With a few games still going in week #2 of the real season, there have obviously been some upsets. While I'm not surprised that some of the top ranked teams have fallen before reaching the semifinals, who they fell to is a bit of a surprise. Here are a few I've got and I'd love to here your thoughts as well.
8A Marian Catholic over Homewood-Flossmoor in the 1st round 7A toss up Morgan Park over Plainfield South or Rolling Meadows over Libertyville 2nd round 6A Thornridge over Bloomington 2nd round 5A Rochelle over Geneseo 1st round, even with last years run by the Hubs 4A Mendota over Chicago Christian 1st round, 3A Petersburg over Hillsboro, espically after some of the hype I've heard on this board. Special mention Reed-Custer showing Bureau Valley can possibly be beat with it's 35-34 loss. 2A no real upsets 1A Lexington over Galena, I heard the Pirates were back in the title hunt
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Vincent Johnson/Editor-in-Chief
www.IHSFW.com
Somebody has to cover the entire state.
Thornridge over Bloomington in the 2nd round was a big upset imo, but I think Dixon over Alleman was the biggest upset so far. I thought Alleman would make it back to the finals this year, but Dixon obviously didn't have the same opinion as me.
To me biggest upsets have been by Champaign (centennial). A #10 seed in the first round beats #7 Crete,mild upset. Then knocks off #2 seed Richards. BIG upset ! Wish i could have seen that game. I really believe they have a chance against #6 Oak Forrest. Could be three upsets in a row!
Champaign (centennial) is a very good offensive football team, you gotta stop #5 ,mikel leshore sounds easy to do, but let me tell you, its no easy task. all of our starting linebackers were out for the season, we had backups and sophmores in their rolls, but no excuses, it was nothing different then the films showed gotta stop #5. defensively, if you can throw the ball and run outside well, you will be very successful against this team. but no matter what you gotta stop #5... OakForest will be very successful against this team offensively, they run the option very well, can pass down field. but defensively they gotta stop #5 to stay alive.
i could vent on how bad the officiating was in this game, but it comes down to stopping #5. plain and simple.
Bloomington losing to Thornridge was an upset on paper, but the Raiders have been inconsistent all season. Centennial traditionally starts each season slow, and gets better and better towards play-off time. LeShore (RB) is a ton for Centennial. Strong, straight ahead running kid, that will every now and then be sent out onto the flats to catch a pass, and gain another 20 to 30 yards dragging some poor little cornerback. I saw him drag a kid once ten yards before he got some help to tackle him after receiving a pass. Kind of reminded me of a scene in the Little Giants movie. As long as he stays healthy, Centennial is not a lightweight. Plus, they have a kid that can kick field goals now and then. They are out of the same conference as Bloomington and Normal and Normal West. Normal beat them 23-0 I believe, early in the season. They gave Bloomington fits, and the Raiders barely got out of Champaign alive.
Mikel Leshoure from Centennial is the real deal. I did hear from some of my Bloomington staff that in the last few games Bloomington had been giving up a lot of turnovers.
People will need to look out for Centennial next year if they can get a good supporting cast to take just enough attention of of Leshoure.
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Vincent Johnson/Editor-in-Chief
www.IHSFW.com
Somebody has to cover the entire state.
Rochelle beating Geneseo wasn't that big of an upset. Look at Rochelle's competition in the Western Sun, now imagine them in the NCIC. They'd be 8-1 (still losing to Dixon). All 4 teams they lost to are in the quarterfinals.
Geneseo got a real crappy draw and the toughest 5-4 team in 5A. Sterling took care of business the next round though. Sterling @ Kaneland is going to be a great one.
