Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

After essentially stealing money from my employer for the last ten weeks, it's incredibly good to be back on the grind and working hard to earn that paycheck. Truth be told, I can't think of a more fun way in the world to do so than right here with the good people of the Tri States helping to feed that insatiable passion folks have here for all sports. In that spirit....

This is Duerrisms for Week One of the Fall Sports Season, your ever present accompaniment through both the Gridiron Goodness and all things local sports to come. We are, as ever, presented by the good people at GAMEMASTERS, who will outfit your every sporting need, recreational or competitive. And we will be here for you every Thursday from now until Thanksgiving to give you the lay of the land for Football, Soccer, Cross Country, Missouri Softball, Volleyball and whatever else crosses our radar. Business has finally picked up and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Some important reminders to help you enjoy the whole experience at a deeper level. First and foremost, the 2012 KHQA GRIDIRON PLAYBOOK arrived on Monday to the studios and will be delivered this week to all the area Subways, all our local patrons who support your children with their advertising, and to all of the schools in our area. Hope you enjoy the book. Again, I start writing this thing in April, so undoubtedly some things will have changed from the time of writing (position changes, injuries, a huge transfer obvious) but we are still very proud of the magazine and hope that you will enjoy it. It is a true labor of love.

Also OVERTIME, the Tri State's only 30 minute weekly television program devoted entirely to local sports, returns this Saturday, August 25th at 10:30pm and we will be here with you in that time slot from now until the Do or Die Bowl in June. And of course, SPORTS FINAL ramps back up this week in time for the Football Frenzy with coverage from all corners of the Tri States every Friday Night at 10:15 or so. We've put a new twist of the SPORTS FINAL after party. Rather than do the Live Chat as we have the last few years, we've scrapped that format (and some of that limited Software, speaking plainly) and we are going to field questions, make comments, and deliver Random Musings on my KHQA Facebook Page which you can find here: http://www.facebook.com/KHQAChrisDuerr We will be on line there until about 1:00pm every Friday, so if the excitement and adrenaline is still running high, feel free to drop by the page and have at us with what ever is on your mind. We figure this also allows those who are traveling back from games, but not driving (DON'T DO THAT) to get on their smart phones and enjoy the fun (DO THAT) in real time, rather than having to wait until they get back home to their computers.

And for those of you who like Sports News and Scoring Updates as they happen, be sure to join me and nearly 2000 followers on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChrisDuerr) for instant feedback and fun.

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FOOTBALL 2012

KHQA PRESEASON POWER POLL

1) CLARK COUNTY

Up First: at Monroe City (KHQA/Subway Game of the Week)

THE SKINNY: On paper, the Indians are the area team with the fewest number of unknowns/variables/question marks. In our system, we rank teams according to their viability to win a State Championship. That means strength of schedule comes into play, which is probably the one black mark against Clark County here. The Cannon is great, as always this year. That said, with Centralia moving to Class 3 this season, the Indians most troublesome obstacle has been removed from the equation and from where I sit as a prognosticator, that really raises Clark County's stock going forward as the team that might make a run to The Dome. And truth be told, on paper, I actually think the Indians are superior to the Panthers (more on them in a bit) The number one thing I like here about Clark County is the quality of the Defensive Pieces. Granted, the Indians looked a little off Friday Night at the Hannibal Jamboree in run support against the Pirates, but I long ago learned never to put too much stock into Jamboree performances and Hannibal is, after all, a Class 4 team with a really good pedigree. The Indians return arguably the area's best Defensive Line with Luke Ross, Brandon Burgeois, and Kyle Kovar (who single handedly tore apart Palmyra at the Jamboree) an incredibly active and mobile Linebacking Group that gets better with the addition of Lincoln Jones in the middle, and a group of (granted) greener Defensive Backs who are maybe the most athletic in our area. See also 5'5" super sleeper Logan Prewitt, who has a 32 inch vertical leap. Offensively, the Indians return eight starters (including four Offensive Linemen) from a group that averaged 28 points per game last season. Clark will go with Austin Egley at Quarterback, which gives Offensive Coordinator Scott Murdoch the closest approximation of Dax Dollens 2.0 in the Cannon this season. Egley is incredibly tough to corral when the pocket breaks down and he's probably more dangerous with his feet right now than his arm. And Bryce Boudreau is my early favorite to win the Tri State Rushing Crown, seeing as he will likely get a Justin Alderton type work-load. There is really no "sore thumb" in this equation, especially relative to all the other teams on this list. To be honest, Clark was an easy number one to project. But nothing will be easy for these guys, who now wear a gigantic target. Monroe City is lying in wait at Home in Game One and lest anyone forget, the last time the Panthers played the number one team in our area, they upset Centralia in the playoffs. And lets not forget that Centralia hasn't relinquished control of the Cannon once in the last six years and will be poised to make a regular season statement against these guys...again. Still, with a little bit of luck in the health department, I see Clark County having the firepower to beat anyone in Class 2 on a given night. They are superbly coached by Quinten Hamner, one of the three sharpest Defensive Minds in Tri State football. And this program that has already proven it can win the big one. That makes for a very compelling argument here.

2) CONCORD TRIOPIA

Up First: at West Central

THE SKINNY: I was tempted to pull the above paragraph about Clark County and apply it here to the Trojans, extending the analogy by substituting "Triop" for "Clark County" in said passage and "Central-Southeastern" for "Centralia." The parallels are pretty obvious. Triopia isn't as flawless or safe a pick here as Clark County as Rich Thompson has some obvious building to do on the Offensive Line. And Andy Phelps only returns three defensive starters from a year ago. By the same token, Triopia has one proven "top tier" guy at every level of the Defense in Dakota Longley, Blake Richardson, and Derrick Schone upon which to build. The Trojans are also getting a new found infusion of talent from the Virginia Co-op (a couple of pretty good looking players in fact) and may be welcoming in the best "top end" sophomores in Tri State Football in transfer Dean Arnedt and 290 pound part time 2011 starter Jordan Smith. We are talking about a pair of kids who already look, in body type, like Senior Year starters at Hannibal. Unleashing these kids at the 1A level seems flat out unfair. And that's the biggest part of the equation: Triopia on paper is the best 1A team in our area and arguably one of the top five in the state. And those odds increase exponentially if Tuscola gets bumped up to Class 2A, as has been projected. I love the Trojan Offense, which is loaded with skill position talent including a proven franchise back in Schone and one of the area's most efficient and smartest quarterbacks in Tanner Huddleston (see also 17 TD last year, just 3 interceptions) The Trojan's most viable 1A rival, Brown County, returns just three starters from a year ago. And the addition of defending West Central Conference Champion and likely 2A Power Player Central-Southeastern to the schedule is only going to make Triop that much more battle tested come playoff time. Truth be told, I am not sure Triopia isn't more talented than the 2A Panthers at every position other than Offensive Line (and arguably) Running Back. This is a really good team in a really great position. Again, the Trojans are less equipped to handle injury issues than a Clark County. But ultimately, their path to glory might be easier as well.

3A) JACKSONVILLE

Up First: vs Lincoln

3B) CENTRALIA

Up First: at Highland

THE SKINNY: Two uber-talented teams with a pair of unbelievably tough roads to hoe to get where they want to be. Because Centralia is so far geographically away from everyone else in our area, we did not get a chance to see Erle Bennett's group in the early part of the Barnstorm. Outside of trying to figure out what life looks like at Quarterback, post Dax Dollens, I have zero roster qualms about the Panthers. Have long believed this is the season Cullen Ralphs becomes a superstar and he's got a great (not good, great) Offensive Line to facilitate. The Panthers also have speed at Wide Receiver, arguably the best set of Linebackers anywhere in our area, and a nasty looking Defensive Line led by Jacob Hockman and Haden Morris, who I think are both destined for All CCC honors. In Class 2, these guys are fighting Clark County for the top of this list. In Class 3, its a tougher road and Centralia's recent run of postseason early exits, I can't go nearly as far. Jacksonville's situation is even more extreme. Not sure I have ever seen a Tri-State High School Football team with so much to like: size, speed, depth. There's an all time good embarrassment of riches at Wide Receiver/Tight End with two Division One level recruits in Blake Hance and Dalton Keene and a state championship sprinter in Reggie Bratton. The Crimson Defensive Line features Keene and Hance and I am not even sure they are even the scariest part of that proposition with Diontue Armstrong serving as the area's most accomplished Speed Rusher and Harley VanBebber perhaps the strongest, most ruthless tackle you'll find in area football. In all 20 starters are back from a team that ousted Griffin from the 5A Playoffs last season. How deep are the Crimsons? A returning 2000 yards passer (Andy Mills) is being moved to Wide Receiver to better balance the talent. More? The Crimsons have a Sophomore in Gabe Megginson who would be the best Lineman on 95% of the football teams in our area right this season. Mark Grounds is a terrific coach who has been dealt an absolutely terrific hand. The one holdup? The Crimsons play hands down the best schedule of any team in our area and have the toughest postseason road of anyone in Tri State Football (yes, that means you too Hannibal and Quincy High) to title. And here's the crazy part of this equation: against past history and past pedigree there is a part of me that really believes that Jacksonville can run that seemingly impossible gauntlet. You can't find anything tangible not to like about this Crimson Roster. The battle here is all psychological. Getting over past road blocks once and for all.

4) KEOKUK

Up First: vs Ottumwa

THE SKINNY: Top to bottom, Keokuk has more offensive weapons than anyone in the region. You could argue that Doug Dodds has the area's best Quarterback, Power Runner, and Offensive Line and I am not sure you'd get much brush back. In fact, the Chiefs might have as many as three legitimate Player of the Year candidates in Gabe Vandenberg, Trevor Roth, and Defensive Back Darrion Sanders, who posted 10 interceptions a year ago. What we don't know, with any kind of certainty at this point is what kind of run defense Keokuk is going to muster. The Chiefs graduated a very productive Linebacker Group last season, not to mention an outstanding Defensive End, and an Outstanding Safety to boot. I did not get to hang around the Chiefs Soda Scrimmage long enough on Friday night to see any of the Defensive Session. When I asked Coach Dodds about it early in the Barnstorm Tour, he seemed pretty high on the work ethic and commitment of this new group of LB/DE types (Shea Hawkins, Alex Meek, Chris Barclift, Brendan Sadeghi, Matt Nye) and where the team was in the process. All I can tell you from Friday night is that Gabe Vandenberg didn't have one incomplete pass in the three offensive series he ran, including long strike TD passes to Sanders and good looking junior Bryce Baxter. The kid can flat wing the football and is as consistent as anyone I can remember in delivering the ball on point. Here's your one cautionary note on Keokuk: The Chiefs better be on-point right out of the gate with Ottumwa and Mediapolis on tap. Outside of Hannibal, no area team may have a more difficult jump out of the gates. 　

5) CENTRAL-SOUTHEASTERN

Up First: at Carrollton

THE SKINNY: Very impressed with the "new look" Panthers during the Barnstorm and in particular the fitness level of Quarterback Seth Leezer, who got himself in outstanding shape coming off knee surgery and the size of the Offensive and Defensive Line. The Panthers have since taken a bit of a hit in that department, losing promising prospect Michael Houston for eight weeks to a dislocated kneecap. I still think there is enough depth here up front to allowed the Dalton Heubner/Douglas Weese/Bobby Keltz faction to run wild. That's a really lethal combination of speed/toughness in three highly productive backs. And as previously speculated, Heubner and Weese are getting a position change on Defense and moving up to the Linebacker Position in the run oriented WIVC North. To be honest, nothing in the this football season fascinates me more than all the permutations of the Panthers move to that already loaded and just how the rivalries rekindle. I had a Brown County alum tell me earlier this month that he can't see the BC/CSE rivalry ever being the kind of mutual respect-fest the Brown County/Triopia game is; that the Hornets vs Panthers game will have a much nastier edge. More Monroe City/Palmyra than Carthage/LaHarpe Northwestern. I dunno on that count but judging by my Twitter time line, there is no game more anticipated by the Hornet fans this year than their chance to greet CSE to the league. CSE has far more to worry about in the interim, including one of the most beguiling "trap games" of the season with a Week One road trip to Carrollton. A source confided to me that Carrollton refused to trade tape with CSE because the Hawks suspected that Brad Dixon would totally change up the Panther Offense this season now that Bill Reed is gone. Welcome to the hyper paranoid, always emotionally charged atmosphere of the WIVC, Central-Southeastern. A Football lover's paradise if ever there was one...

6) SOUTH SHELBY

Up First: at Louisiana

THE SKINNY: David Heathman put on a passing exhibition at the Saturday Night Jamboree, hitting five different Wide Receivers with Touchdown Passes during the two offensive sessions I saw against Paris and North Shelby. Granted, those aren't teams with traditionally strong Defensive Backfields but my word, Rob Wilt wasn't just paying lip service this summer when he said Heathman's progress made him much more comfortable with the concept of expanding the playbook. It was a play action nightmare for the Coyotes and Raiders, and they won't be the last group of Defensive Backs to feel that way. And the Cardinals won't lack for really good weapons. Saturday was the first time I got to see Trace Windsor against live competition. He's the perfect fit solution as an every down Tailback and allows Rob Wilt to move speedster Alex Blackford all over the field to create matchup issues. And as I mentioned previously, I think Andrew Teel is in for a big increase in workload and will be an inside presence in his own right. Anxious to see what the Cardinals rebuilt defense will look like and make no mistake, it will be tested on Friday in Louisiana. Nothing harder for a young group of defensive guys to master than playing assignment football and the Louisiana Bone, led by nifty running Quarterback Greg Pitzer, will expose any single lapse in discipline. It's not getting much media play but this might be best "under radar" matchup of night one because of the contrasting styles of the participants, the progress the Bulldogs have made, and the ultimate ramifications down the road that South Shelby looms as the biggest roadblock to all that the Bulldogs wish to accomplish.

7) ILLINI WEST

Up First: vs PGP

THE SKINNY: The smart money says Monmouth Roseville is the favorite in the West Central Conference. You can also find pockets of well reasoned support for Rockridge and Macomb, provided the Bombers lack of depth doesn't come back to undercut them. Truth be told, I like the Chargers to bully their way into that conversation because they are in some ways, the exact opposite of Macomb. There are no lack of healthy, fast bodies (at least relative to their given positions) at any spot in the Charger depth chart. Illini West will have the ability to attack in waves, wear people with depth. The Chargers are also a complete different animal from MonRose and Macomb in the scouting department. There aren't any Martel Hunter or Nick Severs types in Charger Country against whom to game plan. There are no real marquee names (though I suspect by seasons end Braxton Squier should be one at Nose Tackle) here. No one guy you can negate or take away that impacts the overall final picture. The team's best known player going forward is an undersized Linebacker in Ben Gittings, who does nothing more than relentlessly make tackles. Not spectacular. Just unfailingly consistent. And I tend to think that will be the image incarnate of the 2012 Chargers. Granted there are kids here who will be really good at what the do: Alex Appel, Gittings, Kaleb Spiekermier, Squier probably foremost among them. And I am intrigued as all get out by Brody Gronewold's athleticism at Quarterback. More importantly though, this is a team that has no discernible soft spots, no glaring "we can exploit" underpinnings that are going to jump out on film. Consistency of execution and the Chargers will do it better than anyone else because they HAVE to do it better than anyone else. From top to bottom, it's the most decorated, veteran staff in Tri State Football. And Tim Lafferty is working with a bunch of kids hungry to redeem themselves after last season who've done nothing but live in the weight room since November. Better still, this is a staff that knows what its limitations might be and will steer game plans to mask them better than anyone else. Nothing here would surprise me in terms of win total or postseason shelf life. And shame on those of you who are sleeping on these guys after one rough start in 2011.

8) MACOMB

Up First: at Monmouth-Roseville

THE SKINNY: The boom/bust pick on this list. The Bombers have the potential to be the best team in Tri State Football. See also the a huge, physical and incredibly smart Offensive Line. The two Division One lynchpins in Nick Severs and Brett Taylor. The new dimension that Jarrod Rockhold brings in terms of speed to the Offensive Backfield. But I also can't escape the feeling that these guys might well be the Jason Kidd/Lamond Murray Cal Bears Basketball team in 1994. The one that wrecked my entire NCAA Tournament Bracket with a first round loss to Wisconsin Green-Bay. A team with flashy top end talent that beguiles you so much you ignore the red flags. In this case, serious lack of depth. Nick Severs is already banged up and playing just one side of the football opening night. Max Ford's season is in question. Heaven help Kelly Sears if either Jarrod Rockhold or Eli Cousins goes down. And to date, the injury gods haven't exactly acted in Macomb's favor. I am also generally leery of teams that start Freshmen at Quarterback. Granted, Jacob Poore has a great support system in Max Kreps and his own personal QB Coach in Don Tanney (father of former Monmouth star and current Kansas City Chief Alex Tanney) who describes his charge as far more than your average freshman. Still, when the game lights go on for real, that's a big moment and we have no body of work to know exactly what to expect of Mister Poore, especially against an incredibly fast and talented MonRose Defense on the road. I just have very mixed emotions here. This is a team that is easy to like in theory, but I guess I'd like to see the Bombers get off to a rare "good start" before I am willing to fully quell my nagging doubts as well. That's a tall order against Martel Hunter and company, who might well be the most athletic team in the West Central Conference.

9) QND

Up First: vs Hannibal

THE SKINNY: The New York Giants of Tri State Football...minus an obvious Eli Manning at this point. Bill Connell's crew is going to hang its hat on a pulse quickening defense that returns an absolutely nasty front eight. To be brutally honest, there isn't one play I don't like in the mix when QND lines up in its 4-4 base. Granted, Nick Weiman and Ben Holtschlag have already proven themselves to be extra special by any defensive standard but if those guys weren't drawing so many eyeballs, I think people would have a much better appreciation of the Jeremy Friedens and Jack Finleys of the world. Offensively, the Raiders may well go back to the days of the ground and pound and just bore you to death with tradition Power I football. Possess the ball. Eat clock. Let the defense do the heavy lifting. And that's fine. I can easily see QND as a team that is going to win a lot of 17-0 football games. That said, watching QND in scrimmages and at Mizzou camp, the two quarterbacks in play in Matt Doane and Joe McCaughey both throw the ball better than people realize and play action may be a nice counterbalance here. Still, the overall ethic here will be a team of blue collar grinders who will try to beat up and bludgeon physically every opponent on the schedule. And methinks they have the weapons to do so. It may not be artistic. No one will mistake the Raiders for say, Keokuk. But if you play to your strengths and limit your mistakes, which this team is very good at, you are going to win a lot of games.

10) HANNIBAL

Up First: at QND

THE SKINNY: Granted they are a Class 4 team that was playing against Class 2 competition, but the ability of the Hannibal Offensive Line to move Clark County's highly acclaimed defense off the ball Friday night at the Jamboree was undeniably impressive. True to his word, Mark St Clair is going to employ a host of running backs and bank on the intelligence and savvy of outstanding Quarterback Dalton Powell to beat defenses. If Friday wasn't a mirage, the Pirates are going to be excellent on that side of the ball. And they are going to flat wear opponents out with wave after wave of differently talented skill position bullets. Someone asked me earlier this month why Mark St Clair doesn't just line Caleb Bieniek up in the backfield and give him 25 carries. The simple answer is because he doesn't have to. Bieniek is too valuable to the defense to wear out/risk in that manner. And the whole Burton/Nichols/Cassidy/Hilton barrage is really gifted getting totes. This is also, quite possibly, the smartest Hannibal team player for player I have been around. These guys all get it and have bought into their respect roles. Like Jacksonville, these guys are probably a little lower on this list than overall talent would dictate, largely because like the Crimsons, the Pirates have an seemingly impossible road to hoe to get to the Dome. And this team clearly has has QND issues the last two years. The schedule didn't get any easier with Quincy High in week two (sounds like Game of the Week material, no?) But if everything falls into place here, this team has a really high ceiling.

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The Second Ten

11) BROWN COUNTY

Up First: vs Calhoun

THE SKINNY: Hard to put a team with just three returning starters any higher than this. Let's not make any pretense about it. We all know Brown County is going to be young, but very good this season. And we all know that in 2013, the Hornets may be the team to beat in all of 1A Football. Lets see how the process accelerates here. Expect Braxton Phelps, Brady Long, Michael Scoggan to be marquee names by mid-season.

12) QUINCY HIGH

Up First: at Alton

THE SKINNY: Granted, the Blue Devils path to glory is tougher than most but there is something about this team that really grows on you after watching them in action. To be honest, I think it's largely a defense that appears to be rock solid everywhere. The Linebackers have gotten a lot of praise, but watching this defensive line grow around Clay Finklea and find its mark on the edge with Jacob Paul and newcomer Seth Holtschlag leads me to believe QHS is going to be very salty. Rick Little's team still has to prove it can beat opponents who will pack the box to stop Malique Robbins and I think the Blue Devils higher end goals bank largely on the rise of promising QB Connor Kelle and the other backs in the mix. There's a lot to prove there, but this defense may give QHS the safety net to do so.

13) CLOPTON-ELSBERRY

Up First: vs Winfield

THE SKINNY: It's no fun being sequestered into a District with Clark County. It's also no fun losing your head coach two weeks before the start of the season. I have no idea what life might ultimately look like, post Adam Falloon and, of course, All Everything Quarterback Scott Kroeger. I do know this team is still very talented. New Quarterback Jack Hicks is an outstanding athlete. The IndianHawks have impact players on both sides of the football in stellar Wide Receiver/Running Back Charles Fraction and Linebacker Extraordinare Devin Linton. And these kids have seemed to figure out how to win the last few years, which counts for something. Just a tough team to figure, but of the "question mark" teams, one with a very high ceiling.

14) BEARDSTOWN

Up First: vs Lewistown

THE SKINNY: Aaron Elmore's crew graduated a ton, especially at Linebacker and within the Offensive Backfield. By the same token, the Tigers have grown in each of the skipper's five years on job and are coming off an 8-3 campaign with some very enviable pieces. There's quality size in the trenches, highlighted by mauler Rolando Luna. Bubba Patterson is the lone full time returnee in the Offensive Backfield, but I've seen the skill position guys twice this summer and have come away with the speed and athleticism Beardstown can put into play. And there are two pretty good quarterbacks here. The Prairieland is wide open as well this season, which makes the Tigers even more appealing long range in being able to get above the six win threshold.

15) LOUISIANA

Up First: vs South Shelby

THE SKINNY: The regular season schedule is ugly, playing against largely Class 2 and 3 teams. And having to contend with both South Shelby and Westran in Districts is no picnic. But let's not forget that Louisiana is plenty experienced with 15 starters back. The Bombers are also going to give people fits on Defense with that new Triple Option Offense piloted by one of the most mobile and cagey Quarterbacks around in Greg Pitzer. If the Bulldogs can shore up their Defense (and with Dylan Smith and Austin Rule in play at Linebacker, that certainly is possible) they've got a punchers chance to beat any Class 1 team. And lets not mince words, the road to getting to a District Semifinal or Championship Game, outside of the aforementioned Cardinals and Hornets, isn't exactly arduous here. I like the opportunity that exists here for Steve Gschwender's team to at least get into position to make some noise. Still think South Shelby is the favorite...but it only takes one good night in November to overturn that apple cart.　

16) WINCHESTER WEST CENTRAL

Up First: vs Concord Triopia

THE SKINNY: Granted, I think Carrollton is a pretty salty squad (beware CSE) but life in the WIVC South, in general, provides a far easier overall proposition to reach the six win threshold. The Cougars are undergoing some radical changes from last season, particularly at Quarterback where Tight End Corey Barnett is making a Dustin Jacoby-esque type conversion. That said, Nick Graham still has two kids in Austin Boehs and Brandon Reid who can run the football. And the Cougar Defense, with a real live rainmaker in the Middle in Barnett, is going to be tougher than a two dollar steak. I think this is a team with a very fair chance of making a Playoff return this season, perhaps even winning a game there against the right first round matchup.

17) MONROE CITY PANTHERS

Up First: vs Clark County

THE SKINNY: I don't know if this is one of the five most talented teams in the CCC, but I sure like the approach here that Tony DeGrave has taken in minimizing mistakes and playing to strengths. There is a very Illini West feel to what MC is doing these days and if you don't make mistakes, it's really hard for other teams to beat you. Just ask Centralia. The Panthers are going to try and hang their hats on running eight perfect plays and defy you to stop them Offensively. With a pretty good line, a cagey Quarterback, a nasty fire plug Fullback, and speed in Blake Grice and a host of Wing Backs, I like their ability to execute that game plan and I sure feel like MC is going to be week to week, the team that plays above its overall talent level the most. Which means the team that has the best chance to upset someone really good come District Time again. Do not sleep on this crew.

18) PALMYRA PANTHERS

Up First: vs Macon

THE SKINNY: Tough conference and tough district with the Clark County road block in the way. And as anyone who witnessed Friday's Hannibal Jamboree can attest, the Panthers didn't exactly acquitted themselves well head-to-head with the Indians this go-round. That said, Kevin Miles has built a tough, deep, and experienced team that really test every level of a Defense when it is running at Max-Q. Wonderful mix here of power and speed in the run game, huge target in Bobby Gruenloh to keep folks honest off play-action. If the Panthers can get all the working cogs rolling at the same time, this is a team that could go on a serious run.

19) ROUTT CATHOLIC

Up First: at Pleasant Hill

THE SKINNY: The numbers are pretty thin and the Rockets happen to dwell on Bad Street USA in Illinois Football with CSE, Triopia and Brown County. On paper, I am not sure I like this roster as much as I do some of the other teams below on the list. That said, Nate Graham has maximized his talent as well as any coach in our area the last few years and this is a leap of faith in his ability to find a way to scare up six wins more than anything. That, I think Nick Lonergan (converting to Tailback) has a chance to be really special with 25 touches a night.

20) BOWLING GREEEN

Up First: at Orchard Farm

THE SKINNY: Jeff Gschwender's team has looked both really good and really pedestrian at times when I saw them both at the Culver Stockton Camp and the Hannibal Jamboree. The Bobcats have gone traditional on offense, eschewing the spread and putting their faith in speedy tailback Malik McPike to churn up big numbers on the ground and possess clock. The Defense has some really top end pieces in places, but looked all kinds of out of sorts against Highland at the Jamboree. Hard team to get a read on. And quite honestly, one that I don't think would match up well on paper with Clark County.

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THE NEXT LEVEL

21) FORT MADISON

Todd McGhghy's team is loaded with experience and size, is this the year the Hounds finally turn the corner?

22) MACON

Everyone wrote them off in the wake of the Taquan Transfer, but I actually really like the talent and athleticism in play here. I just hate the move to Class 3. Keep an eye on superb looking junior Trey Kothe up front.

23) PITTSFIELD-GRIGGSVILLE PERRY

If the Saukees start tackling, Don Bigley has the makings of really nasty, gritty QND style Offense on his hands with which to attack. But after 37ppg allowed last year, that is a big if....

24) UNITY-PAYSON

Even with Reed Bentzinger in concussion related retirement, I really like the promise of the Mustang Defense. It's replacing that 340 rushing yards per game that vexes me here, especially in WIVC North.

25) RUSHVILLE-INDUSTRY

Intriguing sleeper given all the speed on the wing and power in the backfield. Mike Bickerman's team needs to tighten the screws some on defense, but I can envision a five win scenario here.

26) KNOX COUNTY

The Eagles are thin on numbers, true, but the Tri Rivers Conference isn't overly strong this season and under Alex Van Delft, these guys have done a sterling job in the plus/minus department.

27) PLEASANT HILL/WESTERN

Huge Offensive and Defensive Line should pays some dividends in the WIVC South for Mike Giles crew. But no Western Illinois team has bigger shoes to fill at Quarterback.

28) BPCA/AVON

The Spartans are planning to put Seth Tolley's strong arm on full display with a pass happy offensive scheme. These guys don't look deep on paper, but John McCormick has been known to work magic.

29) WEST HANCOCK

Better team than you realize, but that schedule is awful. Critical for "Jacksonville North" to go on the road and get a win at MMA to reverse the polarity here and build momentum.

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SLEEPERS

WEST PRAIRIE

The team on this list with the best chance of going from rags to riches. Roy Gully has some really nice pieces in play and the Cyclones feel like a team that could ascend quickly

HIGHLAND

Though Kenny Grubb's crew showed moments of really breakthrough at Hannibal. Now if only they can keep Derrick Smith healthy for a full season

MARK TWAIN

The Tigers are plenty physical and Matt Hudson seems to think his young team is well ahead of the learning curve

SCOTLAND COUNTY

Waiting on Zach Miller to return in September from military leave to help bolster a young team. These guys might be sneaky good and get somebody early in the District if everyone stays healthy.

NORTH SHELBY

The Raiders will be better than last year by a far site. Saw real growth on Offense at the Jamboree. Finding Defensive consistency here is job one.

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FEARLESS DUERR WEEK ONE PREDICTIONS

OTTUMWA 24

KEOKUK 42

HANNIBAL 21

QND 20

QUINCY HIGH 18

ALTON 0

MACOMB 14

MONROSE 20

PGP 13

ILLINI WEST 35

WHITE HALL 6

BROWN COUNTY 42

TRIOPIA 35

WEST CENTRAL 12

WEST HANCOCK 28

MMA 6

CSE 28

CARROLLTON 20

LINCOLN 0

JACKSONVILLE 38

CLARK COUNTY 28

MONROE CITY 14

MACON 13

PALMYRA 24

SOUTH SHELBY 38

LOUISIANA 20

CENTRALIA 40

HIGHLAND 14

BROOKFIELD 35

MARK TWAIN 7

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DOCKET WATCH-Week One

Five Star Games

HANNIBAL at QND

OTTUMWA at KEOKUK

MACOMB AT MONROSE

CLARK COUNTY AT MONROE CITY

Four Star Games

CSE AT CARROLLTON

LEWISTOWN AT BEARDSTOWN

MACON AT PALMYRA

Potential Trap Games

CSE AT CARROLLTON

ROUTT AT PLEASANT HILL/WESTERN

SOUTH SHELBY AT LOUISIANA

Springboard Games

WEST HANCOCK AT MMA

RUSHVILLE/INDUSTRY AT NORTH FULTON

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RANDOM MUSINGS

As KHQA first reported, former West Hancock star and 2008 KHQA Basketball Player of the Year Marley Hall is transferring from Illinois State to Western Illinois. This move, coupled with the earlier transfer of ex-Canton star and 2009 KHQA Player of the Year Tori Niemann (Mizzou) to Macomb gives J.D. Gravina the infusion of "local interest" his program desperately needs. Granted, neither player is eligible to hit the court until 2013-2014 but generating this kind of advanced buzz and excitement for a program that was so badly flagging before his arrival is exactly why he was an ideal fit for this program. To his credit, Gravina has always been able to step outside of his own coaching personna and see the big picture when it comes to positively promoting his program; which is why he rolled the dice on so many local recruits when he was at Quincy University. Our fan base in the Tri States is much more likely to embrace a program if there is a local hook; someone television viewers and newspaper readers feel is "one of their own" after watching them grow up in the media over four years. Not only does Western Illinois now have this in Hall and Niemann, but Gravina also two incoming transfers who can flat out play. Going to be fun to watch what is essentially a Tri State Dream Team with Niemann and Hall on the court together in a couple of years. And selfishly, it makes the program so much more fun for us local media types to cover as well, for all the same reason's you fans enjoy watching. And once you rekindle that bond for fans with local flavor, it's amazing how quickly those same fans adopt the non-local players on a roster to root for because of that easy point of access. The West Hancock/Canton faction alone is going to make Western Hall feel much more full and alive for Womens Games going forward and that is a very good thing.

Quincy Notre Dame All State Guard Kassidy Gengenbacher pledged to Lindenwood this week, where she will re-team with Tori Kuhn after next season. Kids who shoot the ball as well as Kassidy are a rare commodity at any level of basketball. Rarer still are those who know how and when to take their shots within the rhythm of the offense. As much as I like Kassidy's skills, I have always believed her in-game intelligence has been what has truly made her a special player; that as good as she is with a basketball in her hands, she is nearly as valuable without it. Hard not to like what Tony Francis is doing here in importing two such terrific players and more importantly high character/high chemistry kids from Eric Orne's Dynastic program. Winners beget winning and its hard to find two more accomplished winners, in all that they do, then Tori and Kass. Methinks Lindenwood Basketball is going to be awfully fun to watch over the next five years.

Western Illinois is in the market for a new Head Baseball Coach as Mike Villano has stepped down after three seasons on the job to pursue a career opportunity outside of the coaching business. WIU has begun an immediate search for his potential replacement.

What the Quincy High Golf team is doing to its competition in the early part of this fall is simply ridiculous. Tuesday's win at Gibson Woods in Monmouth featured Zach Burry and Cory Boots sweeping first and second place individually, each of them with final scores in red numbers. Boots with a one under 70. Burry with a ridiculous four under 67. Burry played something akin to a 38 tournament schedule this summer and clearly his work has paid off. The Devils as a team blew away the field in Monmouth by 23 strokes and finished with an aggregate score of five over par as a team. Could be a fun Fall for Doug Bruner...again.