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 turned the LIC in football into the Big One and the Little Seven.

Coach Michael Brewer and his crew have yet to lose a game.

With the top player in the league returning for his senior season along with some outstanding teammates, don't look for the winning streak to end this season.

Coach Jeremy Clodfelter heads into his ninth season as head coach at Paris where he has a 40-26 mark in his tenure to go with four playoff appearances.

The Tigers were just 2-7 last season but they will likely be better in 2023-24.

There is a new head coach at Olney Richland County as Matt Music steps down and Luke Carmody steps in.

The Tigers went 7-2 in the regular season with just loses to 5A Centralia and Mt. Carmel.

But the playoff run didn't last long with a 76-28 beat-down at the hands of Waterloo in the 4A first round.

Robinson also has a new mentor as James Kent takes command of the program with the departure of Casey Pinnell.

The Maroons also made the playoffs, but like Richland County, the stay wasn't long as they bowed out at 6-4 overall with a 55-39 defeat at St. Joseph-Ogden.

Marshall didn't win a contest in 2022 but they have a new mentor coming in (Steve Weber) with an optimistic view.

The Lions return several key players to try and get some wins this fall.

Guess what? Yes there is another new coach in the LIC.

Lawrenceville has Cory Joergens taking over from Travis Reider.

The Indians didn't make the playoffs last season finishing 3-6.

Lets throw in one more new mentor in the league.

Coach Jeff Fritchtnitch takes over at Casey-Westfield, a team end up 4-5, just missing out on a playoff berth.

Newton, like a few others around the ABV/ASV area, sent ZERO information.

Is there anything left to say that hasn't been said about that football powerhouse in the Eastern part of Illinois?

I can't think of anything, can you?

The Mt. Carmel Golden Aces are one of the few football programs in the state that have continually been successful.

The Aces have a mere four losing seasons since the state started playoff football in 1974-75 and they have a winning percentage of .663 in all games played.

Those are some impressive statistics.

Don't look for any of that to change.

Since Coach Michael Brewer and the school invaded the Little Illini Conference, Mt. Carmel has yet to lose a league varsity football contest.

It's unlikely to change this season.

However there are some missing players from last season's 9-2 club that was eliminated by old nemesis Tolono Unity in the second round of the 3A playoffs.

Senior wide receiver Gavin Smith and senior running back Gage Kennard left the program in the spring along with defensive back Cole Broster.

Garrett Hodge, a senior offensive lineman, and defensive lineman Caleb Schneider were also all-conference selections a season ago and they will leave a void.

Three other seniors have departed and all of their experience will be missed.

For 2023-24 if you look at the last three seasons, much of what has been accomplished with this team has been triggered by the Golden Aces “trigger-man.”

Senior quarterback Blayne Sisson has been indescribable.

Looking at just the numbers doesn't tell the tale of how good this youngster is, although they're “eye opening.”

Combined the QB nearly reached 3K in total offense last fall (1,426-yards rushing, 1,552-yards passing).

Sisson scored 23 touchdowns on the ground and threw for 15 others.

Whether he is throwing it or running it, Sisson has been successful.

The 6-2 senior quarterback is headed to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to play for the Salukis when his prep career ends.

He has had help the last three seasons and that won't change in 2023-24.

Asher Kight, a senior running back, rushed for 872-yards last season for Coach Brewer as a junior and he returns for the Aces.

Andrew Gillihan, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, is also back.

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Anthony Peach and senior tight end Trent Cashburn will step forward.

In the preseason questionnaire Coach Brewer mentioned some key players that will anchor the lines on both sides of the ball.

Matt Jackson, Connor Shelby, Donald Downing, Wyatt Alka, Grayson Tinsley and Eric Acree are seniors along with junior Reed Stinson will help move the offense and defend against the other team's offense.

Coach Brewer also looks for some new-comers looking to step up.

Senior running back Quaid Kanipe, senior linebacker Preston Will, junior defensive back Andrew Militoni, plus sophomores Elliot Acree (LB), Jack Webb (WR), Braydon Mason (OL) and Sam Strockbine (DL) will help make the Aces a deep team ready for a grueling regular season schedule.

Adding up the numbers missing from the Olney Richland County Tigers 2022-23 football team would make an CPA's head spin.

New head coach Luke Carmody takes over a mostly inexperience team heading into this fall.

Quarterback Dawson Brown crushed the school's single season school passing record with 2,362-yards.

Senior wide receiver Zechariah Wease (North Central College) caught a bunch of the Brown throws (53 catches, 746-yards, eight TD's).

Another target, senior Ayden Cothern ended up with 33-receptions, 803-yards and 10 touchdowns.
Top rusher Hudson Lathrop (124-attempts, 738-yards, nine scores) has also left.

The front line will have some holes to fill with seniors Maddux Dorn, Luke Cowell and Brayden Brown all gone.

Defenders Ian Cox, Carter Beard and Gage Nuttall accumulated over 200 tackles between them.

Beard is playing linebacker at Millikin University.

Kicker Isaac Page hit 38-of-43 extra point attempts last fall.

It doesn't take a calculator to figure out that the Tigers will need newbies to step up in 2023-24.

Coach Carmody, who as a prep played at Richland County, has some kids to work with heading into the opener against much larger Taylorville.

The returning players from last season were junior wide receiver Dirks Weiler, junior defensive back Jacob Beard, 6-3 junior offensive lineman Evan Gilreath, 6-7 sophomore lineman Casey Thomann, 6-0 senior Jashun McKinley sophomore defensive back 5-10 Gavyn Cothern and 6-2 defensive tackle Jack Colwell are the ones with the most experience returning.

“We are going to have a young group but they have worked hard all summer on the field and in the weight room to make themselves better. It's always a process when you are putting in a new offense and defense like we are but I am very confident in this group's ability to put in the work and to be prepared,” said Coach Carmody.

If you're thinking there might be a team that can make an “about-face” this season, the Lawrenceville Indians might be that squad.

New head coach Cory Joergens and his club are looking to stay healthy for a season and try to get back to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.

Four important kids are missing from the 3-6 team via the cap and gown, according to Coach Joergens.

Quarterback Leyton Ivers, linebacker/lineman Morgan Halter, running back/linebacker Hayden Frey and lineman Braden Baker will need replaced.

Ivers and Frey totaled 576-yards rushing between the two with Frey scoring four TD's on the ground.

The returning players have experience coming into the season.

Bryant Jenkins, a 6-3 senior wide receiver/linebacker, is back after spending most of his prep time wearing a red and white uniform as a multi-sport athlete.

Jenkins caught 46 passes for 619-yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.

The backfield looks like it will be better this season with 5-11 junior Wyatt Halter moving to quarterback from wide receiver this season.

Tanner Waller, a 6-0 senior, moves into a prime time running back slot this season as his totals of rushing and receiving yards should increase.

Coach Joergens mentioned a pair of seniors; lineman 5-10 Rylee Dohoney and linebacker/running back 5-11 Kasen Ochs, who are leaders for the Indians.

Three key players who were injured last season will return for Lawrenceville.

Senior wide receiver Kolby Stoops and senior lineman Pep Wirth return along with junior lineman Koby Price.

“Lawrenceville will be a whole different team this year. We have 44-kids on the team and we haven't had these numbers in quite awhile. They have bought in to what I expect and I'm excited to see them in action. They have brought the energy each and every day and that will carry over to Friday nights. We are healthy, getting back major players who missed last season, and they are ready to get back out there. With five out of the eight conference teams hiring new head coaches, it's going to be an interesting but exciting year,” said Coach Joergens.

Kent was a player and coach at Mount Union University in Ohio. In case you've never heard of this football program, the Purple Raiders have been the most successful Division III football program.

Mount Union has won 13 Division III National Championships and has 22 total appearances in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

Kent was a player and a coach in four consecutive title games, won a title as a junior center.

He takes over a program that made its first playoff appearance since 2014 last fall.

The Maroons won their final two regular season games to qualify, losing to St. Joseph-Ogden in the first round.

Three important players from the playoff run moved on.

All conference players quarterback Wesley Jackson, all-LIC lineman Korbin Rawlings and all-LIC running back Nathan Wernz were important to the cause a year ago.

Jackson passed for 1,850-yards last fall and added another 659-yards on the ground.

That added up to 21 rushing TD's and 16 touchdown passes for the senior.

Fifteen total seniors are gone so the new ones will grow up in a hurry in varsity in 2023-24.

Sophomore Reese Johnson will take over the quarterback position after Jackson had run the show the past four seasons.

Six-foot senior Julian Parker is one of the wide outs for the Maroons.

Sophomore AJ Knoblett is a running back that will step forward according to Coach Kent.

Blake Green, a 5-11 junior running back, is also part of the mix along with wide receiver Judson Pinkston, a 5-9 senior and Eli Rosborough, a 5-11 senior wide receiver.

Pinkston netted 102-yards rushing opn just 10-attempts, which was fourth on a team that was over 1,700-yards total on the ground.

Coach Kent also mentioned returning starters 6-0 junior lineman Jevan Wampler and 5-9 senior lineman Payton Skaggs.

New additions, according to Coach Kent, are defenders 5-11 senior Derek Steward, 6-4 senior Cole Weber and 6-2 junior Robby Eller.

“We lost 15 seniors to graduation last year. Having to replace those players will take time, but we have a good core group here and I am looking forward to seeing our new players stepping into larger rolls,” said Coach Kent.

First year head coach Steve Weber will take on a big job in running the Marshall Lions' squad in 2023-24.

This team didn't win a contest last season and they struggled with consistency.

Coach Weber does have some athletes to work with, and according to him they put in the time and effort this summer to get ready for the season.

Kaden Matzke, a 5-10 senior quarterback, took over the spot midway through 2022-23 season and he is in charge heading into their season opener with Wesclin.

Rielly Wallace, a 5-11 senior defensive back/wide out, returns for the Lions.

Six-two Luis Lopez is a running back/linebacker for Marshall who returns along with Kyden Boyer, a 5-11 senior back.

Five-eleven sophomores Lucca Giannavola is also back after getting PT as a freshman last fall.

The line play for Marshall will be a big key in the improvement of the club moving forward.

Coach Weber expects the returning linemen to keep getting better, featuring Ty Harper, a 6-2 junior, 6-5 junior JT Burnside, 5-11 senior Trenton Sanders, 6-0 junior Jack Pearce, and 6-0 freshmen newcomer Boston Rollings.

It was 2019-20 since the last win by Marshall (31-game losing streak) and Coach Weber is hoping to change that this season.

“Kids have worked extremely hard this summer, led by a pretty good group of Seniors and returning players. I look forward to how this season will unfold and look to get better week by week,” said Coach Weber.

Last year's starting quarterback senior Brady Crippes missed the second half of the season last fall with an injury in fourth week of the season.

The silver lining is that quarterback Drew Rogers, a 6-4 junior, spent part of his sophomore season under center.

That experience will help as the Tigers head into the season.

Eight seniors left the program last season but the replacements look to carry on.

Ethan Curl, a 6-1 senior running back, is back for Paris.

Coach Clodfelder mentioned tight end Robert Wells, a 6-2 senior, returning.

Six-one senior running back Kalvin Rigdon, 5-10 junior running backs Mason Byrnes and Ty King along with 6-1 senior linemen Will Moody and 5-11 sophomore tight end Karic Mason-Vitale.

Coach Clodfelder believes that his up the middle group of running backs and linebackers will be an asset this season for the Tigers.

“We have a team filled with a lot of youth and some experience due to the nature of last season and the injuries that occurred. Our biggest question mark will be with the offensive line as we have only one senior on it,” said Coach Clodfelder, who enters his 20th season as a head coach.

New head coach Jeff Fritchtnitch is excited about his opportunity to coach the Casey-Westfield Warriors heading into 2023-24.

C-W stumbled a bit last season, barely missing the playoffs at 4-5 but this new coach wants to get his club back into the playoff hunt.

Seniors missing from last season are Riley Gelb, a 6-2 senior tight end, 6-4 senior lineman Jacob Clement, 6-0 senior running back Cole Livingston, 5-11 senior running back Tyler Spitler, senior wide receiver Lucas Roberts were key skill position players who graduated.

Upfront three linemen with a lot of size are also missing; 6-4 senior Jacob Clement, 5-11 senior Gavin Shackleford and 5-9 senior Dylan McGrath.

Another one who won't be in uniform is Cole Gilbert, who was injured last season and will concentrate on basketball for his senior year.

The seniors returning look to have a winning attitude with a goal of getting back to the postseason.

Conner Sullivan, a 6-3 senior running back/linebacker will see a lot of the football this season as he did a year ago.

Sullivan led the Warriors with 631-yards on the ground with eight TD's.

He also caught 27 passes for 290 yards and a score.

While he was on defense, Sullivan led C-W with 54 total tackles.

Six-three senior Owen Richardson should continue to get better on both sides of the line.

Brady Rhodes, a 6-1 senior wide receiver, is a play-maker for the Warriors as is 6-1 senior wide receiver Grant Cochonour, who caught 17 passes for 175-yards.

Coach Fritchtnitch mentioned Jake Reddicks, a 5-10 senior, as another of the returning players who, along with 5-10 senior Mitchell Clark, will get reps in the backfield.

Five-nine senior Korey Montgomery is another running back weapon for the Warriors, as he grounded out 161-yards last fall.

Brian Wright, a 5-10 senior, is expected to have some kicking duties along with offensive and defensive line play.

Nolan Clement, a 5-9 sophomore, spent much of last season as the C-W QB, hitting on half of his passes (44-of-88) for 587 yards and four touchdowns.

“Our goal this year is to practice everyday and play every game with excitement, passion and give ourselves a chance to win every game in the fourth quarter,” said Coach Fritchtnitch. “Our off-season work has been exceptional and the Warriors will be ready to compete every week.