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:14.519 don't expect to win. The game and this is probably 239 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.759 that weekend. So I'm interested to see how they they 240 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:19.080 kind of handle that dynamic that you know, now they're 241 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:21.759 going on the road. They're the littler school, you know, 242 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.440 you know what I mean, they're in two another three A. 243 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:27.120 You know, I bet they relish this opportunity. I'm not 244 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.799 saying they're gonna win this game, but I'm and now 245 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:32.919 you know, they're down potentially down one of their better players. 246 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.320 So you know, we'll see what happens. I mean, it 247 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:38.120 should be a really great game in a three A semifinal. 248 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:42.080 Yeah, I'll guarantee one thing. They will not back down there. 249 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:45.559 There will not be an ounce of there will be 250 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:49.399 nothing left on the field with that. With that football team. However, 251 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:52.679 the outcome ends up being they're They're not going They're 252 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:54.759 not gonna wilt from this challenge. There's no there's no 253 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.639 doubt in my mind about that. 254 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.600 Yeah. No, it should be fun. I'm really looking for it. 255 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.159 That's one of the matchups of other day for for 256 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:02.919 me on Saturday is that that Montini Wimington game. The 257 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:07.039 other semifinal three A Tolna Unity against is it Monoicello? 258 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:11.200 I'm sorry, uh Tolna Unity. 259 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.480 So it seems like in three A it's like, oh, 260 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:16.159 they're back in the three championship game. They've been such 261 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.720 a staple over the last several years and and they're 262 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:21.559 really coming in this game on quite a role where Monoceello, 263 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:23.639 you know, a little bit more of a novice among 264 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:25.360 these the three A semi finalists. 265 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.279 Yeah, I think it's six title game appearances for to 266 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:31.639 Lona Unity. They haven't won any of them, which I'm 267 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.600 sure there's something that just kind of sticks in their 268 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:37.679 crawl a little bit. But longtime coach with Scott Hamilton 269 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.720 down there, there's been rumors down in that area that 270 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:42.679 this might be his last ride at it. And their 271 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.480 kids have really really played really good football over the 272 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:48.879 second half of the year especially. I think they started 273 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:52.360 one in three on the year, but over the course 274 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.320 of the second half they just went into another gear, 275 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:57.200 including a two touchdown win over Monticello in Week nine. 276 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:00.600 So as far as who's playing the best at the 277 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:04.320 right time, it very well might be Tolna Unity. So 278 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:06.799 that's that's kind of the interesting thing that goes in there. 279 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.200 You know. 280 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.360 Monicello has also got a pretty good track record in 281 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.240 the postseason of pulling out wins like this. So I 282 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.519 think this is kind of an interesting game to look 283 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.200 at to see if Manicella can flip the script a 284 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:21.120 little bit, or does Tolono just keep on crushing everything 285 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.840 in its path like it has been over the last 286 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.960 six to seven weeks. 287 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.559 You know. 288 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:27.759 Moving up to four A a really fascinating matchup De 289 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.879 Paul Prepp playing at Cole City. 290 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.480 It is see cul City cred. 291 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:35.320 You know De Paul Prep quite a story in the 292 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.480 publicly in the Catholic lade this year. I think they 293 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.120 had not won a playoff games since twenty fifteen, and 294 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.919 they had not been in a playoff since twenty fifteen. 295 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:45.080 They had a one one since they were Gordon Tech. 296 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:48.120 And Michael, you wrote about in your notebook this week 297 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.600 about you know, them bringing a lot of the Gordon 298 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.279 Tech guys back for their playoff game last week. You know, 299 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:56.399 what do you make about their run so far? And 300 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:58.559 really it is it is quite a story. 301 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:01.039 Yeah, it's a really fun story just to kind of 302 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.279 watch the way that they've kind of grown the program. 303 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.600 Head coach Mike Pasarella has been there for a little 304 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.600 bit now. But like you said, they made the playoffs 305 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:10.919 for the first time since twenty fifteen. They won their 306 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:14.240 first ever playoff game as the Paul this year, and 307 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:16.759 now they're obviously in their first ever semi final game, 308 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.840 and they did it in pretty dramatic fashion. I mean, 309 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:23.120 they scored twenty six unanswered points against a good Saint 310 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:26.399 Lawrence team in the second half in the quarterfinals. And 311 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.240 it's just interesting just to kind of see how the 312 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.399 community is kind of coming together behind this team. They're 313 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:37.519 really into it. The pans, the stands were packed on Saturday. 314 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.159 Just a really cool, you know environment to be a 315 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.679 part of when you got these you know, kind of 316 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.720 this story last year when they were kind of coming 317 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.519 into their own and they eventually went to the four 318 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.679 A state championship game. So it's always fun when we 319 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:52.360 have one of those teams just you know, kind of 320 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.279 having a good historical year. 321 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:58.080 But it'll be interesting to see how they kind of, you. 322 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.600 Know, deal with having to go to Cole City, you know, 323 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.879 going into an environment like that, and can they not 324 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.759 start slow. I think that's gonna be the big thing where, 325 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.039 you know, that offense, you know, I don't think they 326 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.600 changed anything dramatically in the second half to score twenty 327 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:13.240 six points unanswered points. 328 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:17.000 It was pretty much just execution and if you. 329 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.879 Know Juju Rodriguez, their quarterback, can really get things going, 330 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.360 especially off the scramble. I'll be really interesting to see 331 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.000 if if Cole City can kind of keep up with 332 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:29.080 that pass attack. But it really will be down to 333 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.440 can this team start out fast and avoid a cold 334 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.840 start like they've had in the playoffs and a lot 335 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:38.440 of these games, because you know it worked one time, 336 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:42.320 you know, coming back from fourteen down nothing, But I 337 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.120 don't know if you can do that in the semi finals. 338 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:46.200 You got to start out hot and you've got to 339 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.559 make sure that you're firing on all cylinders if you 340 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.200 want to go to the state championship game. 341 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.080 I was gonna say it was interesting last week there 342 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.559 was a couple of CCL teams that had to go 343 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.799 on a road in five ays, Saint France and Nazareth. 344 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.200 But there's situations where I was like, I just I 345 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.639 can't bet against those teams even. 346 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.360 Though they're on road. 347 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:02.960 Sus I feel a little bit differently about this with 348 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.440 DePaul Prepp with with respect to them going on a 349 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.200 road at Cole City, it's a tough matchup I mean, 350 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.000 I think it's a game to go either way. But man, 351 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.480 at Cole City pretty tough at home. 352 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:14.879 Yeah, they're tough at home. And really when you look 353 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.759 at kind of what they've done over the course of 354 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.840 the season, They've had a couple of close calls here 355 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.120 in the playoffs, but for the most part, what Cole 356 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:25.679 City does so well, and I think that goes back 357 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.399 to Michael's point about them being at Paul has to 358 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:30.799 start well here because Cole City is the kind of 359 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:34.480 team that, seriously, if they taken advantage on you, they 360 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:37.279 will they will, they will finish you. They will do 361 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.000 it whatever way that they have to do it. They 362 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.679 will clamp down on defense, they will, they will put 363 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.879 together a punishing drive that kind of squeezes the life 364 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.919 out of you. That's the kind of football team Cole 365 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.879 City is. And they did it to almost everybody other 366 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.200 than their two regular season losses, which of course are 367 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.360 to two teams that are still playing in the playoffs. 368 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.919 They they lost in Week one to Morris, they lost 369 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:03.039 mid season to Wilmington. So I mean in every other 370 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:06.440 game this year, barring last week's close call against Dixon, 371 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:10.559 they have imposed their will and in a serious fashion. 372 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:13.680 They have really basically said we're gonna score forty five 373 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.599 points in the first half and end this I mean 374 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.839 just and and go about doing it in a quick, 375 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:22.920 efficient manner. So, like I said, Michael's talking about De 376 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.200 Paul's starting well because they have to because if they don't, 377 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.559 Cole City will take advantage of that. 378 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.799 Other for a semifinal. Mountain Zion and Normal University suits. 379 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.240 A thought on that Mount Zion I believe, I think 380 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.160 I saw you wrote they were three and three at 381 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.400 one point. They've recovered, but Normal it seems to be, 382 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.960 you know, kind of rolling right now. 383 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:40.599 Well. 384 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.680 Mount Zion was a team that I had high hopes 385 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:44.799 for at the beginning of the season, and then some 386 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:48.119 of the results were really kind of throwing me. I 387 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:50.119 didn't really know what was going on. I did a 388 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.720 little bit of digging and found out there were some 389 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:55.079 key injuries that they really they had trouble getting those 390 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:57.640 things fixed. Because the thing about Mount Zion is they 391 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:01.839 have two excellent weapons on the outside. Brayden Trimbles committed 392 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:05.039 to Illinois at the wide receiver position. He's a very 393 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.799 talented player. 394 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:06.400 J C. 395 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.720 Anderson is a junior tight end that is literally being 396 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:12.799 recruited by every power program in the nation. So those 397 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:17.400 two guys alone make Mount Zion extremely dangerous. And I 398 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.359 think now they're finally they finally have all their pieces 399 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:24.119 in place, they're healthy, and that now they're showing what 400 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.279 they're capable of as what they've done through here in 401 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:29.559