Moderator: Greetings! Lots of questions to get to today, so now that the computer is fired up and ready to go, lets get the ball rolling. Thanks to all who've participated.

Steve, Mattoon, Il: In your opinion, who has the best "young" high school football team this year, which means they will be a force next year?

Moderator: Hi Steve. Excellent question. If you’re looking at which schools return the most skill players, you’d have to start with St. Joseph-Ogden. The area’s top rusher, SJ-O’s Jake Bock, is a junior and the Spartans’ quarterback, Blake Hoveln, is a sophomore. He has passed for more than 1,400 yards and Bock has a chance to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing mark this weekend. Centennial will retain its 1,300-yard rusher, Shaquille Traylor and quarterback Jake Chesnut, both of whom will be seniors next year. I’m not certain what those schools have back in the offensive line, which could have a huge impact on the overall success next year. Villa Grove’s John Turner, the area’s No. 2 rusher, will be back, but the Blue Devils will have to replace three starting linemen. In the Vermilion Valley Conference, Bismarck-Henning has the nucleus of its team back, except for quarterback, but the coaches are confident that Krystian Ingram can step right in next year as a junior. An interesting situation is at Tuscola, where (presumably) Jud Wienke will be healthy next year and a candidate at quarterback, where sophomore Phillip Meyer was inserted this year and passed for more than 1,200 yards. Cody Shelmadine will be back for the Warriors, as will kicker Darren Timlin. Don’t discount Danville either. The Vikings are getting major contributions from this year’s junior class, including tackling leader Justin March and rushing leader Eddie Clark. I’m sure there are other schools with a wealth of youth, but those six jump out at me.

Meatman, Boynton Beach, FL.: Fred how came Danville with their ranking has to play at Richards?

Moderator:

Hi Meatman. The way the IHSA sets things up is like this: if two schools play that have not hosted the same number of playoff games for that season, the one which has hosted the least will host the upcoming game. If the number of games hosted is identical, then and only then does the higher seed come into bearing and give them the home game. In this particular case, Danville was home Week 1 and Richards was on the road, so that’s why Richards will be the Week 2 host when those schools play at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Craig, St. Joseph, IL: St. Joseph Ogden at Wilmington, Do the Spartans have the talent to steal another one away from the Wildcats?

Moderator: Hi Craig. The more I see of the Spartans, the more I like them. Jake Bock is a tough, hard-nosed runner, and what can you say about the way Blake Hoveln threw the ball last week in slippery conditions (9 of 10 in the first half for 172 yards)? Dakota Hicks is a sure-handed receiver and the defensive unit is solid. I especially liked Orin Allen and Connor Hesterberg, both of whom are underclassmen, by the way. Yes, the Spartans have talent. I remember, too, the way they fell behind earlier this year at Stillman Valley and rallied to catch up, 14-14, in the third quarter (before falling 40-14). Can they handle all the hoopla that surrounds home games at Wilmington? Will the underclassmen be tentative and nervous, or will they play like poised veterans? I think the possibility exists for a win by SJ-0 this week, but it will take a supreme and outstanding performance.

Suma, Champaign, IL: what is going on with mike schultz and his recruiting in the texas area. i thought he was the guy to help us tap into this hot bed of talent. i have not seen a single prospect from this state on our list yet.

Moderator:

Hi Suma. Well, how long has he been around here, six months? There will be campus visits coming in December. Let’s see who’s here then. Let’s see who signs in February. Obviously, from his TCU connections, he should have contacts in that state. I don’t know how much stock you can put in what you hear at this point. It’s a wait-and-see process.

TOM EGELSTON, champaign, il: have there been any state champions in football since tuscola in 2006 and arcola in 1988 from this area? i see possibly tolono,danville and outside chance of monticello moving on to quarter finals from area.if danville defense is as good as been seen they do have a chance.

Moderator: Hi Tom. In Class 1A, the most recent area state champions are indeed Tuscola (2006) and Arcola (1988). In Class 2A, we’ve had teams from LeRoy (1996) and Iroquois West (2003) win state crowns in the past 20 years. That would be the total list for that time period. Danville and Unity (Tolono) will have tough roads to pull that off this year, but I suppose it could happen. Monticello will be the underdog this week, but sometimes those teams feel less pressure and can pull off a susprise. That’s possible, too.

TOM EGELSTON, champaign, il: why can schools like monticello hire good coach like cully welter,danville bj luke and st thomas moore dan hennessey but urbana can only hire acoach with 5 years coaching experience 2 losing seasons at arcola and 3 years as assistant at central which was less than expiring?

Moderator:

Hi Tom. You’re looking at coaches who are now well-established and comparing them to a coach who is not yet well-established, It’s worth noting that in Dan Hennessey’s first year, St. Thomas More was 1-8, in B.J. Luke’s first year as a head coach (at Heyworth), the team was 2-7 and in Cully Welter’s first year (at Ridgeview), the Mustangs were also 2-7. They’ve grown and learned throughout the years. I look for that same progression to happen at Urbana. The Tigers' 0-9 record this fall is not that much different. All of those programs had work to do to become competitive, and in the first three cases it happened. Time will tell if Urbana will follow the same pattern. I think it's too soon to tell.

TOM EGELSTON, champaign, il: do you think that any area teams would possibly in the future play teams from other areas or states such as east st louis or some chicago teams?it would seem likely would give them a chance to see quality teams before end of season when state playoffs begin.

Moderator: Hi Tom. Not likely. Football scheduling is a whole different animal than basketball where shootouts and the like are popular and a terrific idea. In football, schools want guarantees of filling their nine-game schedule year after year after year. While it might be nice in a given year for an East St. Louis to play Danville, for example, neither will want to risk the sacrifice of scheduling such a game and then having a void on their schedule a year or two down the road. In schools like the Big 12, there are not currently any nonconference dates anyway. The Vermilion and Little Okaw will do crossover games for their non-conference dates starting in 2010 and that’s what’s already happening in the Okaw Valley Black and Blue divisions.

Jim, Tuscola, IL: With the loss of Knerr, does Tuscola stand a chance this week or to win another state title? And when are these kids goig to learn their lesson. You would think they would have learned from the tough lesson they got two years ago before the state title game when they got all those kids suspended. Is this going around at every school and this was just the ones that got caught. I believe it is happening everywhere. Maybe Tuscola's police force is just more likely to do something compared to some towns that look the other way.

Moderator: Hi Jim. Lets not pin the success of the team on whether one particular individual is available or not. If Tuscola loses this week, it will be because it played a superior opponent, not because one player is missing. Sure, the player you mention was having a good season, but he was always surrounded by 10 other guys when he was playing. Sure, it will have an effect and will make the Warriors’ already-tough challenge even more difficult. The other question you raise is one which is mind-boggling to me. How can athletes be so inconsiderate of their teammates and coaches for their own selfish purposes? If you’re on a team, you should follow the rules. Period. The “losers” in cases like this are not the individuals who chose to be deviant, but the coaches who’ve invested hours in teaching and tutoring them, and the dedicated teammates who’ve spent hours and hours in preparation to help the TEAM become as good as it could become. Now, when there’s a chance to shine, the TEAM won’t be as good as it could be due to this behavior. It’s a shame, not for those who got caught, but for the others. By the way, kudos to the Tuscola Police Department if they are being more diligent in their pursuit of these illegal activities. Maybe they can become the beacon for other area departments.

Chris, Monticello, IL: Hey Fred,

Can Tuscola score more points on Mt. Sterling in one game than Mt. Sterling has given up all year? I think they've only given up 9 points through 10 games? How about Monticello? Can they survive another shootout? Thanks!

Moderator: Hi Chris. I think Tuscola might be able to manage a couple of touchdowns, but they are obviously facing an uphill battle. They’ll need every break to go their way in order to keep it a competitive game. Monticello’s prospects are very interesting. I think this probably will be something of a shootout, but I doubt if it will be of the proportions of the first-round 57-40 game. What will help the Sages is the knowledge that they are a big-play team and can strike quickly, and often. if they’re down by a TD, or two, I doubt if they feel defeated or deflated. Monticello’s running attack has improved to the point where it must be reckoned with as well. Like Tuscola, the Sages are the underdog, but that’s not always a bad position to be in if you believe in the nothing-to-lose attitude.

Go Rockets!, Sidney, IL: Fred, can you give us your scouting report and prediction on the Unity vs. DuQuoin game?

Moderator: Hi Rocket Fan. DuQuoin’s program is obviously outstanding, with six title-game appearances in the past 21 years, and a runner-up finish in 2008. The Indians return four starters on both sides of the ball from the group that played in Memorial Stadium last Thanksgiving weekend. It’s a good thing for Unity that this game is at home. The one concern I have about the Rockets is their reliance on one player, Dylan Sturgeon, to do so much. The quarterback has handled the challenge superbly thus far, but will continue to be more of a target in however many games the Rockets have left. It’s encouraging to see Matt Franks back and able to shoulder more of the load. Unity will need other players to step up on offense as well, starting this week. Teams are going to say, if we lose, it won't be Dylan Sturgeon that beats us and that will create opportunities for someone else to step out of the shadows. DuQuoin has some quality wins this fall and appears to be picking up steam, especially on defense, as the season progresses. I don’t expect Unity’s defense to totally shut down DuQuoin, but the hope is the Rockets can score enough points to extend their season.

Bill, Champaign, IL: There has been a lot of talk lately about St. Thomas More joining the Cornbelt Conference. With Rochester leaving for the CS8 would this make sense? Would this be of a benefit to them since they are playing a 2A schedule but playing in the 4A playoffs. Will this help or hurt them when it comes to other sports?

Moderator: Hi Bill. I would welcome such an occurrence and I would think that St. Thomas More would, too. It would be beneficial to their overall athletic program. In the Sangamon Valley, there are schools that are just as good, if not better, in any given year, but I believe that in the Corn Belt, you will find more quality teams at or near the top and you'll find the teams at the bottom are much, much stronger than the teams at or near the bottom in the SVC. If the idea is to collect conference championships, then staying in the SVC would be the right answer. If the goal is to fully prepare your team as best as possible for the rigors of the postseason, then a move to the Corn Belt would fill the bill.

Zach, Evansville, Indiana: How do you see Unity faring against the DuQuoin Indians on Saturday?

Moderator: Hi Zach. There was a previous question about this game. My answer there should give you a little more insight. I believe this is a tossup game and will come down to which team takes the best care of the ball and if Unity can get significant contributions from its offensive cast besides Dylan Sturgeon. I expect DuQuoin to score points. That will put the pressure on Unity's offense to keep pace. Should be a fantastic contest. Come early to get a parking space, or you'll wind up on a county road a mile from the school!

Russ, East Peoria, IL: What are your feelings about the Metamora-St. Thomas More game on Saturday?

Moderator: My feelings? St. Thomas More is a massive underdog. Metamora has its program at the level St. Thomas More would like to reach. If you look at this realistically, based on enrollment, Metamora is close to being a 5A school playing an opponent which is close to being a Class 2A school with an enrollment of approximately. No disrespect intended for the Sabers, but they appear out of their league. Unfortunately, this is the way it works thanks to the IHSA multiplier.

Steve, Mattoon, Il: You don't sound like you give Tuscola much of a chance to win?

Moderator: Hi Steve. That's why they play the game on the field, not on paper. Every team left in every class has a chance, but I think Tuscola will be more of a longshot playing such a strong opponent on the road. I won't be surprised to see the Warriors win, but I'm not expecting it.

James, Chicagoland, Illinois: Do you feel the U of I is the right place for all 8 football final games, or do you think that they should be split at various venues.

Moderator: Hi James. Great question. I have mixed feelings. I like the atmosphere that is created in a community when all of the title games in a particular sport are at that location. The goal is to get to Champaign (in football). As a fan, I like the idea that I can travel to one place and see four games on Friday and four more the next day. On the other hand, I think if games are scattered and held in different areas, especially in a Chicagoland location where more fans might be more apt to watch, then there are obvious benefits as far as gate receipts and exposure. Overall, I think I'd lean to one location. I like the idea of knowing in August, if my team is good enough, it will be competing in Champaign rather than wait for the pairings to come out to find out if my borderline school is assigned to 6A or 7A and where the final game will be. It's certainly something worth considering. Thanks for bringing it up.

Warrior, Tuscola, IL: What do you think about Tuscola's game this weekend with Mt. Sterling? Do you see Tuscola moving on?

Moderator: Hi Warrior Fan. There have been a couple questions about this game. You have to be careful when predicting playoff games because there's so much to consider. Mount Sterling for example has done a great job with its schedule, but the fact is, its schedule is primarily against Class 1A competition. Tuscola has had a little less overall success throughout the season, but faced a strong assortment of 2A and 3A opponents. Perhaps the Warriors are better prepared for what lies ahead than Brown County. I feel like the edge has to go to the home team in this case, but it's not oout of the realm of possibility to think that Tuscola can win. I hope it's a good game.

Jim, Pontiac, Il: See any upsets in 3A and 4A this weekend?

Moderator: Hi Jim: What's an upset? When a lower seed beats a higher seed? When a road team beats a home team? In 4A, I project a Metamora win at St. Thomas More, but I'm not sure I'd classify that as an upset if it happens. I see some tossup games in 3A, including St. Joseph-Ogden at Wilmington. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the weekend's results.

john, urbana, il: can you find out when urbana is going to have their football banquet and why so long after end of season?

Moderator: Hi John. I've made a call to Urbana to get this information, but haven't heard back. At this point, I have no answer for you.

Moderator: Thanks to all for your questions! What a week. I hope the playoff games this weekend are all great ones. Enjoy the weekend and we'll be back next week.