SVM-SS3

Sauk Valley Media • Football Guide 2016 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Making Fridays Great Again SAUK VALLEY MEDIA TACKLES THE ISSUES FACING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Complete resource guide: Team rosters, schedules • Player diaries • 2016 predictions • Preseason All-Area • Much, much more in this 56-page SVM special section!

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Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Making Fridays Great Again | Table of Contents What’s Where

Sauk Valley Media • Football Guide 2016 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Player essays

Conference previews

This and that

Sterling’s Trevor King......................... 5 Dixon’s Noah Wilcox.......................... 7 Rock Falls’ Isaiah Harris...................... 8 Newman’s Eli Leffelman...................... 11 Erie-Prophetstown’s Ryne Jaquet....... 11

Northern Illinois Big 12 West............... 4 Big Northern....................................... 6 Three Rivers Rock.............................. 9 Three Rivers Mississippi..................... 10 NUIC Northwest................................. 12 NUIC Upstate..................................... 13

Ty Reynolds column......................

3 Preseason All-Area........................ 14-15 Presidential Players....................... 28-29 2015 Stat Leaders.........................

48 SVM Wall of Fame.......................... 49 Taking a stance.............................. 50 SVM Predictions............................. 51 Games of the week........................ 52-53 Week-by-week area schedule.......... 54 Illinois state champions................... 55

Tackling the issues

Playoff expansion........................... 16-17 Debate: Spread vs. Wing-T................. 18 Conference vs. Districts.................. 22-23 Debate: Offense vs. Defense............... 24 SVM’s Favorite Rivalries...................... 33 Public vs. Private............................... 34-35 SVM’s Favorite Games....................... 39 Safety concerns............................. 40-41 SVM’s Favorite Fields.......................... 45 How much football is too much?.... 46-47

Team capsule pages

Amboy............................................... 19 Ashton-Franklin Center...................... 20 Bureau Valley..................................... 21 Dixon................................................. 25 Eastland-Pearl City............................. 26 Erie-Prophetstown............................. 27 Fulton................................................. 30 Milledgeville........................................ 31 Morrison............................................. 32 Newman............................................ 36 Oregon............................................... 37 Polo................................................... 38 Rock Falls.......................................... 42 Sterling.............................................. 43 West Carroll....................................... 44

Making Fridays Great Again SAUK VALLEY MEDIA TACKLES THE ISSUES FACING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Complete resource guide: Team rosters, schedules • Player diaries • 2016 predictions • Preseason All-Area • Much, much more in this 56-page SVM special section!

Section Credits

SVM Honors > Sauk Valley Media’s Football Guide has won Top 10 awards in eight of the Associated Press Sports Editors’ last nine national competitions.

Best Special Section, under 40,000 circulation 2007 • 2008 • 2009 Best Special Section, under 30,000 circulation 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014

Editor, Designer Ty Reynolds

Reporters

Cody Cutter Patrick Mason

Eric Ingles Brian Weidman

Photography

Alex T. Paschal Philip Marruffo Michael Krabbenhoeft Craig Lang

Cover design Alex T. Paschal

CGH SPORTS MEDICINE 1-888-721-BUMP (2867) Treating sports injuries, strains, sprains, overuse injuries, and sports concussion Orthopedic Surgeon Shawn P. Hanlon, M.D., F.A.A.O.S

Orthopedic Surgeon Jeffrey R. Thormeyer, MD, MA

Physician Assistant Josh Wade, PA-C, M.S.

Sports Physical Therapist Geoff Wright, PT, DPT, SCS

1809 N. Locust Street, Sterling, IL 61081 www.cghmc.com

Monday Mornings • 9 - 11:30 am (walk-ins welcome, appointment preferred)

Weekdays by appointment

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

FB16 GUIDE

COMMENTARY

The coverage you can trust

I

’m the first one to admit that politics really aren’t my thing.

I don’t really like watching them, and I hate playing them.

But I understand it’s an important and a vital part of what makes America great.

My maternal grandfather was a political science professor at the University of Iowa for nearly 40 years, though we never really talked shop when we were together. Granted, he suffered from Alzheimers later in his life, long before I was old enough to appreciate what he did.

I just know that he was about as level-headed a person as I ever met, and I can’t imagine what he’d be saying about this year’s election.

It has been by far the weirdest of my life, and I’m betting that people even older than my 39 years would agree. From one day to the next, you never know what’s going to come next, and it always seems to be either jaw-dropping or headscratching – or sometimes both.

I expect this football season to be much the same (hey, check out that segue!). There were an awful lot of talented and impressive seniors last year – maybe not more than usual, but it really felt that way. Going into last season, I had a really good feel of what to expect from most of the teams in the Sauk Valley.

But this year, I’ll admit I don’t have a clue. I think the usual suspects (Sterling, Newman) will be back at the top, but I also think there may be some new area faces who will playing beyond Week 9 and into the postseason.

big shoes to fill for area football teams. I have the same issue here at the Sports paper. And indoctrinating editor. He can a new member of our be reached at treynolds@ team for his first football saukvalley. season – in this case, com or 815assistant sports editor 625-3600, Eric Ingles – is always a ext. 5554. bit hectic and agitating at the beginning.

But fear not: we will still bring you wall-to-wall Hence the theme of this coverage of football each tab. I have to give the req- week, from previews uisite shout-out to former in Thursday & Friday editions to the weekly colleague and boss Dan Woessner for the idea; he Saturday edition special section that puts Friday might not admit it very often, but I think he miss- night’s action into your es us terribly, and he was hands.

No matter how wild or more than happy to let wacky this election gets in me buy him lunch while the next several months, we discussed things late you can count on us to last month. deliver some great footAnd I was more than ball coverage. happy to do the buying, Need a break from all as this is my first gothe attack ads and eyeround and I’ve been rolling moments from the nervously anticipating campaign trail? Escape this preview section ever with us as we delve into since summer started.

I’ve worked on plenty of the issues on the gridiron leading into this season. these things in my previNeed to immerse yourous 16 seasons here, so self in something that I definitely knew what makes sense in what to expect. But to be the seems to be a more nonguy getting pages ready sensical time by the day? and then pushing them Pick up this section for through is an entirely a bit of comfort readdifferent experience ing about your favorite altogether. teams.

(Everybody chorus: It’s Yes, reader, you can rely an entirely different on us to provide you with experience.) everything you need to be The best thing I could an informed, entertained have done was rely on and excited football fan my excellent team to this fall. We’ll never make make me look good, and outrageous claims that to make things the least amount of nerve-racking can’t be substantiated, or vague threats against our as possible. The feature opponents, or ridiculous stories these guys have promises that we have no put together, the ideas they have helped become chance of keeping.

What we will do is be reality, makes me one proud editor to have been there every week, keeping you in the know of what able to be a part of it. our local teams are doing.

As always, this fall will I’m Ty Reynolds, and I be one of adjustment. approved this message.

New players will have

tyREYNOLDS

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Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Northern Illinois Big 12 West Geneseo Maple Leafs

2016 enrollment: 827 Class: 4A/5A Coach: Larry Johnsen Jr. (109-31, 13th year) 2015: 10-2 (3-1, 2nd) Playoff record: 76-35 (1st in 1976, ’77, ’78, ’82) Returning allconference: Sam Thomas, sr. OL; Charlie Wiese, sr. OL FYI: Leafs have made 19 playoff trips in the past 20 years, and have made it to the postseason in 39 of the past 42 years.

2016 SVM prediction Sterling Geneseo Rochelle LaSalle-Peru Ottawa

•

•

Sterling LaSallePeru

Geneseo

•

•

Ottawa

LaSalle-Peru Cavaliers

2016 enrollment: 1,219 Class: 5A Coach: Jose Medina (3-6, 2nd year) 2015: 3-6 (1-3, tied for 3rd) Playoff record: 14-11 (2nd in 1977, ’78, ’79) Returning allconference: Max Uranich, sr. WR; Kennedy Carey, sr.

QB; Lucas Salazar, sr. DB FYI: Cavs haven’t made the playoffs since 2009, and have only 2 appearances in last 11 years.

Ottawa Pirates

2016 enrollment: 1,427 Class: 6A Coach: Trent Swords (5047, 11th year) 2015: 4-5 (1-3, tied for 3rd) Playoff record: 8-12 (quarterfinals 1995, 2012) Returning all-conference: Adam Poundstone, sr. RB FYI: Pirates have had three straight losing seasons for the first time since 2003-05.

Rochelle Hubs

2016 enrollment: 931 Class: 5A Coach: Kevin Crandall (146-87, 23rd year) 2015: 3-6 (1-3, tied for 3rd) Playoff record: 20-20 (semifinals in 1998, ’02) Returning all-conference: Christian Burciaga, sr. OL; Chris Clark, sr. Special Teamer FYI: Crandall has just 6 losing seasons since becoming coach in 1994 – including the last 2.

all 9-0 7-2 5-4 4-5 3-6

Game of the Week

Rochelle

•

conf.

4-0 3-1 2-2 1-3 0-4

Sterling Golden Warriors

2016 enrollment: 1,051 Class: 5A Coach: Jon Schlemmer (26-15, 5th year) 2015: 8-3 (4-0, 1st) Playoff record: 18-28 (quarterfinals in 1991, ’94, ’95, ’99, 2006) Returning allconference: Turner Morse, sr. WR; Andrew Spaulding, sr. RB; Tony Diaz, sr. K; Treay Martin, sr. DL; Tyson Hall, sr. LB FYI: Return 9 of 11 starters on ‘D’.

Friday, Aug. 26 • Sycamore at Sterling Friday, Sept. 2 • Galesburg at LaSallePeru Friday, Sept. 9 • Cahokia at Geneseo Friday, Sept. 16 • Morris at Rochelle Friday, Sept. 23 • Sterling at Geneseo Friday, Sept. 30 • Ottawa at LaSallePeru Friday, Oct. 7 • Sterling at Rochelle Friday, Oct. 14 • Kaneland at Geneseo Friday, Oct. 21 • Geneseo at Morris

2015 standings

conf. all Sterling 4-0 8-3 Geneseo 3-1 10-2 Ottawa 1-3 4-5 Rochelle 1-3 3-6 LaSalle-Peru 1-3 3-6

Playoff results First round • 5A, Sterling 44, Metamora 12 • 4A, Geneseo 42, Wheaton Academy 7 Second round • 5A, Washington 12, Sterling 7 • 4A, Geneseo 35, Manteno 7 Quarterfinals • 4A, Chicago Phillips 24, Geneseo 7

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

FB16 GUIDE

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WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THIS GOLDEN WARRIOR... BY TREVOR KING, STERLING SENIOR

Learning leadership through the years W

hen thinking about leaders, a quote that came to mind is from Vince Lombardi: “Leaders aren’t born, they are made.

They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal which is worthwhile.”

From an early age, I have been engulfed by the traditions and leaders of the Sterling Golden Warriors football program. I have witnessed the greats that have come through from year to year and how that tradition has forged the players of today and the future.

When I was 6 years old, I started helping out the team as my father, Greg King, was the head coach at the time. From Day 1, they treated me as if I were any other player and would always look after me. The one thing that stuck out most was how hard they were willing to work and compete with one another for the success of the program.

I still remember people like Sean Bright, Graham Hall and Joe Schneiderbauer and how hard they worked and the way they treated each other.

They were brothers who could not be separated and worked together to overcome any obstacle, whether it be a practice or the sold-out game versus Geneseo. There was nothing they couldn’t accomplish together. I still remember at the end-of-the-year football banquet, Sean Bright handed me his old junior tackle jersey, which I still have to this day.

As I got older and started to learn more about the game of football, I noticed a lot of the same qualities as I saw growing up. I saw people work for the betterment of the team. Today, on OUR team, we have some of the same common goals as did all past Golden Warrior football players: we strive to be the best on and off the field, be a great student and a role model, and to do the right thing when no one is looking – the same as many of the players I grew up admiring.

Not everyone can block someone like Tyler Loos could, nor can they run and tackle like Alejandro Rivera does. But Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com it’s our turn to make our mark on this Sterling senior Trevor King learned all about leadership while growing up around the Golden Warrior program, thanks to his program for future members of the Golden Warrior Football Brotherhood. father, Greg King, Sterling’s former head coach.

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Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Big Northern Byron Tigers

Enrollment: 481 Class: 3A Coach: Jeff Boyer (26-18, 4th year) 2015: 9-3 (6-1, 2nd) Playoff record: 30-21 (1st in 1999) Returning allconference: Justin Martinez, sr. RB/LB FYI: Made playoffs 14 straight years from 1993-2006.

Dixon Dukes

Enrollment: 803 Class: 4A Coach: Dave Smith (18-29, 6th year) 2015: 6-4 (4-3, tied for 3rd) Playoff record: 4-7 (quarterfinals in 2006) Returning all-conference: Collin Newman, sr.

OL; Andrew Wolber, sr. LB

Rock Falls Rockets

Enrollment: 641 Class: 4A Coach: Rich Montgomery (2nd year; 13-43 total) 2015: 0-9 (0-7, 8th) Playoff record: 1-2 (win in 1992) Returning allconference: Isaiah Harris, sr. RB FYI: Have 5-49 record since 2009.

2016 SVM Prediction

• North Boone

• Winnebago • Rockford Lutheran Rockford Christian • • Byron • Genoa-Kingston Stillman • Oregon Valley

Conf. All

Rkfd. Lutheran Stillman Valley Byron Genoa-Kingston Dixon Winnebago Oregon North Boone Mendota Rock Falls Rkfd. Christian

•

• Dixon Rock Falls Genoa-Kingston Cogs

Enrollment: 591 Class: 3A/4A Coach: Bill McCarty (5-5, 2nd year) 2015: 5-5 (4-3, 4th) Playoff record: 15-14 (1st in 1977) Returning allconference: Trey McCarty, sr. WR; Luke Miller, sr. DL; Klint Wewetzer, sr. LB; Zach Butler, sr. DB

Enrollment: 569 Class: 3A/4A Coach: Brock Sondgeroth (12-25, 5th year) 2015: 1-8 (1-6, 7th)

Playoff record: 14-16 (quarters in 1987) Returning allconference: Ben Bokus, jr. WR; Jonathan Quintana, sr. OL; Collin Anderson, sr. LB

Oregon Hawks

Enrollment: 443 Class: 3A Coach: John Bothe (110-78, 19th year) 2015: 3-6 (2-5, 6th) Playoff record: 15-14 (2nd in 2000) Returning allconference: None FYI: Have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years just once under Bothe (2003-05).

Rkfd. Lutheran Rkfd. Christian Stillman Valley Crusaders Royal Lions Cardinals Enrollment: 638.55 Class: 4A Coach: Bruce Bazsali (45-21, 7th year) 2015: 11-1 (7-0, 1st) Playoff record: 9-9 (semis in 2013) Returning allconference: Payton Womack, sr. QB; Jon Anderson, sr. LB; Nick Brigham, sr. DB; Tyler Baird, sr. DB

Enrollment: 443 Class: 3A Coach: Brett Frederick (0-18, 3rd year) 2015: 0-9 (0-7, 8th) Playoff record: 0-7 Returning allconference: None FYI: Have a 1-35 record since 2011, including 0-27 the last 3 years.

Enrollment: 587 Class: 3A Coach: Mike Lalor (165-47, 19th year) 2015: 4-5 (4-3, tied for 3rd) Playoff record: 49-20 (1st in 1999, 2000, ’03, ’09, ’13) Returning allconference: None FYI: Missed playoffs 3 times under Lalor.

8-0 7-2 7-2 6-3 6-3 4-5 4-5 3-6 2-7 1-8 0-9

Game of the Week

• Mendota

Mendota Trojans

9-0 7-1 6-2 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-6 2-6 1-7 0-8

North Boone Vikings

Enrollment: 522 Class: 3A Coach: Aaron Sullivan (39-53, 11th year) 2015: 4-5 (3-4, 5th) Playoff record: 13-16 (2nd in 1992) Returning allconference: None FYI: Have been to playoffs twice in the last 10 years.

Winnebago Indians

Enrollment: 438 Class: 3A Coach: Mark Helm (57-38, 10th year)

2015: 5-5 (4-3, t-3rd) Playoffs: 9-13 (quarters in 2011, ’12, ’13)

Returning allconference: Austin Leitzinger, sr. RB; Hayden March, sr.

DL; Jace Warkentien, sr. LB; Jess Smith, sr.

QB/DB

Friday, Aug. 26 • G-K at Lutheran Friday, Sept. 2 • Dixon at Oregon Friday, Sept. 9 • Byron at Stillman Friday, Sept. 16 • Rock Falls at Oregon Friday, Sept. 23 • Woodstock at Dixon Friday, Sept. 30 • Oregon at Byron Friday, Oct. 7 • Harvard at N. Boone Friday, Oct. 14 • Dixon at Rock Falls Friday, Oct. 21 • Winnebago at Byron

2015 Standings

Conf. All

Lutheran Byron Dixon Winnebago Stillman Valley Oregon Mendota Rock Falls

7-0 6-1 4-3 4-3 4-3 2-5 1-6 0-7

11-1 9-3 6-4 5-5 4-5 3-6 1-8 0-9

Playoff Results First round

• 4A, Lutheran 49, Dixon 7 • 3A, Byron 42, Lisle 7 • 3A, IC Catholic 45, Winnebago 7

Second round

• 4A, Lutheran 31, Richmond-Burton 7 • 3A, Byron 42, Wilmington 35

Quarterfinals

• 4A, Marengo 38, Lutheran

28 • 3A, Bishop McNamara 53, Byron 32

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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FB16 GUIDE

WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THIS DUKE... BY NOAH WILCOX, DIXON JUNIOR

Leadership defined by so many things I

f you look up the word leadership in the dictionary you will find that it means, “The action of leading a group of people or an organization.”

To me, the word leadership means a lot of things, such as doing extra work to help your team win, and being one of the first ones to practice and one of the last ones to leave. It means being a guy that anyone and everyone on the team can go to when the going gets tough.

A leader is also someone who keeps a positive attitude when things aren’t going right, and most importantly, a leader is someone you can trust.

To begin with, one of the qualities that I think of when I hear the word leadership would have to be the amount of extra work you are putting in to help your team win. That is a big quality to me, because I believe that hard work really does pay off, and if you are just doing the average amount of work, you’ll probably get average results.

I also believe that a leader has to be someone you can trust.

One of the great things about my teammates is that I can trust every one of them.

One last quality I think of when I hear leadership is constant positivity. A leader is someone that the team looks up to, and if the leader isn’t positive, then most likely the team won’t be positive. These are a few qualities that I think of when I hear the word leadership.

Football and basketball are two sports that have taught me so much on what a leader is and how to be one. During my first 2 years of sports at DHS, I’ve had the privilege of playing with some excellent leaders who I have learned from.

This is the guy on the basketball court that I look to when the fans are too loud, making it impossible to hear my coach.

It’s also my football teammate who urges me to stay in the weight room when I’m tired

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Dixon senior Noah Wilcox defines leadership by being a player his teammates can count on through thick and thin, and be a positive influence in practice, on the sideline, and in the huddle. and sore. I have learned many leadership skills from these guys that I plan to pass on to future athletes.

Next, I think of my teammates and coaches when I hear the

word leadership. They are the ones that have really shaped me into the leader and person that I am. They have taught me how to be positive and patient no matter what we are going

through as a team.

I believe I have the best teammates and coaches in the world. Without these guys, I wouldn’t be half the leader I am.

Finally, I believe that good leadership skills are essential life traits that are not only important now in the classroom and on the field, but also in the future.

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FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THIS ROCKET... BY ISAIAH HARRIS, ROCK FALLS SENIOR

This vocal leader also sets strong example T

he main reason why I enjoy having a leadership position is because, as a leader, I am under pressure to perform every day. That pressure forces me to work harder because I do not want to let my teammates down. Your teammates watch your every move, and when they see you working as hard as you can 24-7, pushing yourself, it makes them do the same.

If the team leader works as hard as he or she can, it will make the entire team better because teammates will pick up on this attitude and do the same: pushing to work their best every day during every workout, drill, and practice.

Many players get better, and the whole team is now a step ahead of where they were before because of the example the leader set.

In my 3 years as a high school athlete, I have witnessed and been a part of teams with poor leadership. I can tell you from personal experience that nothing tears a team apart more than poor leadership. Using these experiences as a guiding tool, I can do a better job of becoming a better leader myself, which will help my team become more successful now, and hopefully build a strong foundation for the future.

Others can count on me to be a responsible leader because, as a senior, I have both seen and experienced both good and bad leadership. From those experiences, I have learned from my own and other people’s mistakes and grown into not a perfect leader, but a smarter leader who can lead with more confidence because I have a better grasp of what to do and what not to do.

As a leader, one thing I’ve picked up on is that when you try to teach someone, you have to see what teaching methods he or she reacts to better.

Whether they respond well to hard criticism, just a little chat

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Rock Falls senior Isaiah Harris has learned a lot about what it takes to be a good leader from his first 3 years with the Rockets. He also learned to be a more effective leader by attending the Boys State leadership camp last spring. to the side, or a mixture of both, everyone does not react the same way. If you take the time to understand a person, he or she will appreciate the effort and you will gain his or her respect.

To me, there are two kinds of leaders: verbal leaders or those who lead by example. I consider myself to be a combination of the two, because I will open my mouth and say something if I

think it is absolutely necessary, but if a teammate will not listen, I will show them so that maybe they will listen the next time and understand the reason he was being talked to in the first place.

I have been a part of and seen bad leadership, and nothing is more frustrating than a leader who can’t do anything but yell all the time and will not lead by example, or a person who sets a

good example but never speaks up so they go unnoticed and get walked over.

Another reason why others can count on me to be a responsible leader is that, toward the end of my junior year, I went to a leadership camp called Boys State. Every kid who was at the camp was considered leaders within their community, and we came from

all over Illinois. To be given the chance to go and be a part of an event like Boys State was an amazing experience, and to be one of the select few boys in the school to go is a privilege that I am grateful for.

Looking back, I believe wholeheartedly that I have what it takes to be an effective leader, not only on the football field, but off it as well.

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 9

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Three Rivers Rock Fulton• Riverdale • Rockridge •

•

Orion

Bureau Valley Storm

2016 SVM Prediction

Morrison

•

Conf.

4-1 4-1 3-2 Bureau Valley 3-2 Morrison 1-4 Riverdale 0-5 Orion Rockridge Fulton

Game of the Week

•

Bureau Valley Fulton Steamers

Morrison Mustangs

Enrollment: 301 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Spencer Davis (9-9, 3rd year) 2015: 5-4 (3-3, tied for 4th) Playoff record: 17-8 (1st in 2005) Returning all-conference: Drake Davis, jr. QB; Bryan Herr, jr. WR; Hunter Schoff, sr. DB; FYI: Will Konneck was the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Storm since Michael Weidner in 2009.

BV has missed the playoffs every year since 2010, which capped a string of 9 trips in 10 seasons.

Enrollment: 309 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Patrick Lower (37-46, 10th year) 2015: 4-5 (4-2, 3rd) Playoff record: 20-15 (1st in 1976, ’91) Returning all-conference: Kyle McLuckie, sr. OL; Ty Paulline, sr.

DB; Seth Sikkema, jr. OL FYI: Have made it to the playoffs 3 times in the last 12 years, after 8 straight trips from 1996-2003, but bring back 3 of top 5 rushers, and their top passer from last year.

Enrollment: 299 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Cory Bielema (57-32, 9th year) 2015: 3-6 (3-3, tied for 4th) Playoff record: 29-22 (1st in 2009, ’11) Returning all-conference: Thomas Ottens, sr. OL; Ben Vanderlaan, sr. OL FYI: Mustangs have a 6-21 record the past 3 years, after 9 straight seasons of playoff berths. Morrison won at least 1 playoff game every season from 2005-2011.

Orion Chargers

Riverdale Rams

Rockridge Rockets

Enrollment: 336 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Chip Filler (49-26, 8th year) 2015: 10-2 (5-1, tied for 1st) Playoff record: 15-14 (semifinals in 2007) Returning all-conference: Mitchel Blackert, sr. DB; Wilson Ferry, sr. OL/DL; Austin Hutcherson, sr.

LB/P; Craig Matson, sr. QB; Tavian Moniski, sr. LB; Drake Schultz, sr.

RB/DB; Koby Stropes, sr. DL; Devin Taets, sr. OL/DL

Enrollment: 302 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Guy Dierikx (0-0, 1st year) 2015: 0-9 (0-6, 7th) Playoff record: 2-4 (wins in 2000, ’01) Returning all-conference: None FYI: Rams’ losing streak has reached 27 games; their last win was in Week 9 of the 2013 season.

Riverdale has just 1 winning season in the last 14 years, going 6-4 in 2011; it also finished 5-5 in 2009.

All 8-1 8-1 7-2 6-3 4-5 0-9

Enrollment: 354 Class: 2A Coach: Sam Graves (27-7, 4th year) 2015: 7-4 (5-1, tied for 1st) Playoff record: 21-17 (1st in 1994) Returning all-conference: Michael Griffin, jr. QB/LB; Nathan Parchert, jr. RB; Collin Schmidt, jr.

OL/DL FYI: Rockets have made it to the playoffs in each of the last 6 years, after going once in 8 years prior.

Saturday, Aug. 27 • Rockridge at Newman Friday, Sept. 2 • Hall at Rockridge Friday, Sept. 9 • Orion at Fulton Friday, Sept. 16 • Orion at Bureau Valley Friday, Sept. 23 • Orion at Rockridge Friday, Sept. 30 • Morrison at Fulton Friday, Oct. 7 • BV at Fulton Friday, Oct. 14 • Fulton at Rockridge Friday, Oct. 21 • Morrison at BV

2015 Standings

Conf. All 5-1 10-2 5-1 7-4 4-2 4-5 Bureau Valley 3-3 4-5 Morrison 3-3 3-6 Amboy 1-5 2-7 Riverdale 0-6 0-9 Orion Rockridge Fulton

Playoff Results First round •2A, Rockridge 42, Rushville-Industry 21 •1A, Orion 62, Chicago Douglass 6 Second round • 2A, Tri-Valley 41, Rockridge 7 • 1A, Orion 14, Lena-Winslow 7 Quarterfinals • 1A, Ott. Marquette 17, Orion 14

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Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Three Rivers Mississippi 2016 SVM Prediction

•

Newman Erie- • • Prophetstown Princeton St. Bede • Sherrard • • Hall • • Kewanee Erie-Prophetstown Panthers

Enrollment: 491 Class: 3A Coach: Chuck Milem (31-45, 9th year) 2015: 4-5 (2-5, 5th) Playoff record: 1-4 (win in 2013) Returning allconference: None FYI: Erie had no playoff trips before co-op began in 2001, while Prophetstown went 5 times in 6 years from 1984-1989.

Princeton Tigers

Hall Red Devils

Enrollment: 394 Class: 2A/3A Coach: Randy Tieman (25-18, 4th year) 2015: 9-3 (4-2, 3rd) Playoff record: 43-22 (1st in 1995, 2001) Returning allconference: None FYI: The Red Devils went to the playoffs 20 times in the last 22 years under Gary Vicini, who coached at Hall from 1984-2008.

Enrollment: 552 Class: 3A Coach: Jesse Snyder (14-25, 5th year) 2015: 11-1 (6-0, 1st) Playoff record: 13-9 (2nd in 1989) Returning all-conference: Jacob Fitzpatrick, sr. OL; Noah Jildera, sr. DL FYI: Last year’s conference championship was the first for the Tigers since 2002, when they were in the NCIC Southwest.

Kewanee Boilermakers

Enrollment: 536 Class: 3A Coach: Tyler Nichols (9-19, 4th year) 2015: 3-6 (1-5, 6th) Playoff record: 4-8 (quarterfinals in 1999) Returning allconference: None FYI: The Boilers have 8 postseason appearances since the playoffs began, and have won just 4 games in those trips.

St. Bede Bruins

Enrollment: 320 Class: 3A Coach: Jim Eustice (4-5, 2nd year; 17-37 overall) 2015: 4-5 (3-3, 4th) Playoff record: 7-15 (semifinals in 2001) Returning all-conference: Joe Acosta, sr. OL/LB; Brady Booker, sr. LB; Josh Sapp, sr. DB; Braidy Shipp, sr. WR/DB FYI: Last year was 1st time Bruins missed playoffs since 2009.

St. Bede Newman Hall Erie-P’town Princeton Kewanee Sherrard

Conf.

6-0 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 0-6

All 8-1 6-3 5-4 4-5 3-6 2-7 0-9

Game of the Week

Newman Comets

Enrollment: 376.20 Class: 2A/3A Coach: Mike Papoccia (306-94, 37th year) 2015: 9-2 (5-1, 2nd) Playoff record: 58-22 (1st in 1990, ’94, 2004, ’10, ’13) Returning allconference: Eli Leffelman, sr. DB; Jacob Neisewander, sr. OL; Aaron Scroggins, sr. LB FYI: Have won at least 1 playoff game in 22 of 26 trips under Papoccia.

Sherrard Tigers

Enrollment: 479 Class: 3A Coach: Brian Adams (2-16, 3rd year) 2015: 0-9 (0-6, 7th) Playoff record: 12-15 (semifinals in 1974) Returning all-conference: Cordell Lenz, sr. OL/DL; Billy McAtee, sr. RB FYI: The Tigers haven’t been to the playoffs since 2009, and that is their only trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.

Saturday, Aug. 27 • Rockridge at Newman Friday, Sept. 2 • Hall at Rockridge Friday, Sept. 9 • Hall at St. Bede Friday, Sept. 16 • Hall at Princeton Friday, Sept. 23 • Newman at Erie-P’town Friday, Sept. 30 • St. Bede at Erie-P’town Saturday, Oct. 8 • Princeton at St. Bede Friday, Oct. 14 • Hall at Newman & Orion at St. Bede Friday, Oct. 21 • St. Bede at Newman

2015 Standings Princeton Newman Hall St. Bede Erie-P’town Kewanee Sherrard

Conf. All 6-0 11-1 5-1 9-2 4-2 9-3 3-3 4-5 2-4 4-5 1-5 3-6 0-6 0-9

Playoff Results First round • 3A, Newman 51, Farmington 6 • 3A, Princeton 41, Mid-County 7 • 2A, Hall 34, Monmouth United 0 Second round • 3A, Bishop McNamara 34, Newman 14 • 3A, Princeton 43, Chicago Raby 8 • 2A, Hall 43, Bismarck-Henning 25 Quarterfinals • 3A, IC Catholic 37, Princeton 12 • 2A, Annawan-Wethersfield 30, Hall 21

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 11

FB16 GUIDE

WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THIS COMET...

BY ELI LEFFELMAN, NEWMAN SENIOR

WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THIS PANTHER...

BY RYNE JAQUET, ERIE-PROPHETSTOWN SENIOR

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Erie-Prophetstown senior Ryne Jaquet knows being a good leader often means sacrificing your own time for the team, as well as being humble and positive.

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Newman senior Eli Leffelman has been a part of some very strong teams in his time as a Comet, and is ready to step into a leaderhip role in his final year.

Hard work, positive vibes are key

B

eing a good leader entails leading vocally, as well as setting a positive example.

To lead by example, you always have to work hard.

This hard work starts in the weight room during the offseason. You always have to go into lifting with the mentality that you are going to get stronger every single day. If your teammates see you working hard in the weight room, they will work hard in the weight room too.

Part of being a leader is setting a standard of excellence. As soon as you don’t meet the standard, you set the new standard. This carries over to the football field.

You have to go 100 percent in everything you do at practice.

As a leader, everyone looks at you; if they see that you slacked off, they might slack off too. A

good leader is not a parttime leader. A leader is a person of character and a person who lives with integrity. This means that you cannot just lead on the field, you must lead all the time. This means making smart choices off the field and doing the best you can in school, while encouraging all of your teammates to do the same.

As well as leading by example, leading vocally is a very important aspect to leadership. Words are powerful, and they can change many things. If you can get your team to buy into what they are doing, then the team is going to be in a good position to be successful.

One of the most important aspects of leading vocally is trying to be positive as much as you can be. In other words, always try to encourage

people to do things the right way rather than discouraging them from doing it the wrong way.

It is much more effective to say something like, “Good effort, but try to remember to stay low when you block,” instead of saying, “What are you doing? Don’t be so high when you block!” in a negative tone.

Leading vocally also means that when your teammate does something right, you have to be the first one there congratulating them and telling them they did a good job.

Overall, football is one of the best sports ever to be invented, because it has given many lessons that you can take with you throughout your entire life, and leadership is one of those valuable lessons that football can give you.

Leader is humble, always ready

W

hat makes a leader? It takes some great characteristics to be a strong leader on a football team on and off the field. A strong leader is someone who is willing to make great sacrifices to benefit the team, even if it means missing a fun activity you were looking forward to because you have workouts, practices, or games that come first.

Those sacrifices you make will show not only the coaches, but the players, that you are there for the team, and want success as bad as the rest of them.

That being said, not just being in attendance, but being on time and being impeccable and motivated is key, too. If a captain just “isn’t feeling it”, then the team may feel a little in the dark. A captain is someone who can be counted on to lead a team into battle on Friday night. Someone who won’t just run

out onto the field with everyone, but be at the front of the pack and full of enthusiasm the whole way through.

To digress, if a captain just isn’t feeling it that night, he’s more than likely not going to have his head on straight.

That can be detrimental to a team, and kill their chances of success. A leader is expected to be fully confident and able to go whenever he is called to action. Your confidence in yourself can greatly affect your teammates’ and coaches’ confidence in you.

The team needs leaders who are confident in what they do, and not going to hesitate at what they do when they get into action. Through my years of high school football, I have taken note and seen all these characteristics be put on display by some great players.

I’d say the person I learned the most about

being a leader from is Dylan Binion. He taught me through the way he conducted himself on the field and in the weight room what it means to be a true leader. Being humble is one of the biggest keys that I have learned from Dylan to being an excellent leader.

They need to know that they can perform well, but never flaunt their abilities and accomplishments, just use their abilities and knowledge to help others be successful and to not degrade them.

I feel that my teammates should be able to depend on me as a leader because I will always be there when I need to be, and be there to pick them back up if they ever get knocked down. I won’t hesitate to sacrifice my time, not only to get myself better, but to help make my teammates better. I will perform my duties and do the things I am held accountable for on and off the field.

PAGE 12

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Northwest Upstate Illini Northwest Amboy Clippers

Enrollment: 303 Class: 1A/2A Coach: Gary Jones (123101, 23rd year) 2015: 2-7 (1-5, 6th in TRAC Rock) Playoff record: 26-18 (1st in 1984) Returning allconference: None FYI: 1st year in league after moving from TRAC.

Dakota Indians

Enrollment: 255 Class: 1A Coach: Joseph Free (0-0, 1st year) 2015: 7-3 (6-2, tied for 2nd) Playoff record: 24-18 (1st in 2005, ’07, ’11) Returning all-conference: Matt Holste, sr. DB; Andrew Wenger, sr. LB

FYI: Passed 300-win mark as a program last season (304).

Galena Pirates

Enrollment: 228 Class: 1A Coach: Ed Freed (94-37, 13th year) 2015: 7-3 (6-2, tied for 2nd) Playoff record: 49-26 (1st in 1997, 2003, ’07) Returning allconference: Dalton Bauer, sr. RB; Adrian Jimenez, sr. K; Brandon Sinagra, sr. DL

East• Dubuque

•

Galena

lenawinslow •

2016 SVM Prediction

• Dakota •

Lena-Winslow Amboy Galena Dakota West Carroll Forreston Eastland-P.C. E. Dubuque Pecatonica

• Pecatonica • West• Eastland• Forreston Carroll Pearl City

Conf. All 8-0 7-1 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8

9-0 8-1 7-2 6-3 5-4 4-5 2-7 2-7 0-9

Game of the Week Friday, Aug. 26

• Amboy at Galena

Amboy

Friday, Sept. 2

•

East Dubuque Warriors

Enrollment: 203 Class: 1A Coach: Terry Breitbach (60-40, 11th year) 2015: 3-6 (2-6, tied for 6th) Playoff record: 7-7 (semifinals in 2000) Returning allconference: None FYI: Have 7 trips to playoffs since 1976, with 5 coming from 2009-13.

Lena-Winslow Panthers

Enrollment: 227 Class: 1A Coach: Ric Arand (169-59, 21st year) 2015: 10-1 (8-0, 1st) Playoff record: 28-20 (1st in 2010, ’13) Returning allconference: Jake Diddens, sr. OL; Tanner Lawfer, sr. QB/DB; Payden Lingle, sr. RB/LB

Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz

Enrollment: 326 Class: 2A Coach: Randy Asche (71-26, 10th year) 2015: 2-7 (2-6, tied for 6th) Playoff record: 12-10 (1st in 2014) Returning allconference: Brighton Haverland, sr. TE/LB

FYI: Last year’s losing season was 1st since 2005.

Pecatonica Indians

Enrollment: 256 Class: 1A Coach: Eric Bergin (3-16, 3rd year) 2015: 2-7 (2-6, tied for 6th) Playoff record: 2-4 (wins in 2000, ’01) Returning allconference: Nate Koch, sr. DL; Garrett Mellentine, sr. LB FYI: Haven’t been to playoffs since 2005.

• W.Carroll at Eastland-PC

Forreston Cardinals

Enrollment: 261 Class: 1A Coach: Dennis Diduch (62-25, 9th year) 2015: 8-3 (6-2, tied for 2nd) Playoff record: 19-20 (1st in 2014) Returning allconference: AJ Christensen, jr. Ath./DB; Noah Gipe, sr. LB FYI: Have 16 playoff trips in last 19 seasons.

West Carroll Thunder

Enrollment: 324 Class: 2A Coach: Matthew Leitzen (2nd year, 5-5) 2015: 5-5 (4-4, 5th) Playoff record: 1-4 (win in 2007) Returning allconference: Josh Anderson, sr. OL; Logan Barker, sr. P; Luke Jones, sr.

DL; Austin Mallow, sr. WR

Friday, Sept. 9

• West Carroll at Amboy Friday, Sept. 16

• Lena-Winslow at Galena Friday, Sept. 23

• Lena-Winslow at Dakota Friday, Sept. 30

• Amboy at Lena-Winslow Friday, Oct. 7

• Eastland-PC at Amboy Friday, Oct. 14 • Galena at West Carroll Friday, Oct. 21

• Dakota at Galena

2015 Standings

Conf. All

Lena-Winslow Forreston Galena Dakota West Carroll East Dubuque Eastland-P.C. Pecatonica South Beloit

8-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 4-4 2-6 2-6 2-6 0-8

10-1 8-3 7-3 7-3 5-5 3-6 2-7 2-7 0-9

Playoff Results First round

• 2A, Tri-Valley 22, West Carroll 0 • 1A, Forreston 8, Dakota 0 • 1A, Lena-Winslow 55, Princeville 14 • 1A, Stockton 34, Galena 2

Second round

• 1A, Orion 14, Lena-Winslow 7 • 1A, Stark County 42, Forreston 16

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 13

FB16 GUIDE

Conference Preview 2016

Northwest Upstate Illini Upstate Aquin Bulldogs

Enrollment: 161.70 Class: 1A Coach: Troy Barr (5-4, 2nd year) 2015: 5-4 (4-4, tied for 4th) Playoff record: 33-21 (1st in 1981, ’86, 2005) Returning allconference: None FYI: Missed playoffs for first time since 2007.

AFC Raiders

•

Warren River • Ridge

•

•

• Durand

•

Stockton Aquin

Milledgeville •

• Polo

Durand Bulldogs

Enrollment: 162 Class: 1A Coach: Dennis Schwab (7-20, 4th year) 2015: 3-6 (3-5, 7th) Playoff record: 10-19 (2nd in 1985) Returning allconference: None FYI: Bulldogs have only been to the playoffs once in the last 11 years, and twice in the last 14 seasons.

Polo Marcos

River Ridge Wildcats

Enrollment: 162 Class: 1A Coach: Doug Nicholas (0-9, 2nd year) 2015: 0-9 (0-8, 9th) Playoff record: 0-0 Returning allconference: None FYI: Have just 1 season with more than 2 wins since restarting the program in 2010; the Wildcats were 4-5 in 2013.

Milledgeville Missiles

Enrollment: 165 Class: 1A Coach: Jason Wroble (13-50, 8th year) 2015: 4-5 (4-4, tied for 4th) Playoff record: 16-19 (semifinals in 1998, ’99, 2008) Returning allconference: Jeremy Bibler, sr. DB; Payton Harris, sr. DL

Stockton Blackhawks

Enrollment: 183 Class: 1A Coach: Chris Thornton (73-34, 11th year) 2015: 8-3 (6-2, tied for 2nd) Playoff record: 42-27 (1st in 1978, ’91) Returning allconference: Nolan Buske, sr. WR; Hayden Fox, sr. QB; Dillon Hatfield, sr. DB

Stockton Warren Polo Aquin AFC M’ville Durand River Ridge Orangeville

Conf.

8-0 7-1 6-2 4-4 4-4 4-4 2-6 1-7 0-8

All 9-0 7-2 7-2 4-5 4-5 4-5 2-7 1-8 0-9

Game of the Week

• AFC

Enrollment: 161 Class: 1A Coach: Brad Winterland (17-28, 5th year) 2015: 4-5 (4-4, tied for 4th) Playoff record: 7-4 (quarters in 1994, 2003, ’05) Returning allconference: Adam Hart, jr. LB FYI: Still looking for 1st playoff trip since 2005.

Enrollment: 196 Class: 1A Coach: Jeff Bumsted (0-0, 1st year) 2015: 11-1 (8-0, 1st) Playoff record: 9-20 (quarters in 1983, 2008, ’15) Returning allconference: Tristen Aguilar, sr. LB; Brodie Cromer, sr. OL FYI: 17 wins last 2 years more than 4 previous years combined (12).

2016 SVM Prediction

Orangeville

Orangeville Broncos

Enrollment: 111 Class: 1A Coach: Jay Doyle (4-32, 5th year) 2015: 1-8 (1-7, 8th) Playoff record: 13-10 (1st in 1989) Returning allconference: Austin Guy, jr. DB FYI: Haven’t won more than 3 games in a season since 2010, after 2 playoff trips in 3 years.

Warren Warriors

Enrollment: 137 Class: 1A Coach: Jared McNutt (7-4, 2nd year) 2015: 7-4 (6-2, tied for 2nd) Playoff record: 1-9 (win in 2015) Returning allconference: Payton Calow, sr. QB; Andrew Kaiser, sr. WR/DB; Kyle Wolff, sr. RB/LB FYI: Been to playoffs 3 of last 4 years.

Friday, Aug. 26 • Forreston at AFC Friday, Sept. 2 • Milledgeville at Aquin Friday, Sept. 9 • AFC at Milledgeville & Stockton at Polo Friday, Sept. 16 • AFC at Aquin Friday, Sept. 23 • Polo at Warren Friday, Sept. 30 • Milledgeville at Polo & Warren at Stockton Friday, Oct. 7

• Stockton at Milledgeville

Friday, Oct. 14 • AFC at Polo Friday, Oct. 21 • Stockton at AFC

2015 Standings

Conf. All Polo 8-0 11-1 Stockton 6-2 8-3 Warren 6-2 7-4 Aquin 4-4 5-4 AFC 4-4 4-5 Milledgeville 4-4 4-5 Durand 3-5 3-6 Orangeville 1-7 1-8 River Ridge 0-8 0-9 Playoff Results First round • 1A, Polo 49, Westminster Christian 6 • 1A, Stockton 34, Galena 2 • 1A, Warren 26, Chicago Hope 20 Second round • 1A, Ottawa Marquette 21, Stockton 14 • 1A, Polo 40, Warren 0 Quarterfinals

• 1A, Stark Co. 35, Polo 17

PAGE 14

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Preseason All-Area Team Sauk Valley Media picks 24 players to watch this fall Portraits by Philip Marruffo, Alex T. Paschal & Michael Krabbenhoeft Tristen Aguilar

Michael Berentes

Jeremy Bibler

Arthur Cox

Polo • Sr. • RB/LB

Rock Falls • Sr. • WR/DB

Milledgeville • Sr. • RB/DB

Dixon • Jr. • RB/WR

Drake Davis

Tyson Hall

Adam Hart

Brighton Haverland

Bureau Valley • Jr. • QB

Sterling • Sr. • DE

AFC • Jr. • RB/LB

Eastland-P.C. • Sr. • QB/LB

Bryan Herr

Jordan Hochstatter

Dylan Keller

Treay Martin

Bureau Valley • Jr. • WR/DB

Amboy • Sr. • QB/DB

Morrison • Sr. • QB/LB

Sterling • Sr. • RB/DE

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 15

FB16 GUIDE

Preseason All-Area Team Sauk Valley Media picks 24 players to watch this fall Portraits by Philip Marruffo, Alex T. Paschal & Michael Krabbenhoeft Kyle McLuckie

Caleb Mennen

Turner Morse

Michael Pidde

Fulton • Sr. • OL/DL

Oregon • Sr. • RB/LB

Sterling • Jr. • WR/DB

Fulton • Sr. • RB/DL

Logan Pillars

Keegan Schubert

Nyrel Sullivan

Tyler Sweenie

Rock Falls • Sr. • QB/DB

Eastland-P.C. • Sr. • RB/DB

Sterling • Jr. • RB/WR

Fulton • Sr. • QB/LB

Latrell Vaughn

Landen Vesley

Kody Wetzell

Andrew Wolber

Sterling • Jr. • RB

Newman • Jr. • QB

Erie-P’town • Sr. • RB/DB

Dixon • Sr. • LB

PAGE 16

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

TACKLING THE ISSUES | PLAYOFF EXPANSION

Nearly unanimous Area coaches like format the way it is made it in, but the Rockets didn’t have enough playoff points to crack the No. 256 cutoff line. hen the final Had a trio of Illinois horn sounded High School Association on a cool night at by-law proposals in 1996, Hinders Field on October 2010 and 2012 passed, 24, 2009 after a 24-15 win the 5-4 Rockets wouldn’t have had their eyes glued over Rockridge, the Rock Falls Rockets put together to media reports the following Saturday for the the largest on-field celebration in nearly 17 years. moment of truth. Such proposals from those The Rockets, finishing years would have expandat 5-4, had put together their first winning season ed the number of teams in the playoff field. since 1992. However, Last year, there were 537 there was much more on high school football teams the minds of the players that evening – could they in Illinois who would have been eligible for the postmake the playoffs?

The answer was a disap- season had they qualified, leaving an impression pointing “no”. Nearly all that the playoffs would but a handful of teams be “watered down.” Sauk with a similar record

BY CODY CUTTER ccutter@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5552 @CodyCutter35

W



SM-ST6788-0825

Valley Media polled 13 local football coaches, and nearly all were firmly against increasing the number of playoff teams for that reason.

As athletic director at Rock Falls at the time, Rich Montgomery might have seen some disappointment from the football-playing students in the hallways the following Monday after that 2009 Rockridge win. Now having taken over the reins as head football coach for the Rockets, Montgomery wishes to have real goals of competitive success be attained, rather than have the system legislated to allow for success.

UNANIMOUS continued on 174

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 17

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | PLAYOFF EXPANSION

256 playoff teams are plenty, coaches say UNANIMOUS

CONTINUED FROM 16

“Sure, it would have helped us,” Montgomery said, “but is it going to mean anything if you keep putting more people in and lower the standard? I talked to our parents at a meeting [early this month], and we try to raise the bar. We don’t want to dig a ditch. We’re digging too many ditches.

“Would they feel good about themselves? Maybe,” Montgomery said. “They could say they were a playoff team.”

Since the playoffs expanded to eight classes in 2001, five local teams finished 5-4 and missed the playoffs. Two of them, Fulton and Sterling, missed the cut in 2013. The Steamers won their last four games after a 1-4 start.

Steamers coach Patrick Lower felt that his team would have been a hard team to beat in the postseason had the number of playoff teams increased.

“We were 5-4 at the time, and the points probably wouldn’t have mattered,” Lower said. “I felt that year would have been, for us specifically, we would have been a tough out. We were really playing good at the end of the year.”

However, Lower isn’t quick to say that there needs to be a change right away.

“I can see it going either way,” Lower said. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it, necessarily; I do, however, like the uniqueness of the way it is now.”

Having played for legendary coach John O’Boyle at Stockton in the early 1990s, West Carroll coach Matt Leitzen was presented a unique definition of success. From the start of the playoff system in 1974 until 1984, the Blackhawks won conference championships in all but 2 seasons, and thus made the playoffs because of that.

Starting in 1985, the playoffs expanded to include 32 teams in each of the six classes.

“I’m from the old school where 6-3 and you’re in,” Leitzen said. “I understand why they went to 5-4, but I would just hate to see it be less than that. I think to some extent, that’s what makes our sport better than any other. You need to play well to reach the postseason. Every game, Week 1 to Week 9, they all mean the same. I’d hate to see our sport lose that.”

Expansion to 512 teams in both 1996 and 2010 was an idea of Chicago Heights Marian football coach and athletic director Dave Mattio. The 1996 proposal passed the IHSA’s football advisory committee, but died before the association’s board of directors.

The 2010 proposal sought to include the changes as season calendar by-laws, but died in the IHSA legislative committee before it could be sent to the member schools for a final vote.

The 2012 proposal to expand to 384, brought forth by principals from Eureka and IVC, would have included a districting format which would contract the number of regularseason games to eight. This proposal was made stressing how constant conference realignments have forced some schools to play in conferences outside of their desired geographical nature. That, too, died in the legislative committee.

Amboy’s early departure from the TRAC left Erie-Prophetstown with an open date in Week 4. While Panthers coach Chuck Milem can see the need for a districting system based on that, he doesn’t want to see a large number of teams competing for championships.

“I love the current system, and the way we have it,”

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Rock Falls head coach Rich Montgomery talks to his players at the end of practice earlier this month. Like all of the area coaches, Montgomery believes the current playoff system should be kept intact, and not expanded to include more than 256 teams.

Milem said. “I’m not in favor of expanding it whatsoever, and that’s coming from a guy that was on the other end of it and not in the playoffs for a long time.”

With a 512-team playoff field last year, it would have meant that just 25 teams would not participate, and winless teams would have made the field.

The proposal to expand to 384 teams, giving the top 16 teams in each class a first-round bye, would see 3-6 teams in the

playoffs.

Montgomery sees entitlement becoming a problem in high school sports, and the expansion of the number of playoff teams is just one idea that frustrates him.

“You can’t give everybody a trophy. That’s what these guys want,” Montgomery said.

“They just want it to be easier and easier to get to the playoffs. Then drop a game off the schedule, put everybody in, and so an 0-9 has to go against

a 9-0. They had to do it in the regular season.

“I’m just tired of hearing all of the complaints,” Montgomery added. “It’s ridiculous.”

However, expansion ideas, just like with any proposed changes to the system, do have merits.

“I think it’s something to definitely look at and really weigh the pros and cons,” Lower said.

“I can see a need for it, and I can also see where it’s good the way it is, as well.”

PAGE 18

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

TACKLING THE ISSUES | SPREAD VS. WING-T Dixon QB Nate Gascoigne (12) prepares to throw a pass during a game last season. Dixon has employed the spread offense very effectively the last few years, with back-toback playoff appearances in 2014 & ’15.

Oregon’s Maverik Good (right) gets a block from Caleb Mennen during last year’s game against Byron.

Backs always block for each other when running the Wing-T, one of the reasons why the offense is so hard to stop.

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

When in doubt, air it out Ground & pound fine by me

S

pread offense is the way to go. It’s the only offense to use if you’ve got someone who can sling the ball all over the field.

It’s also the most exciting offense.

High school football can sometimes be bogged down with games that feature all running plays. When I watch a game, I hope for excitement, big plays, and outstanding athleticism. I want plays like Sterling quarterback Sterling Thornton dropping touchdown passes into receiver Jordan Asbury’s arms all the time. I want to see Bureau Valley’s Drake Davis pick apart a defense.

Down by a score with just minutes to play?

Not a problem when you can tie it up with one pass. Airing it out is the whole package.

Players like Davis and Dixon’s Nate Gascoigne, who were tied for the area lead with 16 touchdown passes last

can be effective. Runbased systems can be the backbone of a Sports team’s identity. Having reporter. several capable backs He can be reached at means you can take pmason@ over a game by consaukvalley. trolling the clock, and com or 815wearing down defenses 625-3600, ext. 5550. with long possessions and limiting turnovers.

Heck, you can even ride that game plan season, were especially to undefeated regular seasons and deep dangerous because of playoff runs, like Rockthe threat to throw. ford Lutheran did the Being able to throw past four seasons with succesfully forces the record-setting running defense to defend different parts of the field. back James Robinson.

But while all of those Divide and conquer is the spread offense. Two things sound great, you years ago when Burling- can’t rely on that WingT style to score points ton Central traveled to in bunches. Down 30 Dixon for a game, the points by halftime? ForDukes talked all week get about it. Need two about defending BC’s 6-foot, 4-inch receiver scores in the fourth? and gunslinger QB. Good luck. The Wing-T When a running is not an offense that’s team comes to town, built to score points the game plan doesn’t quickly. And that’s a change much. When a bad thing. passing team comes to When in doubt, air it town, it’s all hands on out. deck.

Spread offense is the Sure, running offenses way to go.

patrickMASON

W

hen a spread offense is run correctly, it can be a beautiful thing to watch.

The one that comes to mind is the version run

by Kaneland, when the Knights were in the NCIC and clashed with Sterling and Dixon on a regular basis. Head coach Joe Thorgeson always had a strong-armed quarterback, a stable of wide receivers to employ, and somebody was always running loose in the secondary on virtually every play. Kaneland made it look so easy.

Locally, a similar attack was used by some very good Eastland-Pearl City teams in the early 2000s under head coach Bill Johnson. The Panthers were fun to watch, and their passhappy offense kept many a defensive coordinator up at night, I’m sure.

With that said, I’ll take a team that is adept at running the ball out of the Wing-T or the option in most cases. It’s not particularly fancy, but can be brutally efficient. It’s what I grew up with, and the

Opponents know what’s coming, but usually can’t stop it. There’s a reason Sports why Geneseo has missed reporter. the playoffs just three times Reach him at bweidman@ (1984, 1995, 2011) ever. saukvalley.

The closest thing I’ve seen com or 815to a team that can execute 625-3600, the Wing-T with cruel ext. 5551. efficiency was Rochelle in the mid and late 2000s.

Teams might have been able to stop the Hubs for most dominant teams I’ve a series or two, but they’d keep pounding away and watched have hammered eventually break one. As away on the ground. the game wore on, they’d Amboy had a run of six undefeated regular-season break more and more.

Look at Newman’s best teams in 8 years (1979-86) teams. Sure, there were due in part to an option QBs who could throw the offense it ran better than football and receivers who anybody around. There could catch it, but the were many reasons the Comets’ bread and butter Clippers dominated back was the ability to block up in those days, and a runfront and churn out yards ning game nobody could stop is at the top of the list. on the ground.

Don’t get me wrong, I My first stop in the newsenjoy watching an aerial paper business was in circus once in a while – Geneseo, and I covered five seasons of Maple Leaf some highly entertaining Aurora Christian teams football. Grade schoolers come to mind. But when there run the same plays as the high school kids, the wind starts howling and by the time they’re and the snow starts falling, seniors, the Leafs are one I’ll take a team with a domwell-oiled Green Machine. inant running game.

brianWEIDMAN

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 19

FB16 GUIDE

Amboy Clippers

• 23rd season at Amboy

• 123-101 (.549) • 13 playoff appearances

2015

• 2-7 overall • 1-5 TRAC Rock (6th place)

2015 Results St. Bede 38, Clippers 7 Clippers 41, Sherrard 0 Clippers 50, Riverdale 21 Erie-P’town 32, Clippers 7 B.Valley 54, Clippers 30 Orion 53, Clippers 14 Rockridge 57, Clippers 26 Morrison 40, Clippers 33 Fulton 49, Clippers 0

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 208 Points scored avg.: 23.1 Points allowed: 344 Points allowed avg.: 38.2 Playoff teams faced: 2 At home: 1-4 On road: 1-3

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Gary Jones

2015 Stat Leaders

Ben Rhine chats about Clippers Team you can’t wait to play: First game against Galena. That’s all we’re focused on.

Team from the old schedule you wish you were playing: Morrison.

Last year, they were one of our losses, and I feel like we had the potential to pull out a win against them.

Favorite Clipper: Jordan Hochstatter. He’s a good worker, and a good leader.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Ryon Richardson 85 710 14 Dallas Appleman 87 512 8 Drake Barlow 65 380 6 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Jordan Hochstatter 31-66-6 450 0 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Ryon Richardson 12 301 0 Drake Barlow 9 157 0

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

9-2

•• •• 9-3

•

9-3

8-3

•• 5-5

4-5

• 5-5

9-3

• • 2-7

2-7

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

k Your 1st and 2nd c u L d o o Chance Dealer!

G y o b Am ers! Check out our website @ p p i l www.saukvalleymotors.com C

* NUIC Northwest game Homecoming: Week 3

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A e v Ha reat G son Sea

Returning starters in bold 1 Andrew Gillan 5-6 3 Jordan Hochstatter 6-2

135 Jr. RB/DB 175 Sr. QB/DB

5 6 7 9 10 21 25 26 35 36 38 47 52 53 55 58 63 65 68 75 76 77 79 80

185 190 200 180 150 150 200 140 170 155 170 210 200 240 230 204 160 230 210 230 270 235 200 180

4

Brady Hulin

6-3

Cain Powers 6-0 Reece Vaessen 6-2 Ben Rhine 5-11 Max Lucas 5-11 Justin Hart 5-9 Travis Eames 5-9 Dallas Schafer 6-1 Dominic Moore 5-5 Mitchell McLaughlin 5-10 Nolan Lawmorie-Dickey 5-5 Austin Lundquist 5-10 Cole Stewart 6-0 George Stuepfert 5-8 Kyle Hunter 6-1 Alexis Gutierrez 6-1 Victor Gutierrez 5-9 Christopher Morris 5-9 Nick Rhine 5-8 Luke Schaver 6-0 Collin Eisenberg 5-11 Brady Becker 6-2 Will Flanagan 6-2 Tyler Perry 6-1 Zach O’Rourke 6-1

180

Sr. WR/DB TE/LB

Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr.

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Rivers Conference, which was formed in 1975, Amboy is joining the NUIC for the 2016-17 school year. It will be a member of the NUIC Northwest for football.

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25 E. Main St. Amboy, IL 815-857-3691 SM-ST6797-0825

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2015

at Galena* 7-3 Dakota* 7-3 West Carroll* 5-5 at Forreston* 8-3 East Dubuque* 3-6 at Lena-Winslow* 10-1 EPC* 2-7 at Pecatonica* 2-7 at Aquin 5-4

Good Luck Amboy Clippers

Hours Mon - Fri 10-6 • Sat 9-3

Conference: NUIC Northwest Enrollment: 303 Projected class: 2A

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PAGE 20

AFC Raiders

• 6th season at AFC • 17-28 (.378) • 0 playoff appearances

2015

• 4-5 overall • 4-4 NUIC Upstate (tied for 4th place)

2015 Results Forreston 33, Raiders 13 Warren 18, Raiders 8 Raiders 21, Milledgeville 15 Aquin 20, Raiders 14 Raiders 28, Durand 13 Raiders 66, Orangeville 8 Raiders 43, River Ridge 2 Polo 52, Raiders 14 Stockton 54, Raiders 6

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 213 Points scored avg.: 23.7 Points allowed: 215 Points allowed avg.: 23.9 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 2-2 On road: 2-3

Conference: NUIC Upstate Enrollment: 161 Projected class: 1A

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

Brad Winterland

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

2015 Stat Leaders

Stephen Brooke chats about Raiders Who is your favorite Raider, past or present?: Chaz Josephsen. He played on the 2005 team and was just a great athlete.

He was fast, and could do anything he wanted.

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Jake Hageman 161 753 6 Jacob Hilliker 86 368 8 David Zinke 30 354 2 Kaywan Palmer 32 310 5 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Jacob Hilliker 28-57-1 548 6 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Kaywan Palmer 14 254 2 James Talley 7 197 3

What is the team you can’t wait to play: The Forreston Cardinals. Last year we were pretty pumped, and a few turnovers screwed us over.

This year, I think we’re ready to beat ’em.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

5-4

• •• • •

1-8 4-5

1-8

3-6

••

2-7

3-6

1-8

•

returning starters in bold

•• 4-5

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7 Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

Opponent

2015

Forreston 8-3 Warren* 7-4 at Milledgeville* 4-5 at Aquin* 5-4 Durand* 3-6 at Orangeville* 1-8 River Ridge* 0-9 at Polo* 11-1 Stockton* 8-3

* NUIC Upstate game Homecoming: Week 7

1 2 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 18 20 22 25 26 29 30 35 46 50 51 52 54 56 58 59 64 67 70 74 76 77 78 85 88

Caleb McBride Caleb Drew David Atkinson Marcus Cater Jay Long Cody Penick Ethan Drew Tyon Davis Adam Hart Cameron Thomas Max Lipold Austin Williams Sam Lauer Sam Hahn Stephen Brooke Demetri Lahman Dylan Spencer Tyler Crowell Mike Thompson Sawyer Murphy Jonah Hilliker Justin Friday Nathan Page Cameron Kida Garrett Drew Brian Ellshoff Nathan McBride Brendyn Williams Xavier Contreras Aaron Case Colin Kaecker Daniel Hoffman Dylan Jeanblanc Joe Uphoff

5-10 6-0 6-0 5-6 5-8 6-0 5-6 5-9 6-0 5-2 5-10 5-11 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-4 5-6 5-7 5-11 6-1 5-7 5-7 5-8 5-9 5-9 5-11 5-10 5-4 5-10 5-5 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-6

170 150 150 150 120 145 102 165 207 103 150 158 131 146 185 170 145 145 204 177 140 165 150 158 193 184 162 155 220 271 185 210 173 187

So. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr.

Look for our weekly football pull out section every Saturday! publishers of

daily Gazette, Telegraph & Sauk Valley Weekend

RB/LB QB/DB WR/DB

RB/LB WR/DB

WR/LB

QB/DB

WR/DB

RB/LB

WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/DB

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OL/DL

OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/LB

OL/DL

OL/DL RB/LB

OL/DL

OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DB TE/LB

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 21

FB16 GUIDE

Bureau Valley Storm

Conference: Three Rivers Rock Enrollment: 301 Projected class: 2A

Spencer Davis

• 3rd season at BV

• 9-9 (.500) • 0 playoff appearances

2015

• 5-4 overall • 3-3 TRAC Rock (tied for 4th place)

2015 Results Erie-P’town 45, Storm 22 Storm 26, St. Bede 20 Rockridge 50, Storm 14 Orion 57, Storm 12 Storm 54, Amboy 30 Storm 63, Sherrard 20 Fulton 40, Storm 20 Storm 55, Riverdale 0 Storm 42, Morrison 22

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 308 Points scored avg.: 34.2 Points allowed: 284 Points allowed avg.: 31.6 Playoff teams faced: 2 At home: 2-2 On road: 3-2

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

2015 Stat Leaders

Hunter Schoff chats about Storm Team you can’t wait to play: We have a Wisconsin team on our schedule, and that’s going to be exciting. It’s a Saturday game, about 3 1/2 hours away, so it will be a new experience and fun to see what they put up against us.

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Will Konneck 147 1,369 14 Drake Davis 95 399 4 Gailen Gibson 27 186 1 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Drake Davis 76-140-6 1,402 16 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Bryan Herr 31 650 10 Will Konneck 20 439 5 Jay Edlefson 20 265 1

Personal football highlight: Last year, I had two interceptions backto-back against Riverdale.

Favorite Storm player, past or present: Garrett Barnas

14 12-1 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

•

10-2

•

•• 7-3

• 3-6

6-4

• 2-7

••• • 5-4

4-5

4-5

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Sat., Sept. 24, 1 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

* Three Rivers Rock game Homecoming: Week 6

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2015

at Erie-P’town 4-5 St. Bede 4-5 Rockridge* 7-4 Orion* 10-2 at N.Crawford (Wis.) 2-7 Sherrard 0-9 at Fulton* 4-5 at Riverdale* 0-9 Morrison* 3-6

Radio: 98.1 FM

returning starters in bold 1 2 4 6 7 9 12 16 22 25 32 34 42 44 52 54 55 56 62 63 65 66 68 72 77 80

Andrew Hockings Corbin Endress Kale Barnett Jay Edlefson Drake Davis Jacob Wirth Tyler Gustafson Peyton Moore Kendile Whitford Bryan Herr Eric Schoff Garrett Scott Hunter Schoff Caje Peterson Dallas Hardy Gage Aber Chase Gripp Joe Green Drew Baker Arran Kruse Trevor Sights Dan Schoff Alex Peck Calen Buysse Gerald Eshelman Nathan Paul-Caudill

5-7 6-2 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-2 5-11 5-10 5-8 5-9 6-0 5-8 6-0 5-9 5-8 5-7 6-5 6-1 5-7 5-7 6-0 6-6 6-4 6-3 5-10 6-2

155 160 160 180 180 175 155 150 165 180 200 165 180 180 165 160 260 205 190 175 225 260 265 290 285 170

Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So.

WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB

WR/DB

QB/DB

TE/DE QB/DB RB/DB WR/DB

WR/DB

RB/LB RB/LB

RB/LB RB/LB

OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB

Did You Know?

• Drake Davis has thrown for 3,230 yards in two seasons as the Storm’s starting quarterback.

PAGE 22

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

TACKLING THE ISSUES | CONFERENCES VS. DISTRICTS

Gerrymandering the system a no-go Conference alignment a messy issue on several fronts, but change is slow in coming

E

BY PATRICK MASON pmason@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5550 @pm222

verywhere you look, sports teams are grouped together. Sports leagues are almost always broken into conferences and divisions. Most professional sports are linked by geographics, while some others are grouped by skill level.

Having these pockets of teams generates rivalries, makes for exciting division races and titles, and allows for a sense of stability.

For Illinois high schools, teams compete in conferences. But they’re anything but stable. For the most part, the conferences themselves control all aspects from scheduling to rules, and have complete control over when and what schools can come or go.

The latter has been a story of note for the past few years.

Most recently, area schools like Amboy and Dixon have moved conferences. The Clippers left the Three Rivers to go to the NUIC, while Dixon left the NIB12 in favor of the Big Northern.

It’s really nothing new.

Schools have been doing this for years. Towns like Huntley in the northwest suburbs start as small towns in a conference with other small-enrollment teams, then see the area boom.

The school then opts to leave in favor of a larger conference.

Reasons for switching range from competitive balance to location on the map.

But one aspect has stayed constant, and it’s football. That sport is driving these changes, and not always for the better.

“I would think that most head coaches would favor that their players are playing schools the same size as theirs,” Fulton football coach Patrick Lower

said. “It’s the most balanced thing to do, but it doesn’t always work like that.”

Fulton is the second-smallest school by student enrollment in the Three Rivers. Amboy would have been the smallest before it left for NUIC, which features smaller schools, this offseason. Now, Morrison is at the bottom with 299 kids.

The first two games on the Mustangs’ 2016 football schedule feature teams with almost double their enrollment in Kewanee at 536, and Princeton at 552. This doesn’t mean Morrison can’t or won’t win. The Mustangs won state titles in 2009 and 2011, but haven’t had a winning season since a 6-4 year in 2012.

Could Morrison be the next team to opt to leave? Maybe.

Especially if always facing larger teams in football could mean fewer wins by the end of the season. This is why schools are exploring different avenues to balance the playing field.

Even if it means new NUIC addition Amboy will have a long way to travel for games, it’s a casualty worth taking.

The Big Northern lost a handful of teams this year, and now is one large conference with no divisions. The Three Rivers scrambled to find games to replace Amboy on the schedule.

Erie-Prophetstown was stuck dealing with the fallout, and has no Week 4 football game.

Dixon, which saw a steady decline in enrollment, took the opportunity a couple of years ago to compete in a similarsized conference and saw success right away. The Dukes made the playoffs the past two seasons in football, something the Clippers hope to do.

“If football was like the other sports,” Lower said, “we wouldn’t have this problem.

Football is the reason why you

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Oregon’s Caleb Mennen (31) runs against Mendota during last year’s Week 8 game at LandersLoomis Field. Now they’re in the same conference, but in the past when the Hawks and Trojans got together for a game as members of different leagues, even minor differences in rules and time scheduling had to be accounted for. see all of these changes. You have to have a certain amount of wins for the playoffs, and teams are using every opportunity they can. That can be hard to deal with.”

Scrambling to fill schedule holes can be, and has become, a problem. Those issues have caused the start of several solutions. In recent years, different groups headed by athletic directors and school officials have proposed a change to the conference system.

In 2014, Sycamore principal

Tim Carlson presented to the state an eight-part plan to overhaul the current system, aiming to eliminate the need for football conferences.

In this plan, the IHSA would set schedules for every team in the state, and teams would play others in the same geographical regions. What’s appealing in this proposal is that, in theory, teams wouldn’t have to play other schools that dwarf them in enrollment. For example, Morrison would play other schools with a 300 enrollment

number. And, with a more regulated schedule, an umbrella of rules would govern the games.

When Mendota was in the now-defunct NCIC, teams from different conferences encountered some issues. Oregon would play the Trojans and would have to abide by the NCIC rules, which had different pregame schedules than that of the BNC. Everything was governed according to who was hosting the game.

GERRYMANDERING continued on 234

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 23

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES

Hey Clipper Fans…

The Game’s on us!

Follow the entire season of Amboy High School Football with Steve Marco and Paul Smith Catch the first game of 2016 Friday, August 26th Amboy Clippers away vs Galena STREAMING LIVE ON WWW.RIVERCOUNTRY1017.COM

Follow The Hawks!

Follow the entire season of Oregon High School Football with Sam Ramirez and Mark Herman Catch the first game of 2016 Friday, August 26th Oregon Hawks away vs Monmouth

Patience key to fixing issue GERRYMANDERING

team to play, you have to take all of that into CONTINUED FROM B1 account.”

Still, conferences enjoy Each conference had having power, even if it a different time limit means instability. for warmups, different “It’s one of those things rules regarding when the where for the past 5 or 6 marching band had to be years, the TRAC hasn’t on and off the field, and been stable about who’s when the starting lineups on whose side,” Lower were read. The NCIC even said. “But it’s gotten to played freshman games the point where I think on Thursday, while the everyone has accepted BNC traditionally held the fact that you might those games on Saturday play some bigger schools, afternoon. and you deal with it.”

“It sounds like petty Even though the district stuff,” Oregon coach John proposal was an encouraging fix, it didn’t pass.

Bothe said. “But when With all of the changing, you’re organizing your

change is what held this up.

“That proposal, what’s enticing about it is is that you play schools your size,” Bothe said. “What’s nice about the district thing is you would always plays schools in your same class. But then sometimes distance could be a factor, especially for the schools down south.

“The solution? Years ago, if schools would be more patient and not try to leave, we’d be OK. And if conferences were more patient and not invite people, we’d be fine.”

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PAGE 24

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE

Paul Colletti/Special to SVM

Newman’s Kyle Decker forces a fumble last year against Rockridge. Creating turnovers is one of the most exciting plays in football, especially in a low-scoring game.

Defensive slugfests Give me points, & lots of ’em, please make for best games Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Sterling QB Sterling Thornton reaches for the goal line during last year’s first-round playoff game in Metamora. People come to games to watch teams score touchdowns, and potent offenses are the most exciting thing to see on the gridiron.

W

hy do I prefer an offensive shootout to a defensive slugfest?

One word: action and excitement (OK, that’s two words, sue me).

Not that there’s no action in a low-scoring defensive struggle; there are usually plenty of hard hits and turnovers to keep folks interested.

But I’m talking wallto-wall action – you know, long runs, longer passes, kickoff and punt returns for TDs, the whole shebang.

It’s kind of like in baseball. Not that nohitters or shutouts aren’t impressive, but

tyREYNOLDS Sports editor.

He can be reached at treynolds@ saukvalley. com or 815625-3600, ext. 5554.

that’s not what puts butts in the seats.

People go to watch tape-measure home runs and aggressive baserunning and plays at the plate.

Now, as with anything, I still want to see some moderation.

There is such a thing

as too much of a good thing, and I’m not advocating that every game give defensive coordinators nightmares for the rest of their lives.

But I have to say, that 70-63 game between West Virginia and Baylor back in 2012 ranks right up there with the most entertaining games I’ve ever seen.

Having no rooting interest whatsoever, watching Geno Smith throw for 656 yards and 8 TDs – and the Mountaineers needing every one of those scores – was like watching an artist create a masterpiece.

The crowd was into it, there was non-stop action, and both teams played their hearts out and gave it everything they had for 60 minutes.

Granted, not every game can be like that, nor should it be; that’s what video games are for.

But seeing two highpowered offenses trade blows for four full quarters, going backand-forth and never really breathing a sigh of relief until the game is finally over … man, that’s what I’d love to spend a Saturday afternoon or evening watching.

T

he thing with lowscoring games is, they tend to be close.

In a shootout where the winning team is going to put up 40 or 50 points, you often see the winning team ahead by two or three scores by the end.

Turn the ball over or get held to three-and-out, suddenly that deficit seems insurmountable if neither defense is doing much to make stops.

But if both defenses are making stops and making plays one after another, the game is almost always a close one. In games like those, not only does every possession matter, but every inch matters. Running backs will fight for extra yards just because there is no certainty

ericINGLES Assistant sports editor. He can be reached at eingles@ saukvalley. com or 815625-3600, ext. 5555.

that the next drive will be any more promising.

In those games, field position becomes a huge factor, and when that’s the case, a drive that moves the ball from your own 20 to midfield can set you up nicely for the next drive. In a shootout, getting the ball to midfield and punting is a forgotten drive.

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 25

FB16 GUIDE

Dixon Dukes

• 6th season at Dixon •109-83 overall (.568) • 9 playoff appearances

2015

• 6-4 overall • 4-3 BNC west (tied for 3rd place)

2015 Results Dukes 1, Clemente 0 (fft.)

Dukes 26, Burl. Central 6 Lutheran 95, Dukes 28 Dukes 28, Oregon 27 Dukes 35, Mendota 14 Winnebago 65, Dukes 50 Dukes 44, Stillman 36 Dukes 47, Rock Falls 14 Byron 43, Dukes 13 4A playoffs Lutheran 49, Dukes 7

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 279 Points scored avg.: 27.9 Points allowed: 349 Points allowed avg.: 34.9 Playoff teams faced: 4 At home: 2-2 On road: 4-2

MORE THAN JUST TIRES! • TIRES • ALIGNMENT • BRAKES • SHOCKS & STRUTS • EXHAUST • OIL & LUBE • AFTER MARKET WHEELS

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Dave Smith

Conference: Big Northern Enrollment: 803 Projected class: 4A

2015 Stat Leaders

Ryan Troutman chats about Dukes Favorite thing about football: It’s a brotherhood, on and off the field. If you ever need anything, you know somebody on the team’s going to have your back.

Team you can’t wait to play: Mendota. There’s been a lot of talking going on, so hopefully we can come out and get that one.

Favorite Duke: My brother, he was a defensive end a couple of years back and he was all-conference.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Arthur Cox 97 772 11 Nyrel Sullivan 102 762 11 Nate Gascoigne 62 225 1 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Nate Gascoigne 142-239-9 1,646 16 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Kyle LeBlanc 56 755 10 Arthur Cox 20 233 2 Bryce Stanley 19 154 0

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

8-3

8-4

•

• •• • •• • •

• 6-4

1-8

2-7

3-6

0-9

2-7

2-7

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

Mendota* 1-8 at Oregon* 3-6 Rkfd. Christian* 0-9 at Lutheran* 11-1 Woodstock 2-7 at Stillman Valley* 4-5 Genoa-Kingston* 5-5 at Rock Falls* 0-9 North Boone* 4-5

* Big Northern game Homecoming: Week 7

Good Luck

this Season GOOD LUCK to ALL TEAMS! area teams!

1110 E. River Rd., Dixon 815-284-3324

M-F 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-Noon

Radio: 1460 AM

2 3 4 7 10 13 15 16 21 22 24 25 27 30 32 34 46 50 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 66 67 70 75 83 88

Tyler Chritiansen 5-7 Kade Callison 5-11 Kandras Martin 5-7 Tyler Hess 5-11 Jake Pitman 6-1 Clinton Schielein 5-4 Arthur Cox 5-7 Noah Wilcox 6-0 Tyler Lowry 5-5 Matthew Milby 5-8 Elijah McGlown 5-11 Andrew Wolber 6-1 Kaylon Westmorland 5-9 Cody Elliott 5-7 Jared Harrison 5-11 Finn Brandon 6-0 Kyle Commons 6-0 Aleck Fassler 5-11 Collin Newman 6-1 Michael Jasso 5-6 Satwant Chima 5-11 Dylan Messer 6-2 Dane Sperling 5-10 Teddy Robbins Jr. 6-0 Robert Schaeffer 5-10 Keegan Shank 5-8 Cody Rogers 5-8 Ethan Apple 5-7 Austin Kessel 6-0 Brock Burgess 6-0 Nicholas Beauchamp 6-0 Ryan Troutman 6-3 Drake Fluker 6-2 Oscar Van Sickle 6-2 Joshua Dallas 6-2

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RB/DB QB/DB

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WR DL

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WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB

LB

WR/LB

LB LB OL/DL

OL/DL

OL/DL DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL

OL/DL OL/DL

WR/DB WR/DB

PAGE 26

EPC Wildcatz

• 10th season at EPC • 71-26 (.732) • 8 playoff appearances • 1 state championship

2015

• 2-7 overall • 2-6 NUIC Northwest (tied for 6th place)

2015 Results Le-Win 46, Wildcatz 8 W.Carroll 40, Wildcatz 0 Pecatonica 21, Wildcatz 0 Polo 45, Wildcatz 0 Galena 49, Wildcatz 16 Dakota 58, Wildcatz 24 Wildcatz 52, S.Beloit 7 Forreston 22, Wildcatz 6

Wildcatz 43, E.Dubuque 18

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 149 Points scored avg.: 16.6 Points allowed: 306 Points allowed avg.: 34.0 Playoff teams faced: 6 At home: 2-3 On road: 0-4

Conference: NUIC Northwest Enrollment: 326 Projected class: 2A

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Randy Asche

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Merrick Miseiewicz chats about Wildcatz Team strength: We’ve got a lot of energy and a lot of youth. We’ve got a lot of speed.

Working on: We can get better in every situation, every position.

Watch out for: Keegan Schubert, Brighton Haverland, and Brock Smargiassi. They’re all really athletic.

Can’t wait to play: All of them. It’s just fun to compete against other teams.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

2015 Stat Leaders

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Keegan Schubert 169 1,129 10 Payton Clouse 97 282 2 Merrick Misiewicz 13 96 0 Jarod Kempel 14 89 0 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD DJ Heeren 29-74-9 507 6 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Brighton Haverland 19 405 5

Season Returns 14-0

Campaign

•

Game time

• • • • • ••

10-1

• 5-5

9-1

9-2

8-3

6-4

7-4

6-4

• 2-7

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fri., Sept 9, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

2015

Lena-Winslow* 10-1 West Carroll* 5-5 Pecatonica* 2-7 at Polo 11-1 Galena* 7-3 at Dakota* 7-3 at Amboy* 2-7 Forreston* 8-3 at East Dubuque* 3-6

* NUIC Northwest game Homecoming: Week 5

CARS815.com

Returning starters in bold 1 2 5 6 11 12 14 20 21 22 24 28 30 33 40 41 44 50 53 56 65 68 73 74 75 80 85 88

Brock Smargiassi Braden Smargiassi Jayden Kempel Collyn Kuberski Lucas Peterson Brodie Kaney Brighton Haverland Joe Sheriff Merrick Misiewicz Keegan Schubert Skyler Fischer Logan White Payton Clouse Colin Colehour Elijah Dertz Jarod Kempel Jake Thede Drake Musser Nate Strong Zach Lieb Trevor Tipp Peyton Asche Brian Brenner Caleb Tichler Derek Schubert Chris Zollner Travis Spong Brett Swalve

6-0 5-11 5-8 5-9 6-2 5-10 6-5 6-1 5-7 5-8 5-10 5-10 6-0 5-8 5-10 5-8 5-8 6-0 5-8 5-10 5-9 6-7 6-1 5-10 5-9 5-8 6-2 6-0

140 150 155 150 150 140 205 170 145 180 165 155 180 145 175 155 150 175 265 180 265 320 185 225 245 140 210 180

So. WR/DB So. QB/DB So. RB/DB So. RB/DB So. WR/LB Jr. WR/DB Sr. QB/LB Sr. RB/LB Sr. RB/DB Sr. RB/LB Sr. WR/DB So. RB/DB Sr. RB/LB So. RB/DB Fr. RB/LB So. RB/DB So. RB/LB So. C/LB Jr. G/DT So. G/LB So. G/DT Jr. T/DT Jr. T/DT So. T/DT So. T/NG So. K So. TE/LB Jr. WR/LB

Did You Know?

• The 2014 version of the Wildcatz outscored opponents 640-175 on their way to claiming a Class 2A state championship with a 14-0 record.

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 27

FB16 GUIDE

Erie-P’town Panthers

Conference: Three Rivers Mississippi Enrollment: 491 Projected class: 3A

Chuck Milem

• 9th season at Erie-P’town • 31-45 (.408) • 3 playoff appearances

2015

• 4-5 overall • 2-4 TRAC Mississippi (5th place)

2015 Results Panthers 45, B.Valley 22 Orion 21, Panthers 20 Panthers 57, Sherrard 6 Panthers 32, Amboy 7 Newman 26, Panthers 20 St. Bede 33, Panthers 14 Panthers 48, Kewanee 23 Princeton 39, Panthers 22 Hall 27, Panthers 26

2015 by numbers

Points scored: 284 Points scored avg.: 31.6 Points allowed: 204 Points allowed avg.: 22.7 Playoff teams faced: 4 At home: 3-2 On road: 1-3

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

2015 Stat Leaders

Garrett Passmore chats about Panthers Team strength: We’re known to ground and pound, running the ball.

Working on: We have switched our defenses, so hopefully that helps us out.

Watch out for this guy: Conner Reiley, a very physical, quick runner for us … and understands how to take a hit.

Opponent I respect: Drake Davis [Bureau Valley]. He’s got a cannon of an arm.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing Att. Yds Dylan Binion 109 1,023 Phillip Coers 93 769 Kody Wetzell 39 413 Jack Bauer 38 365 Garrett Passmore 50 293 Passing C-A-I Yds Phillip Coers 6-30-3 210 Receiving Rec. Yds Chris Schempf 2 104

Season Returns

•

• •• •• • ••• 8-3

1-8

1-8

1-8

3-6

6-4

5-5

4-5

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

DRUMMET’S

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Contact Kris Sands at 815-632-6470 ksands@saukvalley.com 3200 E. Lincolnway, Sterling

Opponent

Bureau Valley at Orion at Sherrard* rec. forfeit Newman* St. Bede* at Kewanee* Princeton* at Hall*

* Three Rivers Mississippi game Homecoming: Week 6

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TD 2 TD 1

Campaign Game time

1-8

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2015

5-4 10-2 0-9 9-2 4-5 3-6 11-1 9-3

returning starters in bold 2 Kody Wetzell 3 Conner Reiley 4 Jacob Ryan 5 Justice Youngberg 6 Garrett Passmore 7 Dillin Tegeler 8 Logan Henrekin 10 Carson Kirkpatrick 12 Eric Robinson 15 Drew Misfeldt 16 Aaron Wetzell 18 Nathan Pierceson 20 Kerrick Cameron 21 Jarett McCoy 22 Kade Kovarik 23 Abel Buyno 24 Peyton Glassburn 31 Matthew Nipper 39 Austin McKee 44 Mat Garrison 47 Kyle Stover 49 Zach Greer 52 Travis Coleman 54 Alec Wetzell 58 Dylan Hollenbach 62 Martin Kursz 66 Jordan Westerfield 72 Ryne Jaquet 74 Noah Friedrichsen 75 Nick Clayton 77 James Stratton 78 Tyler Passno 79 Trace Shoup 80 Ross Cady 81 Levi Cole 89 Payton Gerlach

5-10 5-10 5-11 6-4 5-9 6-3 5-9 5-11 6-1 5-9 5-6 6-1 5-7 5-9 5-10 5-7 5-10 5-8 6-2 5-10 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-3 5-8 6-1 6-1 6-5

155 160 150 190 170 170 140 195 165 170 165 190 140 165 160 135 145 145 160 180 175 180 205 220 220 235 295 230 275 250 210 340 305 175 160 195

Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Jr.

RB/DB RB/LB QB/DB TE/DE RB/LB WR/LB HB/DB WR/DB QB/LB RB/LB WR/DB QB/DE WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB RB/LB TE/LB FB/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/LB K/TE TE/DE

Did You Know?

• The Panthers are 53-87 as a cooperative program, which started in 2001. Nearly half of their win total (23 of them) has come in the past four seasons.

Good Luck To All Area Teams!

www.birkeys.com

317 Washington St., Prophetstown 815-537-2881 Dan and Dave Drummet

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PAGE 28

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 29

FB16 GUIDE

PRESIDENTIAL PLAYERS FOOTBALL HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE, AND MANY PRESIDENTS CAN BE FOUND THROWING THE PIGSKIN AROUND AS A WAY TO UNWIND. THERE HAVEN’T BEEN MANY PRESIDENTS WHO PLAYED ORGANIZED FOOTBALL DURING THEIR YOUTH, BUT THOSE WHO DID CERTAINLY LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE GRIDIRON BEFORE LEAVING THEIR LEGACY AS LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD. HERE ARE THE FEW WHO PLAYED – INCLUDING DIXON’S FAVORITE SON, RONALD REAGAN. FDR THROUGH JFK Though stricken with polio and confined to a wheelchair as an adult, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945, was the first president to play school football during his teens.

He attended the exclusive Groton School in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1899.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd President

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, played high school football at Abilene High School in Kansas during the fall of 1908 – his senior year of high school. That year, according to his 1969 autobiography, Eisenhower helped form, and was president of, the school’s athletic association – back in a time when students had more control over Dwight D. school athletics.

Eisenhower Eisenhower, who played right end, overcame 34th President a infected leg injury during his freshman year.

Abilene played in just four games during their inaugural season, and later that year “Ike” played on the school’s first baseball team.

At West Point, Eisenhower played football during his sophomore and junior years, but a knee injury in a 1914 game against Tufts ended his playing days. He graduated from West Point in 1915 – “the class the stars fell on,” where 59 of the 164 cadets rose to flag rank.

John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination on November 22, 1963, played on the junior football team at Choate Academy in Wallingford, Connecticut. His older brother, Joe Jr., excelled in sports at Choate, and many expected “Jack” to do the same. However, poor grades, illnesses, and a thrill for social activity highlighted his years John F. Kennedy at Choate, where he graduated in 1935. He also 35th participated in basketball and golf.

President Kennedy didn’t weigh more than 135 pounds during his high school days, but after a brief stint at Princeton University, he partook in freshman-level football at Harvard. According to Nigel Hamilton’s 1992 biography “JFK: Reckless Youth,” his bad behavior on campus brought upon a demotion to the second team, then a back injury ended his playing days. However, Kennedy excelled in swimming and sailing at Harvard.

From Duke to President Reagan suited up for Dixon Union long before sitting in Oval Office

N

BY CODY CUTTER | ccutter@saukvalley.com | 815-625-3600, ext. 5552 | @CodyCutter35

ot many people have the opportunity to play high school football within a football pass away from their back doorstep.

attend the more advanced north side high school.

Art, drama and literary contests appealed to Ronald during his first 2 years of high school from 1924 to 1925. Meanwhile, his brother, Neil “Moon” Reagan, starred on the football team during that time as a right end. The 1925 team won the Rock River Conference championship with a 8-0-1 record, and during a 70-0 blowout against Not many people who have Polo, Neil recovered four fumplayed high school football bles and ran one back for the have become President of the game’s final touchdown.

United States.

Eager to follow in his older Ronald Reagan did both. brother’s footsteps, Ronald The future 40th President of the was slightly taller than Neil, United States, born in Tampico but not as built. As a junior, on February 6, 1911, played foot- he played on the lightweight ball for the Dixon Union team in squad (similar to today’s ver1926 and 1927 while an uppersion of a junior varsity level). classman at North Dixon High Football wasn’t much of a size School. Dixon Union – a cooper- game at that time, and Ronald ative effort between Dixon High was tabbed to play left tackle in and North Dixon, before their his first game. The opportunity merger in 1929 – played their came on October 9, 1926, in a games in the vicinity of the field 6-0 win against Mendota. that would later be named after Reagan wouldn’t stay with the Reagan’s high school football lightweights for very long. He coach, A.C. Bowers. may have been called up to play Reagan, a 1928 graduate of the second half of Dixon’s 34-0 North Dixon, lived on West loss to Rock Falls the following Everett Street north of the athlet- Saturday, and 1 week after the ic fields located within Pleasure lightweights lost 2-0 to rival SterPark. The Reagans moved from ling, he started in his first varsity their home on South Hennepin game in a 6-0 loss to Rochelle on Avenue in 1924 and crossed the November 6. Reagan, now playRock River so that Ronald could ing right guard, saw his team

Photo courtesy of Dixon High School

Before becoming the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a football player for Dixon Union, then Eureka College. Here, “Dutch” is seen during a 1980 visit to his hometown. lose when Rochelle used a nohuddle offense to score late in the fourth quarter against holes in the Dixon line. “‘Dutch’, the lightest but fastest guard on the team, won his letter through sheer grit,” wrote the 1927 Dixonian yearbook. “With ‘Dutch’ returning

to the squad, things look good for Dixon in 1927.”

The Dixon Evening Teelgraph’s preview of the 1927 Dixon team considered the group “an average squad,” and as it turned out, they finished 2-5.

The season opened with a 25-0 loss to Mendota, and the

Telegraph reported in the following write-up in the 38-7 loss to Rock Falls that “cripples and ineligibles left Dixon with a weak line.” Reagan, however, started the Rock Falls game at left tackle, where he would remain for the rest of the season.

Two more losses followed, and

Dixon sat at 0-4 after a 25-0 loss to Sterling and an 18-0 defeat at Savanna. An Armistice Day victory broke a long winless streak against Rochelle. Dixon won 6-0 in a game described by the Telegraph as a downpour, and “fumbles were frequent.”

Mount Morris easily went down the following week in a 44-0 win as Reagan and the rest of the Dixon starters sat out for the second half.

Being a left tackle, Reagan didn’t get to touch the ball much, and didn’t amass stats worthy enough to be mentioned in the Telegraph. His surname was simply mentioned in the starting lineup. However, Reagan’s name made the newspaper in story copy in his final high school football game.

“Reagan kicked off for Dixon to the Sterling 22-yard line.”

The game was a 34-0 loss to Sterling in the annual Thanksgiving meeting, and Reagan was called to kick the ball to start the second half.

While Reagan’s senior year fell short of overall expectations, the 1928 annual described the passion with which he played. “‘Dutch’ proved to be one of the strong factors in the line this year,” wrote the Dixonian.

“He took care of his tackle berth in a credible manner, and certainly had true ‘Dixon Spirit.’”

That spirit was exemplified in more than in just football.

Reagan continued his involvement in drama, and joined the school play during his junior year. He was also involved in the Hi-Y club during his upperclass years. During the Dixon North student “pow-wow” retreat near Grand Detour his senior year, Reagan led the festivities as “Heap Big Chief.”

Reagan’s senior year saw the first titles of president be bestowed upon him. He was president of the drama club and president of the NorthSouth student body. Following his 1928 graduation, Reagan became very involved at Eureka College – among his activities were 3 years of playing guard on the football team.

Football wasn’t in Reagan’s future after his Eureka days, as his talents in the arts would eventually lead to major Hollywood motion picture roles in the 1940s and 50s.

At the time Reagan suited up in his No. 33 uniform in Dixon, little did he know that one day he would deal with an important suitcase named after the sport.

Reagan never had to open the nuclear football as the Cold War wound down, but perhaps the very thought of it would briefly bring to mind his days playing football in his backyard.

NIXON & FORD Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States from 1968 until his resignation on August 9, 1974, played 2 years of high school football as an underclassman at Fullerton High School in California from Richard M. 1926 to 1927. Before that, at East Whittier Grammar School, Nixon Nixon played soccer.

37th President His high school athletic career – he also participated in basketball and track as an underclassman – was rather unremarkable. He weighed 140 pounds as a freshman, and did not start a single game on the gridiron.

Nixon did, however, excel on the debate team both during his years at Fullerton, and his final 2 years of high school in Whittier.

In Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1987 biography of Nixon, it was mentioned that he used his mouth a lot to engage in competition.

After attending and playing some football once more at Whittier College, Nixon served as president during a critical time of professional football. The AFL and NFL merged 2 years into his presidency.

Perhaps the most talented, and easily the most well-known, of the presidential football-playing bunch, Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States from 1974 to 1977, won state and city championships and Gerald R. was an all-city player for Grand Rapids South High School in Ford Michigan.

38th President Ford played center and linebacker for South High, snapping into a successful double wing offense.

He was captain for his senior team that went undefeated and captured a state championship in 1931.

College football success came soon after, as Ford helped lead the Michigan Wolverines to undefeated national championships in 1932 and 1933. He turned down offers to play for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to enroll in the law school at Yale – where he also served as an assistant football coach.

PAGE 30

Fulton Steamers

• 10th season at Fulton

• 37-46 (.446) • 2 playoff appearances

2015

• 4-5 overall • 4-2 TRAC Rock (3rd place)

2015 Results Hall 21, Steamers 7 Newman 28, Steamers 16 Orion 41, Steamers 16 Steamers 53, Riverdale 7 Princeton 24, Steamers 20 Steamers 42, Morrison 16

Steamers 40, B.Valley 20 Rockridge 48, Steamers 28

Steamers 49, Amboy 0

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 271 Points scored avg.: 30.1 Points allowed: 205 Points allowed avg.: 22.8 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 2-2 On road: 2-3

Conference: Three Rivers Rock Enrollment: 309 Projected class: 2A

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Patrick Lower

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

2015 Stat Leaders

Cole McClary chats about Steamers Team strength: We’re definitely big up front [on defense]. We’ve got a lot of linemen that go hard every single play and that gives us linebackers a chance to find the ball.

Working on: We have a couple outside backers we moved inside and have some new outside backers.

My role: Get tackles on the defensive end, control the defense, get us going, get stops, get our offense the ball.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Trey Simmons 129 841 11 Michael Pidde 98 433 9 Austin Rash 70 254 3 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Tyler Sweenie 40-73-2 500 6 Jack Lemke 23-44-3 366 6 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Rodney Gossard 13 187 2 Devon Ballard 17 175 3 Trey Simmons 10 170 4

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

•• 6-4

5-5

• • • • • 4-5

4-5

4-5

2-7

•• 5-4

6-4

• 4-5

2-7

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

2015

at Hall 9-3 Newman 9-2 Orion* 10-2 at Riverdale* 0-9 Princeton 11-1 Morrison* 3-6 Bureau Valley* 5-4 at Rockridge* 7-4 at West Hancock 6-4

* Three Rivers Rock game Homecoming: Week 5

Radio: 1390 AM

returning starters in bold 1 Tyler Sweenie 6-1 3 Ty Paulline 6-1 5 Bryce Grant 5-10 6 Erik North 6-2 8 Adam Hodge 5-9 10 Dylan Moshure 5-10 12 Jesse Singh 5-10 21 Nathan McLuckie 6-2 23 Tyler Bruggenwirth 6-3 30 Austin Schroeder 5-10 34 Michael Pidde 5-8 44 Austin Rash 5-10 48 Cole McClary 5-9 51 Cole Grant 5-9 54 Brody Mason 5-11 56 Ethan Fish 6-5 57 Eli Pannell 6-1 60 Kyle McLuckie 6-2 62 Blake Dornbush 6-1 64 Alex Martin 5-9 67 Taylor Tubbs 6-3 69 Nate Wierema 6-4 72 Zack Simons 6-4 74 Dustin Williams-Davis 6-4 78 Ian Frederick 6-1 79 Stanton Sikkema 6-0

190 170 170 200 175 175 170 180 215 180 215 190 185 175 185 210 180 245 240 175 220 225 280 250 250 250

sr. sr. jr. jr. sr. jr. jr. jr. jr. jr. sr. jr. sr. sr. jr. jr. so. sr. sr. sr. sr. jr. jr. sr. jr. so.

Did You Know?

qb/db e/db qb/db e/lb e/lb e/db e/db e/db e/lb rb/db rb/dl rb/db rb/db ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl ol/dl

• Former Steamers coach Jim Proud led Fulton to the playoffs 11 times, including 1991 when the Steamers won the Class 2A state championship.

Patrick Lower has led Fulton to the postseason twice in his 9 years.

Look for our weekly football pull out section every Saturday! publishers of

daily Gazette, Telegraph & Sauk Valley Weekend

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 31

FB16 GUIDE

Millledgeville Missiles

Conference: NUIC Upstate Enrollment: 165 Projected class: 1A

• 8th season at M’ville

• 13-50 (.206) • 0 playoff appearances

2015

• 4-5 overall • 4-4 NUIC Upstate (tied for 4th place)

2015 Results Missiles 24, Durand 7 Missiles 26, Aquin 17 AFC 21, Missiles 15 Missiles 46, Orangeville 6 Missiles 35, River Ridge 0 Polo 57, Missiles 0 Stockton 43, Missiles 6 Dakota 42, Missiles 13 Warren 20, Missiles 15

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 180 Points scored avg.: 20.0 Points allowed: 213 Points allowed avg.: 23.7 Playoff teams faced: 4 At home: 2-3 On road: 2-2

2015 Stat Leaders

Payton Harris chats about Missiles Team strength: I think our strength is on defense. We’ve got a lot of big guys up front.

Working on: We haven’t been able to move the ball the past few years. Up front, if we can get guys moved off the line, that will iron things out.

Watch out for this guy: Buddy Bibler.

That kid’s got wheels. He can make moves.

Can’t wait to play: Polo. MilledgevillePolo is a big rivalry.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing Att. Troy Litwiller 53 Joshua Walker 70 Jeremy Bibler 51 Passing C-A-I Troy Litwiller 33-55-7 Receiving Rec. Jeremy Bibler 18 Evan Skoog 4 Ezra Walker 4

Season Returns Game time

•

•

8-3

4-5

• 2-7

1-8

••• 0-9 0-9

Yds TD 562 3 Yds TD 102 0 34 0 34 1

Campaign

12-1

•

Yds TD 424 5 406 3 401 3

•• • 4-5

3-6 3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri, Sept. 16, 7 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

Opponent

2015

Durand* 3-6 at Aquin* 5-4 AFC* 4-5 at Orangeville* 1-8 River Ridge* 0-9 at Polo* 11-1 Stockton* 8-3 at Dakota 7-3 at Warren* 7-4

* NUIC Upstate game Homecoming: Week 5

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returning starters in bold 6 Drake Dublo 5-10 7 Jayce Gusloff 5-10 8 Bryce Frederick 5-10 9 Dylan Alexander 6-2 10 Brexton Flynn 6-1 14 Jack Munz 5-9 16 Jeremy Bibler 5-9 20 Matthew Biller 5-4 24 Cade Schave 6-4 26 Christian Toms-Smith 5-4 30 Nathan Rahn 6-2 33 Carson Boyer 5-10 40 Jacob Hartje 5-10 42 Kyle Forbes 5-10 44 Dylan Janssen 6-2 46 Cayde Gusloff 6-0 52 Alex Kersten 5-9 54 Alex Brall 5-3 60 Blayne Kappes 5-9 64 Zachary Hook 6-1 65 Kyle Kendall 6-1 66 Chase Hutchison 6-0 70 Connor Woodin 5-10 71 Payton Harris 6-1 74 Corey Anderson 6-0 75 Keaton Casares 5-10 76 Mason McKenna 5-11 81 Grant Schurman 6-2 82 Thane Young 5-11

140 160 140 205 210 145 150 125 150 130 180 155 155 155 180 165 190 185 200 280 210 210 170 210 210 274 180 180 155

Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. So. So. So. So. So.

RB/CB TE/CB RB/CB TE/LB QB/LB QB/CB RB/CB RB/CB RB/LB RB/CB RB/LB RB/CB RB/DL RB/LB TE/DL TE/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB TE/LB

Did You Know?

• Hall of fame coach Gary Hartje coached the team to a 185-114 record during his 30 seasons from 1979-2008. Hartje guided the Missiles to the semifinals on three occasions, in 1998, ’99, and 2008.

M

Go Missiles!

451 N. Main Ave., Milledgeville 815.225.7171 www.milledgevillebank.com

SM-ST6417-0825

Jason Wroble

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

PAGE 32

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Morrison Mustangs Cory Bielema

• 9th season at Morrison

2015

• 3-6 overall • 3-3 TRAC Rock (tied for 4th place)

2015 Results

2015 By Numbers

• • •• • •

14 13 12 11 10 11-2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Campaign Game time

14-0

13-1

11-1

10-2

8-3

• 6-4

•• • 1-8

3-6

2-7

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Ruth Gundlach CPCU,

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Sat., Sept. 10, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

HEATING & COOLING

Agent

Opponent

2015

at Kewanee 3-6 Princeton 11-1 at Newman 9-2 Rockridge* 7-4 Riverdale* 0-9 at Fulton* 4-5 at Orion* 10-2 West Hancock 6-4 at Bureau Valley* 5-4

* Three Rivers Rock game Homecoming: Week 5

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Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr.

QB/LB RB/DB RB/LB QB/DB RB/LB E/LB E/DB RB/DB E/DB E/DB E/DB RB/LB E/LB RB/LB RB/DL OL/Dl OL/DL OL/DL OL/Dl OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

Did You Know?

• The Mustangs are at risk of missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Morrison has not done that since a 4-year drought from 20002003. The recent downturn comes on the heels of making the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons. In that span, the team went 86-21, and won class 2A state championships in 2009 and 2011.

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Rushing Att. Yds TD Andy Bird 137 650 5 Tate Renkes 29 221 3 Ryan VanZuiden 28 126 1 Passing C-A-I Yds TD Dylan Keller 50-115-12 872 6 Receiving Rec. Yds TD Joey Brackemyer 13 259 2 Payton Cook 6 163 1 Ryan VanZuiden 7 120 1

Season Returns

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dailyGAZETTE

2015 Stat Leaders

Thomas Ottens chats about Mustangs Expectations for this season: We have more guys this year, which can only be a good thing. We think if we can improve on the things we did well, we’ll win some more games this year.

Favorite food during season: Any kind of pasta.

Can’t wait to play: Fulton.

Favorite football memory: Beating conference champ Orion in overtime last year.

• 57-31 (.648) • 5 playoff appearances • 2 state championships

Points scored: 174 Points scored avg.: 19.3 Points allowed: 273 Points allowed avg.: 30.3 Playoff teams faced: 4 At home: 1-4 On road: 2-2

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

Kewanee 27, Mustangs 26 Princeton 48, Mustangs 6 Newman 30, Mustangs 8 Rockridge 27, Mustangs 14 Mustangs 22, Riverdale 7 Fulton 42, Mustangs 16 Mustangs 20, Orion 17, OT Mustangs 40, Amboy 33 B.Valley 42, Mustangs 22

Conference: Three Rivers Rock Enrollment: 299 Projected class: 2A

to all area teams!

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Angi An Angie gie gi e Va Vand VanderVinne nder nd erVi er Vinn Vi nne nn e 81 815815-772-8900 5-77 577277 2-89 28900 89 00 | Auto Auto •Hom • •Home Home Hom e • Li Life fe •Bu •Busin •Business siness sin ess

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

FB16 GUIDE

PAGE 33

TACKLING THE ISSUES | FAVORITE RIVALRIES

Rivalries make for best games T

By SVM Sports Staff

here’s just something about a rivalry that adds a little more spice to the already intense atmosphere of a high school football game.

Here are the favorites of the SVM Sports Staff: Ty: There are a lot of good ones in this area – Sterling-Geneseo, Polo-Milledgeville, OregonByron – but the one that sticks out most in my mind is Newman vs. Morrison.

For about a 7-year span from 2005-11, that was the talk of the Sauk Valley. In a 3-year span, that matchup basically decided the state champion, with the Mustangs winning it all in 2009 & ’11, and the Comets claiming a title in 2010.

One of those games – I can’t remember if it was a regularseason matchup or a playoff tilt – had one of the biggest 50-50 pots I’ve ever heard of at a high school sporting event, with more than $1,000 going to the winner.

The games were so big for a while that if they fell on a Saturday, instead of the traditional afternoon kickoff, the games were moved to the night so they could be played under the lights, to give the games a more festive atmosphere.

Only one time in that span did one of those two teams not win at least 8 games in a season, and usually their games were decided in the fourth quarter.

Now that’s what I call a rivalry.

Brian: With all due respect to Newman vs. Morrison, which had a great recent run, and the now-defunct Newman vs.

Amboy blood feud, I’d have to go with Sterling vs. Geneseo.

In most seasons, the winner between the Golden Warriors and Maple Leafs is going to win a conference championship, set itself up for a playoff run, and there are always top-notch athletes involved. Throw in a pair of rabid fan bases, and you have the makings of a great rivalry.

Patrick: What is better than playing for the Wooden Shoe?

Morrison and Fulton have done it annually since 1946, with a few years sprinkled in before.

I’ve covered this game twice since I’ve been here, and each time the reaction from the winning team is great. Kids storming the field, taking turns holding up the plaque. One year, some Fulton players kissed the thing.

Having a traveling trophy in sports is fun. It adds another layer to the game, and gives the athletes a little extra something to play for.

Cody: With the ever-changing conference landscape in recent times, lopsided win-loss records, and each school’s individual goals toward overall success, it has become difficult for rivalries to sustain themselves.

One rivalry that isn’t going away anytime soon is the Wooden Shoe Bowl between Fulton and Morrison (worded that way simply for alphabetical reasons). It is one of two local rivalries played for a traveling trophy, in this case it’s the Wooden Shoe. The trophy was designed to honor the similar Dutch heritages of both communities right down the Lincoln Highway from one another.

The Fulton-Morrison rivalry dates back to a 16-0 Morrison win in 1901, and was played 11 times up until 1916. The two teams have played each other every year since 1946 in Illiowa, Three Rivers, and Big Rivers conference play. The Wooden Shoe trophy itself was introduced in 1977. Morrison leads the series 55-26-5.

The other local traveling trophy also involves Fulton. The Steamers play Newman for the Rev. Matt VanderBleek Trophy, Special to SVM honoring a late Fulton native who was an assistant principal Fulton’s Trey Simmons (17) tries to run through the tackle of Morrison’s Andy Bird (20) during the first half of the Wooden Shoe Bowl last season at E.M. ‘Bud’ Cole Field. The long-standing trophy at Newman until his death in 1994. game is the favorite rivalry of two of the SVM Sports Staffers.

PAGE 34

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

TACKLING THE ISSUES | PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE

Debate rages on Separate playoffs is annual argument “Even as a player in the ‘80s, there was always a question when public schools and private regon coach John schools were playing.

Bothe has heard Let’s be honest, the issue the debate before. comes to a head regardOf the 120 state chaming playoffs and classifipions crowned in football cations that way.” since Illinois went to eight When Bothe was playclasses in 2001, 47 have ing, the private school been private schools – powerhouse was Woodeven though just 63 of the stock Marian, which won 580 schools playing foot- three state titles in the ball in Illinois are private. 1980s, including back-toWith 11 percent of back championships in the schools winning 39 1986 and 1987. percent of the titles, the Over the years, the systopic of separating public tem has been tweaked and private schools into from time to time, from different tournaments football enrollment to the private school multiplier comes up often. to the success multiplier, “It goes back to when I was a player,” Bothe said. but the issue of a separate

BY ERIC INGLES eingles@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5555 @Eric_Ingles

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class for private schools will still pop up.

“I think there’s a good chance of it [happening], but most of the coaches that have been around know that to be a state champ, you’ve got to beat everybody, not just the public schools,” Newman coach Mike Papoccia said. “I know some of the better coaches at public schools have said they wouldn’t even think of being called a state champ if the private schools weren’t in there.”

Several states have private schools compete in separate classes, some even having separate state associations.

DEBATE continued on 354

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 35

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE

Other states have split up public, private schools DEBATE

CONTINUED FROM 34

Florida designates Class 1A, the smallest schools, as publiconly, with private schools playing no lower than Class 2A. Louisiana began having separate playoffs in 2013, but reversed that decision in January. New Jersey, which already had a separate postseason for private schools, will also have public and private schools in separate conferences for regular season play starting this year.

In Alabama, state Rep. Ritchie Whorton proposed HB364 in March, a bill that would make it illegal for public and private schools in that state to face each other in the postseason.

That bill was referred to committee, where it still sits.

“I guess the one thing is there’s been so much success in the non-public schools, I think there’s some merit to that conversation,” Sterling coach Jon Schlemmer said. “At the same time, some people don’t believe that, and believe you have to beat the best to be the best. I don’t necessarily know it’s going to happen.”

Schlemmer’s Golden Warriors often find themselves in Class 5A, a class dominated for years

by Montini, until Sacred HeartGriffin won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014 and Nazareth won the state title last year. No public school has won the Class 5A state championship since Metamora in 2007.

“We’re right smack in the middle if you really think of some of the powerhouse programs in Illinois,” Schlemmer said. “We understand with the rules right now, we’re going to have to play some awfully good teams.”

It was Marian who knocked out Sterling in 2014 before themselves losing to Montini the

following week. Montini’s run to the state title in 2011 included a win over Sterling in the second round of the playoffs.

Though the Warriors have run into private school powers in the playoffs before, Schlemmer said that’s not something the team focuses on. They will play whoever they have to.

“As a public school coach, you should never complain about playing a private school team, especially in a playoff situation,” Bothe said. “You never back down, because once you start that complaint, it’s going to hurt your team. You never back down.”

Bothe thinks the multiplier, instituted after five private school teams won state titles in 2004, is as good a system as possible. Private schools see their total enrollment multiplied by 1.65, often bumping that school up a class.

One problem with that system is declining enrollment in private schools, which the U.S. Department of Education notes has been ongoing for more than a decade. Declining enrollment knocked Bishop McNamara down to Class 3A last year.

“The other thing that’s going to come up is public schools that have no boundaries, like Chicago Phillips,” Bothe said.

“Even though they’re not a private school, they’re a public school that has open enrollment, like last year especially with dominant talent. You try to do the best you can to maintain a competitive balance, but I think we’ve all got to understand that this could be as good as it gets, and you just build up yourselves and build up your program as much as you can so that you can compete with anybody that you have to play.”

Montini, Sacred Heart-Griffin and Joliet Catholic have 24 championships between them.

But along with teams like that,

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Sterling quarterback Sterling Thornton (2) tries to escape pressure during a 2014 playoff game against Woodstock Marian. Public schools battling private schools in the postseason has been an issue in Illinois for decades, and will continue to be discussed every season. there are teams like Rockford Christian, who has had three straight winless seasons, and Rockford Lutheran, who has made the playoffs 4 years in a row, but before that won a total of nine games in the previous nine seasons, including going 0-9 in 2003, 2004 and 2009.

“If you look at the number of private schools that have won titles, it’s probably a few private schools that have won a lot of titles,” Bothe said. “I think a lot of people use that as a simple solution, to just go to six public classes and two privates, and maybe that would work. But where are you going to draw

the line? Where’s the cutoff going to be? Freeport Aquin, a private school with 100-some kids, and Bishop McNamara or Immaculate Conception in the same class, Aquin with 100 kids against a school a lot bigger.”

But still, the rumors of recruiting persist, and the talk of dealing with that by having a separate playoff goes on.

“If anyone’s getting looked at closer than the private schools, I’d like to know who it is,” Papoccia said. “If you look at the last 5 years, the public schools have been caught for cheating more than the private schools, probably. Let’s just play.”

At Newman, the most recent state championship team had a roster filled with players with ties to Newman, who had come up through the Newman system or attended church there.

“People want to be a part of our school because we’ve been successful,” Papoccia said. “That’s not football, that’s everything. Our kids get into any college they want.

They say public schools have restrictions, they have to take everybody. We’ll take anybody.

We’ve got 228 kids. We’d like to have 600 here. It’s not like we’re being selective.”

PAGE 36

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Newman Comets

• 37th season at Newman • 306-94 (.765) • 26 playoff appearances • 5 state championships

2015

• 9-2 overall • 5-1 TRAC Mississippi (2nd place)

2015 Results Comets 22, Rockridge 8 Comets 28, Fulton 16 Comets 30, Morrison 8 Comets 38, Kewanee 29

Jacob Heiderscheit chats about Comets Team strength: Our willingness to adapt to any situation out on the field and our offense and defense can run against anything we see.

Working on: The little things, just perfecting our offense, perfecting our blocks and our blitzes on defense.

My role: Like all seniors, I try to be a leader and you’ve just got to push your team to be the best at every practice.

Comets 51, Farmington 6 McNamara 34, Comets 14

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 315 Points scored avg.: 28.6 Points allowed: 190 Points allowed avg.: 17.3 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 4-2 On road: 5-0

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

2015 Stat Leaders

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Brady Rude 221 1,689 23 Kyle Decker 56 319 1 Landen Vesley 32 262 6 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Logan Whitman 11-26-1 203 1 Landen Vesley 32-68-3 184 1 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD John Wilson 11 168 2 Brady Rude 12 60 0

Season Returns

Comets 26, Erie-P’town 20

Princeton 14, Comets 0 Comets 54, Sherrard 7 Comets 22, Hall 21 Comets 30, St. Bede 27 3A playoffs

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Mike Papoccia

Conference: Three Rivers Mississippi Enrollment: 376.20 Projected class: 2A/3A

•

14-0

•

••• 8-3

8-3

•

••

12-1

10-2

13-1

Campaign

•

11-1

Game time

• 9-2

8-4

6-4

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Sat., Aug. 27, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Sat., Sept. 10, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:45 Fri., Sept. 23, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Sat., Oct. 15, 2 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30

Opponent

* Three Rivers Mississippi game Homecoming: Week 7

Radio: 102.7 FM

WISHING THE BEST TO ALL OUR AREA TEAMS!

Good Luck Zachary Rice!

2015

Rockridge 7-4 at Fulton 4-5 Morrison 3-6 at Kewanee* 3-6 at Erie-P’town* 4-5 at Princeton* 11-1 Sherrard* 0-9 Hall* 9-3 St. Bede* 4-5

returning starters in bold 11 Landen Vesley 6-2 205 13 Riley Vondra 6-0 160 14 Ryan Noble 5-10 145 17 Eli Leffelman 6-0 180 20 Easton Bianchi 5-7 140 21 Karter Decker 6-1 165 22 Chase Graham 6-1 185 24 Koltyn Jones 5-8 155 31 Cade Bianchi 5-7 145 32 Cade Gorzny 5-9 160 33 Tyree Dillard 6-2 160 34 Aaron Scroggins 5-11 185 35 Brentin Erickson 6-0 155 41 Jacob Heiderscheit 6-2 185 42 Luke Olson 6-0 200 44 Zachary Rice 5-10 190 50 Sean Celestino 5-7 205 51 Zach Brauman 6-3 220 52 Nate Olson 6-2 250 55 Jacob Rhodes 6-0 215 60 Drew Ackman 6-0 180 63 James Phelps 6-3 255 66 Trevor Buser 5-10 240 68 Jacob Neiswander 5-11 185 70 Brad Fritts 6-0 220 71 Tom Moore 6-0 250 74 Nicholas Nailor 6-0 250 77 Kalen Smith 5-10 250 80 Clayton Yde 5-11 180 81 John Wilson 6-1 175 89 Jacob Garland 5-11 170

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Did You Know?

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August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 37

FB16 GUIDE

Oregon Hawks

• 18th season at Oregon

• 110-78 (.585) • 12 playoff appearances

2015

• 3-6 overall • 2-5 BNC West (6th place)

2015 results Johnsburg 53, Hawks 25 Hawks 25, North Boone 7 Hawks 13, Rock Falls 6 Dixon 28, Hawks 27 Lutheran 60, Hawks 0 Byron 38, Hawks 14 Winnebago 27, Hawks 23 Hawks 27, Mendota 20 Stillman 22, Hawks 19

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 173 Points scored avg.: 19.2 Points allowed: 261 Points allowed avg.: 29.0 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 2-2 On road: 1-4

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach John Bothe

Conference: Big Northern Enrollment: 443 Projected class: 3A

2015 Stat Leaders

Caleb Mennen chats about Hawks Favorite aspect of football: Just having a blast with my teammates.

Football is a really good time, and I always leave the field with a good feeling win or lose.

Favorite food during season: Peanut butter and honey on a sandwich.

Music that gets you ready to play: Anything country.

Looking forward to this season: Really every game. Every game means something to us.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD John Ghibellini 143 798 8 Brayton Finch 90 505 6 Caleb Mennen 53 420 5 Maverik Good 77 356 2 Jerrick Orsted 16 125 0 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Jerrick Orsted 4-15-2 116 2 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Maverik Good 4 116 2

Season Returns

Campaign

12-1

Game time

•

•• 8-3

8-3

7-4

•• • •• • • 6-5 6-4

6-5 6-5

3-6

2-7

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Fri. Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:15 Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

Opponent

2015

at Mon.-Roseville 4-5 Dixon* 6-4 at North Boone* 4-5 Rock Falls* 0-9 Winnebago* 5-5 at Byron* 9-3 at Lutheran* 11-1 at Stillman* 4-5 Rkfd. Christian* 0-9

* Big Northern game Homecoming: Week 4

Radio: 95.7 FM

returning starters in bold 12 Caid Chenoweth 5-11 15 Andrew Newman 6-4 16 Will Rice 6-2 18 Jacob Bailey 5-6 21 Reyes Carreno 5-5 22 Devin DeHaan 6-0 28 Nathan Clark 5-10 29 Chase Prehn 5-8 31 Caleb Mennen 5-11 34 Brandon Ramirez 5-11 36 Jacob Cullen 6-2 43 Jared Pottorff 6-1 45 Savian Hernandez 5-9 46 Gabe Todd 6-2 54 Matthew Daub 5-9 55 Austin Howard 5-11 56 Shane Mowry 5-11 63 Sawyer Foss 6-1 64 Jacob Cox 5-9 65 Anthony Marchetti 6-0 67 Jacob Helfrick 5-8 72 Jeff Gracyalny 6-3 75 Andrew Wolber 5-10 84 Kevin Beard 6-1 85 Connor Hopkins 5-11

195 180 175 160 185 185 170 160 185 165 180 180 155 190 145 165 270 190 215 225 180 215 220 225 170

Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

QB/DB QB/DB RB/DB RB/SS RB/DB RB/DE RB/LB QB/DB RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB TE/DE TE/DB TE/DE TE/DE OL/DL OL/DL TE/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL TE/DE TE/DE

Did You Know?

• In their past five playoff appearances, the Hawks have been eliminated by either Newman or Aurora Christian.

Oregon lost to Newman in 3A secondround games in 2009 (9-0) and in 2014 (50-14). The Hawks lost to Aurora Christian 38-0 in 2010, 34-21 in 2011, and 49-20 in 2013.

Look for our weekly football pull out section every Saturday! publishers of

daily Gazette, Telegraph & Sauk Valley Weekend

PAGE 38

Polo Marcos

• 1st season at polo

• 0-0 (.000) • 0 playoff appearances

2015

• 11-1 overall • 8-0 NUIC Upstate (1st place)

2015 results Marcos 61, River Ridge 0 Marcos 50, Durand 0 Marcos 48, Stockton 8 Marcos 45, EPC 0 Marcos 50, Warren 6 Marcos 57, Milledgeville 0 Marcos 61, Aquin 7 Marcos 52, AFC 14 Marcos 64, Orangeville 0 1A playoffs Marcos 49, West. Christian 6

Marcos 40, Warren 0 Stark Co. 35, Marcos 17

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 594 Points scored avg.: 54.0 Points allowed: 76 Points allowed avg.: 6.9 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 5-0 On road: 6-1

Conference: NUIC Upstate Enrollment: 196 Projected class: 1A

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach Jeff Bumsted

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

2015 Stat Leaders

Matthew Binkley chats about Marcos Best part about football: The contact. I love the sound when you hit someone hard.

Favorite food during season: Pizza.

Favorite football memory: Sophomore year against Milledgeville I picked up my first fumble and took it 50 yards for a touchdown.

Hobbies when not playing football: When I’m not playing I’m watching football, or just hanging out with friends.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Brooks Grobe 118 1,353 17 Brad Cavanaugh 67 588 12 Brody Grobe 63 587 7 Dylan Beers 69 493 9 Tristen Aguilar 34 444 6 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Brody Grobe 32-49-5 360 5 Wyatt Patterson 17-27-0 201 4 Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Richie Bartnick 25 315 7

Season Returns

•• • • 6-4

7-3

8-4

7-3

Campaign

•

•

11-1

8-3

• •• • 4-5

1-8

4-5

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Game time

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Fri., Oct. 7, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

Opponent

* NUIC Upstate game Homecoming: Week 6

GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley

2015

River Ridge* at Durand* Stockton* EPC at Warren* Milledgeville* at Aquin* AFC* at Orangeville*

Good Luck Marcos & All AreaTeams!

0-9 3-6 8-3 2-7 7-4 4-5 5-4 4-5 1-8

returning starters in bold 1 Mason Wright 6-3 2 Brady Webb 5-9 3 Mathew Cheeseman 6-3 4 Baylee Wiemken 6-0 5 Braiden Soltow 6-0 11 Tristen Aguilar 5-10 12 Justin Young 6-3 13 Ethan Phillips 6-0 15 Jake Simpson 5-11 18 Randal Gabaldon 5-9 25 Reid Taylor 6-0 50 Casey Thacker 5-11 51 Cole Naylon 5-9 52 Fabian Calderon 5-7 53 Luke Peterson 6-0 54 Matthew Binkley 5-9 55 JJ Bardell 5-7 60 Dylan Collins 6-0 63 Kyle Brown 5-11 65 Draven Wells 5-11 70 Ben Peterson 5-9 72 Blaine Quaco 5-11 73 Brodie Cromer 5-9 74 AJ Williams 6-0 85 Kurtis Pilling 5-10 88 Marcus Almasy 6-0

145 145 165 165 170 185 190 145 155 180 190 180 165 185 205 190 190 190 240 165 195 250 235 225 175 185

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Did You Know?

• In their past four playoff appearances, the Marcos have lost to Stark County three times. Polo was eliminated by Stark County in 2008, 2014 and 2015. East Dubuque ended Polo’s season in 2009.

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August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 39

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | FAVORITE GAMES

We think these games top ’em all E

By SVM Sports Staff

verybody’s got one: that memorable game that sticks out above all others in your mind. Here are the ones that the SVM Sports Staff remembers most: Ty: There have been many great games I’ve covered throughout my 16 seasons at SVM, way too many to count. Of course, the two state title games I’ve attended have been truly great experiences, but that doesn’t take away from some of the regularseason gems I’ve had the pleasure of writing about.

Watching BV’s Garrett Barnas play was always near the top of the list, and seeing all four playoff wins in Dixon history is pretty cool. It seems like every team in our area fights toothand-nail every time it takes the field, so there’s no surprise that Friday night under the lights is my favorite time of the week.

But the two games that stick out to me more than any others both involve Dixon, and both came in my first 2 years here at the paper. My inaugural season in 2000, the Dukes finished 9-2, with both losses coming to Geneseo (regular season and second round of the playoffs). But the Dukes also beat Rochelle twice, the first time at Helms Athletic Complex in a hard-fought game that was intense from the get-go and still brings a smile to my face, and the second at A.C. Bowers Field in the first round of the playoffs.

The second game came the next year. The Dukes traveled to Geneseo and exacted a bit of revenge on the team that provided the only blemishes the year before, and also ended their season. A punt return TD from midfield early in the fourth quarter gave Dixon the lead, then a late TD pass by Dustin Bock after a Maple Leaf turnover put the victory on ice.

Eric: Being the new guy around here, I of course haven’t

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Eastland’s Cody Kluck (20) makes a catch between Fieldcrest’s Jordan Henkel and Jack McDonough during their semifinal playoff game in 2014. This E-PC comeback en route to the Class 2A state title is one of our favorite games to have covered here at SVM. covered any football games involving teams anyone around here has heard of … yet.

But back in 2008, I was working in Florida and covered a high school game between Nease and Episcopal. Hard-core football fans may recognize Nease as the alma mater of Tim Tebow. Really hard-core fans will recognize Episcopal as the school Tebow played for as a freshman.

So under the shadow of their “Proud home of Heisman winner Tim Tebow” sign about a mile south of the Jacksonville city limit, Nease fought with Episcopal in a back-and-forth shootout. Nease took a 20-7 lead after one quarter before Episcopal rallied and led at halftime. The lead went back and forth in the second half.

Nease got the ball to the Episcopal 1-yard line for a firstand-goal with 4 minutes left.

Episcopal held, forcing Nease to kick a field goal to take a 32-31 lead.

Episcopal then got a long kick return, completed a few passes along the sideline, and kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.

Brian: The Class 4A state championship game between Geneseo and Joliet Catholic in 1990 tops my list.

This version of the Maple Leafs didn’t have much size, and got even smaller when their one massive lineman, Jim Van Acker, tore up his knee in a semifinal win against Carbondale. Geneseo looked like a freshman team going up against a bunch of behemoths from JCA, which featured future NFL star Mike Alstott in a loaded backfield.

The Maple Leafs’ crisp Wing-T attack gave the Hilltoppers fits, however, and a touchdown in the final minute drew Geneseo to within 21-20. Head coach Vic Boblett decided to go for two points and the win, but tailback Ryan Verbeck was dragged

down from behind (in what today would be considered a textbook horse-collar tackle) by future Fighting Illini lineman John Horn.

I’ve still got a VHS tape of the game, and it’s worth it to pop it in once in awhile to relive the excitement of that game.

Patrick: Eastland-Pearl City’s state semifinal win over Fieldcrest in 2014 tops them all.

The Wildcatz had to dig out of a two-touchdown deficit after Fieldcrest opened the second half with a long TD pass. This EPC team was so dominant, though, that no lead was safe, and had proved it all season. This semifinal game was no different, as the Wildcatz scored six straight touchdowns to pull away.

The skill position players were outstanding on this team, and the defense was great. Both sides of the ball showed up in this game, and the special teams got into the mix with a punt return touchdown.

Throw in Cody Kluck playing through a broken finger and this game had it all.

Cody: Rockford Boylan’s dominance of the NIC-10 Conference reached 66 straight games by the time the Titans came to Hononegah in Week 2 of the 2013 season. However, many in the Rockford area looked at this game as the one most likely to see that long streak snapped.

Boylan entered the season with a new-look coaching staff and a group of juniors who turned in a sophomore season disappointing by Boylan standards. Meanwhile, Hononegah – long the No. 2 team in the conference – was poised to have their best season in a long time.

Hononegah opened with a fumble recovery on Boylan’s first play from scrimmage, and later took that in for a 7-0 lead.

The Indians led 21-0 at halftime, and it seemed that the streak would be history.

The Titans had other plans.

Their first score came on a third-quarter fumble recovery, and the next came on a short pass by QB Demry Croft with seconds left in the third. However, Boylan, for the third time, committed a 15-yard penalty to bring Hononegah into their red zone, and the Indians eventually scored a touchdown. Croft answered with a 40-yard run, and Quinn Smolinski’s fumble recovery eventually tied the game at 28 with 4:33 left.

With 1:06 left, Sam McGuire punched in Boylan’s winning score with a 3-yard run around the left end for a tie at 34. The ensuing PAT was tipped, but went through the uprights for a one-point lead. Hononegah’s final chance was intercepted

by Smolinski to preserve the win and the streak en route to another NIC-10 championship.

The streak reached 75 games before Hononegah snapped it the following year by the same 35-34 score.

PAGE 40

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | SAFETY

Healthcare concerns a top priority Do benefits – like teamwork, fun & glory – outweigh safety concerns in football?

BY PATRICK MASON pmason@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5550 @pm222

T

he memory is a lasting one. For the fan, coach, or bystander, watching as a player is carted off the playing surface can be a tough experience.

Watching as a kid wobbles back to the sideline after a big hit is hard to forget.

“That’s the last thing you want to see,” West Carroll athletic director Joe Hansen said.

“But you remember that kind of stuff.”

For the player, the moments after an injury can be confusing.

Questions like how serious, what just happened, and how long will I be out, race through the player’s head.

During Week 1 last season, Rock Falls senior tight end Keegan Doering was taken via ambulance to CGH Medical Center after breaking two bones in his left leg.

Players on the field took a knee. Those on the sideline didn’t speak.

The injury required surgery, and he was done for the season. A few quarters of football, only to be out of commission for the rest of the fall is a tough pill to swallow after a routine play.

Injuries like this happen every week across the state. Injuries like this happen so often in football, it becomes the norm. Some are more obvious, like broken bones, while others – like concussions – are tricky to diagnose, treat, and heal.

So while the country prepares for yet another football season filled with violent collisions, the question ‘Is it worth it’ is asked. Do safety concerns outweigh the benefits of playing football?

“Football is something I couldn’t imagine not playing,” Oregon’s Caleb Mennen said. “As a guy who carries the football, you know you’re going to get hit on just about every play. It’s part of the game. You might get injured, but you also get to play the best team sport with your friends in front of everybody.”

Mennen is on the preseason all-area team, and is hoping for a big season. For kids like this, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

HEALTHCARE continued on 414

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 41

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | SAFETY

Baseline concussion testing becoming norm HEALTHCARE

CONTINUED FROM B1

For others, however, like Hawks teammate Caid Chenoweth, his reasons for playing are a bit murkier. Chenoweth suffered three concussions in three consecutive weeks that ended his sophomore sason.

His junior season came to an end before it started with a torn ACL in his right knee. But he’s back on the field for Oregon, hoping to win a starting role.

He said his mother was wary about him returning to the field after the knee injury, and doctors kept him out after the concussions. He certainly doesn’t want another injury, but Chenoweth decided that playing football his senior year was worth it to him.

“That’s the thing about this sport,” he said. “You can’t think about getting hurt. You have to play with that out of your mind.

For most of us, high school is the only time you get to play the sports you love, so it’s worth it.

“I love being out there with my team, competing for a common goal. But I’m done after this season. I want to live the rest of my life healthy and uninjured.”

Schools have handled injuries in various ways. All schools have to have at least one trainer on the sideline for games that have completed at least 2 hours of concussion training. This comes from the bill SB 07 that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law on Aug. 3, 2015.

The legislation also makes it a requirement for high schools to provide education materials about concussions to their coaches and athletes.

But schools found out that providing educational material can only go so far. In baseball, the IHSA played its baseball seasons with recommendations

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Rock Falls teammates wish Keegan Doering luck as he is taken off the field on a stretcher during last season’s Week 1 game against Sterling at Hinders Field. Doering broke his leg and missed the rest of the season. Incidents like that bring up questions of whether safety concerns are being overshadowed by the popularity of the game. for pitch counts for pitchers.

Many coaches blew past those and managed how they saw fit.

Football doesn’t have a set rule on how to handle concussions. No sitting out a certain number of weeks or games, but instead that determination is left up to the trainers.

SB 07 also states that “teams can contain a range of individuals based on the resources available to the school in their community or neighborhood, but must include one person

who is responsible for implementing and complying with the return-to-play and returnto-learn protocols.”

What this means is that schools have to only comply with the minimum, but are allowed to take any further steps. Some do, while others don’t. Others might not be able to afford anything but the minimum.

This summer, Sterling conducted pre-concussion baseline tests. Athletic trainer Andi Sumerfeldt performs the

baseline testing every 2 years.

This year it was the freshman and junior classes. The tests are only required every 2 years, as the answers won’t change much.

Elsewhere, Dixon did baseline testing as well, and West Carroll hired the Monroe Clinic for the first time to perform ImPact testing, a computer-based program to help better determine severity of a concussion, as well as helping to properly diagnose one.

Hansen saw the benefits of the testing at his previous stops as a coach, and wanted to bring that here.

“I found that parents want to be more informed and have all the tools,” Hansen said. “The parents, and the kids too, also want to know that when they come back, they aren’t coming back too soon.

“This is something I plan on doing every year. Hopefully more kids show up, and this will catch on to a lot of students.”

PAGE 42

Rock Falls Rockets

• 2nd since 1996 • 13-43 (.232) • 1 playoff appearance

2015

• 0-9 overall • 0-7 BNC West (8th place)

2015 Results Sterling 56, Rockets 6 Marengo 50, Rockets 8 Oregon 13, Rockets 6 Byron 51, Rockets 0

Winnebago 43, Rockets 16

Stillman 43, Rockets 20 Mendota 57, Rockets 7 Dixon 47, Rockets 14 Lutheran 63, Rockets 6

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 83 Points scored avg.: 9.2 Points allowed: 423 Points allowed avg.: 47.0 Playoff teams faced: 6 At home: 0-5 On road: 0-4

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AREA TEAMS! • Appliances • TV’s • Mattresses • Hot Tubs

2400 N. Locust St. Sterling, IL

815.625.8529 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 3pm

Conference: Big Northern Enrollment: 641 Projected class: 4A

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

Rich Montgomery • 7th season at Rock Falls

SM-ST5680-0825

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

2015 Stat Leaders

Tyler Meyers chats about Rockets What should we expect: For us to be a lot better and not be as sloppy on the field.

Biggest change: We’ve learned the system a lot better, so we know what’s going on better.

Watch out for this guy: Michael Berentes. He’s a good receiver and led our team in touchdowns last year.

Goals: Just to compete and to not ever give up.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Braeden Westfall 110 394 2 Isaiah Harris 23 110 0 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Logan Pillars

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

• •• 2-7

2-7

•

5-4

3-6

1-8

•

1-8

• • • •• 0-9

3-6

0-9 0-9

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:15 Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 20, 7:15 Fri., Oct. 7, 7 Fri., Oct. 14. 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

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Opponent

2015

at Rkfd. Christian* 0-9

at Mendota* 1-8 Genoa-Kingston* 5-5 at Oregon* 3-6 Byron* 9-3 at Winnebago* 5-5 Stillman Valley* 4-5 Dixon* 6-4 at Woodstock N. 4-5

* Big Northern game Homecoming: Week 5

Good Luck OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

87-188-8 1,092 9

Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Michael Berentes 25 449 6 Blake Wind 18 203 2 Roger Carlson 17 145 0

Angelo’s 625-5163

Newman Comets Angelo’s II 625-5451 Rock Falls Rockets Sterling Warriors Angelo’s Delivery 625-5000 Dixon Dukes Angelo’s III and all other surrounding area football teams!

returning starters in bold 1 Michael Berentes 6-3 3 Isaiah Moreno 5-5 4 Scott Spears 5-9 5 Nathaniel Wiles 6-0 7 Zacary McKinzie 6-1 10 Logan Pillars 6-4 11 Isaiah Harris 5-10 13 Alex Martinez 5-8 18 Brandon Kilday 6-0 21 Roger Carlson 6-0 22 Austin Sandrock 5-9 23 Nathan Conklen 5-9 28 Kyle Bush 5-10 32 Nicholas Ebersole 5-10 33 Troy McClearin 5-10 34 Blake Wind 6-0 38 Dylan Eberhardt 6-0 42 Brennan Mammosser 5-10 50 Blake Claxton 6-1 52 Ryan Billings 5-10 53 Tyler Meyers 5-10 54 Rollie Elder 5-8 55 Collin Olson 6-4 58 Logan Wickens 6-4 61 Shelby Stingley 6-0 65 Jacob Lego 6-3 69 Travis Delgado 5-10 73 Jacob Oltmans 6-3 75 Reise Arduini 5-8 78 Branden Gordon 6-0 80 Adam Conklin 6-0 81 Nicholas Rozhon 5-10 88 Michael Austin 6-0

215 135 165 150 175 225 170 140 175 195 155 175 150 185 140 172 160 155 255 220 204 170 345 406 240 215 275 250 205 225 165 175 175

Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr.

WR/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB QB/DB RB/S WR/DB TE/LB WR/LB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB RB/LB DB RB/LB WR/DB TE/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DB TE/LB WR/DB

Did You Know?

• The Rockets come into the sea-

son on a 25-game losing streak, but going up against Rockford Christian’s 26-game streak means something will have to give in Week 1.

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Sterling Golden Warriors

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 43

FB16 GUIDE

Conference: NIB-12 West Enrollment: 1,051 Projected class: 5A

From the Trail

Head Coach

Jon Schlemmer

• 5th season at Sterling • 26-15 (.634) • 3 playoff appearances

2015

• 8-3 overall • 4-0 NIB-12 West (1st place)

2015 Results Warriors 56, Rock Falls 6

Warriors 42, United Twp. 20

Warriors 28, Alleman 21 Morris 38, Warriors 21

5A playoffs

Warriors 44, Metamora 12 Washington 12, Warriors 7

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 345 Points scored avg.: 31.4 Points allowed: 173 Points allowed avg.: 15.7 Playoff teams faced: 4 At home: 3-2 On road: 5-1

N

ORTH END LIQUOR DRIVE - UP WINDOW

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Sterling Thornton 192 945 22 Latrell Vaughn 104 634 8 Andrew Spaulding 86 540 8 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Sterling Thornton 90-156-5 1,106 9

Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Jordan Asbury 32 515 4 Turner Morse 30 331 3 Reid Blackburn 10 101 2

Season Returns

Warriors 49, LaSalle-Peru 22

Warriors 28, Ottawa 7 Warriors 17, Geneseo 14 Warriors 35, Rochelle 0 Sycamore 21, Warriors 18

2015 Stat Leaders

Andrew Spaulding chats about Warriors Can’t wait to play: Sycamore because we lost to them last year by 3 points at the end of the game.

Personal highlight: Win against Ottawa, I rushed for 100-plus yards and two 60-yard touchdowns. That win helped us secure playoff spot and conference championship.

Goals: All-conference honors and to make the all-area teeam, as well as scoring 10 touchdowns.

Campaign Game time

• •••• • • •• • 8-3

9-3

9-2

8-3

8-3

6-4

9-2

7-4

6-4

5-4

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

HERE’S TO A GREAT SEASON!

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Opponent

* NIB-12 West game Homecoming: Week 6

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2015

Sycamore 6-4 at Pekin 5-5 Alleman 3-6 LaSalle-Peru* 3-6 at Geneseo* 10-2 Yorkville 4-5 at Rochelle* 3-6 Ottawa* 4-5 at DeKalb 9-3

720 N. Galena Dixon, IL 815-288-3211

Radio: 94.3 FM

Ticket

returning starters in bold 1 Alek Duran 2 Camden Bailey 3 Trey Morse 4 Adrian Diaz 5 Reid Blackburn 6 Samuel McInerney 7 Antonio Diaz 8 Treay Martin 9 Nolan Sullivan 10 Isaiah Ryan 11 Zack Slusser 12 Turner Morse 14 Elias Edmondson 15 Dylan Bryant 16 Mora Marquez 18 Trevor King 22 Brady Hall 23 Nyrel Sullivan 25 Latrell Vaughn 26 Jayden Villegas 27 Marquise Williams 29 Marquez Williams 30 Andrew Spaulding 31 Sebastian Heeren 34 Marcus Shetter 39 Jarrett Harrington 42 Ethan Sensor 44 Tyson Hall 45 Earnest Lopeman 51 Peyton Sharp 52 Claey Verstraete 53 Brady Horner 56 Mitchell Clodfelter 60 Brian Asbury 61 Tyler Willman 63 Dameon Olalde 64 Tyler Hanrahan 65 Michael Eberhardt 67 Richard Jones 68 Pedro Rodriguez 70 Jacob Capes 71 Max Goss 72 Dakota Cantu 73 Eduardo Luna 74 Christian Davilia 75 John Rahn 76 Carlos Cauldillo 77 Erik Hernandez 80 Weston Sisson 82 Ian Casten 84 Turner Garcia 85 Tim O’Bryan

Good Luck

6-0 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-4 5-8 5-8 6-0 6-1 5-9 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-8 6-2 5-9 5-10 5-7 5-10 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-8 5-8 5-10 5-9 6-1 5-10 6-4 5-8 5-10 5-10 5-8 5-10 6-5 6-0 5-10 5-8 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-3 5-9 6-2 5-8

170 150 175 210 165 155 165 185 215 150 155 155 170 150 155 180 200 165 170 200 175 175 175 195 180 175 170 180 165 195 200 160 190 220 240 170 215 225 165 220 240 225 220 225 220 270 260 270 170 155 170 150

So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr.

QB/DB QB QB/DB H/LB WR WR/DB K H/DE H/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB K WR/DB N/NG RB/DB RB/DB WR/LB H/LB RB/LB RB/LB H/LB WR/LB H/LB H/LB H/LB H/LB OL/NG OL/DE OL/DT OL/DE OL/DT OL/DE OL/DL OL/DT OL/DT OL/NG OL/DT OL/DE OL/DT OL/DL OL/NG OL/DE OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT WR/LB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB

Angelo’s 625-5163

Newman Comets Angelo’s II 625-5451 Rock Falls Rockets Sterling Warriors Angelo’s Delivery 625-5000 Dixon Dukes Angelo’s III and all other surrounding area football teams!

285-0055 5-

PAGE 44

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

West Carroll Thunder

Conference: NUIC Northwest Enrollment: 341 Projected class: 2A

Matt Leitzen

• 2nd season at W.Carroll • 5-5 (.500) • 1 playoff appearance

2015

• 5-5 overall • 4-4 NUIC Northwest (5th place)

2015 Results Dakota 52, Thunder 6 Thunder 40, EPC 0 Thunder 56, S.Beloit 13 Thunder 34, Pecatonica 6 Forreston 28, Thunder 22 Thunder 30, Durand 20 Thunder 24, E.Dubuque 20

Galena 49, Thunder 28 Le-Win 47, Thunder 28 2A playoffs Tri-Valley 22, Thunder 0

2015 By Numbers

Points scored: 268 Points scored avg.: 26.8 Points allowed: 257 Points allowed avg.: 25.7 Playoff teams faced: 5 At home: 3-2 On road: 2-3

Ticket

From the Trail

Head Coach

2015 Stat Leaders

Josh Anderson chats about Thunder Big difference this year: We got good skill guys, and I believe we can get past our goals last year.

What should we expect: Expect 100 percent all the time. We’ll do our best to do the greatest.

Watch out for this guy: Logan Barker. He’s pretty quick and will do some destruction this year.

To be succinct, goals: Get better than we were last year.

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Rushing

Att. Yds TD Ethan Mangler 128 874 7 Logan Barker 36 268 5 Stephen Santeramo 29 267 1 Eric LaShelle 59 238 7 Passing

C-A-I Yds TD Kody Plattenberger 46-98-6 623

Season Returns

Campaign Game time

•• 5-5

6-5

• • •• ••• • 1-8

4-5

3-6

3-6

2-7

3-6

4

Receiving

Rec. Yds TD Austin Mallow 15 240 2 Stephen Santeramo 14 66 1

5-5

3-6

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15

Opponent

2015

Fri., Aug. 26, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30 Fri. Oct. 7, 7 Fri., Oct. 14, 7:30 Fri., Oct. 21, 7

at Dakota* 7-3 at EPC* 2-7 at Amboy* 2-7 at Pecatonica* 2-7 Forreston* 8-3 at Durand 3-6 East Dubuque* 3-6 Galena* 7-3 at Lena-Winslow* 10-1

* NUIC Northwest game Homecoming: Week 7

Radio: 100.3 FM (Weeks 2, 7, 8)

Returning starters in bold 1 Austin Mallow 2 Logan Barker 3 Dawson Wurster 4 Dominick Neis 5 Cory Simpson 7 Jakob Foltz 9 Kody Plattenberger 10 Kaleb Plattenberger 11 Jordan Anderson 18 Chance Williams 20 Connor Sipe 22 Grant Mangler 24 Jacob Dunk 31 Cash Lower 34 Kaleb Hartman 38 Devon Murray 40 Miguel Watkins 51 Justin Appel 54 Keelin Sisler 55 Logan Lomas 56 Karson Metz 58 Brandon Kaufman 59 Dean Holm 60 Daltin Coyer 62 Hunter Appel 63 Kody Scheider 69 Joe Gallacher 71 Michael Kinder 73 Leland Houzenga 74 Josh Anderson 81 Matt Eacker 84 Mitchell Glazier 88 Luke Jones

5-8 5-6 5-10 5-5 6-0 6-0 5-8 5-8 5-9 5-10 5-8 6-0 5-10 5-4 5-10 5-9 5-0 6-3 5-9 5-11 5-8 6-0 5-9 5-11 6-2 5-10 5-9 5-8 6-3 5-9 5-11 6-0 6-2

145 170 150 100 200 145 185 175 150 160 145 170 165 135 180 170 110 215 170 215 190 245 200 160 160 190 205 330 260 270 145 155 190

Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr.

WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB TE/DE WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/DE WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB TE/DB TE/DE

Did You Know?

• While West Carroll’s enrollment has fallen 20 percent in the past 5 years, its football numbers have gone up by that much in each of those seasons.

Look for our weekly football pull out section every Saturday! publishers of

daily Gazette, Telegraph & Sauk Valley Weekend

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 45

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | FAVORITE FIELDS

Best places to visit on Friday nights L

By SVM Sports Staff

ooking for a good place to catch a high school football game? Maybe the SVM Sports Staff’s list of favorite fields can help you out: Ty: This answer is two-fold: where in the stadium, and at which stadium.

I like to watch games from the sideline whenever possible.

You really get a better feel for what’s happening on the field, and you can usually get some “insider information” being down there – you know, hear play calls, listen to coaches’ instructions, hear players’ reactions in the heat of the moment.

As far as stadiums or fields, there are a lot of good ones around here. I always enjoy going to Amboy or Morrison or Fulton for games, and there’s kind of a nostalgic feeling when I go to Polo or Milledgeville or AFC or Lanark, like it’s the way high school football is supposed to be viewed.

I also enjoy the facilities in Manlius and Oregon, and the fields in Erie and Prophetstown are both fun to visit.

But my favorite is a tie between A.C. Bowers Field and Roscoe Eades Stadium. I’ve spent countless Friday nights in my 16 seasons in Dixon, so many that Bowers Field and Lancaster Gym kind of feel like the first second homes I had when I moved here. But Eades has great atmosphere, a great press box, and a great surface – the artificial turf is something special.

Brian: Roscoe Eades Stadium, Sterling. It has the feel of a small college stadium, and a (relatively) new turf field to match.

The sightlines from the press box are top notch, and getting out to the field to interview players and coaches couldn’t be any easier. An added bonus: complementary drinks, pizza

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Dixon’s JD Gieson breaks up a pass in the end zone in this 2013 game against Sterling at Roscoe Eades Stadium. The final installment of this Route 2 rivalry was played in one of SVM’s favorite stadiums, before the Dukes left the NIB-12 for the Big Northern. and grilled food in the upper deck of the press box is always much appreciated.

Patrick: Polo doesn’t have the newest field, or the best-looking press box, but what it does have is the most realistic gameday feel because of its fans.

Every time I cover a Marcos game, I’m amazed at the atmosphere. It’s three or four deep around the edges of the field, while the stands are filled to capacity. Some even set up RVs across the street. People always

say that small towns get up for their football teams, and it’s true.

Polo just seems to do a better job than most, for making a true gameday feel.

Cody: Remember going to see a movie at the drive-in, such as Midway on Old Route 2 near Prairieville? Now imagine sitting in the car, or in the bed of the truck, watching a live high school football game. Mel Barron Field in Franklin Grove is the place to do just that.

Every week, trucks back as close as they can to the singlewire guard near the AFC Raiders’ sideline from end zone to end zone, and more vehicles approach the north end zone as well. Don’t have a vehicle and a chair, and need a place to sit?

There are metal bleachers on the visitor’s side of the field.

Early in the season, the stalks of corn past the visitor’s sideline give the place a real feeling of closeness. Add in the train whistles from the Union

Pacific, and it provides a really unique small-town setup for high school football.

Want another really good place to see a football game?

You’ll have to live on the south end of Briarwood Drive in Lena. The backyards of those houses butt up against the visitor’s sideline of Lena-Winslow’s Panther Bowl. That’s free high school football entertainment, one that has given the community a pair of state championships this decade.

PAGE 46

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

TACKLING THE ISSUES | HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Year-round campaign part of sports Football demands 365-day commitment, but coaches have different intensity levels

BY BRIAN WEIDMAN bweidman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5551 @BrianWeidman

A

dam Hart was relieved when the grind of preseason football practice rolled around on Aug. 8, as it allowed the Ashton-Franklin Center junior running back/ linebacker to focus his efforts on just one sport.

Hart plays football, basketball and baseball for the Raiders.

During the summer, he was pulled in many different directions, with various camps, leagues, and tournaments for his three sports happening virtually every day.

When he wasn’t at one of those functions, he made his way to the school weight room to pump iron.

“There was never a day where there was a dull moment and I’d just stay home and do nothing,” Hart said. “It was always work, work, work.”

That raises a question: How much is too much when it comes to the demands put upon high school football players, not only during the summer, but year-round?

Hart’s coach, Brad Winterland, takes an approach that gives his players a bit of a break. He has a week-long camp in early June, then doesn’t have them report back until that first practice in August. He doesn’t come close to using up the 25 summer contact days coaches are allowed.

“We just kind of let them go do their own thing,” Winterland said. “We do still have the off-season weight training, but honestly, we try to let them go be kids a little bit.”

That approach is carried over to the rest of the school year.

AFC football players who are out for basketball, wrestling and/or

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Oregon football practices behind the high school. Like many other high school sports in this day and age, football has become a year-round commitment – but area coaches have different ways of keeping their players involved during that time. baseball are expected to lift weights two mornings per week, to help them not only in the sport they are participating in, but for the next football season.

“They’re still getting their weight training 2 days a week if they’re in a sport,” Winterland said. “If they’re not, we’ll expect a little more out of them.

Really, I try to stay away from them and don’t do footballspecific things.”

Amboy-LaMoille coach Gary Jones has his football camp toward the end of July, as a springboard into the regular season. At that camp, he installs much of the offense, so when practice officially begins a week later, the Clippers can hit the ground running.

Year-round weight training is also something Jones emphasizes. A physical education teacher, he has his players

lifting weights in class just after Thanksgiving.

“The football players have specific lifts they have to do every day in PE,” Jones said, “except on Friday. On Friday, I let them play a game, depending on if they did a good job or not.”

Another interesting issue is when players begin playing tackle football, and how soon is too soon.

Winterland, a Stillman Valley native, began playing tackle football when he was in second grade, and started to feel some burnout by the time he was in junior high. AFC currently has two teams – 5th/6th and 7th/8th – before high school.

“I think by that time, they’re ready to play tackle football,” Winterland said.

CAMPAIGN continued on 474

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 47

FB16 GUIDE

TACKLING THE ISSUES | HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Area coaches: You don’t have to start so young CAMPAIGN

CONTINUED FROM B1

Bureau Valley coach Spencer Davis also looks at fifth grade as the right age to begin playing football, but coaches need to be mindful about how they deal with the players.

“Coaching at that age is so big, because you can ruin a kid at that age, as far as the psyche part of it goes,” Davis said. “Other than that, I don’t think starting in fifth grade is a bad thing.”

Jones would prefer for players to wait until they are in seventh grade to begin playing tackle football.

“If you get down below that, in my opinion, I think you lose interest in some kids because they don’t get to play,” Jones said. “They’re a little bit more mature at that 7th- and 8th-grade level. I’m not a big believer in kindergarteners and first graders playing football. Some people want to do it, and that’s fine. I think it’s too young.

I didn’t let my son [Alex] play until 7th grade.”

One thing all three coaches agree on is the benefits of playing football far outweigh the negatives.

“In reality, it’s the ultimate team game,” Winterland said. “You can see in other sports where you can get by with one or two superstars, but football, it’s an ultimate team game. It also builds toughness, physically and mentally, for whatever you’re doing – whether it’s schoolwork, whether it’s other sports, whether it’s jobs down the road – I think that’s a big benefit.”

The camaraderie and teamwork of being part of a football team is a huge thing, Jones noted.

“When you’ve got 11 people out here and you’ve got to function as one, I think that carries over into other sports,” Jones said.

Davis looks at the life lessons to be learned from playing football.

“I think it’s the best sport as far as making men out of boys,” Davis said. “There will come a time in football where you question a lot of things – you’re tired, you’re hurting, you’re beat up a little bit, and yet you get out there and keep going at it. There’s a lot of great life lessons that come from football that I don’t think you get from other sports.”

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Newman quarterback Landen Vesley (left) runs with the ball and tries to avoid a tackle during a Comets’ practice. The Comets installed a new spread offense over the summer.

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Rock Falls running backs practice their handoffs during the first day of football practice on Aug. 8 behind Hinders Field. Skill work for specific positions is a key part of preseason camp.

Fulton goes through tip drills during football practice in early August. Offseason workouts often deal with lifting weights and conditioning, while drills like this don’t usually start until preseason camp begins.

PAGE 48

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

By the numbers: 2015 final leaders (returning players in bold) RUSHING YARDS

Brady Rude, Newman Will Konneck, BV Brooks Grobe, Polo Keegan Schubert, EPC Dylan Binion, E-P Sterling Thornton, Sterling Ethan Mangler, West Carroll Trey Simmons, Fulton John Ghibellini, Oregon Arthur Cox, Dixon Phillip Coers, E-P Nyrel Sullivan, Dixon Jake Hageman, AFC Ryon Richardson, Amboy Andy Bird, Morrison Latrell Vaughn, Sterling Brad Cavanaugh, Polo Brody Grobe, Polo Andrew Spaulding, Sterling Dallas Appleman, Amboy Brayton Finch, Oregon Dylan Beers, Polo Tristen Aguilar, Polo Michael Pidde, Fulton Troy Litwiller, Milledgeville Caleb Mennen, Oregon Kody Wetzell, E-P Joshua Walker, Milledgeville Jeremy Bibler, Milledgeville Drake Davis, BV

RUSHING YARDS

Attempts Yards 221 1,689 147 1,369 118 1,353 169 1,129 109 1,023 192 945 128 874 129 841 143 798 97 772 93 769 102 762 161 753 85 710 137 650 104 634 67 588 63 587 86 540 87 512 90 505 69 493 34 444 98 433 53 424 53 420 39 413 70 406 51 401 95 399

TDs 23 14 17 10 14 22 7 11 8 11 9 11 6 14 5 8 12 7 8 8 6 9 6 9 5 5 4 3 3 4

Braeden Westfall, Rock Falls Drake Barlow, Amboy Jacob Hilliker, AFC Jack Bauer, E-P Maverik Good, Oregon David Zinke, AFC Kyle Decker, Newman Kaywan Palmer, AFC Garrett Passmore, E-P Payton Clouse, EPC Logan Barker, West Carroll Stephen Santeramo, West Carroll Landen Vesley, Newman Austin Rash, Fulton Eric LaShelle, West Carroll Nathan Gascoigne, Dixon Tate Renkes, Morrison Jesse Ditzler, Polo Logan Whitman, Newman Gailen Gibson, BV Wyatt Patterson, Polo Jake Miller, West Carroll Nathan Pierceson, E-P Evan Skoog, Milledgeville Nick Devito, Milledgeville Rodney Gossard, Fulton Braxton Stamm, Polo Eli Leffelman, Newman Ryan VanZuiden, Morrison Jerrick Orsted, Oregon

PASSING YARDS

Attempts Yards TDs 110 394 2 65 380 6 86 368 8 38 365 3 77 356 2 30 354 2 56 319 1 32 310 5 50 293 1 97 282 2 36 268 5 29 267 1 32 262 6 70 254 3 59 238 7 62 225 1 29 221 3 33 218 4 81 208 4 27 186 1 30 183 4 31 175 3 25 160 1 16 157 1 30 154 2 11 152 1 33 145 0 27 128 1 28 126 1 16 125 0

Nathan Gascoigne, Dixon Drake Davis, BV Sterling Thornton, Sterling Logan Pillars, Rock Falls Dylan Keller, Morrison Kody Plattenberger, West Carroll Troy Litwiller, Milledgeville Jacob Hilliker, AFC DJ Heeren, EPC Tyler Sweenie, Fulton Jordan Hochstatter, Amboy Jack Lemke, Fulton Brody Grobe, Polo Phillip Coers, E-P Logan Whitman, Newman Wyatt Patterson, Polo Landen Vesley, Newman Jerrick Orsted, Oregon David Zinke, AFC Joey Brackemyer, Morrison John Wilson, Newman Brexton Flynn, Milledgeville Noah Wilcox, Dixon Nathan Pierceson, E-P Trey Simmons, Fulton Brighton Haverland, EPC Arthur Cox, Dixon Caleb Drew, AFC Justin Jensen, Morrison

RECEPTIONS

C-A-I Yards TDs 142-239-9 1,646 16 76-140-6 1,402 16 90-156-5 1,106 9 87-188-8 1,092 9 50-115-12 872 6 46-98-6 623 4 33-55-7 562 3 28-57-1 548 6 29-74-9 507 6 40-73-2 500 6 31-66-6 450 0 23-44-3 366 6 32-49-5 360 5 6-30-3 210 2 11-26-1 203 1 17-27-0 201 4 32-68-3 184 1 4-15-2 116 2 2-4-0 61 1 1-2-0 33 0 1-1-0 31 0 1-5-0 20 0 2-4-0 19 0 1-1-0 18 0 1-1-0 18 0 1-5-1 11 0 1-1-0 4 0 1-1-0 3 0 1-1-0 3 1

Kyle LeBlanc, Dixon Bryan Herr, BV Jordan Asbury, Sterling Michael Berentes, Rock Falls Will Konneck, BV Brighton Haverland, EPC Turner Morse, Sterling Richie Bartnick, Polo Ryon Richardson, Amboy Jay Edlefson, BV Joey Brackemyer, Morrison Kaywan Palmer, AFC Austin Mallow, West Carroll Arthur Cox, Dixon Blake Wind, Rock Falls James Talley, AFC Rodney Gossard, Fulton Kandras Martin, Dixon Devon Ballard, Fulton Trey Simmons, Fulton John Wilson, Newman Payton Cook, Morrison Drake Barlow, Amboy Stephen Santeramo, West Carroll Bryce Stanley, Dixon Nyrel Sullivan, Dixon Jack Lemke, Fulton Roger Carlson, Rock Falls David Zinke, AFC

Catches Yards 56 755 31 650 32 515 25 449 20 439 19 405 30 331 25 315 12 301 20 265 13 259 14 254 15 240 20 233 18 203 7 197 13 187 13 181 17 175 10 170 11 168 6 163 9 157 14 154 19 154 17 152 12 148 17 145 8 143

Sauk Valley single-season stat leaders | 2005-2015 Rushing Year 2009 2013 2006 2008 2013 2006 2015 2008 2006 2014 2010 2009 2014 2009 2009 2006 2010 2005 2015 2015

Player Josh Vos Nick Williams Daniel Saunders Cody Richardson Jake Snow Nick Vandermyde Brady Rude Matt Scholl Garrett Barnas Dylan Binion Joe Blessman Alex Maurer Brady Rude Michael Weidner Cody Richardson Mike Ridgway Tim Wilson Chaz Josephsen Will Konneck Brooks Grobe

School Morrison Erie-P’town Amboy Amboy Newman Morrison Newman Polo Bureau Valley Erie-P’town Newman EPC Newman Bureau Valley Amboy Dixon Newman AFC Bureau Valley Polo

Att. 262 262 289 252 185 215 221 250 148 194 189 219 138 186 238 216 193 114 147 118

Yds. 2,115 2,097 1,994 1,905 1,756 1,715 1,689 1,647 1,644 1,631 1,561 1,552 1,548 1,519 1,436 1,423 1,396 1,380 1,369 1,353

Good Luck This Season!

Dixon Autobody Clinic

Here’s to a great season!

Passing (Minimum 1,000 yards passing)

TD 31 24 23 22 30 22 23 20 20 23 21 17 24 20 14 12 23 X 14 17

Year 2012 2013 2014 2014 2010 2010 2008 2011 2005 2015 2009 2014 2006 2010 2006 2013 2015 2014 2012 2005

Player Jacob Mammosser Jacob Mammosser Drake Davis JD Gieson Justin Pitzer Danny Dennehey Carson Walker Danny Dennehey Garrett Barnas Nathan Gascoigne Tyler Renkes Deven Heeren Jared Shellhause Dylan Koeppen Garrett Barnas JD Gieson Drake Davis Brody Grobe Kameron DawTyne Darin Schneider

School Rock Falls Rock Falls Bureau Valley Dixon AFC Morrison EPC Morrison Bureau Valley Dixon Fulton EPC EPC Rock Falls Bureau Valley Dixon Bureau Valley Polo Milledgeville West Carroll

GOOD LUCK DUKES

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Yds. TD 2,485 23 2,226 21 1,828 21 1,820 24 1,773 18 1,734 21 1,694 21 1,679 14 1,657 15 1,646 16 1,580 13 1,548 17 1,480 12 1,458 15 1,444 15 1,425 8 1,402 16 1,387 19 1,378 13 1,334 X

OD LUCK

Amboy Clippers Have a great season!

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Oregon Autobody

C-A-I 180-268-8 227-385-9 94-162-10 131-247-12 127-286-23 91-186-4 115-208-131 96-168-7 75-125-11 142-239-9 140-251-13 99-163-10 108-205-10 114-209-10 67-127-6 113-231-13 76-140-6 71-126-8 114-208-16 79-159-4

Receptions Year 2013 2014 2015 2012 2014 2012 2013 2012 2014 2012 2007 2014 2007 2005 2008 2007 2013 2014 2010 2013

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Player Austin Donoho Connor Cain Kyle LeBlanc Jordan Harris Cody Kluck Alex Leaf Daegan Wharff Steven Armoska Matt Coffey Austin Babcock Randy Whitmore Kyle LeBlanc Tim Jacobs Teddy Swan Cole Miller Anthony Wells Matt Coffey Parker Neuhalfen Nate Fahs Connor Cain

School Rock Falls Rock Falls Dixon Milledgeville EPC Rock Falls Rock Falls Rock Falls Dixon Rock Falls Fulton Dixon Rock Falls West Carroll EPC Amboy Dixon Bureau Valley AFC Rock Falls

Rec. Yds. 87 887 69 1,071 56 755 56 695 53 605 52 628 52 599 51 792 51 672 50 622 50 593 48 932 47 600 44 831 44 493 43 959 38 462 37 976 37 470 37 384

TD 8 7 10 4 12 6 6 10 10 3 7 11 2 X 4 16 2 12 3 4

TDs 10 10 4 6 5 5 3 7 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 3 4 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 49

FB16 GUIDE

SVM Wall of Fame Celebrating the past accomplishments of local players, coaches and teams SVM PLAYERS AND COACHES OF THE YEAR

Top 50 team records in Illinois history School

1. East St. Louis 2. Chicago Mount Carmel 3. Arcola 4. Tuscola 5. Wheaton-Warrenville South 6. Champaign Central 7. Carthage Illini West (tie) Chicago Wilmette Loyola 9. Geneseo 10. Joliet Catholic 11. Rock Island 12. Oak Park-River Forest 13. Moline 14. Bloomington 15. Chicago Lane Tech (tie) Peoria 17. Normal Community 18. Evanston 19. Naperville Central 20. Morris 21. St. Rita 22. Mt. Carmel 23. Carlinville 24. Auburn 25. Casey-Westfield 26. Greenfield-Northwestern 27. Sacred Heart-Griffin 28. Sterling 29. Danville 30. Stockton 31. DuQuoin 32. Mercer County 33. Pontiac 34. Harrisburg 35. Boylan 36. Robinson 37. Newman 38. Springfield 39. New Trier (tie) LaSalle-Peru 41. Monticello (tie) Taylorville 43. Pittsfield-Griggsville-Perry 44. Libertyville 45. Ottawa 46. Georgetown-Ridge Farm (tie) Pekin 48. Aurora West 49. Rochelle 50. Stark County

2015

Years W-L-T

1925-2015 1924-2015 1894-2015 1895-2015 1912-2015 1894-2015 1895-2015 1909-2015 1915-2015 1920-2015 1899-2015 1891-2015 1893-2015 1897-2015 1908-2015 1890-2015 1897-2015 1889-2015 1910-2015 1900-2015 1908-2015 1920-2015 1913-2015 1909-2015 1921-2015 1899-2015 1930-2015 1899-2015 1904-2015 1919-2015 1928-2015 1910-2015 1895-2015 1902-2015 1911-2015 1897-2015 1925-2015 1897-2015 1915-2015 1898-2015 1914-2015 1907-2015 1896-2015 1918-2015 1893-2015 1909-2015 1893-2015 1893-2015 1907-2015 1912-2015

747-199-36 726-235-31 695-334-39 692-327-46 681-271-28 672-348-41 666-311-54 666-353-42 656-291-19 652-296-23 651-402-46 646-386-38 626-404-44 625-416-51 624-301-30 624-430-60 623-349-35 622-319-36 622-315-19 609-361-31 609-307-35 608-289-31 602-316-42 601-326-26 595-300-21 590-408-40 587-244-23 586-358-44 584-448-39 577-277-34 572-301-30 564-311-26 559-379-45 557-402-28 553-312-25 552-387-39 551-298-31 550-442-45 545-293-19 545-422-35 544-353-32 544-385-44 541-366-32 540-304-22 535-415-43 534-365-50 534-431-39 531-495-59 530-383-36 529-390-35

Credit: Kev Varney, Illinois High School Glory Days illinoishsglorydays.com

GO DIXON !

S DUKE GO

S! EADER L R E E CH

2014

Player: Sterling Thornton, Sterling sr. QB

Player: Brady Rude, Newman jr. RB/LB

Coach: Andrew Hofer, Polo

Coach: Randy Asche, EPC

2013

2012

Player: Nick Williams, Erie-Prophetstown sr. FB

Player: Brian Bahrs, Newman sr. FB/LB

Coach: Mike Papoccia, Newman

Coach: Chuck Milem, Erie-P’town

2011

2010

Player: Alejandro Rivera, Sterling sr. RB/LB

Player: Joe Blessman, Newman sr. FB/LB

Coach: Cory Bielema, Morrison

Coach: Mike Papoccia, Newman

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PAGE 50

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Where We Stand Sauk Valley Media’s sports staff shows how they vote on a range of issues Should the playoffs expand to more than 256 teams?

Should the state move away from conferences & go to a regional system?

Should nonboundaried teams have a success factor added?

Should nonboundaried teams have a multiplier added?

Should nonboundaried teams be eligible for multiplier waivers?

How many classes should the IHSA have for football?

Should the playoffs be seeded 1-32 instead of in quadrants?

Cody Cutter

No

No

No

No

Yes

6

Only 4A-8A

Eric Ingles

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

8

Yes

Patrick Mason

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

8

Yes

Ty Reynolds

No

No

No

Only big cities

Yes

8

Yes

Brian Weidman

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

8

Yes

Should the IHSA force some playoff games to be played on Friday nights?

Should the IHSA Should the IHSA have the same state assign a specific finals site every “football enrollment” year? If so, where? to schools?

Cody Cutter

Split by class

Yes, NIU

Yes

Eric Ingles

No

Keep it same

No

Patrick Mason

No

No

No

Ty Reynolds

Yes

Keep it same

Yes

Brian Weidman

No

Keep it same

Yes

Go Amboy Clippers!

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August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 51

FB16 GUIDE

Record Projection Sauk Valley Media’s sports staff picks how all 15 local teams will finish the regular season Amboy

AFC

BV

Dixon

EPC

E-P

Fulton

M’ville

Morr.

Newman

Oregon

Polo

RF

Sterling

WC

Cody Cutter

5-4

5-4

7-2

6-3

3-6

2-7

5-4

5-4

5-4

7-2

5-4

7-2

2-7

7-2

4-5

Eric Ingles

6-3

4-5

6-3

6-3

3-6

3-6

5-4

5-4

5-4

6-3

4-5

6-3

1-8

7-2

4-5

Patrick Mason

4-5

4-5

7-2

6-3

3-6

3-6

5-4

6-3

3-6

6-3

5-4

6-3

1-8

7-2

6-3

Ty Reynolds

8-1

4-5

6-3

6-3

2-7

4-5

7-2

4-5

4-5

6-3

4-5

7-2

1-8

9-0

5-4

Brian Weidman

8-1

5-4

6-3

6-3

3-6

4-5

5-4

4-5

5-4

6-3

5-4

8-1

2-7

7-2

4-5

Luck Of The Irish

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PAGE 52

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Games of the week Here are the week-by-week destination games in the Sauk Valley

Week 1 Rock Falls at Rkfd. Christian

Week 2 Dixon at Oregon

Week 3 Morrison at Newman

Week 4 Rock Falls at Oregon

When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 Where: Rockford Christian H.S. Radio: NA Streak: NA Last meeting: First meeting Breakdown: The Rockets haven’t won since Week 2 of 2013 ... but the Royal Lions’ last win was the week before that. Two long losing streaks will come into this game, only one will still be going after 48 minutes. A win would be a great way to start the season for either team, and could provide some confidence.

When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2 Where: Landers-Loomis Field, Oregon Radio: 1460 AM, 95.7 FM Streak: Dixon 2 Last meeting: 2015, Dixon 28, Oregon 27 Breakdown: Last year’s game started on Friday night, ended on Saturday, and came down to one final stop by the Dukes. The two teams should be evenly matched again this season, with the winner likely using this as a foundation to build upon going forward.

When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 Where: Roscoe Eades Stadium, Sterling Radio: 102.7 FM Streak: Newman 4 Last meeting: 2015, Newman 30, Morrison 8 Breakdown: This might not be the classic showdown it was for a good chunk of the last 10 years, but the Mustangs should have more confidence coming in after two late wins last season. The Comets will still be adjusting to their new scheme, so this one could be interesting.

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 16 Where: Landers-Loomis Field, Oregon Radio: 95.7 FM Streak: Oregon 3 Last meeting: 2015, Oregon 13, RF 6 Breakdown: The Rockets played the Hawks tough last season at home, in a game that turned out to be closer than it should have after Oregon missed two golden scoring opportunities at the end of each half. This will be another hardfought Big Northern contest, and the winner will definitely have to earn it.

Experience matters …in football and in banking.

GOOD LUCK TO AREA TEAMS!

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August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 53

FB16 GUIDE

Games of the week Here are the week-by-week destination games in the Sauk Valley

Week 5 Sterling at Geneseo

Week 6 Milledgeville at Polo

Week 7 EPC at Amboy

Week 8 Dixon at Rock Falls

When: 7:15 p.m. Sept. 23 Where: Darnall H.S., Geneseo Radio: 94.3 FM Streak: Sterling 1 Last meeting: 2015, Sterling 17, Geneseo 14 Breakdown: As usual, this game will be the typical annual showdown between the NIB12 West elite, with the winner likely sitting in the driver’s seat for the conference title at the end of the season.

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Where: Polo Radio: 107.7 FM Streak: Polo 7 Last meeting: 2015, Polo 57, Milledgeville 0 Breakdown: This rivalry game dates back a long time, but it’s been decidedly one-sided the past several seasons. The Missiles would like nothing more than to avenge last season’s lopsided loss at home.

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 Where: The Harbor, Amboy Radio: 101.7 FM Streak: EPC 2 Last meeting: 2014, EPC 54, Amboy 6 Breakdown: The last time these teams met, the Wildcatz crushed the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. Things are much different 2 years later, and it could be a key game for the Clippers’ playoff hopes.

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 Where: Hinders Field, Rock Falls Radio: 1460 AM Streak: Dixon 3 Last meeting: 2015, Dixon 47, Rock Falls 14 Breakdown: The Dukes have had the upper hand since this old NCIC crossover series was renewed in the Big Northern.

Both of these teams will leave it all on the field at Hinders.

Week 9 Morrison at Bureau Valley When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 Where: Manlius Radio: 98.1 FM Streak: BV 3 Last meeting: 2015, BV 42, Morrison 22 Breakdown: The Mustangs were riding high on a 2-game win streak when BV won in Week 9 last season. The Storm hope history repeats, as the playoffs might be on the line.

Community is More than Part of Our Name Good luck to all area teams on your upcoming season!

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PAGE 54

FB16 GUIDE

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

2016 Master Schedule When and where to see or hear your favorite team each week Week 1

Week 2

Friday, Aug. 26

Friday, Sept. 2

• Oregon at Monmouth-Roseville, 7 (95.7 FM) • River Ridge at Polo, 7 • Sycamore at Sterling, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Rock Falls at Rockford Christian, 7:15 • Mendota at Dixon, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Bureau Valley at Erie-Prophetstown, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • Fulton at Hall, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Morrison at Kewanee, 7:30 • Durand at Milledgeville, 7:30 • Forreston at AFC, 7:30 • Amboy at Galena, 7:30 (101.7 FM) • Lena-Winslow at Eastland-Pearl City, 7:30 • West Carroll at Dakota, 7:30 (100.3 FM)

Saturday, Aug. 27 • Rockridge at Newman, 7:30 (102.7 FM)

Week 4 Friday, Sept. 16 • Erie-Prophetstown rec. forfeit • Rock Falls at Oregon, 7 (95.7 FM) • Milledgeville at Orangeville, 7 • Amboy at Forreston, 7 (101.7 FM) • Eastland-Pearl City at Polo, 7 • LaSalle-Peru at Sterling, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Dixon at Rockford Lutheran, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Fulton at Riverdale, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Orion at Bureau Valley, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • Rockridge at Morrison, 7:30 • AFC at Aquin, 7:30 • West Carroll at Pecatonica, 7:30 • Newman at Kewanee, 7:45 (102.7 FM)

• Rock Falls at Mendota, 7 • Polo at Durand, 7 • Warren at AFC, 7 • West Carroll at Eastland-Pearl City, 7 (100.3 FM) • Sterling at Pekin, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Dixon at Oregon, 7:30 (1460 AM, 95.7 FM) • Newman at Fulton, 7:30 (102.7 FM, 1390 AM) • Erie-Prophetstown at Orion, 7:30 • Princeton at Morrison, 7:30 • St. Bede at Bureau Valley, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • Milledgeville at Aquin, 7:30 • Dakota at Amboy, 7:30 (101.7 FM)

Week 3 Friday, Sept. 9 • Genoa-Kingston at Rock Falls, 7 • Oregon at North Boone, 7 (95.7 FM) • AFC at Milledgeville, 7 • Stockton at Polo, 7 • West Carroll at Amboy, 7 (101.7 FM) • Alleman at Sterling, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Rockford Christian at Dixon, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Erie-Prophetstown at Sherrard, 7:30 • Orion at Fulton, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Rockridge at Bureau Valley, 7:30 (98.1 FM)

• Pecatonica at Eastland-Pearl City, 7:30 (100.3 FM)

Saturday, Sept. 10 • Morrison at Newman, 7:30 (102.7 FM)

Week 5

Week 6

Friday, Sept. 23

Friday, Sept. 30

• Woodstock at Dixon, 7 (1460 AM) • Byron at Rock Falls, 7 • Winnebago at Oregon, 7 (95.7 FM) • Durand at AFC, 7 • Forreston at West Carroll, 7 • Polo at Warren, 7 • Sterling at Geneseo, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Newman at Erie-Prophetstown, 7:30 (102.7 FM) • Princeton at Fulton, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Riverdale at Morrison, 7:30 • River Ridge at Milledgeville, 7:30 (100.3 FM) • East Dubuque at Amboy, 7:30 (101.7 FM) • Galena at Eastland-Pearl City, 7:30

Saturday, Sept. 24 • Bureau Valley at North Crawford (Wis.), 1 (98.1 FM)

• Oregon at Byron, 7 (95.7 FM) • Milledgeville at Polo, 7 • Yorkville at Sterling, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Rock Falls at Winnebago, 7:15 • Dixon at Stillman Valley, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Newman at Princeton, 7:30 (102.7 FM) • St. Bede at Erie-Prophetstown, 7:30 • Morrison at Fulton, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Sherrard at Bureau Valley, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • AFC at Orangeville, 7:30 • Amboy at Lena-Winslow, 7:30 (101.7 FM) • Eastland-Pearl City at Dakota, 7:30 • West Carroll at Durand, 7:30

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Friday, Oct. 7

Friday, Oct. 14

Friday, Oct. 21

• Stillman Valley at Rock Falls, 7 • River Ridge at AFC, 7 • East Dubuque at West Carroll, 7 (100.3 FM) • Sterling at Rochelle, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Oregon at Rockford Lutheran, 7:15 (95.7 FM) • Genoa-Kingston at Dixon, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Sherrard at Newman, 7:30 (102.7 FM) • Erie-Prophetstown at Kewanee, 7:30 • Bureau Valley at Fulton, 7:30 (98.1 FM, 1390 AM) • Morrison at Orion, 7:30 • Polo at Aquin, 7:30 • Stockton at Milledgeville, 7:30 (100.3 FM) • Eastland-Pearl City at Amboy, 7:30 (101.7 FM)

• Oregon at Stillman Valley, 7 (95.7 FM) • West Hancock at Morrison, 7 • AFC at Polo, 7 • Ottawa at Sterling, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • Dixon at Rock Falls, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Princeton at Erie-Prophetstown, 7:30 • Bureau Valley at Riverdale, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • Fulton at Rockridge, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Milledgeville at Dakota, 7:30 • Forreston at Eastland-Pearl City, 7:30 (100.3 FM) • Amboy at Pecatonica, 7:30 (101.7 FM) • Galena at West Carroll, 7:30 (100.3 FM)

Saturday, Oct. 15

• Hall at Newman, 2 (102.7 FM)

• Rockford Christian at Oregon, 7 (95.7 FM) • Polo at Orangeville, 7 • Milledgeville at Warren, 7 (100.3 FM) • Stockton at AFC, 7 • West Carroll at Lena-Winslow, 7 • Sterling at DeKalb, 7:15 (94.3 FM) • North Boone at Dixon, 7:30 (1460 AM) • Rock Falls at Woodstock North, 7 • St. Bede at Newman, 7:30 (102.7 FM) • Erie-Prophetstown at Hall, 7:30 • Fulton at West Hancock, 7:30 (1390 AM) • Morrison at Bureau Valley, 7:30 (98.1 FM) • Amboy at Aquin, 7:30 (101.7 FM) • Eastland-Pearl City at East Dubuque, 7:30

August 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 55

FB16 GUIDE

Illinois state champions 1974-2015

Class 1A

Class 2A

1974 – Flanagan (12-0) 1975 – Triopia (13-0) 1976 – Hampshire (13-0) 1977 – Genoa-Kingston (13-0) 1978 – Arcola (11-1) 1979 – Hampshire (13-0) 1980 – Atwood (14-0) 1981 – Aquin (13-0) 1982 – Ziegler-Royalton (12-0) 1983 – Yorkwood (13-0) 1984 – Routt (13-0) 1985 – Arcola (14-0) 1986 – Aquin (12-2) 1987 – Bloomington C.C. (12-2) 1988 – Arcola (13-1) 1989 – Orangeville (12-2) 1990 – Newman (12-2) 1991 – Stockton (14-0) 1992 – Calhoun (14-0) 1993 – Calhoun (13-1) 1994 – Newman (14-0) 1995 – Carthage (14-0) 1996 – Chenoa (12-2) 1997 – Galena (14-0) 1998 – Carthage (14-0) 1999 – Carthage (14-0) 2000 – Carthage (14-0) 2001 – Wethersfield (13-1) 2002 – South Beloit (13-1) 2003 – Galena (11-3) 2004 – Alexis United (13-1) 2005 – Aquin (13-1) 2006 – Tuscola (14-0) 2007 – Galena (14-0) 2008 – Triopia (14-0) 2009 – Tuscola (11-3) 2010 – Lena-Winslow (13-1) 2011 – Dakota (12-2) 2012 – Maroa-Forsyth (13-1) 2013 – Lena-Winslow (11-3) 2014 – Forreston (13-1) 2015 – Arcola (14-0)

1974 – St. Teresa (13-0) 1975 – St. Teresa (13-0) 1976 – Fulton (13-0) 1977 – Mahomet-Seymour (12-1) 1978 – Stockton (12-1) 1979 – St. Teresa (12-1) 1980 – Schlarman (13-0) 1981 – Schlarman (12-1) 1982 – Bloomington C.C. (12-1) 1983 – Woodstock Marian (13-0) 1984 – Amboy (13-0) 1985 – Casey-Westfield (14-0) 1986 – Woodstock Marian (12-2) 1987 – Woodstock Marian (13-1) 1988 – Carlyle (14-0) 1989 – Woodstock Marian (14-0) 1990 – Seneca (14-0) 1991 – Fulton (14-0) 1992 – Richmond-Burton (11-3) 1993 – Coal City (14-0) 1994 – Rockridge (12-2) 1995 – Hampshire (12-2) 1996 – LeRoy (14-0) 1997 – Central A&M (14-0) 1998 – Aledo (12-2) 1999 – Stillman Valley (12-2) 2000 – Stillman Valley (14-0) 2001 – Aledo (13-1) 2002 – Aledo (14-0) 2003 – Iroquois West (13-1) 2004 – Newman (13-1) 2005 – Dakota (14-0) 2006 – Maroa-Forsyth (14-0) 2007 – Dakota (14-0) 2008 – Immaculate Conception (10-4) 2009 – Morrison (14-0) 2010 – Newman (14-0) 2011 – Morrison (13-1) 2012 – Mercer County (14-0) 2013 – Newman (13-1) 2014 – Eastland-Pearl City (14-0) 2015 – Tri-Valley (14-0)

Class 3A

1974 – West Chicago (13-0) 1975 – Metamora (13-0) 1976 – Geneseo (13-0) 1977 – Geneseo (12-1) 1978 – Geneseo (13-0) 1979 – Mascoutah (13-0) 1980 – Morris (12-1) 1981 – Mount Carmel (13-0) 1982 – Bishop McNamara (12-0) 1983 – Monmouth (12-1) 1984 – Anna-Jonesboro (12-1) 1985 – Bishop McNamara (14-0) 1986 – Bishop McNamara (11-3) 1987 – Bishop McNamara (12-2) 1988 – DuQuoin (14-0) 1989 – Althoff (13-1) 1990 – Althoff (13-0) 1991 – Driscoll (14-0) 1992 – DuQuoin (14-0) 1993 – Pontiac (13-1) 1994 – Bloomington C.C. (13-1) 1995 – Hall (13-1) 1996 – Carterville (14-0) 1997 – Kaneland (14-0) 1998 – Kaneland (14-0) 1999 – Byron (14-0) 2000 – Harrisburg (14-0) 2001 – Hall (13-1) 2002 – Immaculate Conception (13-1) 2003 – Stillman Valley (13-1) 2004 – Driscoll (12-2) 2005 – Bureau Valley (14-0) 2006 – Plano (14-0) 2007 – Plano (13-1) 2008 – Illini West (14-0) 2009 – Stillman Valley (14-0) 2010 – Illini West (14-0) 2011 – Aurora Christian (13-1) 2012 – Aurora Christian (13-1) 2013 – Stillman Valley (12-2) 2014 – Wilmington (14-0) 2015 – Bishop McNamara (13-1)

Class 4A

1974 – Rockford East (13-0) 1975 – Joliet Catholic (13-0) 1976 – Joliet Catholic (12-1) 1977 – Joliet Catholic (13-0) 1978 – Joliet Catholic (13-0) 1979 – Wheaton North (12-1) 1980 – Althoff (12-1) 1981 – Wheaton North (13-0) 1982 – Geneseo (12-1) 1983 – Woodstock (11-2) 1984 – Morris (13-0) 1985 – Washington (13-1) 1986 – Tinley Park (12-2) 1987 – Providence (13-1) 1988 – Richards (14-0) 1989 – Richards (14-0) 1990 – Joliet Catholic (14-0) 1991 – Providence (14-0) 1992 – Oswego (13-1) 1993 – Chicago Heights Marian (14-0) 1994 – Belvidere (12-2) 1995 – Providence (14-0) 1996 – Providence (14-0) 1997 – Providence (13-1) 1998 – Glenwood (14-0) 1999 – Joliet Catholic (14-0) 2000 – Joliet Catholic (14-0) 2001 – Driscoll (12-2) 2002 – Driscoll (13-1) 2003 – Driscoll (14-0) 2004 – Montini (13-1) 2005 – Driscoll (14-0) 2006 – Driscoll (13-1) 2007 – Driscoll (14-0) 2008 – Bloomington C.C. (14-0) 2009 – Metamora (13-1) 2010 – Rochester (14-0) 2011 – Rochester (12-2) 2012 – Rochester (13-1) 2013 – Rochester (13-1) 2014 – Rochester (12-2) 2015 – Chicago Phillips (14-0)

Class 5A

1974 – Glenbrook North (12-0) 1975 – Deerfield (13-0) 1976 – St. Laurence (13-0) 1977 – East Leyden (13-0) 1978 – St. Rita (13-0) 1979 – East St. Louis (12-0) 1980 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 1981 – Joliet Catholic (13-0) 1982 – Guilford (13-0) 1983 – Glenbard West (13-0) 1984 – Richwoods (13-0) 1985 – Rockford East (11-3) 1986 – Wheaton North (13-1) 1987 – Joliet Catholic (12-2) 1988 – Richwoods (14-0) 1989 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 1990 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (14-0) 1991 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (12-2) 1992 – Wheaton Warrenville South (14-0) 1993 – Belvidere (14-0) 1994 – Providence (14-0) 1995 – Maine South (12-2) 1996 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (14-0) 1997 – Woodstock (14-0) 1998 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (14-0) 1999 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 2000 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 2001 – Joliet Catholic (13-1) 2002 – Providence (14-0) 2003 – Joliet Catholic (13-1) 2004 – Joliet Catholic (14-0) 2005 – Sacred Heart-Griffin (14-0) 2006 – Sacred Heart-Griffin (14-0) 2007 – Metamora (14-0) 2008 – St. Francis (13-1) 2009 – Montini (10-4) 2010 – Montini (12-2) 2011 – Montini (12-2) 2012 – Montini (12-2) 2013 – Sacred Heart-Griffin (14-0) 2014 – Sacred Heart-Griffin (14-0) 2015 – Nazareth Academy (12-2)

Good Luck Area Teams!

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Class 6A

1980 – Gordon Tech (12-1) 1981 – Brother Rice (11-2) 1982 – Reavis (12-1) 1983 – East St. Louis (13-0) 1984 – East St. Louis (13-0) 1985 – East St. Louis (14-0) 1986 – Buffalo Grove (14-0) 1987 – Hersey (12-2) 1988 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (14-0) 1989 – East St. Louis (14-0) 1990 – Thornton (12-2) 1991 – East St. Louis (13-1) 1992 – Naperville North (12-2) 1993 – Loyola (12-2) 1994 – Homewood-Flossmoor (13-1) 1995 – Wheaton Warrenville South (12-2) 1996 – Wheaton Warrenville South (13-1) 1997 – Lincoln-Way (14-0) 1998 – Wheaton Warrenville South (14-0) 1999 – Naperville Central (14-0) 2000 – Maine South (13-1) 2001 – Providence (14-0) 2002 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 2003 – Mundelein Carmel (14-0) 2004 – Providence (13-1) 2005 – Morris (14-0) 2006 – Normal (14-0) 2007 – Joliet Catholic (13-1) 2008 – Sacred Heart-Griffin (13-1) 2009 – Cary-Grove (14-0) 2010 – Boylan (14-0) 2011 – Prairie Ridge (13-1) 2012 – Crete-Monee (14-0) 2013 – Batavia (13-1) 2014 – Nazareth (14-0) 2015 – Montini (14-0)

Class 7A

2001 – Prospect (14-0) 2002 – Prospect (12-2) 2003 – Oswego (13-1) 2004 – Libertyville (14-0) 2005 – Prospect (13-1) 2006 – St. Rita (13-1) 2007 – Lake Zurich (13-1) 2008 – East St. Louis (13-1) 2009 – Wheaton Warrenville South (13-1) 2010 – Wheaton Warrenville South (14-0) 2011 – Boylan (14-0) 2012 – Glenbard West (14-0) 2013 – Chi. Mt. Carmel (13-1) 2014 – Providence (13-1) 2015 – Glenbard West (14-0)

Class 8A

2001 – Downers Grove South (12-2) 2002 – Lockport (13-1) 2003 – Lockport (12-2) 2004 – Downers Grove North (12-2) 2005 – Lincoln-Way East (14-0) 2006 – Wheaton Warrenville South (14-0) 2007 – Naperville North (13-1) 2008 – Maine South (14-0) 2009 – Maine South (14-0) 2010 – Maine South (12-2) 2011 – Bolingbrook (13-1) 2012 – Chicago Mt. Carmel (13-1) 2013 – Naperville Central (11-3) 2014 – Stevenson (14-0) 2015 – Loyola Academy (14-0)

Most championships 1. Joliet Catholic 13 2. Chicago Mt. Carmel 12 3. Providence 10 4. Driscoll 8 5. East St. Louis 7 5. Wheaton Warrenville So. 7 7. Carthage/Illini West 6 7. Montini 6

2007 2013 2014 2007 2008 2010 2010 2015

PAGE 56

Sauk Valley Media • August 25, 2016

FB16 GUIDE

Follow the Golden Warriors and Comets with your hometown radio stations...all season long!

Sterling Golden Warriors

Newman Comets Station: WZZT 102.7 FM

Station: WSSQ 94.3 FM

8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21

7:15 H............Sycamore (H.S.) 7:15 A ............Pekin 7:15 H............Rock Island (Alleman) 7:15 H ...........LaSalle (L.-Peru) 7:15 A ............Geneseo 7:15 H............Yorkville (H.S.) 7:15 A ............Rochelle 7:15 H............Ottawa (Twp.) 7:15 A ............DeKalb

8/27 9/2 9/10 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/15 10/21

7:30 H............Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 7:30 A ...........Fulton (H.S.) 7:30 H............Morrison 7:45 A............Kewanee (H.S.) 7:30 A............Erie [E.-Prophetstown Coop] 7:30 A............Princeton [Coop] 7:30 H............Sherrard 2:00 H............Spring Valley (Hall) 7:30 H............Peru (St. Bede)

Listen to Cathy Verhulst Sports Weekdays

Here’s To A Great Season!

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