2022
Football Section Page 2
“From what I understand every team on our schedule is going to be tough,” Parker said. “We play in one of the toughest conferences in the state of Illinois. East St. Louis, Edwardsville and O’Fallon, I’ve been told, are teams that we need to knock off to make a name for ourselves in this conference.”
Parker said the large turnout has meant good practice sessions.
Parker said his team has worked hard since the beginning of preseason practice Aug. 1 and is ready for the season opener, which is set for Aug. 26 at Public School Stadium against non-conference foe Cahokia. In Week 2, the Redbirds will play host to Quincy and in Week 3 will play at CollinsvilleAlton’sSouthwestern Conference opener is set for Sept. 16 at Belleville West.
By Pete Hayes, Editor
“I was impressed by them and I continue to beParkerimpressed.”saidthe enrollment at Alton High, as well as the overall competition provided by the SWC, were two of the things that attracted him to the Alton position.
“I’ve been looking at getting back to being a head coach,” said Parker. “When I heard the Alton coaching job was opening, I thought it would be a good opportunity.”
“If you want to become the best, you have to play against the best and play well.” Playing well is something Parker said is near the top of his list of goals, of course. But he also added that his overall approach to the job involves what he calls “scholar athletes.”“Youhave to take care of business in the classroom first of all,” Parker said. “If you don’t, you’re not eligible to play.”
“Our strength right now is our numbers,” Parker said. “We have 82 student-athletes total out for football. We are able to be twodeep on the depth chart on offense, defense and special teams. The senior class has been a strength. They have been great examples of the culture we’re trying to build and establish here at Alton.”
Parker replaces Eric Dickerson, who stepped down as AHS grid coach during the offseason. In seven seasons at AHS, Dickerson’s teams went 18-54. They qualified for the IHSA Class 7A playoff twice, in 2017 and 2018. The last three seasons, the Redbirds went 3-21, winning one game each of those seasons.
“While I was helping at Marquette, I got a chance to see Alton, since we both play at (Public School) stadium,” Parker said. “I saw a couple of their games. Alton is in the Southwestern Conference and I think it’s the best conference in the state outside Chicago.
GODFREY - As he takes over as head coach for the Alton Redbirds, David Parker knows one thing for sure: There are plenty of young men at Alton High School wanting to play football.
HIGH PARKER AT AHS
NUMBERS FOR FIRST-YEAR COACH
“Alton is a school with over 2,000 students,” Parker said, “and schools in the conference like East St. Louis, Edwardsville and O’Fallon are always very tough and the Belleville schools are also very good.
“Practices have been awesome,” Parker said. “We have consistently had 70 to 76 student-athletes each day. The team has improved each day with their effort and knowledge of the offense, defense and special teams. We have a ton of competition for spots going on. The team is also doing well with studying plays and responsibilities on Hudl. He has seen good things from a solid core of returning players. Parker listed Keith Gilchrese (senior RB), William Harris (senior WR/DB), Graham McAfoos (senior QB), Jaxon Sheets (senior center), Brandon Hayes senior lineman), Tyrone Foster (junior RB/DL), Antoine Phillips (junior LB and Dalton Baumgartner (junior TE/LB) as the topParkerreturnees.saidnewcomers to watch include Travis Billiups (sophomore WR/DB), Christian Hardin (senior OL/DL), Johnny Everage (junior WR/DB), Jack Robinson (junior (RB/LB) and Carmello Taylor (senior TE/LB).Parker said avoiding injuries and staying focused are keys to having a successful season.“Wehope to stay healthy and continue to focus on the small things,” he said, “so they don’t become big issues or concerns in the opener.”
The Alton Redbirds will open their season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 against Cahokia at Public School Stadium. The Redbirds are shown taking the field for a game during the 2021 season. - Telegraph photo David Parker replaces Eric Dickerson as the head football coach at Alton High School this season. - File Alton senior running back Keith Gilchrese picks up yardage during a game last season. Alton coach David Parker said Gilchrese is one of the returning AHS players to watch in 2022. - Telegraph photo
Sports
Parker most recently served the past season as volunteer varsity assistant football coach at Marquette Catholic High School.Previously, Parker was an assistant football coach at St. Louis University High School and Webster Groves High School. He helped lead Hazelwood East High School, as their defensive coordinator, to a Missouri Class 5A state football championship in 2008.Parker works for the Riverview Gardens School District as an RTI Attendance/ Behavioral Interventionist. He is a graduate of McCluer High School as well as Harris Stowe State College and North Central University.
“The conference is strong this year, just like every year,” Reinhart said. “Anyone can win it.“The toughest team on our schedule every week is the one we play the next Friday.” Weight training is also at the top of his must-do list.
“The players are young and coachable. Very young,” Reinhart said. “With youth comes trial and error. We have to develop and get better every day. We can complain about things we don’t have or things we have to overcome. It is what it is. Find a way and get“It’sbetter.crucial for everyone to step as a team, not as individuals,” he said. “There’s a long way to go and a short time to get there. Our players need to focus on doing their job to the best of their abilities.”
By By Pete Hayes, Sports Editor
Reinhart, 69, said CM was essentially the only place he would have considered being a head coach again. “This is a great place,” Reinhart said. “ There are great coaches and a lot of them are former players of mine. That’s one of the reasons I came back.”
- Pete Hayes | The Telegraph
NEW LOOK, FAMILIAR FACE: REINHART
Longtime coach Rick Reinhart, an Illinois Hall of Famer, returns for his second stint as head coach at Civic Memorial.
Page 3 Football Section
BETHALTO - There’s a new look with a familiar face on tap for Civic Memorial this football season. Rick Reinhart is back. Reinhart is back for another go-around as the head football coach at Civic Memorial, a place that’s like a second home. He’s already the winningest coach in CM history with a 97-79 record in 18 seasons as coach from 1989 to Reinhart2006.isback as a head coach for the 41st season. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at CM under Mike Parmentier, who stepped down after the 2021 season. During his previous stint as CM head coach, the Eagles qualified for the IHSA playoffs eight times. Reinhart has also served as head coach at Fairfield, his first gig as a head coach, Marquette Catholic, Tuscola and Collinsville. In his actual hometown of Tuscola, his team won the Class 1A state championship in 2010, then finished second in the state the next two seasons. During his time there, Tuscola won 18 postseason games. From 2015-2018, he was head coach at Collinsville. After his time there in the Southwestern Conference, Reinhart retired. He then found his way back to the Eagles sideline, where he served as an assistant coach the last three season under Parmentier.TheEagles went 7-4 overall and 2-3 in the Mississippi Valley Conference in Parmentier’s final season. They advanced to the Illinois High School Association playoffs and won a first-round game at Quincy Notre Dame before seeing the season end at home to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.
Civic Memorial’s Bryer Arview (7) unloads a pass last season against Jersey. Arview returns for his senior season at CM. - Nathan Woodside | For The Telegraph
While he has sifted through the on-field talent, Reinhart said he’s had top-notch help “The main strength is my coaching staff,” he said. “All have stepped up their game. They’re the best around.”
After some three weeks of preseason practicer, Reinhart said he’s ready - again. “We figure to have over 60 players,” Reinhart said. “Practices have been OK with school starting late. We’ve had two-a-days and they loved it. Attendance has been very good.”There have been challenges, he said, including being confined to practicing on the open grass field across the parking lot at CM from the football stadium, which is undergoing a transformation that will include artificial turf as the main attraction. That also has meant no locker room access for the time being.
While the CM roster numbers look good overall, Reinhart said the bulk of the players are“We’veunderclassmen.got30freshmen and 22 sophomores.”Amongthereturning players is Bryer Arview. Last season as the Eagles quarterback, he completed 128 passes in 199 attempts for 1,829 yards and 22 touchdowns. More than half of those TDs were to now-graduated Luke Parmentier, who had 12 TD catches. Parmentier is now playing baseball as a freshman at Parkland College.Sowho are the Eagles’ other top returning players? Reinhart had a quick response.
“The top returning players? I’ll tell you after Friday night.,” BACK AT CM
“No locker room and trying to organize everything with equipment in three different places has been a challenge,” Reinhart said. “Also, no place to practice without a goal post and not being able to get on the game field to prepare. We might not get on the field untilThatkickoff.”opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 26 against rival Marquette Catholic High in the traditional season opener at CM. The Eagles will next play host to another backyard rival, East Alton-Wood River in Week 2, then play at Roxana in Week 3 before opening the Mississippi Valley Conference portion of their schedule on Sept. 16 at home against Triad.
“It’s not about just showing up to the weight room,” he said. “It’s about hard work and commitment. It makes such a big difference and helps players avoid injuries, too.
/ The Telegraph
HARDIN - Old-school education touted the importance of ‘The Three R’s.’ The Calhoun Warriors enter the 2022 season excited by its advancement in football’s version of the three basic tenets, none of which begin with ‘R’.
Calhoun junior quarterback Miles Lorton throws a pass during a June 7-on-7 at Roxana. Lorton is one of nine starters on offense and seven on defense for the Warriors. - Greg Shashack / The
Telegraph
While Western Illinois Valley Conference South Division powers Carrollton and Greenfield lost most of their top producers to graduation, Calhoun returns nine full-time starters on offense and seven full-time starters on defense, with more back that own Friday nightNow,experience.thegapthe Warriors must close is wide, with league losses to West Central (40-0), Greenfield (40-21) and Carrollton (65-6) in successive weeks last season. Calhoun could narrow the divide by returning its quarterback, its top four leading rushers and three of its top fourJuniortacklers.Miles Lorton (5-foot-9, 140 pounds) is back at quarterback. Calhoun attempted just 6.1 passes per game last season, with Lorton completing 21 of 39 passes for 340 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also the team’s second-leading rusher, with 385 yards and five TDs from 5.3 yards per carry.Junior Chris Stanley (5-9, 180) averaged 9.3 yards a carry and scored six TDs while rushing for 481 yards as a sophomore. Senior Hunter Roth (5-11, 165), back for his third season as a starter, and sophomore Conner Longnecker also return in the backfield. The 6-2, 230-pound Longnecker rushed for 351 yards as a freshman. Seniors Chase Ralston (6-0, 160) and Zak Grimes (5-9, 185) are the ends, lining up outside a front five of center August Squier (55, 150, sr.), guards Hunter Medling (5-9, 185, sr.) and Jack Krysl (5-8, 185, sr.) and tackles Will Hurley (6-2, 210, jr.) and John Kronable (6-3, 180, sr.).
“Our team put in a great offseason, where we have gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” Warriors coach Aaron Elmore said. “Many have changed their bodies and have matured physically. We are a totally different team than we were last year at this time.” Calhoun is counting on bigger, faster, stronger players to produce a better record than last season’s 2-7 finish that followed seasons of 2-4, 2-7 and 2-7 since the Warriors last made the postseason in 2017.
“With the experience, the maturity and the effort the boys are giving, we feel like we have put ourselves in a position to be highly competitive,” said Elmore, whose team opens the season at Brown County. “We have depth, size and speed unlike any team we have had in recent years. We are working towards getting back into the playoffs and then win playoff games while there.”
WARRIORS BACK, ‘BIGGER, FASTER AND STRONGER’ By By Greg Shashack, Sports Writer
Charlie Kallal (6-1, 185, jr.) provides depth on the line, with Patrick Friedel (5-9, 170, soph.) in reserve at running back, while also handling the kicking and punting duties. The defense is led by three-year starters in Squier, who averaged 10.9 tackles a game, and Medling at linebacker and Roth at defensive back. Sophomore Bo Lorsbach gives the Warriors a third returning starter at linebacker, with Gage Bick (5-7, 135, jr.), Friedel and Lorton joining Roth in the secondary.Thefrontfour returns starters in Longnecker and Blake Witt (5-10, 210, jr.), who welcome in Hurley and Cole Robeen (6-3, 310, jr.) to the line. Ralston, Grimes and sophs Jack Webster (5-8, 155) and Talan Kronable (5-9, 230) come off the bench for defensive depth. Elmore begins his 10th year as Calhoun coach with a 33-51 record that includes three playoff trips featuring a Class 1A semifinal appearance in 2016. The Warriors are hoping to avoid four consecutive seasons without a postseason berth, which would match the program’s longest since getting to the playoffs 24 times in 26 seasons from 1985-2010.
Calhoun coach Aaron Elmore (left) works with a Warrior during a 7-on-7 this summer in Roxana. Elmore is back for his 10th season as Warriors coach. - Greg Shashack
Football Section Page 4
And the comfort level is higher nowhere more than with the Hawks defense.
So will Nick Flowers’ spread offense, with Luke Spainhoward adding his touch after getting a promotion to offensive coordinator. Last season, QB Grant Pohlman passed for more than 1,700 yards and rushed for 1,500-plus. Running back Harley Angel rushed for more than 1,300 yards and wide receiver Kyle Leonard made 55 catches for 800-plus yards. All of those two-way weapons, and others, graduated. Job No. 1 was finding a new quarterback. Sophomore Grant Cox (5-10, 175 pounds) gets that job.
LOW NUMBERS,
Boden Flowers and Gilmore are returning starters, with Flowers set at safety and Gilmore at defensive end. Beiermann and Lippmann go both ways as interior linemen, with Singleton at defensive back, junior Braylon Rhoades (6-4, 285) on the D-line, sophomore Eli Flowers (6-4, 215) at defensive end and Harrelson and Howard at“Probablylinebacker.most excited about that,” coach Flowers said of his defense. “These kids are gritty and they understand our scheme. They put themselves into position to make plays. I’m excited how these kids are going to play. We’ve got a mixture of strength up front, to plug some holes and we’ve got speed at linebacker and D-backs. They’re coming together really good.”
By Greg Shashack, Sports Writer
“Three things,” Flowers said. “Staying healthy, staying out of trouble and getting good grades. We continuously tell them, first priority is getting good grades. You don’t, you’re not going to play. But make no mistake, our goal is to win the first game, win the South, make a playoff run and go to the state championship game again. These kids believe they can do that and that’s what we’re working towards.”
Offense runs to the right, to our defense’s left. That’s how we match our kids up to acclimate them to try to play a strong, speedy Camp Point. There’s no other way for us. It’s worked for us and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
The Hawks were Class 1A state runners-up last fall with a roster at 32 producing a WIVC South championship and a 12-2 record. That 2021 team was led by 10 seniors, including nine two-way starters, but Flowers likes the 2022 squad that will be his first as a head coach.
And like most Class 1A teams in the state, avoiding injuries like the Hawks were able to do last season is a must. But there are other concerns.
“That senior, junior class, mixed in with some sophomores,” Flowers said, “we’re going to be justThisfine.”isFlowers’ 27th season as a football coach, with the first 26 coming as an assistant. He replaces his younger brother Nick Flowers, who resigned after 18 seasons and 135 victories with the Hawks. Rodney joined his brother’s staff as defensive coordinator in 2006 and will not change the program’s path as head coach. The new coach is counting on his five seniors –Willie Gilmore, Boden Flowers, Matt Beiermann, Mason Baumgartner and Tyler Singleton – to provide the Hawk example for 10 sophomores and eight freshmen.
“They’re all going to be starting in some capacity, either both sides of the ball or on all special teams,” Flowers said of his seniors. “They’re going to be on the field. We really like their attitudes. They’ve earned it and we remind them, this is their legacy. What do they want out of their senior year?” What Flowers wants from his first year may not immediately come. The schedule opens at home against a Camp Point Central team could be considered Carrollton’s version of the WIVC North and a Week 2 road date against a Jacksonville Routt team Flowers calls “loaded.”
“He’s starting to take more charge, which is what we want,” Flowers said of Cox four days before the opener. “He understands our concepts and is getting really comfortable with coach Spainhoward. Grant ran the ball well the other night in our scrimmage. Kind of gritty, that’s what we’re looking for.”
Carrollton assistant coach Luke Spainhoward (left) makes his way down the line of Hawks before last season’s Class 1A state title game in DeKalb. - Greg Shashack / The Telegraph
“We would love to be 2-0 coming into the South and see what can happen,” Flowers said early in August before his team’s first practice. “But we’re realistic. We know we’ve got to move kids around, figure out the strengths and weaknesses. Our goals are the same every year. We want to win the first game, we want to win the conference and we want to win in the playoffs. Those will continue to stay here.”
Flowers discounts the impact of low numbers on Friday night, but he acknowledges the challenges it brings during the week.
Changing places will be Gilmore, who cut some weight to make the rare conversion from offensive lineman to running back. “We’re going to take all-conference lineman Willie Gilmore away from the line,” Flowers said of the 6-1, 225-pounder. “He played running back in JFL. And then he got so big and strong that we needed him up on the line the last three years and he played great in that role.”
CARROLLTON - The numbers would sound an alarm for most high school football programs in Illinois. The Carrollton Hawks’ roster lists 30 players, with just five seniors and seven juniors. Can Carrollton win with only 12 upperclassmen? Hawks coach Rodney Flowers is humored by the question.“Absolutely,” he says without hesitation. “We will win with those numbers.”
That leaves Beiermann (5-11, 230) as the lone returning starter up front. He will lead a five-man O-line bringing in Baumgartner (6-1, 205), juniors Brady Carroll (6-4, 300) and Preston Harrelson (6-2, 185) and sophomore Hunter Lippmann (5-11, 280). Boden Flowers (6-2, 170) leads a receiving corps that could get an impact from sophomore Lucas Howard (5-10, 165). The Hawks may lack in varsity game experience, but the extra weeks of practice from recent playoff runs is “beginning to pay off for us,” Flowers said. “The experience is really starting to show,” he said. “These kids, we have to keep them motivated, but we’re starting to see their experience, their knowledge and knowing what we want them to do. That’s really getting more comfortable for us.”
“The hardest thing with low numbers, year in, year out, is our practice plans,” Flowers said. “So we get creative with scenarios. We do a lot of half-line stuff, where we just go best on best. BUT HAWKS COACH INSISTS ‘WE WILL WIN’
And even as a sophomore, Cox will be asked to lead. “He’s got to,” Flowers said. “It’s his offense. He’s got to lead it, along with Boden Flowers out there at receiver and Willie Gilmore. The quarterback’s got to lead, put them in place.”
Page 5 Football Section
The Oilers’ newcomers of note include a pair of running backs who can also see time as receivers. “Newcomers offensively are Kiyu Stilts and Travis Skinner.” Herron said. “Both play running back, but also slot receiver. They are both explosive and great in space. “Defensive newcomers are Jamari Nunn on the defensive line and Drake Champlin at linebacker. Both have great motors and are good-size kids.”
WOOD RIVER - The East Alton-Wood River Oilers are hoping to pick up where they left off last season.
“Practices have been good. We have a good group of kids. I think we’re just ready to hit and block someone else for a change.” By Pete Hayes, Sports Editor
OILERS HOPING TO BUILD ON 2021 FINISH
EA-WR Oilers head coach Garry Herron huddles with his team last season during Cahokia Conference action against Breese Central. Herron’s Oilers will begin the 2022 season at home Aug. 26 against non-conference Harrisburg. - Nathan Woodside The Telegraph
With the ingredients in place, Herron said a key to success will be taking better care of the football this season.
Slayden was also a running back for the Oilers last season.
The Oilers finished the 2021 season with back-to-back victories. Those wins over Roxana (34-0) and Red Bud (38-21) came after EA-WR endured a six-game skid after a season-opening win over Madison. Oilers coach Garry Herron said he thinks the ingredients are in place for his team as it eyes the 2022 season opener Friday at home against Harrsburg in a non-conference tilt at Memorial Stadium.
The race for the Cahokia Conference Mississippi title will run through Breese and Freeburg, Herron said. “Breese Central and Freeburg for sure,” he said. “Both had great teams last year and will more than likely reload. Columbia is also always a tough team to play against and are very well coached.”
Football Section Page 6
| For
“We can’t make as many mistakes,” he said.
“Another challenge is keeping everyone healthy while trying to push them as hard as possible.”
Herron said the large number of returning starters includes a pair of All-Cahokia Conference selections from a season ago. “We bring back a lot of starters from last year,” Herron said, “notably senior Seth Slayden, who is a two-time All Cahokia Conference defensive back, and senior lineman Bryce Hyde, who was also All-Conference last season.”
Last year, Breese Central went 10-2 overall and was 5-0 in the conference. Freeburg was 9-3 and 4-1, Columbia was 5-5 and 3-2, Salem went 5-5 and 2-3, EA-WR 3-6 and 1-4 and Roxana went 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the conference. Following the season opener at home, the Oilers will play at backyard rival Civic Memorial Sept. 2, then play host to Nokomis Sept. 9. Then comes a home game at Salem, a conference road contest at Breese Central, a home game against Columbia, a league game at Freeburg, followed by the last two regular-season games at Memorial Stadium against rival Roxana and at Red Bud in the finale. “If we stay healthy, I believe with this group we can play with anyone in our conference,” Herron said. “We want our guys to play with a purpose on every play, that is the way we approached the weight room in the offseason, and how we have practiced so far this year.
The Oilers qualified for the Illinois High School Association Class 3A playoffs three consecutive seasons from 2016-2018, but haven’t returned since. EA-WR was 6-4, 7-3 and 5-4 during those seasons. In 2019, the Oilers went 4-5 before the pandemic delayed and shortened 2020-2021 season that saw them go 0-6. Herron welcomed 40 players to preseason practices, freshmen through seniors.
“That has been our Achilles heel in the years since missing the playoffs. We give the other team to many opportunities due to losing possession, penalties, missed assignments.
EA-WR’s Seth Slayden and Brayden St. Peters help finish off a quarterback sack against CM last season. - Greg Shashack
/ The Telegraph
“I think our strength is our senior class,” Herron said. “We have 16 seniors and a lot of them have had a lot of varsity experience. We brought back our entire offensive and defensive lines.“We really only had to replace a couple spots from last year’s group.”
Senior Declan Braley (5-10, 185) and junior Camden Naugle (6-0, 270) return as starters, with Brandon Roth (6-1, 210) bringing line experience as a backup on offense and starter on defense. Those three will be joined by seniors Gabe Henson (5-10, 220) and Ridge Funkhouser (6-3, 305) on the O-line.
“I think we are,” Easterday said. “Our skill kids have come a long way. Some of that has to do with having a normal summer. We did have to replace three of the five linemen, so that’s a question mark for us going into the season. So far, we’re getting better there. Hopefully, we have another good week and we’ll be ready to go.” So for all the uncertainty on the perimeter, the biggest questions may come with the front five at the point of attack.
And a Cavaliers offense that averaged 39 points a game in SCC play last season opens 2022 with its usual ambition, despite the talent drain. “Just like we always do,” Easterday said. “When you coach at Carlinville, we always have three or four juniors that easily could have played last year. Hopefully, those names you’ll read about. That’s our goal, to make sure that we constantly put ourselves in a reload situation instead of a rebuild situation.”
“There’s a lot of communication that needs to go on up there,” Easterday said. “We’ll see how it rolls.”
“He’s a kid that has stepped in and is really developing quite fast,” Easterday said of Tieman. Most of those handlers of the football are untested under the Friday Night Lights, but the coach believes they are ready.
PREP 2022: CARLINVILLE CAVALIERS
There is greater continuity on defense, which returns its two quarterbacks in linebackers Zach Reels and Hart. Reels led the team in tackles last season, with Hart in third.
Sports Writer
By Greg Shashack,
Taking the keys to the spread offense at quarterback will be junior Rex Reels (5-10, 155), who completed 8 of 9 passes for 63 yards in game-over situations as a sophomore after missing much of his freshman season with a broken thumb. “He’s a good leader and he understands the offense,” Easterday said of Reels. “He’s definitely put in the time and energy to understand it all.”
CARLINVILLE - All of the top stat producers on offense for Carlinville Cavaliers football graduated in the spring of this year. The quarterback with 2,270 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. The running back with 1,105 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. The wide receivers, one with 88 receptions for 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns and another with 44 receptions for 552 yards and nine touchdowns.Addthreestat-less starting offensive linemen to the departed, and it would seem the Cavaliers would need two or three games to find their best look, right? “No,” Carlinville coach Chad Easterday answers without hesitation. “We have never functioned that way.”OK, so the Cavies will be up and running with the proper pieces in the proper places in Week 1 at North Mac. “It may take the first quarter,” Easterday allowed. But by the close of nine weeks, Carlinville expects to be in the playoffs. The Cavaliers have made the last 14 postseasons – and would have in a shortened covid season that saw them finish 5-1 – and all of Easterday’s 13 seasons that have produced a 112-39 record.Carlinville won South Central Conference championships in four of the previous five seasons before Pana swept the league at 8-0 last year. Pana is the preseason pick to repeat, with the Cavaliers mostly left out of the title talk after finishing 8-3 last season.“When you lose the numbers that we did, stat-wise, it’s hard to put us up in that category,” Easterday said. “We’re obviously fighting for that title. I’m happy with us being in that top three, four category. … The goal has always been – conference title is great, something we shoot for – but you’ve got to be ready for Week 10 so you can play Week 13 and 14. That’s kind of been our M.O. the last couple years.”
“On that side of the football, in terms of communication and getting us in the right spot, we don’t lose anything,” Easterday said of having Hart and Reels back. “That’s really helped us excel on defense here in the preseason.”
FOOTBALL
Page 7 Football Section
Senior Conner Strutner (5-8, 150) had 10 rushes for 42 yards as a junior and that makes him the Cavaliers’ leading returning rusher. Strutner and junior Jack Rouse (5-10, 175) were splitting snaps at running back with the opener a week away. “One of them will end up the cream of the crop before it’s all said in done,” Easterday said. The receiving corps graduated its headliners, but remains well-stocked with seniors Henry Kufa (5-11, 170), Zach Reels (6-0, 210), Ryenn Hart (6-2, 185), Jake Schwartz (5-10, 160) and Ethan Gibbel (5-9, 170). A boost at pass catcher comes from the return to football by senior Liam Tieman (6-2, 170), who last played as a freshman while focusing on his primary sport baseball.
On the defensive line, Braley, Naugle, Roth and Strutner will be joined by senior Trenton Clevenger (6-4, 220). That rotation adds depth with junior Bryce Widner (6-1, 200) and sophomore Weston Kuykendall (6-2,The240).back four will see Rouse, Kufa, Gibbel and Sam Quarton (5-10, 150) in the secondary. Easterday is on a Hall of Fame career path and he begins season No. 15 at Carlinville with stability in a coaching staff headed by assistants Quinn Steiner and Hall of Famer Don Borgini.
There will be a change in the SCC with the addition of North Mac, which fills the 10th slot in the league following the departure of Roxana a year ago. The Cavaliers will get the first look at the Panthers with a Week 1 matchup in Virden.
“It’s nice to have them back,” Easterday said. “My dad coached in the old South Central when it was Nokomis, Virden, Girard. The Route 4 thing, I’m really excited for. It’s something that, I think, should have been done a long, long time ago and just didn’t ever happen. It will probably be a playoff atmosphere up there Week 1, I’m sure.”
“For me personally, it’s been something you cannot replace,” Easterday said of his staff’s consistency. “Now I’m going to have to because a couple of those guys are getting old and a couple are going to retire. I have nine years left and when you have the same group of guys for eight-to-15 years, planning practice is so simple. Those guys know what they’re doing.”
ALTON REDBIRDS
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC EXPLORERS
FOOTBALL
STAUNTON BULLDOGS
JERSEY PANTHERS
Aug. 26 Granite City, 7 Sept. 2 Marion, 7 Sept. 9 at Lincoln, 7 Sept. 16 Highland, 7 Sept. 23 Mascoutah, 7 Sept. 30 at Waterloo, 7 Oct. 7 Triad, 7 Oct. 14 at CM, 7 Oct. 21 at Columbia, 7
EAWR OILERS
Aug. 26 Harrisburg, 7 Sept. 2 at CM, 7 Sept. 9 Nokomis, 7 Sept. 16 Salem, 7 Sept. 23 at Breese Central, 7 Sept. 30 Columbia, 7 Oct. 7 at Freeburg, 7 Oct. 14 Roxana, 7 Oct. 21 at Red Bud, 7
Aug. 26 Southwestern, 7 Sept. 2 at Litchfield, 7 Sept. 9 Greenville, 7 Sept. 16 at Pana, 7 Sept. 23 Carlinville, 7 Sept. 30 at Vandalia, 6:30 Oct. 7 Hillsboro, 7 Oct. 14 at Gillespie, 7 Oct. 21 at North Mac, 7
2022 PREP
Aug. 26 at Jackson, Mo., 7 Sept. 2 at Highland, 7 Sept. 10 at St. Louis Soldan, 12pm Sept. 16 O’Fallon, 7 Sept. 23 Belleville West, 7 Sept. 30 at Alton, 7 Oct. 7 Belleville East, 7 Oct. 14 at East St. Louis, 7 Oct. 21 at St. Louis CBC, 7
Aug. 26 Cahokia, 7 Sept. 2 at Quincy, 7 Sept. 9 at Collinsville, 7 Sept. 16 at Belleville West, 7 Sept. 23 Belleville East, 7 Sept. 30 Edwardsville, 7 Oct. 7 at East St. Louis, 7 Oct. 14 at O’Fallon, 7 Oct. 21 Belleville Althoff, 7
Aug. 26 Marquette, 7 Sept. 2 EA-WR, 7 Sept. 9 at Roxana, 7 Sept. 16 Triad, 7 Sept. 23 Waterloo, 7 Sept. 30 at Highland, 7 Oct. 7 at Mascoutah, 7 Oct. 14 Jersey, 7 Oct. 21 at Taylorville, 7
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CARLINVILLE CAVALIERS
Aug. 26 at North Mac, 7 Sept. 2 Vandalia, 7 Sept. 9 at Hillsboro, 7 Sept. 16 Gillespie, 7 Sept. 23 at Staunton, 7 Sept. 30 Southwestern, 7 Oct. 7 at Litchfield, 7 Oct. 14 Greenville, 7 Oct. 21 at Pana, 7
EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS
Aug. 26 at CM, 7 Sept. 2 Salem, 7 Sept. 9 Columbia, 7 Sept. 16 Breese Mater Dei, 7 Sept. 23 at Nashville, 7 Oct. 1 Nokomis, 1 Oct. 7 St. Louis Priory, 7 Oct. 15 at Bloomington Central Catholic, 1 Oct. 21 at Roxana, 7
CIVIC MEMORIAL EAGLES
CARROLLTON HAWKS
Aug. 26 Camp Point Central, 7 Sept. 3 at Jacksonville Routt, 1 Sept. 9 Pleasant Hill, 7 Sept. 16 North Greene, 7 Sept. 23 Calhoun, 7 Sept. 30 at Greenfield, 7:30 Oct. 7 at West Central, 7 Oct. 14 at Mendon Unity, 7 Oct. 20 Brown County, 7
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
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Aug. 26 Beardstown, 7:30 Sept. 2 at Concord Triopia, 7 Sept. 9 at North Greene, 7:30 Sept. 16 Calhoun, 7:30 Sept. 23 at West Central, 7 Sept. 30 Carrollton, 7:30 Oct. 7 at Pleasant Hill, 7 Oct. 14 at Brown County, 7 Oct. 21 Jacksonville Routt, 7:30
NORTH GREENE SPARTANS
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Aug. 26 at Staunton, 7 Sept. 2 North Mac, 7 Sept. 9 Litchfield, 7 Sept. 16 at Greenville, 7 Sept. 23 Pana, 7 Sept. 30 at Carlinville, 7 Oct. 7 Vandalia, 7 Oct. 14 at Hillsboro, 7 Oct. 21 Gillespie, 7 ROXANA SHELLS Aug. 26 Robinson, 7 Sept. 2 at Red Bud, 7 Sept. 9 CM, 7 Sept. 16 at Columbia, 7 Sept. 23 Salem, 7 Sept. 30 Freeburg, 7 Oct. 7 at Breese Central, 7 Oct. 14 at EA-WR, 7 Oct. 21 Marquette, 7 local teams at wwwandwww.thetelegraph.com.thetelegraph.com CONNECTED
Aug. 26 at Mendon Unity, 7 Sept. 2 Brown County, 7:30 Sept. 9 Greenfield, 7:30 Sept. 16 at Carrollton, 7 Sept. 23 at Pleasant Hill, 7 Sept. 30 at West Central, 7 Oct. 7 Calhoun, 7 Oct. 15 Camp Point Central, 1 Oct. 21 at Concord Triopia, 7
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Aug. 26 at Brown County, 7 Sept. 1 Mendon Unity, 7 Sept. 9 West Central, 7 Sept. 16 at Greenfield, 7:30 Sept. 23 at Carrollton, 7 Sept. 30 Pleasant Hill, 7 Oct. 7 at North Greene, 7 Oct. 14 Beardstown, 7 Oct. 21 at Camp Point Central, 7
Aug. 26 Litchfield, 7 Sept. 2 at Greenville, 7 Sept. 9 Pana, 7 Sept. 16 at Carlinville, 7 Sept. 23 Vandalia, 7 Sept. 30 at Hillsboro, 7 Oct. 7 at North Mac, 7 Oct. 14 Staunton, 7 Oct. 21 at Southwestern, 7
GILLESPIE MINERS
SOUTHWESTERN PIASA BIRDS
GREENFIELD TIGERS
CALHOUN WARRIORS
“I’ve known some of these kids for a while,” the coach said. “I think it’s a good relationship between us. I think that’s a little bit of it. And I think the kids are tired of losing. They want to create some memories and have some fun.”
In the offseason, Van Meter analyzed film to get an idea of his players’ strengths, but it’s going to take some time to determine who plays where this season.
“I’ve just been trying to tell them, the seasons they’ve had in the past … we’re the same kids as everyone else,” VanMeter said. “If we work hard and we do the right things in practice, focus on what we need to focus on, there’s not teams that are 60 points better than you. We just have to do things the right way, practice accordingly, and we can close the gap.”
VanMeter went on to coach in the North Greene youth football league for 10 years. After serving as an assistant coach at the high school for several years, he coached at West Central for the past three years, serving as offensive coordinator last season.
North Greene had a strong showing at team camp in late July. “Had really good turnouts for that,” VanMeter said. “We’ve been averaging 25 to 30 kids showing up at camp and workouts throughout the summer.
By Dennis Mathes, Hearst Illinois
“I regret that in my life,” VanMeter said. “It’s something I can share with them. Football, you only get one shot. It’s not a sport you can continue to play later in life. Just try to get them to use that high school experience and get back to playing a game that we all love.”
“It’s good to be back home,” VanMeter said. “Try to turn this thing around, get a competitive team there at North Greene back again.” VanMeter got the job in April, and he got the weight room going in early May. “We have been focusing on strength and conditioning for most of the summer,” the coach said. “I’ve had really great numbers showing up for that. So, really excited to get to the football aspect here.”
VanMeter is now the head coach of the North Greene football team, a squad that has been plagued by low numbers in recent years. The new coach is hoping to convince student-athletes at his alma mater to not make the same mistake he did.
What’s the key to turning things around at North Greene?
Before practice began, VanMeter said he thought the roster would top out at 35 or 40 players. North Greene wound up with 38 players on the first day of practice. That was a pleasant surprise. “I know there are some others who are going to show up, and then the ones I’m hoping show up,” the coach said. “And I’m just trying to get my captains to encourage them to come out. I’m hoping they’re saying we’re having some fun, and encourage them to come play.”
WHITE HALL - Brian VanMeter played football for two seasons at North Greene High School. Then he found other things to do. North Greene didn’t have a particularly good team those years. Since he was an underclassman, VanMeter didn’t play much. So he decided to give up football after his sophomore year.
“Well, first off is numbers, of course,” VanMeter said. “You’ve got to have that in a football team. But I think it’s just back to making the game fun. Sometimes as coaches, we take it a little too serious. It’s serious, but we’ve got to have some fun at times, and we’ve got to get competitive again. “Of course, we need to have some success. That’ll bring numbers, too.”
“Just was working and wanted to have a vehicle when I was a younger kid … went that route –which I regret,” he said.
GOAL
The Spartans have several outstanding players to build the team around. Senior Cayden Eilers has been a leader this summer. “He’s going to be one of our captains,” VanMeter said. “He’s really been good at getting kids and encouraging them to be in the weight room just to get better every day.”
Any team would love to have North Greene junior lineman David Hicks, who’s 5-foot-10 and weighs in at around 200 pounds. “Weight room maniac,” the coach said. “Just got quick feet. Going to be playing line for us. Likes to seek out contact, I believe. He can open some holes for us. “I think it’s going to take all 11 players on the field for us this year,” VanMeter said. “We’ve got to develop that team mentality. I believe we’ve got a lot of good kids, but it’s going to take all 11 pulling in the same direction.” Expect Quintin Campbell to contribute, along with sophomore Ethan Clark. Sophomore Kaleb Williams has never played football before, but the coach said he shows a lot of potential. “I think he’ll be a good player for us,” VanMeter said. “And then we’ve got a lot of younger guys who I feel can really be … . In a couple of years, if we stay the course, we can get there.”
NUMBERS UP, BUT MORE WINS SPARTANS’
Football Section Page 10
“We’ve still got a lot of figuring out to do,” the coach said early in preseason practice. “Our core’s going to be more on the younger side. We’ve got a good group of sophomores. We’ll probably have five or six seniors. We’re still trying to put all that together.”
In his two seasons playing football at North Greene, VanMeter said he learned discipline and developed a good work ethic. Football was about learning to play as a team, and having fun with your friends. And with some work, there’s no reason why North Greene can’t start winning again.
“Kellen is pretty special in space. He can do a lot of things with the ball. It’s definitely his strong suit,” Martin said. Sophomore Iose Epenesa (6-4, 245) returns as tight end after a strong freshman season. He had 11 catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns.Theoffensive line includes senior Dawson Rull (6-3, 280) at right tackle, senior Ali Haroun (5-10, 255) at right guard, junior Brett Moss (6-3, 235) at center and senior Dorian Arguelles (6-4, 340) at left tackle with a combination of senior Patrick Sepanski (6-0, 245), junior Antonio Box (5-11, 210) and junior Emilio Garcia (6-0, 220) at left guard.
An older, more grown-up EHS team excites Martin for the possibilities of 2022.
“This offense is very balanced,” Martin said. Defensively last season, Edwardsville allowed an average of 27.6 points. With many returners, EHS hopes to see that number shrink this season.
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Tigers made the playoffs for a 10th straight season a year ago. But a 24-13 loss at South Elgin in the Class 8A first-round left Edwardsville unsatisfied with a season that finished at 5-5 and third place in the Southwestern Conference behind champion East St. Louis and O’Fallon.“Idon’tmean to be disrespectful to other teams because it’s not like they work hard, it’s just that I think with what we ask of these kids and coaches each year … we work way too hard to be one and done,” EHS coach Matt Martin said. “That’s the truth.”
Last year’s loss to South Elgin was the third first-round loss for the Tigers under Martin, who brings a 93-35 record into his 13th season with the program. Edwardsville last made the state quarterfinals in 2018. This year’s group is hungry to help the Tigers reclaim their powerhouse status in the area.
It starts on offense. Junior quarterback Jake Curry (6-0, 185) returns for his second season as a starter. Last year, he was 71 of 169 throwing for 1,303 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also has 320 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
“Bush has been solid for us all summer and fall,” Martin said. The receiving core includes junior Kellen Brnfre (5-11, 170), junior Joe DeMare (6-3, 180) and senior Daion Gaston (6-1, 190). DeMare was the junior varsity MVP last season. Brnfre, who caught 25 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns last year, may be one of the most electric playmakers in the area.
“When I was a young coach, someone told me, ‘For every sophomore you start, it’s a loss.’ I know there are exceptions, but it is eerie how accurate that has been over the years,” Martin said. “We’ve had exceptions, but for the most part it holds true.”
The defensive line brings back Epenesa to play alongside junior Wyatt Kolnsberg (5-11, 200), Box and Moss. Epenesa finished his freshman season with 18 tackles and one sack and was recently named to the Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore AllAmerica Football Team. At linebacker, the Tigers return junior Dalton Brown (5-11, 205) after a 76-tackle season and senior Evan Holderer (6-1, 205), who had 52 tackles and two interceptions. Others at the position include Larson and junior Jaiden Vonner (6-0, 190). Senior corner Johnnie Robinson (6-2, 171) and senior safety Makonnen Simmons (5-9, 150) return in a secondary that will also include senior Brandon Rodgers (6-1, 175) at corner and Brnfre and sophomore Clayton Lakatos (6-1, 165) at free safety.
“Makonnen has improved a lot and so has Johnnie. Brandon Rodgers is in there and Kellen will be at free safety. Lakatos is right ARE FOR SUCCESS
EHS TIGERS
HUNGRY
“I have told people that there is enough talent on this team to surprise some people,” Martin said. “There isn’t enough to where if we don’t do the little things right, we’ll get bet. There is enough talent, though, that if they work hard each week, they can beat some teams.”
“I like our O-line. It’s pretty steady,” Martin said.Anoffense that averaged 28.9 points last season may be even more potent this year.
on Kellen’s heels,” Martin said. EHS will have a new kicker/punter in senior Tyler Dacus (5-9, 155). The Tigers will have four home games and five road games this season against teams with a combined 56-32 record last year. The home opener is against Highland on Sept. 2 in Week 2 and the SWC opener is against O’Fallon on Sept. 17 in Week 4. They will close the regular season on the road against two state champions, East St. Louis in Week 8 and CBC in Week 9. The season begins Friday for the Tigers with a road trip to Jackson, Missouri. The Indians were a Class 5 state finalist a year ago. “What I don’t know about this whole team is if they are ready to fight for four quarters,” Martin said. “Time will tell and there is only one way to find out. Talk about fighting for four quarters, we’re going to get tested in the first game.”
Edwardsville linebacker Dalton Brown is fired up after making a tackle for a loss against De Smet last season in Week 1.
- Matt Kamp|For the Intelligencer
“It’s a different feel this year,” Martin said. “You can ask the coaching staff and the kids and they’ll tell you it’s a different feel. A lot of them have grown up and matured and we have had some pretty good leadership. It’s a different feel.” It’s different in many ways, including a traditional offseason.
Page 11 Football Section
By Matt Kamp, Hearst Illinois
A year ago, EHS had just two months to regroup for the offseason after the completion of the prior season in late April and summer contact days were cut down to 20 by the IHSA. This summer, the Tigers had nearly nine months before the summer offseason started after the 2021 season was completed. They also were back to 25 contact days. It was a crucial summer for an Edwardsville program that started a handful of sophomores in key positions last season.
“Jake has improved a lot and it has shown in 7-on-7 scrimmages and in practice,” Martin said. In the backfield with Curry will be senior running backs Jordan Bush (5-9, 170) and De’Shawn Larson (6-2, 180). Both players split time last season.
Williams’ coaching career began as a student teacher at Jersey as freshman baseball coach. He spent a year in Roodhouse in the North Greene district coaching basketball and baseball before going to Greenfield. He was varsity softball and, later, girls basketball coach for the Tigers, while also serving as football assistant under head coaches Dan Bowman and Joey Pembrook.
“Coming from Dan Bowman and Greenfield, running the ‘I’,” Williams said. “When coach Pembrook took over, we started running a lot of spread. We had years where we were double-wing and then here under Ric, running the triple option, I’ve got choices. I’ve run a lot of different offenses to this point.”
Williams said he’s got a good mix of returning players and newcomers.
Football Section Page 12
As he readies his team for the season, Williams said that his team has to be prepared for a dogfight every game.
JERSEYVILLE - An old Panther has taken on the task of guiding the current generation of football players this season at Jersey. And 2002 JCHS grad Caleb Williams already feels a family feeling to it“Iall.think our team has really come together and they have started playing for each other,” Williams said. “We have become a family. They are excited to be a part of the program. “Learning quickly has been a huge key for the boys this summer and early fall practices.”Williamstakes over for Hall-of-Fame coach Ric Johns, who stepped down after guiding the Panthers for three seasons.ThePanthers last made the playoffs in 2018 while finishing 5-5 in Johns’ first season. The last three seasons, including a 2020 season shortened to six games and delayed to spring 2021, produced a 5-19 record. Jersey went winless in the Mississippi Valley Conference last season and has one victory in its last 12 conference games. Williams said work during the week is key to success on game night.
The following week, Jersey will play host toInMarion.Week3, Jersey will play another non-conference game at Lincoln before beginning the Mississippi Valley portion of its schedule Sept. 16 at home against Highland.Lastseason, the Panthers were involved in blowouts in their first two games - they dished one out and took one in the other.
“Right now in our minds, the next game we play is the toughest opponent,” he said. “We will take that mentality into every game.”
By Pete Hayes, Sports Editor
“Our biggest challenge may be learning how to prepare to win on a day-to-day basis,” Williams said. “Our kids are being challenged and motivated to be at their best every day. If we want wins on Friday night, we must win Monday through Thursday first.” Williams and his coaching staff welcomed 55 out for football for preseason practices, which got under way Aug. “Practices1. have been going well,” Williams said, “and the kids are excited.”
The Panthers will start their season with what has become a traditional non-conference season opener against Granite City on Friday, Aug. 26 at home.
Jersey head coach Caleb Williams talks with his Panthers while assistant Brian Madson (left) listens during a 7-on-7 scrimmage league this summer in Roxana. - Telegraph photo Jersey football coach Caleb Williams (middle) directs traffic while quarterback Jaxon Brunaugh looks for a receiver this summer during a 7-on-7 scrimmage at Roxana. - Telegraph photo
“No. 1, we need to be healthy,” Williams said. “We have to be more focused and know alignment and assignment. We have to be in shape and be prepared to play four quarters.”
WILLIAMS
“Some of our key returning players include Chase Withrow, Aiden Talley and Jack Dos Santos,” Williams said. “And so far in practice, newcomers Easton Heafner, Jaxon Brunaugh, Landon Jones, Kaeden Hutchins have really stepped up.”Winthrow led the Panthers in scoring last season with 10 touchdowns and three two-point conversions. He had 672 yards rushing on 83 attempts and scored six TDs on the ground. Talley compiled 644 yards of total offense last season and produced seven rushing touchdowns for the Panthers. Dos Santos played defensive end.
With the past two seasons working under Johns, Williams said he has been provided an array of philosophies and experiences to draw on. And offenses.
CALEB TAKES HELM AT JERSEY
Jersey defeated Granite City 49-0 in the opener a year ago, then took it on the chin from Marion 64-29. In Week 3, Jersey defeated Lincoln 32-16, but from that point went on a six-game losing skid. Williams and his coaching staff are looking to break that drought Friday against Granite City. He said healthboth in mind and in body - are important if that’s to happen.
Page 13 Football Section
Marquette athletic director Brian Hoener said the numbers situation looks promising for the future, however. “We’ve got a good freshman group and I think we’re looking at even bigger groups of freshman football players coming in over the next couple of years,” he said. “There are a lot of 8th graders at the area’s Catholic grade schools who have already said they want to play Marquette football.”
The Explorers are just two seasons removed from their most recent playoff appearance. They advanced to the postseason in 2019 when they went 5-5 in Darrell Angleton’s final season as coach. Last season, Marquette went 0-9, its first winless campaign since 2003 when the Explorers went 0-9 under former coach Geoff Dalton. The Explorers’ last victory came during the 2021 spring “COVID season” on April 9, 2021 when they won 28-12 at East Alton-Wood River. Marquette also defeated Salem 28-21 that season and finished the shortened spring campaign with a 2-4 record. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IHSA delayed the football season from the fall of 2020 to spring 2021, reduced the number of games and eliminated a postseason.
ALTON - As they prepare for a prep football season, every single coach echoes one sentiment. Their team must avoid injuries. Staying healthy is key.
MCELRATH: EXPLORERS ARE
By Pete Hayes, Sports Editor
Leon McElrath begins his second season as the Marquette Catholic football team. The Explorers open Aug. 26 at CM. - Telegraph file
McElrath said a core group of returning players has emerged in practices. McElrath said Carter Denis (OL/DL), Hamberg (WR/DB), Evan Norwood (RB/ LB) and Cogan (K/P) are the Explorers’ top returning players. He added that a pair of freshmen, safety Jack Rea and quarterback Tony Peebles, have made positive impressions. Marquette will open the season at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 against rival Civic Memorial in Bethalto. In Week 2, the Explorers will play host to Salem on Sept. 2 in the first of three consecutive home games. In Week 3, they will play host to Columbia. On Sept. 16, Breese Mater Dei will visit Public School Stadium. The schedule is challenging, to say the least, according to McElrath. “Every team on our schedule is going to be a tough game,” McElrath said. “Every team on our schedule made the playoffs last year. Every week we will be in a battle.”
‘LOCKED-IN’
For the Marquette Catholic High School Explorers, that goes double - even triple. And it bears repeating: No injuries allowed. “We can’t afford them,” said Marquette head coach Leon McElrath. “We have about 25 kids out for football. Numbers is our biggest challenge and will be a challenge for this season. Every team we play this year is going to at least double us in players.”
Marquette Catholic High will face rival Civic Memorial in its season opener Aug. 26 at Hauser Field in Bethalto. - Telegraph file photo
The players who have turned out have impressed McElrath. “We have been having some good practices,” he said. “The kids seem to be locked in and ready to go.”
The effect of COVID on prep football can still be felt, not just at Marquette, but around the state.“There was football, basketball and baseball all playing back-to-back and overlapping in the spring that year,” Hoener said. “Kids had to make a choice and it affected the smallerenrollment schools especially.”
The Explorers are no strangers to the playoffs. They made the postseason in four of Angleton’s five seasons and have qualified for the playoffs 25 times since 1974. Their high-water playoff mark was a state runnerup finish in Class 3A in 1982 when they went 12-1 under the late Marquette coach and later principal John Rogers. McElrath said solid leadership has emerged during preseason practices, which started Aug. 1. “Leadership is our strength,” he said. “We have two seniors, Max Cogan, and Nate Hamberg, who have really been great leaders for us. They’re very good at keeping the energy up at practice.”
file | For The Tel
Another returnee is senior Jackson Harris, who is back after missing last season. “(Harris) played during the COVID spring, but injured his knee and was not able to play last year,” DeVries said. “Also, Gabe Smith is new to the district and will see time at offensive and defensive line.”
Rearranging those numbers has obviously been a priority during preseason practices, which got started Aug. 1 across Illinois. Those preseason workouts pose a challenge to coaches, DeVries said. “Walking the line between working hard and staying healthy,” he said. “This is always one of the biggest things in preseason. We must work hard to get prepared to play, but we have to prioritize health as well.” Turnout and work ethic have been solid, he“Wesaid.currently have 59 players on the roster,” DeVries said. “Practice is going well. Working through adjustments in all three phases to make us a little more diverse.“Health is the main priority, especially this early in the season.”
Roxana coach Wade DeVries and his Shells will open the 2022 season at home against Robinson Aug. 26 at Chrles Raich Field. Above, he signals for the PAT unit after a Shells touchdown in earlier action against Eureka. - Greg Shashack The Telegraph
Among those experienced player DeVries mentioned are two-time All-Cahokia Conference guard Kaden Bloemker, All-
|
- Jeff
YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE FOR SHELLS IN 2022
Conference running back Evan Wells, fouryear starter Ashton Noble and three-year starters Paxton Osmoe, Rolen Ross, Nik Ward and Chase Allen
ROXANA - Wade DeVries finds himself with a unique situation as his Roxana Shells prepare for their football seasons opener.Plenty of experience on a relatively young team.“We have a lot of returning experience,” DeVries said. “With this being said, we only have eight seniors, but we have nine juniors and two sophomores who started for us last year.” The Shells are coming into the season on the heels of a 2-7 overall record a season ago. In the Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division, they went 0-5.
“Each year is different,” DeVries said. “We play Robinson and Marquette, who we didn’t play last year. I think the teams to beat (for us) are clearly Civic Memorial, Wood River and Marquette. We need to play better, and with more intensity, in rivalry games. The conference is tough. We didn’t win a game last year in the league so it’s hard for me to rank them.”When all is said and done, DeVries said, being successful boils down to two familiar themes:“Staying healthy,” he said, “and increase our level of execution.”
Evan Wells of Roxana (24) picks up yardage last season against East Alton-Wood River at Charles Raich field in Roxana. Helmkamp
The Shells will play host to Robinson on opening night Aug. 26 at Charles Raich field. It will be the Shells program’s first contest against Maroons from Southeastern Illinois. Last year, Roxana opened against Eureka. The Shells feature a challenging schedule against the likes of Civic Memorial, Breese Central, Columbia and backyard rival East Alton-Wood River. Last season’s Roxana victories were over Red Bud and Sparta.
By By Pete Hayes, Sports Editor
Football Section Page 14
The Piasa Birds hope to sustain that momentum in their first post-pandemic season in “Obviously,2022.we have seniors coming back that were a part of that,” Southwestern coach Pat Keith said of seasons finished with a SCC title at 5-1 and postseason trip at 5-5. “They want to maintain that, get back this year and keep the process going.”
Page 15 Football Section
“We’ll miss those guys, but that’s how high school football goes,” Keith said replacing theJacobgraduated.Fisher (5-10, 175) carried the ball 23 times for 90 yards as a junior and ascends to a more prominent role at running back as a senior.
The Birds did manage to win the SCC in the 2020 abbreviated season pushed back to spring, sharing the crown with Carlinville and Pana. It was Southwestern’s first league championship since splitting the SCC’s West Division with Carlinville and Marquette Catholic in 2008. The Birds are not being touted as contenders this fall, but they return the bulk of their offensive line along with the quarterback it protected. Senior Quinten Strohbeck (6-foot, 170 pounds) is back at QB after passing for 573 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions as a junior. “Having him back is definitely beneficial,” Keith said. Day and Funk combined to rush for 15 TDS and more than 1,200 yards last season.
Coach Keith is seeing benefits from the stability coming into his fifth season with the Birds’ varsity roster of 38 including 13 seniors. “The guys are buying into the system,” Keith said. “They know what to expect and they’re familiar with what we’re doing.”
“We’ve got a little bit of speed there, so I’m encouraged with the offensive line right now,” Keith said. “Hopefully, with that experience, we can run the football and maintain drives. The big thing for us, with our inexperienced depth, is to stay healthy all year Watkins,long.”athree-year starter, went down with injury in September of last season and his return at linebacker will provide a boost. “David is solid for us,” Keith said. Stanton moves from the defensive line to join Watkins and Fisher at linebacker. Fisher led the team in tackles last season. Smith returns at nose tackle on the defensive line, where Keith, Jones, White, junior Jeremy Webb (5-11, 270) and sophomore Matthew Ready (6-2, 260) join the rotation. The defensive secondary is flush with experience, with Darr, Robinson, Strohbeck and Newell all returning.
But in a South Central Conference schedule with “never an easy week,” Keith said, the Birds are without much margin for error or injury if they hope to make backto-back postseason appearances for the first time since 1999 brought the last of four successive trips.
“We need to stay healthy and beat a couple that we’re not supposed to beat, that’s a possibility,” Keith said. “It’s week-by-week for us.”
The Birds lost a Class 3A first-round playoff game at Benton 42-0 last year. The first postseason game in 12 years could not bring the program’s first postseason victory from 11 postseason games. The goal is to get back for a 12th playoff game, but the Birds have obstacles to overcome, with leading rushers from the past two seasons Gavin Day and Blake Funk“We’vegraduated.gotexperience in some positions, and maybe lacking a little depth at others,” said Keith, who begins his fifth season in Piasa with a 14-20 record. “The mindset is, get back to the playoffs again and be a team that gets there consistently. Doing that in our conference is pretty tough.”
PIASA - The shortened covid schedule in spring 2021 produced Southwestern football’s first winning season since 2005. The full season in fall 2021 produced Southwestern’s first playoff berth since 2009.
“Jacob Fisher will get carries back there,” Keith said. “Grayson Brewer, a sophomore. Lane Gage. And our quarterback will carry the ball more than he did last year.”
PLAYOFF HOPES ‘WEEK-BY-WEEK’ FOR PIASA BIRDS By Greg Shashack, Sports Writer
Southwestern senior Quinten Strohbeck returns as the Piasa Birds’ starting quarterback in 2022. - Greg Shashack / The Telegraph Southwestern coach Pat Keith (right) talks with assistant Matt Hasquin during a game last season at Knapp Field in Piasa. Keith begins his fifth season as Piasa Birds coach. - Greg Shashack / The Telegraph
Gage (6-0, 165), a senior who ran 12 times for 94 yards last season, and soph Brewer (6-0, 170) join Strohbeck as rushing threats with Fisher. Strohbeck averaged 4.6 yards a carry on 253 rushing yards last season. When Strohbeck throws, he can look to an experienced receiver in senior Collin Robinson (5-10, 150), who had 11 catches for 147 yards and two TDs in 2021. Hunter Newell (6-0, 160, jr.), Rocky Darr (5-10, 155, jr.), Ian Brantley (6-5, 175, soph.) and Owen Gray (5-6, 135, soph.) are other pass catchingSophomoreoptions.Logan Keith (6-3, 210) is back at tight end, with senior Masen Day (5-11, 220) also looking for snaps alongside an offensive line returning six of its top seven blockers.Seniors David Watkins (6-2, 230), Trevor White (6-2, 195), Gage Smith (6-2, 215), Austin Stanton (5-11, 190) and Ben Thompson (5-10, 220) and junior Sam Jones (6-3, 285). Sophomore Mason Cougill (5-10, 260) and junior Lukas Anderson (6-0, 145) back up the O-line.
