Sisson, Sullivan, Malawy & Skelcher
Represent 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A "Player of the Year" honors in 2023
Mt. Carmel named "Team of the Year"

02/09/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - It was the Covid19 2021 spring.

The Illinois High School Association allowed member schools to compete in six spring football games, which was a blessing in and of itself.

It was also when I decided that if I was ever going to jump into covering football this was the time.
Byron too much for Aces
Tigers roll to 69-7 title game win; Mt. Carmel finishes 12-2

11/24/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL - On Friday in the state championship game was essentially a disaster for Mt. Carmel.

Nothing went right for the Aces and everything went as planned for Byron.
Rochester rocks Red Devils
Rockets roar into state title game with 42-14 win over Murphysboro
11/18/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
MURPHYSBORO - It wasn't the result that the Murphysboro Red Devils were hoping for on Saturday.

However for Rochester it was just another road trip south that produced a lopsided playoff victory.

The Rockets made the long journey to Jackson County a successful one, rolling to a .....
Athens scores late to advance
Warriors edge Nashville, 28-27; Hornets' season ends at 8-4
11/11/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE - Saturday's 2A quarterfinal game produced a down-to-the-wire finish in a back-and-forth contest between host Nashville and visiting Athens.

The game wasn't decided until the final play and it was reminiscence of a playoff semifinal game played on the same field in 2021.
Red Devils reach quarterfinals
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville rolls past Salt Fork; improves to 11-0

11/04/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
SESSER - The unknown heroes for the Sesser-Valier/Waltonville Red Devils stepped up once again the team's second round 1A playoff game at home on Saturday.

While the skill position players garner all of the headlines and individual records, the guys in the trenches are a major part of why this squad sits at 11-0.
Du Quoin stays unbeaten
Indians advance to second round, 28-21 over Monticello
10/28/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
DU QUOIN - In a contest that featured a bunch of big offensive plays from both combatants, it was the Du Quoin Indians' defense that made sure that the Tribe would advance to the second round of the IHSA 3A Playoffs.

The game was played in a steady rain for most of Saturday afternoon and Coach Logan Spain and his club battled the elements and a pesky/talented Monticello team until the end.
Red Bud scores late to advance
Musketeers outlast Chester (and Mother Nature) 7-0 Friday night
10/27/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
RED BUD - In a battle of Randolph County rivals on a rainy, then cold, Friday night, it took nearly the entire 48 minutes to decide the outcome of a contest where neither team could contend with the elements.

Red Bud, however, took advantage of the fifth Chester turnover to set up the short game winning drive.
Red Hill qualifies for playoffs
Second half rally eliminates Carlyle, Salukis play @ Camp Point Central next Saturday

10/21/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
BRIDGEPORT - According to Red Hill head coach Billy Gray, he seldom ever gets loud when addressing his team during halftime's of games in his many years as a head coach.

On Saturday afternoon he made an exception.

After playing a pretty good opening quarter and a 'no-so-good' second, Coach Collins ....
A-J picks up league road win
Wildcats' triumph 34-22, improve to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in SIRR Mississippi
10/14/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
WEST FRANKFORT - The Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats showed on Saturday night how much better a team they are when they have Payton Denny under center.

The 6-5, 220 senior signal caller missed some games with a high ankle sprain and the Wildcats suffered without him.
Red Devils' rally stuns JC
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville wins in OT, 30-28; stays unbeaten at 8-0
10/13/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
JOHNSTON CITY - There were multiple times during Friday night's game at Johnston City where the Sesser-Valier/Waltonville Red Devils could have 'thrown in the towel'.

The host Indians offense had the ball for most of the first two quarters and scored on a pair of long touchdown drives that ate up most of the first half clock.
Teams via for playoff spots
Key contests have conference/postseason ramifications

10/13/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - On Friday, October the 13th there are some key games in the ASV area that have major playoff and conference championship ramifications.

Here is a quick look at a few of the contests will have a lot to do with how the playoffs will look in two weeks.
Pirates roll to league road win
Cumberland wins 55-12 at Tri-County; improves to 5-2
10/07/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
OAKLAND - When your football team plays in a “closed conference” you have to make sure you take care of business in each game played each week, no matter who the opponent is, if you're planning on making the IHSA playoffs.

The Cumberland Pirates did that on Saturday afternoon on the road by avoiding any sort of upset or let down.
Mt. Carmel avoids upset
Aces rally past Casey-Westfield 23-20 on a last second field goal
10/06/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
MOUNT CARMEL – There is a classic line in the movie “Rudy” where Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine says to his team “no one comes into our house and pushes us around.”

On Friday night at the Snake Pit in Mt. Carmel, Casey-Westfield came into town and pushed the Aces around in a big way.
10/04/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - Here is a quick look at the key matchups for this weekend.

Breese Central (5-1) @ Roxana (6-0)
The Shells are ranked #5 in the most recent AP Poll in 3A. The Cougars are honorable mention in 4A and have won five-consecutive after an opening week loss to Highland. Central won the matchup last year at home 20-13 in Week #7. The winner should end up Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division champs.

Casey-Westfield (6-0) @ Mt. Carmel (5-1)
The Warriors are unbeaten so far as they have outscored the opposition 239-6. C-W received votes in the most recent AP 1A Poll. The Aces have just a season opening 21-14 loss to Fort Branch (IN.) Gibson Southern and have yet to lose an LIC contest (21-consecutive wins) since joining the conference in 2020-21. MC won last year's matchup 48-6 @ Casey-Westfield.

Breese Mater Dei (5-1) @ Belleville Althoff (5-1)
The Knights have just a loss on the road at rival Breese Central in Week #2 while the Crusaders' defeat came against unbeaten O'Fallon (MO.) St. Dominic. Althoff is ranked #6 in 1A while the recent 2A poll has BMD also receiving votes. Belleville Althoff won on the road last year in this matchup, 13-7, in Week #2.

Murphysboro (6-0) @ Harrisburg (5-1)
This is a key matchup in the SIRR Ohio Division as the Red Devils and Bulldogs hook up. Harrisburg edged previously undefeated Carterville on the road last week while Murphysboro hasn't had a close game yet. The winner will likely end up with the division championship.
The Red Devils defeated HB last fall, 32-21.

Greenville (6-0) @ Carlinville (4-2)
The Comets picked up a huge win last week on the road at Pana and are playoff eligible after missing the dance last fall. They're ranked #9 in 3A in the most recent state-wide poll. Carlinville has a pair of defeats (Pana, Vandalia) but they have three-consecutive wins and are needing to win two games to guarantee its 16th-straight playoff berth. The Cavaliers shutout Greenville last season, 33-0, in Week #8.

Benton (3-3) @ West Frankfort (2-4)
These two Franklin County rivals hook up on Friday night, both in desperate need of a victory. The Rangers would need to win out to claim an automatic spot in the playoffs while the Redbirds would need to also run the table and hope for a 5-4 bid. Benton beat WF last fall, 45-20 in Week #3.
Herrin romps to easy road win
Tigers' trounce Massac County, 48-0; improve to 2-4 overall

09/30/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
METROPOLIS - When you have two 1-4 teams squaring off in a high school football game, one would normally expect a tough battle.

That scenario didn't transpire in the SIRR Ohio Division on Saturday afternoon in Metropolis.

The Herrin Tigers rolled into Massac County and proceeded to roll past the host Patriots.

Warriors' shutout Lawrenceville
Defensive effort keeps Casey-Westfield undefeated with 14-0 win
09/23/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
LAWRENCEVILLE - It was a beautiful afternoon in Lawrence County on Saturday.

However the football game played between Casey-Westfield and Lawrenceville was anything but.

Despite all of the mistakes on the field by both teams, the Warriors had two things in their corner that allowed them to head home with their fifth consecutive victory.
Roxana romps with big second half
Shells break away for 57-27 win; stay unbeaten at 5-0
09/22/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
SALEM - For the first time this season the Roxana Shells faced a stiff challenge.

A trip to Salem on Friday night produced a severe test at the hands of the 3-1 Wildcats.

The hosts held their own with Coach Wade DeVries' team as Salem took a 20-16 halftime lead over the undefeated Shells.
Unbeaten teams ready to battle
Area squads with playoff hopes set to prove their worth this weekend

09/21/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The Week #5 schedule of games in southern Illinois features some marquee-type match ups as four key games have seven clubs at 4-0 and another sitting at 3-1.

Each of the programs appear to have what it takes to get to the playoffs as they head towards the second half of the season.

Foxes' defense ruled the day
Hamilton County blanks Edwards County, 10-0; Foxes improve to 2-2
09/16/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALBION – Hamilton County's offense struggled in its road game at Edwards County on Saturday afternoon.

But its defense didn't.

The defense and special teams stepped forward, which is how head coach Rhet Vaughan's Foxes
Carterville leaves little doubt
Lions hammer Herrin 49-0; improve to 4-0 on the season

09/15/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARTERVILLE - Quarterback Brandon Skelcher had one of those moments in time Friday night.

After being a backup last season, the 6-1 senior took over controls of the Lions this fall.

His Friday night game game against rival Herrin was a stellar performance.

Marquette ends long losing skid
Explorers dominate EAWR 49-21; 22-game streak ends with win

09/09/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTON - Losing streaks are difficult to stop.

Alton Marquette headed into its Saturday afternoon contest against East Alton-Wood River with no player on their current roster having ever won a varsity football game.

The losing streak, which had reached 22-games after two straight losses in 2023-24, needed to ...
Bulldogs best Hillsboro
Staunton powers past Hiltoppers, 35-21; Both teams now 1-2 on the season

09/08/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
STAUNTON - After a 0-2 start to the season where they were outscored 61-7 combined, the Staunton Bulldogs were in search of a much needed victory on Friday night when they hosted South Central Conference rival Hillsboro.

The Bulldogs found the right formula to pick up a key league win.
Breese Central rallies for big win
Cougars get late field goal in 17-14 triumph; Mater Dei winning streak over rival ends at five
09/01/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
BREESE – Teams and players don't always get second chances, be it in sports or life.

Friday night in the 39th Milk Bowl contest, Breese Central sophomore placekicker Bryce Wieter made the most of his second opportunity.

With the game against rival Breese Mater Dei tied at 14 with just :09.8 left on the clock ...
Carterville joins Ohio Division
Benton, West Frankfort head to Mississippi in realignment

08/28/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference will have a different look to it this season as some schools have changed divisions.

Benton and West Frankfort have moved from the Ohio Division to the Mississippi Division and Carterville went from the Mississippi to the Ohio.
Pana is still the one to catch
Despite graduation loses, the Panthers look to repeat; Hillsboro could be the sleeper team
North Mac, Southwestern also in the hunt; Staunton looks improved

08/26/2022
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The season that Max Lynch and his Pana Panthers put together last season was special as the club reached the 2A quarterfinals, which included a 10-game winning streak during the season.

The 39-12 loss to the Bulldogs, who were the eventual champs, didn't dampen the career of Lynch and his teammates who made went a combined 21-3 in two seasons.
Aces look for continued LIC success
 C-W, Paris, Robinson, RC, L'Ville, Marshall still looking up at the Golden ones

08/26/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - Back in the late 1960's and most of the 1970's, football in the Big Ten Conference was known as the Big Two and the Little Eight.

Michigan and Ohio State dominated gridiron games during this more than a decade run.

Since joining the Little Illini Conference 2021 the Mt. Carmel Golden Aces have .....
Shells look to build on last fall's 7-4 finish
Breese Central, Columbia, will be tough to beat again
EA-WR suffered graduation losses Salem looks to get better
Red Bud, Chester, Dupo look to battle for playoff spots again
Veteran Wesclin looks to join the race; Sparta won't have a varsity team

08/24/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division football division appears to be ripe for a new team to assume command.

While being a very competitive division in most of the league contests in the two seasons since the conference expanded in 2021-22, the Breese Central Cougars have reigned supreme in both of the Mississippi races.
Johnston City looks to defend title
Fairfield, CWC, SV/W are the main threats; Flora, Eldorado look solid
Rebuilding continues at C/ZR, Hamilton County, Edwards County
Vienna/Goreville will play only JV contests in 2023

08/26/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - Historically speaking the Black Diamond Conference hasn't been one of the top football leagues in the state when it comes to playoff success.

Despite the majority of the schools being below .500, the quality of play has improved overall recently.