Week #2 | Two-Liners: Breaking Down Week 1 | HR Preps Blog | Sep. 1, 2015

Two-Liners: Breaking Down Week 1 

Every week I'll give a short take on every team in our area. Sometimes it'll be about one player, one play or I'll go big with the overall state of the team. Here's the breakdown after Week 1:

CS8

MacArthur (0-1) -- Glenwood's an elite program that's been overshadowed by SHG and Rochester's state titles. Generals still have talent, it'll just take some time.
Eisenhower (0-1) -- Sure the 79 points allowed pops, but Cayleb Dehority's 15-for-24 passing will give the Panthers a multi-pronged attack they haven't had in years.
Lincoln (0-1) -- This is a process, and Southeast is still a legitimate team.

Apollo

Mount Zion (1-0) -- Boy, Popovich wasn't joking about a deep receiving corps. Three receivers with 90-plus yards receiving (Price, Schultz, Gensler).
Taylorville (1-0) -- Blake Heimsness is going to be a beast to bring down in the running game. But his arm was a pleasant surprise.
Mattoon (0-1) -- Nice breakout game for the 5-foot-9 Michael Smith (114 yards receiving). He's what Braden Smith needs right now.
Charleston (0-1) -- It's hard of what to make of a 14-7 loss to Rantoul. Junior QB Justin Wilson with some flashes of potential late in the game.
Effingham (0-1) -- Tough draw for a new team to hit the ground running with Mater Dei. Mascoutah might be a fairer fight.

Okaw Valley

Maroa-Forsyth (1-0) -- Hey guess what, Maroa's still really good. And it turns out Tyler Ray (124 rushing yards) has wheels as well.
Monticello (1-0) -- It's a 1A opponent, but a shutout is always a welcome sight. Sages held some experienced Nokomis backs to next to nothing.

CIC

Tuscola (1-0) -- I'll be picky -- it was a slow start, even against a decent opponent. Watch for big games from Brandon Stewart and Lukas Hortin in the future.
Clinton (1-0) -- Alec Cooley was more of a sure thing. But Noah Griffin's impressive 21-of-28 for 228 yard passing performance is what's raising my eyebrows.
Shelbyville (1-0) -- The Rams showed they can stop the run. To me, that's as impressive as the comeback against what was considered the top Prairie State team.
Sullivan-Okaw Valley (1-0) -- I'm cautious because it's Hoopeston, but SOV brought the same smackdown last year's playoff team did.
Central A&M (0-1) -- This went from a 40-point loss last year against Milford to just missing out on a chance to tie it late.
Meridian (0-1) -- Eh, it's Maroa. I'll still take Meridian beating Bunker Hill on the turf next week.
St. Teresa (0-1) -- People still vastly underrate Unity, which is closing in on being a 4A school. I'm still on the 1A state contender train.
Warrensburg-Latham (0-1) -- Warrensburg's young players have grown up quick, and Dionte Lewis (185 yards) figures to be a load for the next three years.

LOVC

Arcola (1-0) -- I was going to call Clayton Strader breaking the Arcola passing yardage record, but that might be tough when you only need to pass three times. I'll take Still or Seaman breaking the receiving record (584 yards) too.
Sangamon Valley (1-0) -- Welcome back Wyatt Beals. Interested to see what Miles Hutchins (one attempt) can do when a passing game is needed.
LSA (1-0) -- Lions go with a heavy rushing attack and it pays off. That bodes well for Jackson Allen that CGB just carved up their Week 2 opponent for 400-plus yards.
Cerro Gordo-Bement (1-0) -- Grohler, who cleaned up a respectable 410 rushing yards, may reach his total from last year by halftime in Week 2 (688 yards).

Argenta-Oreana (1-0) -- Brody Ulrey's making a ton of friends. The 24 for 32 passing is great, but he did it by hitting seven receivers.
ALAH (0-1) -- Villa Grove is probably the top team in the LOVC SE. I'd take 24 points with a near-brand new starting crew.
Oblong (0-1) -- There was a spark in the passing game, but they'll need more than that against Sangamon Valley next week.
Cumberland (0-1) -- Offense still has a ways to go after losing Monte Wolke.

Little Illini

Casey-Westfield (1-0) -- Week 1 win was good. The real test is next week.
Newton (1-0) -- Week 1 win was great. The real test is next week.
Olney (0-1) -- Tigers aren't in the top tier of the LIC right now. They're still very much in contention for five wins though.
Robinson (0-1) -- Ethan White steps in at QB, quietly has an efficient day passing (11 of 19).
Flora (0-1) -- Marshall looks to be very good. Hard to read too much from Week 1.

South Central

Pana (1-0) -- Stupek's biggest problem may be figuring out how to juggle getting touches for his numerous talented running backs.
Vandalia (0-1) -- Tough start for the Vandals, but Gillespie is better than the 0-9 team from last year. Problem is, so is much of the rest of the South Central.

Prairie State

Nokomis (0-1) -- Nokomis might start out 1-3 and still make the playoffs. That first win has a good chance to be next week.