Tricks or Treats? What is in store this postseason for your favorite high school teams? Duerrisms peers into the future...
Happy Halloween, Ghouls and Goblins and welcome to this "rant-free" edition of Duerrisms, for the week of October 29th. We are presented as always by the fine folks at ADVANCE Physical Therapy. May all your Trick-or-Treating be fruitful.
Apparently, we rattled a few cages last week with the Duerrisms. Good to see everyone's blood pumping. The object of this column is to get folks talking and thinking about all things high school sports. Apparently, we were successful. Again, this is commentary and the opinion of one guy. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you feel compelled to respond, we welcome your opinions here as well and relish the interchange of ideas. That is just good clean fun. The only rule: anonymous postings go completely ignored around here. If you don't have enough conviction in your ideas and opinions to stand behind them, take that weak sauce somewhere else.
Again, my gratitude to all the area Coaches and Athletic Directors for sending us your KHQA/ADVANCE Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week Nominations. As you can tell from the first three kids out of the chute, we have an amazing pool of applicants working. Again, if you want to get your Senior of choice consideration for this award (3.5 GPA minimum) you would be well served to beat the Basketball Season rush by submitting your form to us before our next board meeting in on November 16th. If you need a nomination form, contact me at cduerr@khqa.com.
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KHQA/ADVANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
The KHQA/ADVANCE Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week program has started anew for the 2009-2010 school year, and once again we will awarding a pair of scholarships to the most accomplished high school male and female seniors in the region. Our nominating board met on October 5th and selected our first six honorees of the year, each of whom will be profiled on Wednesday during the KHQA Evening News. If you know of a deserving senior who sports a minimum 3.5 GPA, please contact your high school athletic director and have them fill out a form on that student's behalf. If your AD doesn't have the form, have them contact me at cduerr@khqa.com. Our next nomination meeting in November 16th and we already have a very good group of holdover candidates from our first meeting. The earlier you nominate, the better the chances for your candidate of choice.
2009 Honorees
Week One: HANNAH KVITLE, Quincy High Volleyball
Week Two: TAYLOR BAXTER, Palmyra Softball, Basketball
Week Three: MICHAEL LAFFERTY, Illini West Football, Baseball
Week Four: MICHAEL JOHNSON, Pittsfield/Griggsville-Perry Football
Past Scholarship Winners
2008: MATT PATTERSON, South Shelby (Truman State)
CHLOE BARNES, Quincy High (Ball State University)
2007: LUKE GUTHRIE, Quincy High (University of Illinois)
2006: KATELYN BASTERT, Illini West (Duke University)
2005: MIKAL BENECOMO, Clopton (Southeast Missouri State)
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FOOTBALL 2009
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
7) EVAN BORROWMAN, WR, Pleasant Hill/Western
4 Receptions, 31 Yards, 3 TD vs Virginia/AC Central
6) ALEX O'LAUGHLIN, QB, South Shelby
3 of 5 Passing, 106 Yards, 2 TD; Rushing TD vs Palmyra
5) DANIEL WEIMAN, RB, Quincy Notre Dame
3 Carries, 93 Yards Rushing, TD; 25 Yard Receiving TD; 59 Yard Punt Return TD vs Canton
4) MICHAEL TONRY, RB, Routt
34 Carries, 196 Yards, 2 TD vs North Greene
3) MAT SIMS, DB/WR, Hannibal
School Record 3 Interceptions vs Marshall
2) ROGER WALKLEY, RB, Bowling Green
17 Carries, 110 Rushing Yards, 3 TD vs Lutheran
1) DEVON JOHNSON, RB, Pittsfield/Griggsville-Perry
16 Carries, 239 Yards, 4 TD vs West Hancock
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KHQA HERO OF THE WEEK:
NICK LONERGAN, QB, Jacksonville
The Crimsons fall one power point shy of a playoff berth, despite hanging 62 points on Centralia on the road on Saturday. That, my friends, is the very definition of a bad beat. With the crescendo finish, however, Jacksonville should have plenty of positive moment going forward. And at the heart of next year's optimism, you will find quarterback Nick Lonergan, who finished off his junior year with another near flawless passing effort at the Orphans expense. To the best of my recollection, outside of Lonergan, the only other area passer this season to generate more than 300 yards passing in a single game this season was Jordan Cawthon. Conversely, Lonergan rolled 300 in the first half alone against Centralia and punctuated his 2009 campaign with his second 400 yard passing effort of the season and six more touchdowns. For the season, Lonergan ends up with over 2500 passing yards and 19 touchdowns through the air. More impressively, he generates those numbers on, get this, 65% accuracy. Do the math and this kid just completed one of the most impressive individual campaigns we have ever seen from any quarterback in any corner of the Tri States. Hard to imagine what Nick could/will accomplish with another year of polish in Mark Grounds spread system.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Week One: DERRICK HULL, QB, Central-Southeastern
Week Two: MICHAEL TONRY, RB, Routt Catholic
Week Three: DANIEL WEIMAN, RB, Quincy Notre Dame
Week Four: DEVON JOHNSON, RB, Pittsfield-Griggsville Perry
Week Five: SHANNON HALL, RB/DB, South Shelby
Week Six: NICK LONERGAN, QB, Jacksonville High School
Week Seven: NATHAN GOUDSCHAAL, DL./OL, Brown County High School
Week Eight: KEENAN GILLASPY, QB, Knox County
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KHQA FRATERNITY OF PAIN presented by THE GRAPHIC EDGE
Limited Edition T-Shirts for the Best Hit of the Week, courtesy of our good buddy Mike McCombs at the GRAPHIC EDGE. This year's honorees include:
Week Two: BRANDON COUSINS, Macomb (vs PBL)
Week Three: JESSE HOLTSCLAW, Illini West (vs CSE)
Week Four: AUSTIN WATERKOTTE, QND (vs Peoria Central)
Week Five: CONNOR MILLER, QND (vs Peoria Woodruff)
Week Six: CORY BOWEN, Brown County (vs West Central)
Week Seven: CHIP HOLTSCHLAG, QND (vs Peoria Richwoods)
Week Eight: NATHAN ALDERTON, Clark County (vs Macon)
Week Nine: WILL MEFFORD, South Shelby (vs Palmyra)
Please be sure to e-mail me at cduerr@khqa.com <mailto:cduerr@khqa.com> with your shirt sizes and we will deliver you your snazzy new garment in a couple of weeks.
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KHQA FINAL POWER POLL
FINAL KHQA POWER POLL FOR THE REGULAR SEASON
1) ILLINI WEST (9-0)
Last Week: 64-20 win over Unity/Payson
This Week:vs Riverton in Class 3A Playoff Opener
THE DIAGNOSIS: With Jim Unruh away from football attending to a family medical matter, the Chargers take care of business in Mendon and finish off another perfect season. The Illini West starters got roughly two quality quarters worth of sparring time before getting an early break in anticipation of the road to repeat. Jesse Holtsclaw posted his third interception in two weeks with a pick-six in the second quarter. Zack Burling returned a punt 55 yards for a score and also caught a short touchdown pass from Michael Lafferty. Ser Whitaker and Stefan Flynn added two touchdowns apiece on the ground on limited totes. Just your standard issue Charger tune-up. And for its efforts, IW draws a 6-3 Riverton team in the opener that boasts one the Springfield Region's better sophomore prospects in running back Jacob Morrison. The Hawks are triggered by Quarterback Seth King, who can run the football some, but has not posted many passing attempts. The Hawks like to get the football to both Morrison and senior Kyle Lucca, who can also catch the football out of the backfield. Still, it would appear to be a pretty straight forward mission for Lyle Klein's Defense in Week One of the Postseason. Defensively, the Hawks are prone to give up some points, including the 41 they surrendered to a Williamsville team that doesn't have nearly the edge speed that Illini West does. Suffice it to say, the Chargers are likely to light up the scoreboard at Fuzz Berges on Saturday and it would not surprise me to see IW raid the Riverton Defense in much the same manner as it did BPCA: find the slow patches on the Hawk Defense and attack them frequently. For as much grief as we have given Jim Unruh over the years for his lack of faith in the passing game, he seems to love taking shots deep down the field with Kris Vincent, Jacob Schmudlach, and Zack Burling this year. You can expect at least two or three home run throws from Michael Lafferty early, which has just proven fatal for defenses this season who have tried to sell out in stopping Ser Whitaker from running to the edge. The next thing you know, Vincent is running wide open down the middle of the field and making easy touchdown grabs. Or the now healthy Stefan Flynn is destroying the middle of your defense like a human jack-hammer. Way too much to contend with. It is going to take a very special defense to derail these guys from their date with destiny in Champaign.
2) BROWN COUNTY (9-0)
Last Week: 34-0 win over Greenfield
This Week: vs South Piatt in 3A Playoff Opener
THE DIAGNOSIS: Pigskin perfection comes to Hornet Country as Brown County shuts out its seventh opponent of the season and barrels headlong into one bizarrely brutal playoff run for a number one seed. So much so that one wonders if Tom Little would not have been better served in losing to Triopia in Week Seven and taking the Trojans relative cake-walk into the 1A Semifinals. No matter, high degree of difficulty or not, the Hornets have been sensational this season at playing the hand they are dealt and that hand means having to beat South Piatt, a traditional powerhouse in Tuscola (with three straight final four appearances) in round two, the Pawnee team that ousted them in Round Three and likely the defending state champs (again) just to get to Champaign. Say this much for BC, if the Hornets get there, no one can question this squad's grit or heart. And for all that works against them, the Hornets do have advantages at play. Momentum, for one. For all the talk about this superb defense, it is easy to forget that BC's Offense has been afire and so incredibly diverse that you can't scheme to take away any one option for the offense. The Jacobs (Wilson, Ward) are big play guys par excellence. Fullback Joe Cross just became the first back ever to rush for over 2000 career yards in Brown County history. And Ace Henricks has been dynamite under center. Lots and lots of options here. And if my prediction holds true that Tuscola vs Brown County in Round Two is essentially the 1A State Title Game played three weeks two early, the Hornets at least get to host that game in the best atmosphere in Tri State Football. I've also long advocated that in 1A Football, the best Offensive Line usually equals State Title hoist. I haven't seen any better in small school football this season than Heath Fullerton's crew. It is easy to get caught up in the knee-jerk reaction to the relative unfairness of BC's draw. Lets not write off and dismiss this phenomenal, history making team just yet....
3) QND (9-0)
Last Week: 42-6 win over Canton
This Week: vs Harrisburg in Class 4A Playoff Opener
THE DIAGNOSIS: Maybe I am dating myself here, but I can actually recall a time when Little Giant Football set a high benchmark in Western Illinois. Now? Not so much. Herein lies QND's quandry. The Raiders have been betrayed this season by a schedule that is far worse in practicality than it looked on paper going into the year. See also QND's paltry 26 playoff points and subsequent ugly draw into a quadrant with three other unbeatens, including top ranked Rochester. Peoria Richwoods is the only team on QND's schedule that qualified for the playoffs, leaving us to wonder just how viable Bill Connell's crew is as a title contender. We know QND is good. How good remains to be seen, because to date the Raiders have been a little like Picasso scribbling fine art on the back of used paper plates. The performance is spot-on. The medium, however, is garbage. These things we can say with certainty. Kramer Barnes is back at Quarterback and that is a spark this offense really needed. So much so that we were reminded through Anthony Bruns and Luke Stammerjohn as well just how good this passing game really is. Also underscored last Friday, the fact that Daniel Weiman is the most irreplaceable offensive set piece in Tri State Football. Seriously, no one can stop this kid from doing whatever it is he wants to do on a football field. Without question, the best back of his ilk we have seen in Western Illinois since Ashton Gronewold. Most importantly, we can relay the obvious: the Raider Defense is really, really terrific. Our friend Matt Schuckman at the Quincy Herald Whig calls this the best collective set of linebackers he's seen at QND in his now decade plus tenure. The Defensive Lineplay has been outstanding, with Jay Finley this week getting the signature moment (weird, but we seem to have one of these every week from QND's D-Line) with an interception return for touchdown. I guess the one question about a unit that gave up just 32 points all year is whether or not this team can standup in the secondary to an accomplished passing team. The Raiders won't see that in Round One as Harrisburg is really physical with its running game and will to some extent, try to pound the football down the Raiders throat with Dawson Monfort, a 220 pound masher. Bottom line, this appears to be an approach that plays right into the strength of what QND does best. In that spirit, we expect quick resolution at 10th and Jackson Saturday Afternoon.
4) BOWLING GREEN (9-0)
Last Week: 38-6 over Lutheran
This Week: vs Winfield
THE DIAGNOSIS: By Friday, the Bobcats will be sitting on the first 10-0 regular season in school history, just one more impressive accomplishment to a resume list that includes the first outright district title since 1991 and an outright EMO Title. Sounds like pretty good Coach of the Year fodder, no? By all accounts, last Friday was a sensational night for Jimmy Tucker's crew going forward into the playoffs. Ryan Cox started to heat up again in the passing game with 231 yards and 2 touchdowns. Three different Bobcat targets all had 50 or more yards in receiving (Blake Robbins, Cody Spegal, Matt Brown) The Bobcats offensive line really did a terrific job punching holes or Roger Walkley, who has become a wonderful counterpunch within this offense as legit running threat. And at the heart of it all, another stellar effort from the BG defense, which hasn't given up more than a single score in any game over the past five weeks. Geoff Correnti, Brett Cobb, and Jeff Pease all posted double digit tackle totals and Matt Brown continues to roll up interceptions (nine in the regular season) and solo tackles at a furious pace. This has been a perfect storm season for the Bobcats and after Thursday Night, the road to the Dome will come in much sharper focus. My inkling: the Bobcats are no worse than a Final Four team. Bowling Green will await the final carnage in District 6...where pedestrian Lutheran North or John Burroughs squads figure to shake out as the Distict Runner Up to Trinity Catholic. Trinity Catholic and Bowling Green share a common opponent in Borgia, which beat the Titans 10-7 this season and Trinity has been clearly the strongest team in that District bracket. Reading the tea leaves here, the Bobcats should be 12-0 headed into the 3A quarterfinals, where either a rematch with North Callaway or more likely a showdown with Salem, who is 6-3 against a very solid schedule, await. Bottom line, the Bobcats don't see a powerhouse until the Semifinals, with Ritter and Potosi both playing exceptional football. If you are making last area team standing bets at this point, no option looks much stronger than Bowling Green.
5) CLARK COUNTY (9-0)
Last Week: 13-0 win via forfeit from Highland
This Week: at Brookfield
THE DIAGNOSIS: Given an unexpected week off by their germ-conscious friends from Highland, the Clark County Indians have had 10 days to prepare for the District Title game with Brookfield and beyond. Matt Smith took advantage of the rare Friday night off to send scouts view not only Brookfield, but Mark Twain, South Shelby, and Centralia this week. If the Clark County folks were ticked about losing Senior Night due to the Highland Forfeit, the aforementioned opponents here should be doubly ticked in that the Indians got not only a bye week to prep, but free scouting reports on all of them. I am guessing the School Board in Ewing won't be getting many Christmas Cards from their friends in Center, Shelbina, Erle Bennett-ville any time soon because of those advantages afforded the Indians. Not that Matt Smith needs any. I've heard a couple of pundits project Thursday night as the end of the Indians 23 game win-streak. I am not buying it. Brookfield Wide Receiver Blake Williams single handedly beat Macon last Friday with three catches for three touchdowns and 150 yards worth of damage. If anyone thinks that Brookfield QB Austin Lindsey is going to be afford the same kind of time to sit in the pocket and attack Clark's secondary doesn't now Quentin Hamner very well. The Tri-State's answer to Dick LeBeau, Hamner will bring every blitz conceivable and has the luxury of putting Mason Owen on the Bulldogs stud receiver and defying someone else to beat them. Credit where credit is due, Nile Thudium has done a wonderful job tightening up the Brookfield defense, which hasn't given up more that seven points in a game this season. Clark County's offensive line will be put to the test, but I like the way the Indians running game has gelled. If Justin Oilar has a hot hand, Brookfield might get the same old postseason déjà vu from Clark, not once but twice during this playoff run.
6) CONCORD TRIOPIA (8-1)
Last Week: 52-0 win over Bunker Hill
This Week: vs Mount Olive in Class 1A Playoff Opener
THE DIAGNOSIS: If there was a clear cut winner in the IHSA Playoff Pairings Derby, it was Rich Thompson's Triopia crew. The Defending State Champs avoid many of the most feared of 1A landmines and get a very manageable path all the way to the Semifinals. And in a nice bit of symmetry, the Trojans can open their "run at repeat" by sending a past tormentor (Don Dobrino) off into retirement in Round One of the dance. With Bradley Dinsmore back to full power on Friday (84 yards, 4 touchdowns on just eleven touches against Bunker Hill) the Trojans appear to have worked out some serious angst in the wake of the Week Seven loss to Brown County. No one has talked about it much this season, but Andy Phelps Defense has limited opponents to just 45 total points in nine games. This week the hard target for Jacob Fricke and Company is Mount Olive franchise back Andy Osmoe, who had 141 rushing yards against New Berlin last week. Barring some kind of Week Ten Relapse from last year (the Trojans 20-6 win over Hardin Calhoun was the ugliest performance I can remember from power team in a playoff opener) the Trojans should take care of business rather emphatically on Saturday afternoon and begin preparations for a likely home date with Villa Grove. As I said earlier, I love Triopia draw here in that Tuscola, Pawnee, and Brown County all have to beat each other up on the other side of the bracket. Triopia's biggest headache might be a Sidell Jamaica squad that has been notoriously hit or miss over the years (though methinks Lewistown is the bracket buster in this grouping) and the Trojans are too well coached to fall prey to thank kind of trap. If there were Vegas odds on these type things, this would be where I would lay my hard earned money...
7) HANNIBAL (8-1)
Last Week: 28-0 win over Marshall
This Week: vs Helias
THE DIAGNOSIS: Count me among the converts. Prior to this week, I had my suspicions that.....
A) Hannibal's current shutout streak was the product of a soft run of games leading into Week Eight
B) The Pirates would likely lose their finale with State Ranked Helias
Now, I am beginning to wonder why I doubted the newly crowned NCMC Champs. Seriously, watching Jordan Strickland, Levi Gordon, and Andrew Davis tear up the Marshall Offensive Line was sight to behold. Mat Sims tied a school record with three interceptions, but lets share the wealth here. Matt Buford spent the night throwing the ball away because he was under constant duress. And I am not sure I blame him. Watching Jordan Strickland closes down on you is the scariest thing you will see this side of "Paranormal Activity." The kid rarely arrives at the ball without some kind of thunderous pop involved. In the process on Friday, the Pirates tied a school record with six shutouts (remember in the preseason when all us media types were harping on the serious need for defensive improvement...mission accomplished) and are playing with all the swagger in the world headed into their District Championship showdown with Helias. The Hannibal offense also weathered some adversity nicely, with Mark Nemes and Lenny Clark adding just enough splash to the run game to get the job done. I do think the Pirates will need their "A" game offensively to crack Chris Hentges Crusader Defense, which is among the best in the state, but with the way this Defense is rolling, seven points may still be enough for victory. P.S. Sorry we doubted you.
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THE NEXT LEVEL
8) SOUTH SHELBY (8-1)
Five touchdowns of 35 yards or better, including a 65 yard run from Stefan Andress on the first play from scrimmage. Or how about 23 yards of offense against. I'd say the Cardinals are plenty primed for Thursday's District Title Fight with surprising Mark Twain....
9) PGP (8-1)
The Saukees have reeled of eight straight scoreless quarters since the loss to Illini West and have Devon Johnson playing as well as any running back in the state right now. If those two trends continue, PGP might have the best chance of anyone in the area to make it to Champaign (I don't see Stillman Valley or Wilmington in the Saukee's draw. Do you?) The one downside: drawing a monster sized Pana squad (Don Bigley says the Panthers make South Fulton look tiny) on a slow track Saturday afternoon. PGP hasn't exactly wowed us against physical foes (S. Fulton this year, IW last year) over the last few seasons.
10) CENTRAL SOUTHEASTERN (7-2)
The Panthers sent seven different kids to the end zone against Beardstown, while Bill Reed's first team defense didn't allow the Tigers anywhere near it. One could conceivably argue that CSE is the hottest team in the area headed into the postseason. And Bill Reed is no stranger to scheming against Cullen Welter's multi-dimensional offense. Honestly, I hold Cully Welter in the highest of esteem and think the Monticello folks should declare him Emperor for Life after turning 0-9 into 7-2 in one season. But if there is a time to get the Sages, it is this year and if you listen to the Panthers players right now, they sound kind of like the good QND and IW teams always due: focused, sharp and business-like. This might be my favorite first round game.
11) BPCA (7-2)
Don't tell anyone but the Spartans went to the State Quarterfinals in Class 2A last season (shhh!!!) and somehow those lugnuts in Bloomington let John McCormick's crew slide into the 1A Dance, the weak side of the bracket no less. That's like turning George Clooney loose on one of the Internet Dating sites. A shark among guppies. The Spartans have the potential to flat out rake here. Did I mention this team rushed for over 3000 yards this season, even with four playoff qualifiers, a defending state 3A champion, and that super-sized South Fulton defense on the slate. Trey Yocum and Colin Dougals alone have over 2000 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns between them. If these guys get to Champaign, and they well could, and find Brown County or Triopia awaiting, you people won't be able to pry me away from the 1A title game.
12) QUINCY HIGH (7-2)
Abject lesson of Week Nine for everyone not named Mark Grounds: be glad your favorite high school football team doesn't play in the Central State Eight. In a word, wow. That is a pretty darned good Quincy High football team Dan Roarke's Titans humbled on Friday Night. You hold the Blue Devil running backs to under 100 total yards, your defense is pretty salty. Of greater concern to me, the defensive meltdown by a Blue Devil squad that previously had given no quarter to anyone. Hopefully, Rick Little has a psyche saver in the bag of tricks this week, because QHS needs to quickly get back on task. The road trip to Morgan Park is a monster...and so too is the Mustangs Offensive Line. Couple that with great speed on the edge and the Devils have a huge defensive test ahead. One saving grace here is that Morgan Park isn't touted (at least from the Chicago Football guy we talked to) as a great run stopping team. The Devils need to possess the ball for long periods of time and set tempo. The other scuttlebutt we've heard is that Morgan Park's offense is very risk/reward oriented with Quarterback DaRon Brown not much of a polished passer. When the Mustangs go to the air, it tends to be a case of Brown throwing the ball and letting his receivers make the play. If QHS can get Morgan Park into obvious passing downs, the Devils might have a good chance of being opportunistic enough to throw the Mustangs off-kilter. Enough to win? Who is to say, but QHS is a big underdog going in...
13) MARK TWAIN (6-3)
Meet the best "mudder" in Tri State Football. The Tigers are tremendous on a slick track, a nifty trump card when you consider the game Thursday in Shelbina could be played in Monsoon conditions. On paper, the single best/most important matchup in Week Ten is Mark Twain's terrific Offensive Line against a South Shelby Defensive Front that is the deepest and best balanced in Northeast Missouri. If the Cardinals can keep Steven Phillips from running north and south (which he does abundantly well) and don't lose contain on the edge, Twain's magic may come to an end. By the same token, no one has been very successful in doing those things to date. Matt Hudson loves to run the football, Pete Adkins-style. You may know what is coming. It may not be fancy. But if you can't stop our six bread-and-butter running plays, you ain't gonna beat us. I believe Mr Adkins employed that adage to a State Title or two in Jefferson City back in the day. Not a bad mindset to have, mind you...
14) PLEASANT HILL/WESTERN (7-2)
Three more touchdown receptions for Evan Borrowman, which I believe puts him at 11 for the season and 41 for his career; all alone in 4th place All Time in IHSA history for career scoring grabs. With three more, Evan shatters the state record. Thanks to that ultra-rare tenth game in Wolves Country, Borrowman has a chance not only to make individual history, but help his team avenge a galling loss earlier this season to Greenfield. The Wolves have improved steadily as the season has gone on and Friday's roll-over of V/AC is certainly a nice lead-in to playoff football. The Wolves have been running the ball very well, with Jake Yanczer, Jacob Garrison, and Keaton Baker making life hard on opposing defenses. The Wolves have to do a better job punching holes in the Tiger Defense this time around and sustaining drives. Do that and Week Eleven is a very distinct possibility.
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BEST OF THE REST
15) KNOX COUNTY
16) ROUTT
17) JACKSONVILLE
18) SCOTLAND COUNTY
19) MACOMB
20) MONROE CITY
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FEARLESS DUERR PREDICTIONS
Last Weeks Record: 20-1 (swung for the fences and missed on Macon over Brookfield)
Overall Record: 181-24 (88.3% accuracy)
Missouri Districts:
VALLE CATHOLIC 40
PARIS 10
VAN FAR 12
LOUISIANA 14
SCHUYLER COUNTY 14
KNOX COUNTY 22
SCOTLAND COUNTY 28
NORTH SHELBY 12
MONROE CITY 32
PALMYRA 20
MARK TWAIN 14
SOUTH SHELBY 28
HIGHLAND 6
MACON 40
CLARK COUNTY 21
BROOKFIELD 6
WINFIELD 0
BOWLING GREEN 27
HELIAS 14
HANNIBAL 17
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Illinois Playoffs
ROUTT 18
LEWISTOWN 30
BPCA 24
LEROY 12
SOUTH PIATT 0
BROWN COUNTY 55
MOUNT OLIVE 6
TRIOPIA 36
GREENFIELD 12
PLEASANT HILL 8
PANA 18
PGP 40
CSE 24
MONTICELLO 20
RIVERTON 8
ILLINI WEST 44
HARRISBURG 0
QND 28
QUINCY HIGH 14
MORGAN PARK 31
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HANDICAPPING THE FOOTBALL AWARDS RACE
Well, believe it or not, we've reached High School Football's second season in Warp Speed. In that spirit, I thought that as we stand on the precipice of the most important part of the football campaign, we take inventory of where we stand in regards to our annual football awards. Clearly, the resumes are only half written. As many of you know, we place huge emphasis on what players and coaches do on the big stage; and the biggest stage of the year starts now. Much can and will change, but at least you can watch the thought process play out, perhaps anticipate our choices down the road, and frame your own arguments pro or con to our choices. As always, this is merely based on nothing more scientific than the opinions of the KHQA Sports Department, which is made up of either geniuses or idiots, depending on the day. So in that spirit, enjoy!
KHQA COACH OF THE REGULAR SEASON: TOM LITTLE, Brown County
One could argue that Tom hasn't even been the best coach in the family this season and I am sure many pundits will do exactly that. Bottom line, however, is that Tom Little's team ran the table this season in the most impressive fashion possible. The Hornets gave up a state low nine points against and were one of just seven teams in the state to score more than 400 points themselves. At one point, the Hornets boasted the state's most prolific offense and stingiest defense simultaneously. Compelling arguments can be made here as well for all of the undefeated coaches, although I tend to think that Bowling Green's Jimmy Tucker might have the best chance to catch Tom given the historic nature of Bowling Green's perfect season and the relatively smooth road the Bobcats can ride into the Final Four. Clearly, Rick Little's turnaround of the Blue Devil program will get lots of play, especially if QHS wins a playoff game. The other sleepers to watch here are Matt Hudson, who gave Mark Twain its first playoff berth since 1993 in his rookie season, and Knox County's Steve Ramer. But if the sason ended today, Tom Little would be golden.
KHQA IL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE REGULAR SEASON: NATHAN GOUDSCHAAL, Brown County
I'd love to be coy with you and create false suspense, but the only way the Brown County Defensive Lineman doesn't win this award is if he takes top honors as the KHQA Player of the Year instead. And the fact that we are having that argument about this kid is telling in its own right .Thirteen Quarterback Sacks in nine games, another 100 tackle season, and a signature game against Triopia that goes down as the most dominant we've seen from an interior linemen. Beyond Goudschaal, QND's defensive balance works against any one candidate. Illini West's Kris Vincent and Carl Hartweg, Pittsfield's Sam Ghrist, Concord Triopia's Jacob Fricke could be mentioned in this conversation, but Gouschaal is about a mortal lock here.
KHQA IL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE REGULAR SEASON: DANIEL WEIMAN, QND
Conversely, this race is amazing. Playoff misses from Jacksonville and Macomb essentially eliminate Nick Lonergan and Matt Gordy from contention. Routt's Michael Tonry and Quincy High's DJ Powell both have superb resumes to date, but need long stays in the postseason pool to close the gap. My finalist list at this point includes Trey Yocum of BPCA (1202 yards, 20 touchdowns) and Devon Johnson of Pittsfield as running backs, with Ser Whitaker and Bradley Dinsmore on the cusp. The clear top two here are Illini West Quarterback Michael Lafferty and QND Tailback Daniel Weiman going into the postseason. Lafferty has never lost a game as varsity starter. Weiman is absolutely electrifying in the highlight department. Right now, I lean Weiman since he showed up so large when Kramer Barnes went down. But if IW finishes with another state title, the Charger signal caller would be impossible to ignore.
KHQA MO/IA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE REGULAR SEASON: GEOFF CORRENTI, Bowling Green
This one is the best race of all. I've got Bowling Green's answer to Jack Lambert by a nose right now over Hannibal's Jordan Strickland and Mat Sims. Truth be told, I might have had Ben Dunn ahead of both of his Hannibal teammates had he been healthy all season. Bottom line, the Pirates may have too many good candidates and split the vote here. Correnti, he of the thunderous hits and 14.5 tackles for loss so far, could also get pushed by teammate Matt Brown (9 Interceptions) here as well. I think Clark County's Nathan Alderton is a dangerous sleeper here. Monroe City's playoff ouster probably kills the campaigns of Joe Chinn and Jordan Strickland. The biggest X-factor here might be those three unstoppable Defensive Linemen Rob Wilt has in the arsenal at South Shelby. If the Cardinals get hot, we may have to expand the conversation. But right now, I think you go Correnti, Strickland, and Sims until this thing sorts itself out down the stretch.
KHQA MO/IA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE REGULAR SEASON: MARK NEMES, Hannibal
This race intrigues as well. Bowling Green Quarterback Ryan Cox has been the victim of some dropped passes and field conditions not conducive to the spread offense. By the same token, he has still thrown for 1515 yards and 20 touchdowns with a 139.9 QB rating. And his team is unbeaten. I think Justin Alderton at Clark County and Shannon Hall at South Shelby are rising in this discussion and both have been big in big spots. Right now, however, I think Nemes is the clear standard bearer in our area and he has been unstoppable running the football for the Pirates, proving as much a workhorse as a big splash, big play guy. Exciting kid to watch, which certainly plays well with our pollsters and Mark will get more carries than any other candidate going forward. Methinks he takes advantage.
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RANDOM MUSINGS
To our friends in Carthage this week: a personal favor to ask. If you see a woman wondering the streets this weekend wearing a Bement South Piatt Football T-Shirt, cut her some slack. Angie Ard is a proud alum of the soon to be one-and-done Fighting Chickenhawks or whatever their mascot is and her behavior can't be helped. And by the way, Angie...GOTCHA!
Intrigued as heck by the Brookfield/South Shelby pairing on Wednesday. South Shelby is playing well enough to run the Tri-Rivers Conference gauntlet in the Regional/Sectional and perhaps earn a rematch with Centralia. Rob Wilt has done an amazing job with that team.
Southern Illinois and South Dakota State remain the most active pursuers for the recruiting services of Monroe City Safety Joe Chinn.
If you haven't heard, Saturday's Triopia/Mount Olive Game has been moved from Don Kemp Field to "Coach Long Field" at Meredosia due to drainage issues in Concord. Game time is still 1:00pm.
Congratulations to Quincy High Defender Zach Forbes, who was awarded All State accord this week from the IHSSCA. Forbes was also joined as an All Sectional Selection by teammate Matt Burrus, who I think will make a fantastic college recruit in his own right. Hard to remember a more unflappable and together kid on the pitch, at least this side of Chris Camacho.
Quincy University's on-again, off-again recruitment of Routt Outside Hitter Katie Lindsey appears to be back in swing. Lindsey took All Tournament honors at the Quincy Notre Dame Riverview Tournament this week and her floor rumbling kills drew the attentions of Hawk Assistant Coach Rick Gross. One potential hangup: all of Keith Rubio's scholarship dollars appear to be already spoken for.
Regional Volleyball is already off to a wild start with a one and done upset for Quincy Notre Dame at the hands of Illini West and a quick ouster for one of the area's most consistently successful programs in Southeastern, which got tipped out by Illini Central. Right now, my money is on Routt and West Prairie as our last teams standing (I'd bet Quincy High, but 4A Volleyball is a slaughterhouse with so many good teams awaiting) Wow, Chris...Pat Gibson and Teri Paul. Way to go out on a big limb there. By the way, if you want to impress your friends with a sleeper pick for upset this weekend, try Unity over Payson at Brown County. Payson Seymour has been amazing and has the region's best Middle Hitter in Stephanie Harris, but Unity is overdue here and Seth Klusmeyer's crew seemed to respond well from a tough weekend of draws at the QND Tournament. Again, I still think Payson hoists Regional Title gold, but if you want to seem the genius with an upset pick, Payson showed some vulnerability against Central on Wednesday and Unity has "the look" right now.
Gutsy effort by the Liberty Lady Eagle Cross Country team in the Macomb Regional last week, which overcame the flu bug to take first place at Spring Lake and advance to the Elmwood Sectional. Taylor Klingele, who finished fourth individually. Amazingly, Brad Neisen does not have a senior on the squad and got top ten finishes from a pair of freshmen in Klingele and Meghan Obert. Montanna Neisen is also a freshman. Considering the wealth of talent here right now and the arrival in three years of three IESA State Champions (all of them sixth graders right now, including state medalist Jackie Graham, and the Lady Eagles figure to be ruling the region for years to come.
How will history remember the Larry Dumas era at Quincy University? The highly regarded transfer (by way of Southeastern CC, by way of Western Illinois) has been suspended from the team for the entire season, according to Don O'Brien at the Quincy Herald Whig, after being hit with felony charges for allegedly striking a fellow student in the face during an on-campus altercation in September.
What was already shaping up as the most star-studded line-up of Girls Basketball talent we have ever featured at the KHQA/SUBWAY/Superfan Shootout has gotten another boost of prestige. We now have a fourth Division One pledge in the talent pool with Incarnate Word star Jazmin Hitchens pledging to play with Chloe Barnes at Ball State. Hitchens will squad off with QU commit Karlee Gengenbacher and Chloe's alma mater QND on the new Friday portion of the now two-day event. Hitchens joins Bowling Green's Anne Marie Hartung (Texas) South Shelby's Jenna Mueller (Saint Louis) and West Hancock's Marley Hall (Illinois State) in our list of area D-One prospects. Canton's Tori Niemann also has at least one Division One Offer that I know of, so mark your calendar's for February 5th and 6th because I don't know if you will see a better 48 hours of high school basketball anywhere this winter.
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With Girls Basketball Practices about to get under way, my Preseason Top Eight reads thusly:
1) WINCHESTER WEST CENTRAL
Brian Bettis has both the region's most balanced line-up and most favorable path back to Redbird Arena. What do I always say? Point Guards and Pivots. The reigning Class 1A State Runners-up return an All State Power Forward in Tiffany King and the quickest kid in Tri State Girls Basketball in floor general Ashlyn Jacquot. Not to mention super sniper Shelby Kirbach, who sat out Volleyball this fall to get healthy and a legit twin-tower foil for King in Tomi White. There is good young talent in the hopper and a track record here of both IESA and IHSA successs. What's not to love? State title or bust for the Lady Cougars.
2) MARION COUNTY
What West Central is to Illinois small class basketball, the Marion County Lady Mustangs are to Northeast Missouri. There isn't a kid left in the Class who can guard Sophomore Jessica Redd one on one and her shot blocking skills make her the Dwight Howard of Show Me State girls hoops. Mike Johnson returns nearly every important component from last year's second place squad. And with a full year of veteran work under their belts, former Fab Freshman Redd and Randy Lee Plunkett ought to be right on point. Everyone here plays their role to perfection. If the proud Mustang Program is ever to title, this would be the year.
3) CANTON
Seth Minter loses some interior presence for a team that finished 29-3 and second in Class 2 due the graduation of Lindsey Lillard, but return ample firepower in Jessie Logsdon, Kristyn Caldwell, and reigning KHQA Player of the Year Tori Niemann, who has really honed her mid-range game this summer. The Lady Tigers lack size again, but are extremely quick across the board and have ample motivation. Shameless Plug: Canton and West Central meet in February head-to-head in the KHQA/Subway/Superfan Shootout
4) QND
Eric Orne returns dynamic point guard Leigh McLaughlin and All State Power Forward (and future QU Lady Hawk) Karlee Gengenbacher as lynchpins going forward, and Claire Obert has great promise in an expanded role. The Lady Raiders also have dynamic freshmen on the way (Cassidy Gegenbacher, Jordan Frericks) and the luxury of playing down in Class 2A Basketball this season. If the new starters deliver, QND could well be on its way back to Redbird after a one year hiatus.
5) WEST HANCOCK
Graduation hits here hard, but last I checked Ken Schuster was still running the show and Marley Hall was still the gold standard in Tri State Basketball. Outside of Marley and the fast rising Jackie Bunn, expected to see a host of new faces in the mix for the Titans.
6) SOUTH SHELBY
Franchise pivot in Jenna Mueller? Check. Athletic frontcourt caddy for their terrific big? Check. Solid play on the wing, ala the Troyers? Check, check, check. If the Milly Rash can find an answer at point guard, the Lady Birds will recapture their place atop the CCC from...
7) MACON TIGERETTES
Dan Haley loses a goodly chunk of production from a team that went 28-1 last season. By the same token, the Defending CCC Champs return the area's best sniper in Rachelle Butner and a fascinating front court talent in Audrey Thrasher, not to mention three other girls who played significant roles as underclasmen.
8) BOWLING GREEN
With one blue chip recruit in the middle (Texas bound senior Anne Marie Hartung) and another potential division one recruiting in the offing in Point Guard Katie Scherder, Bobby Spoonster has enviable building blocks. Is this the year the production finally matches the potential?
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PARTY CRASHERS:
9) ILLINI WEST
10) KEOKUK
11) PITTSFIELD
12) CENTRAL-SOUTHEASTERN
13) CLOPTON
14) SCOTLAND COUNTY
15) ROUTT
