Preps Preview by Herald & Review

Pushed out

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Bobby Bowden is not on a football sideline this season — and now he’s saying he’s not happy with that call. B7

We take a look through the Big Ten beginning in Bloomington, Ind. B7

The first state rankings are out and the Okaw Conference dominates. B2

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 | SECTION B

LITTLE PUSH

Chris Grimestead, Sr., DL, Mount Zion Grimestead is one of several linemen for the Braves who could make this list. He stands out with his quickness that produces an intense pass rush and leads a group of linemen who position Mount Zion well.

Clinton Scott, Sr., DL, Casey-Westfield Scott has been a fixture on the Warriors’ line for three years, and opponents will cringe when they see him there again. He helps make up a defense that allowed only 61 points last season.

Tyler Marsh, Sr., OL, Maroa-Forsyth The all-county selection last season is a beast for the Trojans. Not only is he the team’s main blocker, but he dominates on defense at the linebacker spot.

Trent Trudeau, Sr., OL, Argenta-Oreana Trudeau is a big reason why the Bombers have a chance to break out this year. After a solid year on the wrestling mat, one of the county’s biggest linemen will impress for Argenta.

Doron Lewis, Sr., OL, Eisenhower The Panthers hope to ignite their offense running behind the 300-pound Lewis, who will anchor what should be a muchimproved offensive line.

THE TEAMS MOST LIKELY TO ... ... surprise people.

Sangamon Valley The Storm will have to catch some breaks in a tough conference but has enough talent to engineer a major turnaround.

Arcola With a new coach and a new attitude, the Purple Riders will contend in the LOVC.

Robinson The improvement in two years under Tim Nolen has been impressive, and it could reach another level this year.

Argenta-Oreana With strength up front, the Bombers have the potential to be this year’s feel-good story.

Eisenhower The Panthers haven’t exactly set the bar high, but Eisenhower is ready to show it can do more than just compete.

Herald & Review photos/Kelly J. Huff

Andy Kerley takes over at Cerro Gordo with a roster with a number of talented players. But will the numbers be enough to get the Broncos back on top?

What will Cerro Gordo, Arcola find in 2010? Cerro Gordo’s dream season

Arcola’s dream season

Behind a senior-dominated offensive line, first-year coach Andy Kerley’s tailor-made offense lights up the Little Okaw Valley Conference, and the Broncos’ hard-hitting defense carries them to the conference title and the playoffs. Cerro Gordo splits its two non-conference games to open the season and emerges tougher and more confident, which leads to a one-loss run through the conference. With the passing game clicking behind quarterback Brad Forbes and receiver Collin Woollen, and a steady power rushing game with Eric Chapman running behind J.D. McCoy and Ryan Cain on the line, Cerro Gordo can score points and milk the clock late. Defensively, Cain continues to be one of the area’s top tacklers at linebacker and leads a unit that is much-improved from last year. “We have the potential to do some really good things and open some eyes,” Kerley said. “We don’t necessarily have ‘the guy,’ but we have 11 who fit well as a group.”

Under new coach Gerald Temples, more guys are out for the team (42 in total) and seniors Harley Lindstrom and Garrison Stenger have noticed the joy of playing football has returned to practice. “Everybody’s attitude toward playing football is different,” Stenger said. “Now, they want to come to practice. It’s looking good for us.” The hangover from learning new offensive and defensive schemes is shaken off before Little Okaw Valley Conference play starts, and the Purple Riders make a serious run at a wide-open conference race after winning two of its first three road games. Ultimately, with the respect level for the coaches on the rise, a more positive Arcola team rebounds from a 1-8 2009 to make the playoffs and continue the program’s quality tradition. “W’s and L’s take care of themselves when kids work hard and are focused on every play and every practice,” Temples said. “That’s what we’re trying to get across to the kids right now.”

Cerro Gordo’s nightmare season The Broncos struggle against Bismarck-Henning and Salt Fork to start the season, falling to 0-2, then suffer a couple of key injuries and don’t have the depth to replace them. The shorthanded Broncos begin LOVC play with a loss to resurgent Arcola, then never recover and miss the playoffs for a second straight year. The offense shows flashes of brilliance, but is inconsistent. It leaves the defense on the field too long, and it fades late in games.

Cerro Gordo’s reality

MacArthur Last year’s talented senior class is gone, but a new group (including Micah Seals, above) is stepping in eager to show it can extend the Generals’ run of playoff appearances.

Charleston The Trojan seniors are tired of losing close games. If they win a couple tight ones early, they could get on a roll.

WHAT’S NEXT? A look at the rest of the week’s game plan: THURSDAY: Central A&M/Tuscola FRIDAY: Preview of Week 1

Garrison Stenger

Cerro Gordo isn’t just breaking in a new coach, it has a new quarterback and running back, too. But the offensive line should help Forbes and Chapman, and also make Kerley’s offense run smoothly. Kerley plans to use an offense that fits the talent he has and takes advantage of the weaknesses of each opponent. “We have stuff in for everybody — in one game, we may run an entirely different set of plays than another,” Kerley said. “Whoever they decide not to focus on is who we’re going to get you with. Forbes has done a good job picking up what we’ve tried to put in, and we have six different guys we can get the ball to.” There’s plenty of potential offensively — Forbes and Woollen have played together since they were kids, and clearly have a connection. The keys for Cerro Gordo will be surviving a tough draw in the LOVC’s non-conference agreement with the Vermillion Valley Conference, then staying healthy and eligible — the program’s entire roster is 29 players. This season, the Broncos manage to stay healthy, split their non-conference games and go 5-2 in the LOVC — good for second-place and a trip back to the playoffs.

Arcola’s nightmare season

After a couple of years away from the action, Gerald Temples is back — this time in control at Arcola.

THE BEST

The transition to a new coach in the final year of some of the team’s biggest playmakers is too much to handle. Temples noticed his team playing faster and faster in practice, but it never turns the corner like he hoped. A three-game road stretch in weeks two through five prevents any growth from week to week and the group scrapes out a couple wins.

Arcola’s reality With only one true favorite in the conference — Villa Grove because of a deep senior class — Arcola uses that as a motivator throughout the season. The 1-8 team from last season didn’t reflect the talent this group still has, especially with Stenger, Lindstrom and QB Tony Van Gundy. “I think with the talent we have, we can make a push in the conference — maybe win it, if not come real close,” Stenger said. A couple wins early against Cerro Gordo and Tri-County help this team believe what Temples is asking them to do works and it finishes on the bubble for the playoffs. “Our emphasis right now is to get our offensive line put together and get them coming off the line quicker and get everybody understanding their job within the team,” Temples said. “Once we do that, all that other stuff will fall into place for us.” — H&R Staff Writers Justin Conn and Leroy Bridges

9.17.10 St. Teresa at Maroa-Forsyth

9.25.10 Eisenhower at MacArthur

10.2.10 Effingham at Mount Zion

10.15.10 South Piatt at Cerro Gordo

Easily the biggest rivalry of the area never seems to disappoint. Last year, St. Teresa took advantage of late Maroa-Forsyth miscues to hold onto the win. There’s no doubt the Trojans will do everything in their power to protect their home field against their bitter rivals.

Eisenhower coach Rick Austin has been building this program for a couple years with the hopes of snapping the Panthers’ losing streak to MacArthur. With the Generals losing a lot of their talent, this could be the year Austin & Co. get it done.

This game has determined if either one of these teams run the table in the Apollo Conference in the past three seasons. It’s likely to hold that importance again this season.

Every time these teams hook up, it’s hard to tell who will come out on top. Last season these two teams split two games, but with only one match-up in 2010, it will mean even more.

GAMES OF THE YEAR Some games just stand out as must-see because the tradition is so intense. Here’s a look at a few of those. Thursday we’ll take a look at games with heavy playoff implications.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010

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‘He’s a great back. He knows it and so does everyone else, but he doesn’t let it go to his head.’

Coach you want to play for?

Aaron Bennett, Sangamon Valley linebacker on teammate Dan Rentschler

Trent Conlin, Sr., OL/DL, Central A&M — St. Teresa’s Scott Davis

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Jacob Smith, Sr., RB, Mount Zion

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It’s not that Jacob Smith didn’t get the carries a No. 1 back would get during his junior season. He was the team’s second-leading rusher with 897 yards and 16 TDS, while getting only eight fewer touches than Krys Gray. But now, Smith is the senior guy in that backfield and it will feel more like he’s the go-to man. “Yeah, I’m very ready for that,” Smith said about being the senior back. “I’ve been waiting two years.” Combine Smith, who’s been a big-time producer, with the most-

“He’s almost exactly like Coach (Mark) Ramsey. I like his views on things. He’s been a great coach for a very long time.” Joe Hockaday, Sr., WR/DB, MaroaForsyth — Tuscola’s Rick Reinhart “They run a similar offense to what we do, and I think as a receiver, it would be fun to play in.”

Evan Hayes, Sr., RB, Central A&M — Maroa-Forsyth’s Josh Jostes “He gets things going. He puts some electricity into the offense.”

experienced offensive line in the run-heavy offense of Mount Zion’s and you have a good recipe for some big numbers for Smith. Duplicating Gray’s 1,400-yard effort from 2009 is well within reach. “Our line is really good at blocking and the running backs feel a little bit safer knowing that they have our backs,” Smith said. “We’re really deep, so it should be a good time.” If Mount Zion is able to overcome last season’s postseason shortfall, Smith will have a huge hand in that, too.

“I’ve watched him coaching during 7-on7s, and he just looks like he loves football. That’s something I love to see in coaches — seeing that they want to be there and that they love their job.” Collin Woollen, Sr., WR/DB, Cerro Gordo — St. Teresa’s Scott Davis “St. Teresa always has great players and they’re always tough. He runs a good program.”

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Palla’s game is muscle — every attribute he has on the football field comes from his strength. From his ability to get off a press to his sure hands to his speed in pads, Palla is a powerhouse. “He’s more of a 400 or 800 guy in track — he doesn’t have sprint speed,” Monticello coach Cully Welter said. “But on the football field, he’s fast. The pads don’t slow him down.” With his brother Ben at quarterback, Palla led all players in

“At Danville, you’re on that tiny sideline with 1,900 people in the bleachers at your back. Then at Mattoon, they put that fan section right in the inside and you get called all kinds of words, and you’re just like, ‘Really?’ ” Logan Stelzriede, Jr., QB, Maroa-Forsyth — Tuscola

receiving last year with 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning H&R All-Area First-Team honors. But a repeat of those numbers will depend in part on the success of new quarterback Will Lieb. “The biggest question is whether our running game and Scott Huisinga on the other side will be able to take the pressure off Matt,” Welter said. “He’s an important cog. The trick for me is to figure out how to get him the ball as much as we can.”

“I hate going there. It’s the big rivalry game and they talk a lot of trash. We do like to go beat them there.”

Hardest hitter? Phillip Meyer, Jr., WR, Tuscola — Tolono Unity’s Jordan Reinhart, a senior last season “He lays a good hit.” Evan Hayes, Sr., RB, Central A&M — Former Tuscola linebacker Jordan Knerr “He cleaned my plate twice last year.” Collin Townsend, Sr., QB, Central A&M — Former Maroa-Forsyth linebacker Dalton Coventry “I haven’t really been hit that hard, but Coventry was probably the hardest.” Trent Conlin, Sr., OL/DL, Central A&M — Coventry “It was only a JV game, but it was still a pretty good hit.”

Favorite play? Harley Lindstrom, Sr., RB, Arcola — On run play “Just get to run downhill.”

Kyle Johnson, Sr., QB, Eisenhower — “When I’m running the ball, it’s the counter. I get behind our big guard and tackle, and I’m not going to be touched. Passing, it’s streaks. I like it when everyone runs a streak and I see how far I can throw it.” J.D. McCoy, Sr., OL/DL, Cerro Gordo — “Counter left. I pull through, lead through the hole and take the running back to the end zone.”

Hardest to tackle? Joe Hockaday, Sr., WR, Maroa-Forsyth — St. Teresa senior Ryan Smith “We had a lot of trouble bringing him down. He was a load.” Collin Townsend, Sr., QB, Central A&M — Tolono Unity grad Dylan Sturgeon “Sturgeon and Dakota Getz from the year before are the toughest I’ve tried to tackle. It’ll be interesting to see who it is this year.” Trent Conlin, Sr., OL/DL, Central A&M — Former Maroa running back Dalton Coventry “I played a little in the Maroa games last year, and he was big and hard to take down.”

■ On game night, sign up to follow our writers as they keep you update throughout the night from game sites around the area. Catch us at www.twitter.com/hrpreps. ■ And after the games, head to www.hrpreps.com to check out the photo galleries by the H&R staff and new game videos from the area’s top games.

STORM WARNING Rentschler hungry to reach next level

Sangamon Valley junior Dan Rentschler “Some times I feel like if I don’t have a good game or something, that it’s somewhat my fault for not doing so well. This year we’re just going to be as a team and I’m not really going to think about having all the pressure on me. I’m just going to go out there and we’re just going to play football.”

By LEROY BRIDGES

Sangamon Valley senior Casey Acree “Dan’s one of those guys people look up too. They know that he’s going to do the right thing; that he’s going to work hard. Everybody rallies around each other and that’s going to be really good for us.”

H&R Staff Writer

NIANTIC — At first glance, Dan Rentschler appears to have a bad case of helmet hair. After his second two-hour practice of the day in 100 degree heat, no one would blame him for the disheveled look. A double-take, though, reveals his team’s logo and symbol of speed — a lightning bolt — shaved into his head. “Actually, everyone pretty much loves it,” Rentschler said about the artwork done by senior wide receiver Casey Acree. Rentschler doesn’t carry himself like a small-town, big-time back who rushed for the area’s thirdmost yards in 2009. But by the lack of ribbing on his new look, it’s clear others appreciate what he’s already done in just two years as a running back with Sangamon Valley. As a freshman, he gained 906 yards on 147 carries (6.2 yards per carry) and scored nine touchdowns for a one-win team.

Sangamon Valley coach Mike Lee “Even in his sprints, he is always running as fast as he can — never dogs it at all. He has himself in tremendous shape.”

“Everyone knows that we’re going to run it through Dan, through Dan, through Dan,” senior linebacker Aaron Bennett said. Even with all eyes on him as a sophomore, Rentschler took another step in cementing his legacy. In Week 1 against Nokomis, he broke out for 235 yards in what turned out to be the only win of the season. The lack of wins wasn’t because Rentschler stopped producing. He turned in four more games of at least 150 yards on his way to 1,338 yards and 13 TDs. Now, Rentschler’s on the short list of players who could win the Herald & Review’s 2010 player of the year honor.

“For the young guys, they can see someone like him who does get a lot of notoriety and a lot of people know him, but he’s very humble about it,” Sangamon Valley coach Mike Lee said. “He doesn’t gloat about it. There’s no me, me, me attitude. He’s working hard and our other kids see that.” They saw it all summer long at 8 in the morning. With the help of quarterback Nick Craig and Acree — his ride buddies — Rentschler climbed out of bed every day to go lift and run sprints. They’ve also seen it all camp with Rentschler running past whistles and pushing the sled harder than anyone.

“Even though he knows he’s going to be successful, and everyone knows that, he’s doing the right things to get even better than he already is,” Acree said. “You know that means he’s someone you can trust. He’s out here for the right reasons. He’s out for others, not himself.” Throughout those workouts his 2,244 career yards meant nothing. And whatever the total he gains this season won’t matter either, if the Storm can’t put together a couple more wins. “First of all, the first goal is we want to win more games — regardless of my yardage and touchdowns or anything,” Rentschler

said when asked if he could break 1,500 yards this fall. “On a personal level, I just tried to lift hard in the offseason and tried to get faster.” Rentschler opened camp this year at 175 — 10 pounds heavier than a year ago. That’s a good sign considering his workload will continue to be demanding for a team still trying to develop a passing game. Lee’s already talked to Rentschler and the offensive line about seeing more and more teams stack the box with eight and nine defenders. Lee would like to see his quarterback make better decisions in those situations, but if that doesn’t happen, he knows Rentschler can still make plays. “He takes such good care of the ball, and he’s always full speed at the line of scrimmage,” Lee said. “And he always runs 20-30 yards in practice whether I blow the whistle or not. I might blow it dead early, but he always runs. “He’s that kind of kid … always looking for that extra yard.” If all goes to plan, Rentschler will be looking for those extra yards on a winning team.

By JUSTIN CONN H&R Staff Writer

MAROA — Gary Scott wanted to get noticed, so he transferred to the county’s most visible football program. Maroa-Forsyth has been to the state championship game twice since 2006, winning the title in ’06 and finishing second last year. Scott transferred from Eisenhower, which won one game in his first three years of high school. He and his family moved to Forsyth after the first semester last year. “I wanted to play for a good program and make my last year something to remember,” Scott said. “I felt like that was the best move for me.” Scott played for the Maroa basketball team once the second semester began, and also ran track. He began lifting with the football team at the time, too, and admitted there was an adjustment

Logan Stelzriede, Jr., QB, Maroa-Forsyth

Lindstrom quietly broke the 1,000-yard mark last season, and if the Purple Riders can improve on a down year, his numbers will go up.

He’s already got experience in a state title game and if he takes another step in his development, not many area QBs will be better.

Phillip Meyer, Jr., WR, Tuscola Meyer dazzled at QB for the Warriors last season and there’s no doubt he will make plenty of plays on the outside now. period at first. “Things are a lot different here,” Scott said. “I get pushed a lot harder — not just on the field, but off it, too. The grading scale is harder here, and we hit the weights pretty hard.” Maroa coach Josh Jostes said it didn’t take long for Scott to get comfortable. “He’s fit in well with our kids — he’s one of the guys,” Jostes said. Scott has also been a perfect fit on the field, giving the Trojans a muchneeded boost in the backfield. He rushed 64 times for 260 yards in six games last year, and also had 11 catches

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Evan Hayes, Sr., RB, Central A&M Hayes emerged last year as the area’s leading rusher with 1,749 yards and 18 TDs. He was a master at following his blockers to the outside, then turning on the jets for long touchdowns. “He has good speed and vision,” Raiders coach Mark Ramsey said. “He knows how to read blockers and he has a good feel. He consistently gets positive yards.” Behind Hayes, A&M returned to the playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinals. “We put the weight on his shoulders, and he carried it,”

A&M quarterback Collin Townsend said. The reigning H&R Area Player of the Year was easily the area’s top workhorse with 260 carries. That won’t go down this season. In fact, his numbers could be even more impressive. Ramsey said Hayes has gotten stronger and better at breaking tackles. Senior lineman Trent Conlin has seen the difference. “He can juke and make it to the outside,” Conlin said. “But he can also lower his shoulder and run someone over, and he’s not afraid to do it.”

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Ryan Smith, Sr., RB, St. Teresa

for 201 yards at Eisenhower. That versatility should serve him well at Maroa, where he’ll be used out of the backfield and — at times — in the slot. “He’s a multi-talented kid — he can play multiple roles,” Jostes said. “He has a chance to have a really special season.” A big year for Scott could equal another big year for Maroa. “He’s got great speed, so teams will have to respect our running game with him back there,” Maroa senior Joe Hockaday said. “Teams won’t be able to play our pass as much.”

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Pat Yoakum, Sr., WR, Tuscola — “My favorite play? Doesn’t really matter as long as it’s in the end zone.” Phillip Meyer, Jr., WR, Tuscola — “Any of the deep throws are fun because you just go up to get them.”

■ Also take part in talking about the games each week in our Game Central Blog (www.hrpreps.com/gamecentral) or give our writers some feedback at www.hrpreps.com/blog.

END OF SUMMER

Herald & Review/Kelly J. Huff

Dan Rentschler, Sangamon Valley’s star back, already has more than 2,200 career rushing yards. But the junior would trade those in for a few more wins.

Trent Conlin, Sr., OL/DL, Central A&M — Clinton

J.D. McCoy, Sr., OL/DL, Cerro Gordo — South Piatt

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Matt Palla, Sr., WR, Monticello

Kyle Johnson, Sr., QB/LB, Eisenhower — Danville or Mattoon

“I don’t want to call anyone out, but Maroa’s field … it’s got a big crown in the middle of it. It’s awkward to run on. We get to deal with that this year unfortunately.”

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“It’s a pretty hopped-up climate there. You always know it’s going to be a tough game, and if you make a mistake, they’re going to let you have it.”

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Garrison Stenger, Sr., LB, Arcola — Adam Clapp at Tri-County

“I’m just not a huge fan of playing there. For some reason, I’m not fond of it.”

■ H&R preps football pickem 2010 lets you pick from area high school games each week. Take on the H&R experts or form a group of friends and battle it out. New this year: Winners each week will pick up prizes from Pepsi and Papa Murphy’s. To register, head to www.hrpreps.com/pickem. ■ We’re also giving high school football fans a chance to demonstrate their level of support. Our Top Fan Contest is looking for the craziest or most loyal fan in the H&R area. It gives you an opportunity to send photos and provide a brief reason why that person deserves to be our top fan. You have eight weeks to sub-

Kyle Johnson, Sr., QB/LB, Eisenhower — Maroa-Forsyth’s Josh Jostes

“It’s far away, plus they’re good, they’re big and they pound the ball a lot.”

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Gary Scott is trying to make the most of his new home with the Maroa-Forsyth football team. He spent his first three years at Eisenhower.

Jud Wienke’s known everyone on the Tuscola football team his entire life. But he’s just now starting to get to know them on the football field. After moving away before his sophomore season, Wienke returned to miss his entire junior season with a broken collarbone. Now, the defending Class 1A state champion is HIS team. “I enjoy football, so I don’t try to get too much pressure put on me for it,” Wienke said. “Obviously, there (pressure) is being the quarterback, there is a lot more responsibility — you have to know a lot more things and you have to be the leader.

“I just don’t let it get to me.” With the shadow of his brother John only three years removed, Jud enters the season with mammoth expectations considering he hasn’t played any under center for an extended period of time in Illinois. But there are playmakers all over the field for Jud, who is being recruited by mid-major programs. “Jud is a heck of an athlete,” last year’s QB and now wide out Phillip Meyer said. “He has a great arm. He’s looking really good. I think we’re going to be able to throw the ball whenever we need to.”

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Moving on Nine months after the wild story started, Tiger and Elin finalize their divorce. B2

New QB

In Mike Quade’s debut as manager, Cubs have their way with Nationals. B3

Bears find a veteran backup at quarterback. B5

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THE AREA’S TOP WIDE RECEIVERS Matt Palla, Sr., Monticello Palla utilized his size to bully opponents last season on his way to being the area’s most productive wide out. With the departure of fellow all-area receiver Cale Huisinga, Palla has an opportunity to really pile up the stats.

Sports Herald& Review

FOOTBALL PREVIEW | TUESDAY, AUGUST 24 | SECTION B

ON COURSE

Phillip Meyer, Jr., Tuscola Meyer was a quality fill-in QB for the Class 1A state champs, but his speed and athleticism will shine at receiver for the Warriors. Expect him to get the ball in space and do plenty with it.

Pat Yoakum, Sr., Tuscola With Meyer distracting opponents on the other side, Yoakum will continue to hurt defenses with his speed. With Jud Wienke at QB, his numbers will be impressive.

Marcel Murray, Sr., St. Teresa As one the fastest guys in the area, Murray is one of the best deep-ball threats around. Last season he averaged 16 yards a catch, while scoring five times.

Joe Hockaday, Sr., Maroa Hockaday totaled just 169 receiving yards last season, but enters the season as Maroa’s No. 1 target. Couple that with the comfort level QB Logan Stelzriede has throwing to him and Hockaday will have success.

THE TEAMS MOST LIKELY TO ... ... play a meaningful game in late October.

Pana The Panthers have made the playoffs the past two seasons under Al Stupek and look like they will challenge for a spot again. They replace 14 lost seniors with 14 new ones.

Flora The Wolves are trying to make it four straight playoff appearances and they have a good shot at that with three-year starting quarterback Trent Tackitt and coach Skip Dillon’s power running game

Cumberland The Pirates have become playoff mainstays. After only three conference losses last season, an easy non-conference schedule down the stretch should mean another postseason.

Cerro Gordo The Broncos’ strength is their offensive and defensive fronts, which bodes well for a lateseason push to the playoffs.

Taylorville If the Tornadoes can survive a brutal schedule against Class 5A and 6A teams in the Central State 8, they’ll be a beast in the 4A playoffs.

Vandalia The Vandals have the type of defense to weather the rugged South Central Conference with five wins and give opponents trouble in the playoffs.

Herald & Review photos/Kelly J. Huff

Jack MacIntosh will again be in charge of a Mount Zion team that is loaded with experience. How the Braves respond to last year’s playoff loss will be critical.

What will Mount Zion, Effingham find in 2010? Mount Zion’s dream season

Effingham’s dream season

Eighteen seniors ride the backs of deep offensive and defensive lines to a third straight undefeated Apollo season and a playoff run that erases the heartache Mount Zion experienced in 2009. Braves coach Dave Smith was all smiles during the first week of practice because he hadn’t experienced a better week of practice in his two previous years at the school. He credits the building blocks on the line of scrimmage that his team, which lives and dies with running the ball, thrives on. Klinton Babb, Joe Butler, Chris Grimestead and Mitchell McElroy are four of the horses with their hands in the dirt. “It changes the game completely,” Babb said about having experience on the line. “If you can trust the person next to you, that makes it so much better because you can do your responsibility and know you don’t have to pick up any extra slack.” In the backfield, Mount Zion doesn’t lose a step after losing Krys Gray. Jacob Smith establishes himself as a 1,000-yard back and quarterback Jack MacIntosh stabilizes his play for his final season. “Yeah, I’m very ready for that,” Jacob said about being the go-to back. “Been waiting two years. We also have a couple other great backs — Toby Walter, Joe Butler and Lucas Gray. We are going to be pretty deep in our backfield, too.”

The Hearts knock off Mount Zion, go undefeated in the regular season and make a run to the semifinals. “If our seniors improve as leaders and playmakers, and our juniors improve themselves as good football players, we have a chance to be a special team,” Effingham coach Mike McDonald said. Behind an offensive line that jells early, quarterback Alex Steppe improves on the potential he showed last season and becomes a dangerous run/pass threat. Grant Johnson develops as a hard-nosed runner for an offense much more consistent than last year’s. Defensively, the Hearts put on a similar show as last year behind a dominating linebacking corps including Sean Dammerman, Bo Nosbisch and Tyler Doty. “We think we have some of the best linebackers around,” McDonald said. “But our front line must do their jobs to give our linebackers the chance to be playmakers.”

Mount Zion’s nightmare season Sure, Mount Zion went undefeated in the regular season, but it’s referred to the first-round playoff loss to Freeburg as a nightmare. “It practically haunts me everyday,” Babb said. After all, the Braves were heavy favorites playing on their home field. Perhaps the run of great backs ends and Mount Zion repeats that scenario and it haunts the senior class forever.

The offense fails to keep the defense fresh, the Hearts get beat by Mount Zion and upset by Robinson and Charleston, then fail to get past the first round of the playoffs. The offensive line, talented but still unproven heading into the season, can’t protect Steppe or make holes for Johnson. The defense holds its own, but tires late in games against the better teams.

Reality For a team rebuilding at the skill positions last year, Effingham had an outstanding year, going 9-2 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. This year’s team has just as much talent, and more experience. The Hearts continue to dominate defensively, and the offense gains momentum as the season progresses with Travis Fulk, Aaron Adams, Chad Percival and Jeff Vinot coming together on the line. “The key to our season lies within the trenches,” McDonald said. “Our offensive line has to come together. We have talented players, but they have to learn to be aggressive at all times.” A tough, more competitive loss to Mount Zion precedes a strong late-season run. Though Effingham actually finishes the regular season with one more loss because of a tougher non-conference schedule, the Hearts benefit by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1987.

Reality Experience is invaluable and after what this group went through in the playoffs a year ago, the Braves are motivated to expel Oct. 30, 2009, from their minds for good. The leadership is in all the key spots, which helps Mount Zion defend its home field against Effingham and rolls through the Apollo for the third straight season. Only this time, Mount Zion wins at least one playoff game “There was only one team in 4A that was happy with how last year ended,” coach Smith said. “We were not one of those. We did not meet our goals and we did not play to our level in that Week 10. “Every day we talk about getting better for tomorrow, and that’s what we’re doing.” Along with the playoff success, Jacob Smith turns in a 1,000-yard season.

Jacob Smith will be the No. 1 back for Mount Zion this season. He will have a dynamic showdown with Effingham’s Sean Dammerman on Oct. 2.

— H&R Staff Writers Justin Conn and Leroy Bridges

THE BEST

Week 7 — 10.8.10 Tuscola at Maroa-Forsyth

Week 7 — 10.8.10 Marshall at Casey-Westfield

Week 8 — 10.15.10 Maroa-Forsyth at Central A&M

Week 9 — 10.22.10 Monticello at St. Teresa

If Tuscola can get by St. Teresa in Week 2, this game will be a monster matchup late in the season. Maroa was shut out last year in Tuscola and the Trojans would love to spoil any undefeated hopes the Warriors have at this point.

Casey will be more than ready for this game after Marshall ended the Warriors’ season last year. The key for Casey in 2010 is making sure it takes care of business in the regular season and in the postseason against Marshall.

Central A&M is well aware of who ended its season in 2009. After dropping a heartbreaking loss to the Trojans midseason and then losing again in November, the Raiders will be stoked to turn the tables on Maroa in Moweaqua.

Monticello snuck up on the Bulldogs last season, hung 28 points on them and sent them home with a loss. There won’t be any sneaking up on St. T on its home field now that the Sages have turned heads.

GAMES

WHAT’S NEXT?

OF THE YEAR

A look at the rest of the week’s game plan:

Here’s some games that should be some of the biggest and most important conference showdowns of the season.

WEDNESDAY: Arcola/Cerro Gordo Player of the Year candidates THURSDAY: Central A&M/Tuscola Schedules for all the teams FRIDAY: Preview of Week 1

Effingham’s nightmare season

Wednesday we’ll take a look at games between traditional rivals.

THE AREA’S TOP RUNNING BACKS Evan Hayes, Sr., Central A&M The most productive rusher from a year ago, Hayes will have a bit more pressure to produce this year. Can he eclipse the 1,500-yard mark with defenses stacking the box against him? It will be fun to watch.

Jacob Smith, Sr., Mount Zion The Mount Zion bruiser has been waiting for his opportunity to be the featured back for a couple years as the Braves enjoyed some good rushers. Now’s his chance, and he seems adamant on taking advantage.

SO LONG, LOU

Cards win

On the Web

Cubs coach Piniella, who intended to retire from baseball at end of season, steps away from team early to take care of ailing mother B4

St. Louis gets best outing of season from starter Garcia as Cardinals roll to victory B3

The H&R videographers tackled Maroa-Forsyth and St. Teresa practices. Go to www.hrpreps.com/video.

ON THE WEB | WWW.HRPREPS.COM

Sports Herald& Review

FOOTBALL PREVIEW | MONDAY, AUGUST 23 | SECTION B

CITY HOPES

Dan Rentschler, Jr., Sangamon Valley As a sophomore, Rentschler was the only constant for the Storm during a rough 2009. This season all eyes are on him as he hopes to hit the 1,500-yard mark and enjoy more wins.

Gary Scott, Jr., Maroa-Forsyth The Eisenhower transfer has been one of the hottest topics this summer. Now that he’s surrounded by one of the area’s most successful teams, it will be interesting to see what Scott can do.

Ryan Smith, Sr., St. Teresa Smith averaged a robust 7.4 yards per carry last season and got only 110 carries. He will still split some carries with St. T’s fullback, but a heavier load will result in at least a 1,000-yard season.

Ryan Smith

THE TEAMS MOST LIKELY TO ... ... win double-digit games.

Mount Zion The Braves have reached at least 10 games for the past four seasons and nine of the past 10. Considering they are seniorheavy and have won the Apollo with an undefeated record the past two seasons, this is a gimme.

Herald & Review photos/Kelly J. Huff

MacArthur will need leadership from seniors like defensive lineman Damon Cross to lead the Generals to the playoffs after losing some vital pieces to graduation.

What kind of season will it be for Eisenhower, MacArthur? Eisenhower’s dream season

MacArthur’s dream season

Eisenhower ends its five-year run of not winning more than one game in a season by breaking through, winning five games and making its first playoff appearance since 2004. Kyle Johnson steps up as the team leader on both sides of the ball, leading the team in total offense at quarterback and tackles at linebacker. Eisenhower’s big, experienced offensive line — finally physical enough to compete in the Big 12 — protects Johnson and blows open holes for the Panthers’ stable of running backs, including Micah Winters and Brandon Williams.

The Panthers get off to a slow start and the confidence they’ve built during the past year crumbles. Then, injuries and other intangibles leave an already thin roster short at key positions. Against the Big 12, there isn’t much room for error, and Eisenhower suffers its third winless seasons in four years.

Coach Derek Spates and the Generals become the city’s first group to make the playoffs for the third straight season with seven or eight wins after plugging some huge holes left by last year’s seniors. The departures of QB Robert Smith, RB LaDarion Shelby, WRs Jalen Spates and Kieston Greene and kicker Miles Henderson open up opportunities for seniors Quinton Simmons (QB), Kiston Lee (WR) and Micah Seals (RB), and they take full advantage. “I feel like this is a very important time for me to step up and be a leader,” Simmons said about going through preseason practice. “I am really ready and able to lead this team.” With Simmons and Seals easing the transition from a loaded senior class, Spates gets quality play from his youth, which has seen a big jump in talent since he took over the program three years ago. “In our conference, you’re never totally comfortable with a lot of sophomores playing,” Spates said. “But I think our guys who are coming up, we run the same schemes, the same offense since they’ve been here, so they’re comfortable with what it is we do and what it is we need to execute.”

Eisenhower’s reality

MacArthur’s nightmare season

There’s a distinctly different feeling among Eisenhower’s players and coaches this season. While, in years past, the Panthers had an “anything’s possible” type of optimism, this year they believe they can be a playoff team. There’s been a progression. Two years ago — in Austin’s first year — the Panthers were young and couldn’t compete. Last year, with a little more seasoning, they competed, but couldn’t finish off wins. This year, Eisenhower is senior-led and confident it can win games. “We trust each other now,” Johnson said. “We’ve had leaders establish themselves, which we hadn’t seen a lot. We have leaders at every position. That’s led to less arguing and getting down on each other. We’re having fun now — that’s the biggest difference. When we have fun, we play good football.” The problem is low numbers and a tough schedule — the only “gimme” in the Big 12 during the past few years has been Eisenhower. In the end, the offense is much more consistent through the first five games of the season, and the Panthers manage to go 3-2 in the stretch. But games against the conference’s powerhouses push the Panthers’ thin roster to its limits. Eisenhower beats Urbana in Week 8, but falls one game short of the playoffs.

The season stalls before it ever really gets going. MacArthur struggles in Week 1 when it hosts Bloomington. The quick start to give Simmons and Seals a boost of confidence never happens and the young Generals finish with only a couple of wins. The hope of making history with three straight playoff appearances has to begin again in 2011.

Eisenhower’s nightmare season

Effingham QB Alex Steppe

Effingham Another Apollo team that has dominated is the Hearts. For seven straight years, Effingham has qualified for this category. Now, can it turn that into a deep playoff run?

St. Teresa The Bulldogs haven’t had any trouble amassing wins, especially early in the season. Since 1996, St. Teresa has lost only five times in September. A couple wins in November would mean a lot after last postseason’s one-and-done.

Monticello In a storybook season last fall, the Sages went from winless to a 7-2 playoff season that featured a first-round win. Another year under coach Cullen Welter will continue to develop the talent-rich program.

ON THE WEB ... ● The H&R’s Game Central blog is back again this year. Talk about each week’s games at www.hrpreps.com/gamecentral. ● The H&R’s sportswriters will be blogging all season about football. Check out the talk at www.hrpreps.com/blog. ● The prep football pickem contest lets you pick from area high school games each week. To register, head to www.hrpreps.com/pickem.

THE BEST

WHAT’S NEXT?

GAMES

A look at the rest of the week’s feature teams and other coverage as the preview rolls on: TUESDAY: Effingham/Mount Zion WEDNESDAY: Arcola/Cerro Gordo Player of the Year candidates THURSDAY: Central A&M/Tuscola Schedules for all the teams FRIDAY: Preview of Week 1

MacArthur’s reality A series of games in October are pivotal in MacArthur’s quest for the playoffs. The Generals fail to knock off any of the Big 12’s top teams, but make a serious run at the postseason with a team that gets better every week. “I just want to come together and play solid, mistake-free football,” Spates said. “The playmakers will separate themselves during the game. Hopefully some of those guys will come out in Week 1.” Seals, who’s built similarly to Shelby but is a different type of runner, uses his vision and break-away speed to win a couple games for the Generals on his way to 700 yards. “I’ve been watching (Shelby) since I was coming in as a freshman and I saw how he did it when he was playing varsity and I’ve just been following his lead.” — H&R Staff Writers Justin Conn and Leroy Bridges

MacArthur coach Derek Spates

Eisenhower QB Kyle Johnson

Week 3 — 9.10.10 Arcola at Cerro Gordo

Week 6 — 10.1.10 Central A&M at Tuscola

Week 6 — 10.1.10 Pana at Greenville

Week 6 — 10.1.10 Tolono Unity at St. Teresa

OF THE YEAR Here’s some games that should be some of the biggest and most important conference showdowns of the season. In the next three days, we’ll take a look at games between traditional rivals, matchups with playoff implications and more conference showdowns.

Typically a game that helps decide the LOVC, both teams are coming off sub-par seasons. Both look primed to return this year, but a loss here would deal an early blow to two teams that will be on the fringe of the playoffs.

There’s no way Tuscola has forgotten how it lost to the Raiders last season. Warriors coach Rick Reinhart had never lost a game in the closing seconds after having an opponent run his own blocked field goal in for a score.

The Panthers have been among the most successful teams in the South Central Conference the past two seasons, but can’t get over the hump against the three-time defending conference champion. After two losses to the Comets last year, Pana wants this one badly.

A year ago, Unity put it to the Bulldogs behind a monster effort from big-time athlete Dylan Sturgeon. With Sturgeon gone, St. T will be looking to return the favor in Decatur.

THE AREA’S TOP QUARTERBACKS

A big step up for Illinois

Bears’ offense looks solid in loss

Defense shows improvement in second Illinois scrimmage C7

Carpenter leads Cards

Cutler throws TD pass, Forte runs for two scores C6

St. Louis picks up win over Giants C3

ON THE WEB | WWW.HRPREPS.COM

Jud Wienke, Sr., Tuscola Everyone caught a glimpse of what Wienke, right, is capable of in last year’s state-title game. He’s finally healthy, has an offensive line that will keep his jersey clean and receivers who will allow him to show off his arm.

Logan Stelzriede, Jr., Maroa-Forsyth

Sports Herald& Review

FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 22 | SECTION C

DREAM ON?

Stelzriede was sharp last season completing, 60 percent of his passes for 1,522 yards and 15 TDs. He’s a year older and will need to make plays for the Trojans to continue their success.

Collin Townsend, Sr., Central A&M The area’s second-most productive QB needs to up his 43 percent completion rate from 2009, considering there isn’t a ton of pressure on him and the passing game. If he can be more efficient, it will open up some space for the run game.

Heath Huisinga, Jr., Casey-Westfield Huisinga hasn’t played a varsity snap, but he’s excelled in the Warriors’ QB-friendly spread pass attack system in his first two years of high school. Look for him to have a quality first varsity season.

THE TEAMS MOST LIKELY TO ... ... go to Champaign for a shot at a state title:

Tuscola Everything that could go wrong for Tuscola last year did, and they still won the state title. This year, quarterback Jud Wienke is healthy, both sides of the line are rock solid and the receiving corps has playmakers reminiscent of the 2006-07 teams.

Casey-Westfield Most teams returning just two offensive starters wouldn’t make this list. The Warriors aren’t most teams. Casey hasn’t lost a regular-season game in the Little Illini since 2006, and has advanced to at least the quarterfinals every year since 2003.

Maroa-Forsyth The Trojans have question marks entering the season about leadership and line play following their Class 2A runner-up finish, but they also have great athletes — lots of them. The system exploits matchup problems those athletes cause, and a potentially dominating defense makes the Trojans a threat for a state run.

Herald & Review photos/Stephen Haas

St. Teresa’s Kyle Leckrone will be a part of a strong defensive pass rush for the Bulldogs, who hope to rebound from their 2009 first-round Class 3A playoff exit.

What kind of season will it be for St. Teresa, Maroa? St. Teresa’s dream season

Maroa-Forsyth’s dream season

St. Teresa coach Scott Davis’ preseason keys to a successful year — the ability to run the ball and play good defense — carry the Bulldogs to Champaign in what is the team’s first state appearance under Davis. Behind a senior offensive line that lost two starters, the running back duo of Ryan Smith and Jeremy Ruderman combine for 2,500 yards. “If our running game is not the strength of St. Teresa, then we’re in trouble,” Davis said. “We have two pretty good senior running backs that we expect big years from.” Meanwhile, quarterback Nick Brinkoetter finally settles in under center as the lone starter and helps with wins at Tuscola and Maroa-Forsyth. Defensively, Davis unleashes a group led by Ruderman and Kyle Leckrone that frustrates opponents with a relentless pass rush. If an experienced secondary (made up of Marcel Murray, Eric Althoff, Justin Richards and Matt Miller) makes plenty of plays after a rough 2009, St. T will be able to pressure at will.

With plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball, Maroa-Forsyth makes a trip back to state. A year after relying on receiver Wyatt Washburn for most of its yards through the air, Maroa’s passing game becomes more diverse with receivers Joe Hockaday, Wesley Beach, Toby Propst and — when he returns from injury for Okaw Blue play — Shawn Outlaw. “We don’t have just one now — we have a bunch of guys who can catch the ball and make plays,” Maroa junior quarterback Logan Stelzriede said. Stelzriede emerged in Maroa’s third game last season and never relinquished the starter’s role. More is expected from this year and he delivers — with help from a running game featuring Eisenhower transfer Gary Scott. Defensively — with Aaron Ford, Beach and Justin Harrelson back on the defensive line, Tyler Marsh returning at linebacker and a group of untested but athletic defensive backs led by Hockaday — the Trojans pressure the quarterback and force turnovers on a regular basis.

Central A&M The Raiders beat the defending Class 1A state champs last year, but a rematch never materialized when A&M was just above the 2A cutoff. Now in 1A, if it can fill holes on the line left by graduation, A&M has the skill Central players to A&M’s challenge Matt Tuscola. Davis

St. Teresa’s nightmare season The defense’s inability to stop big-time opponents continues to wreck another St. Teresa season. After giving up 94 points in three losses a year ago, road games at Tuscola and Maroa-Forsyth in Weeks 2 and 4 end with the Bulldogs giving up more than 30 points in each one. All the confidence this senior-led team had is wiped out by a 2-2 start and another early playoff exit sends out a talented senior class in sour fashion.

Maroa’s nightmare season A lack of leadership and some of the problems that plagued the Trojans early last season keep them from fully meeting their potential and they drop games to St. Teresa, Tuscola and Central A&M. The Trojans still manage to make the playoffs. But with expectations so high from their recent run of success, a four-loss season and first-round playoff loss is met with disappointment.

The reality

WHAT’S NEXT? A look at the rest of the week’s feature teams and other coverage as the preview rolls on: MONDAY: Eisenhower/MacArthur TUESDAY: Effingham/Mount Zion WEDNESDAY: Arcola/Cerro Gordo Player of the Year candidates THURSDAY: Central A&M/Tuscola Schedules for all the teams FRIDAY: Preview of Week 1

Everyone will get a great glimpse at what path St. Teresa’s season is going to go down when it visits defending Class 1A state champ Tuscola in Week 2. Last season, the Bulldogs beat the Warriors 14-13 in an impressive 5-0 start but faltered down the stretch, going 2-3 in their final five games. If St. T competes in the second game of the year, it will take some confidence from that game into its road battle against rival MaroaForsyth. The Bulldogs are hoping to win their third straight against the Trojans. Winning one of the two tough road games early will propel this team to some quality home games against Tolono Unity and Monticello that could lead to revenge wins after rough setbacks in 2009. An eight-win regular season followed by a couple playoff wins would delight this fan base that’s still trying to shake last season. “I just know that when the season starts, we’re ready to go,” Davis said. “We work hard in the offseason. Our kids are excited when it comes to the start of the season.”

THE BEST

Week 1 — 8.27.10 Mount Zion at Mahomet-Seymour

The reality There’s a reason Maroa has been among the best teams in the state the past six years. Maroa coach Josh Jostes has a system built on getting the ball to the team’s playmakers in open space, and they do the rest. “It’s not rocket science,” Jostes said. This year, Hockaday and Scott step up as the main weapons, compete for a conference title and the Trojans advance to the quarterfinals for the sixth time in the last seven years. “There’s pressure on these guys to perform,” Jostes said. “Those past successful teams worked their butts off to accomplish what they did, and these guys need to learn they have to do the same. “But we feel like our skill kid group is as good as past teams. We have six or seven wideouts a lot of teams would like to have. Skill kids are never a problem for us.” Logan Stelzriede is at the helm for Maroa-Forsyth this year.

Week 2 — 9.3.10 Monticello at Maroa-Forsyth

Week 2 — 9.3.10 St. Teresa at Tuscola

Week 3 — 9.10.10 Central A&M at Monticello

Possibly the area’s hardesthitting game last year was decided by a blocked extra-point. It could be the main obstacle to an undefeated season for Tuscola.

The Sages went on the road last season and won the battle of teams that surprised people, 22-21. Will the Raiders’ defense be able to quiet the Sages’ offense at home?

GAMES OF THE YEAR Here’s some games that could turn out to be some of the best football fans will see played all season. In the next four days, we’ll take a look at games between traditional rivals, matchups with playoff implications and conference showdowns.

The Braves’ 18-game regular-season winning streak will be on the line against Corn Belt power Mahomet-Seymour. The game is a much-needed regularseason test against a school outside of the Apollo Conference.

The Sages appeared to turn a corner in the second half of this matchup last year after Maroa dominated the first half. With two coaches who like to throw the ball and plenty of athletes on both teams, this should be a crowdpleaser.

ON THE WEB | WWW.HRPREPS.COM

| PREPS | SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010 | DECATUR, ILLINOIS Argenta’s Cam Cripe

ARGENTA-OREANA

DECATUR, ILLINOIS | SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010 | PREPS |

ARTHUR-LOVINGTON

CASEY-WESTFIELD

CHARLESTON

CLINTON

CUMBERLAND

Dream season

Dream

Argenta knocks off one of the conference’s powers-that-be and makes the playoffs in what is coach Tom Saunches’ final season. This year, the Bombers have the most overall talent since the 2006 team that went 7-3. The offensive line could be one of the best in the conference with anchors Trent Trudeau and Ethan Johnson. They’ll break open holes for Dylan Whicker, who missed all of last season with an injury but rushed for 728 yards and 7 TDs as a sophomore.

The Knights stay competitive and manage a few wins. To make it happen, the Knights — who lost 11 seniors from last year’s 5-4 team — will need some young players to emerge fast. Arthur does have some size on the line, but its skill players will have to grow up fast.

The Warriors cap a decade of dominance by winning the school’s second state title. Casey has lost a total of eight games in the past six seasons, and reloads annually with the type of talent it takes to make a run at a championship. Seniors Clinton Scott and Hunter Whaley will provide the leadership this season, and junior quarterback Heath Huisinga will take the reins of the Warriors’ spread offense

All those heartbreaking losses from the past two seasons become wins and Charleston becomes the Apollo’s breakout team. Quarterback Levi Ebbert comes of age in his senior season at quarterback and spreads the ball around to Charleston’s large group of small but sure-handed receivers, and 150-pound running back L.J. Welsh uses his speed to break some big plays. The Trojans’ backbone is a stingy, hard-hitting defense led by linebacker Chris Creek. Charleston rides that combination to a 7-2 regular season and rolls in the playoffs similar to 2008 — when the Trojans advanced to the quarterfinals.

The Okaw Valley’s sleeping giant awakes and makes its first playoff appearance since 2004. In John Hayden’s first season as coach in 2009, the Maroons won two games. But they’ve had a full year under his system, and return most key players on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Aaron Ennis and running back Byron Conner. They’ll be tested early with games against MaroaForsyth and Central A&M, which they hope prepares them for their Okaw Black slate.

The Pirates continue to baffle teams with their defense, which returns nine starters from a unit that allowed only 14.3 points a game in 2009. Backs Senior Dalton Bauguss Braden Shaffer and Clay Wilson lessen the blow of losing one of the area’s best rushers in Silas Gabel as Cumberland overthrows Casey-Westfield as the conference’s top team and the Pirates go on a deep playoff run.

Nightmare A key injury or two lightens what’s already a dangerously small roster of 22 players, and the Knights suffer through a long, rough season.

Nightmare

Reality

A repeat of last year. Though Argenta showed plenty of heart in winning four games despite a rash of injuries, the Bombers don’t want a repeat of that. Even with a healthy season, Argenta would have to knock off either Tolono Unity, Monticello, Central A&M, Maroa-Forsyth or Tuscola to become playoff eligible.

Coach Dale Schuring and company battle through a winless 2010 while building a foundation for next season.

Nightmare Casey finally hits a rebuilding year. The Warriors return only two starters, and coach Keith Sinclair anticipates contributors coming from all four classes. Even in a down year, Casey is a shoo-in to make the playoffs. But the Warriors may have a tough time carrying their 28-game conference winning streak through another year, or extending its streak of quarterfinal appearances to eight.

Reality

Argenta sends Saunches out with an OK season of three to five wins but can’t crack the conference’s elite.

Casey continues its run to the quarters and makes a serious run to state but falls just short with 11 or 12 wins.

FLORA

LINCOLN

Dream

The Wolves win a playoff game for the first time in school history. It should have happened last year, when Flora went 7-2 in the regular season. But a rough first-round draw in Central A&M extended the Wolves’ futility to nine appearances without a win. This year, run/pass threat Trent Tackitt is in his third year at QB and he’s surrounded by returning talent. Plus, coach Skip Dillon always seems to find a workhorse at running back. It could be senior Cristian Hannel this time around.

The Railers play like the team that nearly knocked off Springfield in Week 8 last year, stay competitive against the Central State Eight’s elite and win four games. The key is the emergence of quarterback James Leisinger, who started the Railers’ final three games last year. Last year’s leading receiver, Darvez Stancle, and converted quarterback Stephen Duncan give Leisinger two go-to receivers. Defensively, the defensive line combination of 285-pound Tedarion Carter and 290-pound Sawyer Conrady clog the middle and stuff the run.

Nightmare Tackitt’s senior season doesn’t unfold as planned when the Wolves can’t build a steady rushing attack. World-beaters Casey-Westfield and Marshall take away any momentum Flora had built from last season and it causes the Wolves to miss the playoffs.

Reality The Little Illini is top-heavy, so there aren’t many tough games to prepare the Wolves for the playoffs. Another tough early playoff matchup is likely, and that will end Flora’s season with seven or eight wins.

Nightmare

Nightmare Without a workhorse at running back and with no receiver stepping up as a main playmaker, Charleston struggles to score and — again — loses several games by seven points or less, leading to a third straight 4-5 season.

The pall that seems to follow this program remains. The schedule is stacked against Clinton, and it’s too much to overcome. The Maroons pick up only one win and take a step back after what seemed to be a step forward last season.

Reality

Unlike the past two seasons, Charleston’s defense is loaded this year. The linebackers are fast and hard-hitting, the defensive backfield is deep and athletic and the line includes three-year starter David Haller at end and 275-pound Jacob Schrock at one of the tackle positions. The Trojans turn a couple of those close losses to wins and make it back to the playoffs.

The Maroons see some more positive signs in Hayden’s second year, but it’s nothing to upset the pecking order in the Okaw as Clinton finishes with two or three wins.

Charleston quarterback Levi Ebbert

Nightmare A fourth straight playoff appearance comes up empty after the offense fails to fill the void left by Gabel, QB Cole Miller and lineman Jim Kruse. The defense plays its heart out but ultimately, the Pirates can’t find the end zone.

Reality Shaffer and Wilson combine for Gabel’s production and Cumberland makes the playoffs and finishes the year with six or seven wins.

MATTOON

MERIDIAN

Dream

An experienced offensive line jells quickly, leading to breakout years from running back Treye Williams, quarterback Shaunesy Carlen, below, and receiver Michael Heller, and Mattoon gets off to a hot start. Against its Big 12 competition, the Green Wave fights its way to a 4-4 record heading into its season finale with Normal West.

Senior QB Tye Manns blooms into the dualthreat playmaker that coach Eric Hurelbrink hoped he would and wreaks havoc on defenses in the Okaw. The Hawks get quality play from some youngsters and upset the balance of the conference. A surprise could include a road win against Monticello, St. Teresa, Maroa-Forsyth or Tuscola and a playoff bid.

Nightmare

The offense fails to take off under Leisinger and the Railers don’t develop a running game. The result is a second straight winless season.

The defense can’t get the opponents’ offenses off the field, and Mattoon’s offense is consistently forced to play catch-up. A slow start puts the Green Wave in an uphill battle when it gets to a brutal second part of its schedule.

The schedule abuses Manns and the Hawks lose any momentum before they can even remember that the season has started. Tough road games come in Weeks 1, 3, 5 and 8 and the team doesn’t even manage wins at home against teams Meridian annually beats.

Reality

The Central State Eight is particularly tough right now, making it difficult for any up-and-coming teams to break through. Lincoln competes in most games with a balanced offense, experienced offensive line and runstopping defense, but manage only two wins.

Mattoon is involved in shootouts all season, giving its fans an exciting, but at times frustrating season. Against Big 12 opponents, wins are hard to come by and Mattoon ends up with two or three of them.

MONTICELLO

NEWTON

NOKOMIS

Dream

The Sages add another chapter to the program’s story of rebirth under second-year coach Cullen Welter with a couple playoff wins. Welter lost a couple big-time players in receiver Cale Huisinga, QB Ben Palla and RB Tyler Lieb, but he plugs in a couple new faces and moves on. Wideout Matt Palla leads the area in receiving again and the offense is able to establish the run better with an experienced line. In a new wrinkle, the Sages are stout defensively, too, as they return seven starters and possess some good speed on that side of the ball.

The Eagles return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The key will be building around senior quarterback Brian Emmerich, who showed flashes of brilliance in leading Newton to a 2-1 start last year. Blocking shouldn’t be a problem with seniors Derek Casey, Dylan Casey and Mark Fehrenbacher returning to the line. Newton finds a running game and a main target for Emmerich and the offense leads this resurgence.

The senior quarterback and running back combo of Hayden Brownback and Tyler Morse lead this team to its best season since 2007, coach Gabe Cesaretti’s first year. They enjoyed the playoffs and a 5-5 record that year, which is exactly how this rebound from a one-win season goes.

2010 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sangamon Valley’s Casey Acree

Nightmare

Reality Manns does some good things that help ease the pain from brutal road losses. The end result is a two- or three-win season.

Nightmare The Redskins don’t find the leadership they need to win a couple close games and it results in a winless season. That would make them 2-25 in the past three seasons.

The lack of upperclassman depth (only 11 seniors and 13 juniors) becomes obvious as Welter can’t find enough playmakers to fill the voids left at the skill positions. The experience on defense doesn’t show and the Okaw continues to feast on Monticello’s run defense.

Turnovers and inconsistency continue to plague them. Interceptions were a problem for Emmerich last year, and were a major contributor to the Eagles scoring just 14 points in their final six games. A tough non-conference schedule that begins with Fairbury Prairie Central is foreshadowing to a season that ends with Breese Mater Dei and only a couple wins.

Reality

Another year under Welter won’t hurt as the Sages are just as explosive offensively as they were in 2009. The defense is improved and Monticello is once again a factor in the Okaw and a playoff team that finishes with seven or eight wins.

Emmerich should be improved with better decision making, but the run game isn’t consistent enough for the Eagles. A playoff appearance isn’t in order for this four-win team.

OBLONG

OLNEY EAST RICHLAND

PANA

ROBINSON

Dream

First-year coach Randy Littlejohn takes over a winless team from 2009 and is able to let his young team mature throughout a rocky season. Despite the lack of wins, Littlejohn leans on sophomore quarterback Anthony Johnson and sets the foundation for a quality 2011.

This year’s seniors lay the foundation for the underclassmen to turn things around for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2000. Numbers within the program are solid and the Tigers have two exciting young players in sophomore quarterback Justin Bailey and sophomore receiver Brook Pampe. It will be up to seniors Gabe McVaigh, Jake Combs, Steve Levitt and Wes Hagen to get it going in the right direction with a couple wins this year.

Pana continues to show the ability to reload, replacing last year’s 14-member senior class with 14 more seniors. The Panthers’ philosophy under Al Stupek of depending on several players carrying the ball, rather than having one workhorse, is again effective behind multi-talented Phillip Arnold and Brett Amling. Behind an offensive line that lost Alan Handy and Chad Miller, but returns Nick Spracklen, Zack Etter and Jared McMillen, the Panthers compete for a conference title and make another extended playoff run.

The rebuilding project for Tim Nolen takes another significant step by winning a playoff game. In 2009, the Maroons won five games and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Despite losing 1,000-yard back Bryan McCullough, Robinson snaps a nine-year playoff win drought behind seniors A.J. Woods (defensive end), Mike Smolinski (defensive end), Pat Parkhurst (offensive guard) and Taylor Goodwin (defensive tackle).

Nightmare

Monticello coach Cullen Welter

Nightmare All the losing prevents the team, especially Johnson, from gaining any valuable experience. And the fourth coach of the Panthers in the past 10 years begins another rough stretch.

Reality Seniors James Schlosser (lineman and linebacker) and Seth Tracy (lineman) bring Johnson along to make sure the season doesn’t go to waste.

Every team enters the year with hopes of a dream season. Some make the dreams come true. Some dreams turn into nightmares. Most fall somewhere in between. What’s going to happen for your favorite team this year? MacArthur’s Jamal Nasir

Effingham’s Grant Johnson

Arcola’s Tony Van Gundy

Central A&M’s Colton Callan

Nightmare

Defense continues to struggle. Offense wasn’t the problem for the Tigers last year — they averaged 17.3 points per game. But Olney couldn’t stop the run and allowed 38 points per game. That starts up front on the line — a unit the Tigers will need significant improvement from before they can compete in any game.

The Panthers can’t find can’t find a replacement for the all-around playmaking abilities of Cody McLaughlin at quarterback, and Pana can’t get over the hump in close games like it has the past two seasons. The result is a three-win season.

Reality

Reality Bailey and Pampe create some excitement by showing glimpses of what the Tigers have coming back next year, but they can’t find a win.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Eisenhower and MacArthur

Effingham and Mount Zion

Arcola and Cerro Gordo

Central A&M and Tuscola

SANGAMON VALLEY

SHELBYVILLE

SOUTH PIATT

Dream

Junior running back Dan Rentschler continues his progression as one the best backs in the area by surpassing the 1,500-yard mark and finding the end zone 20 times on his way to county player of the year. Unlike in 2009, he gets some help from the quarterback position, whether that’s returning starter Nick Craig or transfer Arik Bueltmann, and the offense wins some games for the Storm. After winning one game a year ago, Sangamon Valley comes close to making the playoffs, but its strength of schedule prevents that.

With the conference’s most difficult first five games of the year, the Rams take one of them and are able to regroup after the tough early stretch. Jake Duck and Damien Coleman help anchor a line that gets Luke Hatfield and Jake Keown going down the stretch and Shelbyville wins three of its final four games.

The Wildcats win the LOVC title. With a 19-member senior class led by quarterback Randy Crist and linebacker Josh Peeler, South Piatt improves on last year’s five-win playoff season. Running back Steve Bryan, lineman Matt Lee and defensive back Colin Auth are big losses, but the Wildcats plug and chug at every position.

Nightmare

The early season difficulties get to the Rams and they never recover. With Tuscola, Maroa-Forsyth, Central A&M and St. Teresa all in the first five weeks, confidence is in the gutter after some bad losses and the season ends with only one win.

South Piatt gets off to another slow start and — this time — can’t recover. Last year, the Wildcats lost four of their first five games before getting into the playoffs with a four-game win streak. With TriCounty and Villa Grove in Weeks 3 and 4, the Wildcats are challenged early and don’t respond.

Nightmare There is no answer at quarterback in part because of poor offensive line play and defenses stack nine guys in the box and force Rentschler to beat them. Rentschler’s good enough to make some plays, but ultimately the result is the same as 2009 and the team wins only one game with little progress.

Reality Coach Michael Lee gets some better results with a more experienced bunch, especially from the QB position, and fans are pleasantly surprised with a three- or four-win year.

Reality The Rams aren’t able to pull off any big upsets but three wins, two coming late, help the season end positively.

Reality In the wide-open LOVC, South Piatt wins enough games to make the playoffs again, but it’s a struggle.

CREDITS ● Photos by Stephen Haas and Kelly J. Huff. ● Scenarios by Leroy Bridges and Justin Conn.

ON THE WEB ● The H&R’s Game Central blog is back again this year. Talk about each week’s games at www.hrpreps.com/ gamecentral. ● The H&R’s writers will be blogging all season about football. Check out the talk at www.hrpreps.com/blog. ● The prep football pickem contest lets you pick from area high school games each week. To register, head to www.hrpreps.com/pickem. ● Our Top Fan Contest is looking for the craziest or most loyal fan in the H&R area. It gives you an opportunity to send photos and provide a brief reason why that person deserves to be our top fan. You have eight weeks to submit, and then we’ll choose one entry. To enter, go to www.hrpreps.com/topfan.

Pana doesn’t have the all-around talent of last year’s team, but still remains confident in close games and fresh because the Panthers don’t lean on one or two players. The Panthers avoid injuries, win six regular-season games and claim a playoff victory.

Reality Despite winning only one game in 2009, Nokomis was competitive in several games. If it can compete in Week 1 against Sangamon Valley, the confidence and a senior backfield will result in two or three wins.

Nightmare After winning more than one game for the first time in three seasons last fall, the Maroons revert back to old ways. McCullough’s production out of the backfield isn’t replaced and Robinson manages only a couple wins.

Reality Robinson’s senior talent should produce enough to get some wins in a weak conference, leading the Maroons to their second straight playoff appearance before a first-round exit.

SULLIVAN-OKAW VALLEY

TAYLORVILLE

WARRENSBURG-LATHAM

VANDALIA

Dream

Sullivan has won just one game the past three seasons, but the experience at key positions gets this team to two or three wins. QB Chad Frerichs becomes more consistent and RB Seth Sweeney becomes an 800-yard back.

The eight starters back on both sides of the ball build on last year’s four-win season, surprise a couple of the Central State Eight’s top teams and the Tornadoes make it back to the playoffs. Senior running back Blaine Lacy has a monster year behind a powerhouse offensive line that includes Rey Rodriguez and Luke Wehmhoff.

The Cardinals compete in every game, ending up with four wins, including one on the road. Behind four players who saw varsity time at the skill positions — including senior running back Dakota McKenzie — and several players who step up, Warrensburg battles as the underdog in every game it plays.

Nightmare

The CS8 competition proves too tough and Taylorville, despite winning its first two games, finishes with just three wins. Lacy and senior quarterback Beau McDonald post solid seasons, but can’t make enough of an impact against Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield, Jacksonville, Chatham Glenwood or Rochester.

The program doesn’t take a step in the right direction, which is a lost opportunity for the younger players who are taking over the program. After going 1-8 in 2009, another one-win season doesn’t sit well.

Led by the passing combination of Marty Johnson to Daniel Bell, a team that took its lumps through a three-win season last year returns the Vandals to the playoffs. Defense is Vandalia’s real strength, and the Vandals hold most of their South Central Conference opponents to two touchdowns or less led by linebackers Bryan Hosick and Nathan Henna, and lineman Levi Ulmer.

Nightmare The roster exploded from 40 in 2009 to 73 this year, and that causes a bit of trouble preparing the players for the rigors of Okaw Valley Conference play. The increased numbers bode well for the future but hold back the team and it’s another zeroor one-win season

Reality Clearly, this program is headed in the right direction with the huge jump in numbers. In the mean time, Frerichs, Sweeney, lineman Cody Robinson and linebacker Erik Scott help add some momentum with a three-win year.

Reality Taylorville takes several of the conference’s best teams down to the wire — maybe even pulling off an upset — but can’t top last year’s four-win season.

Reality With home games against Sullivan-Okaw Valley and Clinton, Warrensburg could end up with two wins. That would make the Cardinals 16-41 in the past seven years.

Nightmare Vandalia’s flexbone running game can’t provide offensive balance and the Vandals struggle to score like they did the final three games of last season. The defense — strong through the first three quarters of games — wilts late and Vandalia struggles to another three-win season.

Reality The parity in the South Central leads to close games and some unpredictable finishes. But with a team built on the strength of its defense, the Vandals slug it out and win enough games to return to the playoffs.

SIDELINES

Company welcome

Compiled from H&R staff and news service reports

Bears back Forte happy to have some help in camp/B5

Come and meet the Illini Illini football fans can meet the team on Saturday, Aug. 28 in the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium. Fans can arrive early to watch the team’s “game day rehearsal” from the west stands from 9:30-11:15 a.m. before heading to the Great West Hall to get autographs and photos with the players. Team posters will be available for the players to sign and fans can bring their own items to be autographed. That session will run from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Admission is free and parking will be available in the northeast and northwest lots of Assembly Hall.

And no hairspray With NFL training camps in full swing, “Survivor” survivor Jimmy Johnson offered an apt comparison in describing his experience doing the CBS reality show in Nicaragua. He said it was tougher than three-a-days. “At least if you’re going through those practices, you get a good night’s sleep and you have food in your stomach,” Johnson said. “We got no sleep, and there were days we were existing on less than 100 calories a day.” The former coach spent more than a month this summer with “Survivor” as one of 20 castaways. The season premiere will air Sept. 15.

Page B5

All Hail, JoePa? Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been nominated for the highest civilian award in the country. Congressmen including Glenn Thompson, Mark Critz and Tim Holden say the Hall of Fame coach deserves a Presidential Medal of Paterno Freedom for his service to the Nittany Lions, the university and the State College community. Their nomination letter to President Barack Obama says Paterno personifies sportsmanship on the field and academic achievement in the classroom while also noting Paterno’s philanthropic efforts. Paterno’s 394 career victories are most among college coaches.

They said it

”

“The heat will bring out the dog in you and you will get into some arguments and some stuff will get heated. But everything cools down once you get into the film room and figure stuff out.” — Mike Brewster, Ohio State center, talking about practicing in the heat

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Questions or comments regarding this section? Contact Sports Editor Mike Albright at 421-7909

Cardinals fight their way back into first CINCINNATI (AP) — From their firstinning scrum to the final out, the St. Louis Cardinals sent a message: Don’t demean the defending champs. Not without expecting a fight. Yadier Molina jawed with Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips in the first inning Tuesday night, sparking a benches-clearing fight, and the Cardinals followed their catcher’s lead to an 8-4 victory that moved St. Louis back into first place in the NL Central. When it was over, there were cuts and scrapes and a sense that the Cardinals had gotten the better of it all. “I know our guys,” manager Tony La Russa said. “This is not the first time that we’ve been challenged. You just go up and down our roster — we’ve got a bunch of guys that are very tough characters. Like I say, there’s times that you beat us, we’re not good enough. But

you’re never going to scare us and we’re never going to back down.” The fight brought out their best. St. Louis has won the first two games of the showdown series between teams locked in a tight race since May. The Cardinals moved a season-high 14 games over .500 and a few percentage points ahead of the Reds, who had led the division for the last eight days. The defending champions improved to 9-5 against the Reds this season, the only team in the NL Central that has beaten them so thoroughly. “They’re in first place, but we showed we’ve got good talent and we’re going to compete,” Molina said. “We did today. We battled.” By contrast, the Reds responded to the dustup with one of their worst games,

CARDINALS/B3

Associated Press

Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes, right, of Cincinnati pull St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina away from batter Brandon Phillips during an altercation in the first inning of Tuesday’s game.

LET’S GET IT STARTED

BY JUSTIN CONN and LEROY BRIDGES

expect from the upcoming

football season Will there be a different Okaw Valley Conference team that emerges this season?

Will Eisenhower break its five-year losing streak to MacArthur?

Mickelson reveals health issues Golfer:Arthritis under control SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — Forget chasing the No. 1 ranking. Phil Mickelson was more worried about being able to get out of bed. Mickelson revealed Tuesday he has psoriatic arthritis, which causes his immune system to attack his joints and tendons and produced such intense pain he couldn’t walk. He noticed the first symptoms five days before the U.S. Open, and the pain eventually got so bad he made a visit to the Mayo Clinic. Weekly shots have brought the disease under control, and Mickelson said there shouldn’t be any negative impact on his long- or even short-term health. “I’m surprised at how quickly it’s gone away, and how quickly it’s been able to be managed and controlled,” he said. “I feel 100

H&R Staff Writers

The march to Champaign began months ago in the weight room, but the official football work for high school teams begins today on practice fields across the state. As always, the first day brings optimism — particuKEY larly comDATES ing off a season in Today which two Teams around area teams, the state can Maroa-Forsyth start practice. and Tuscola, made the state August 27 finals. Even the First day for teams that struggled regular-season last year are circling games. five winnable games on their schedule and feel October 23 the playoffs are a realistic Playoff pairings goal. are announced. Some coaches, fans and teams know exactly what November 26 they have and what could Class 1A-4A happen if things go well. championship Others aren’t so sure and games. will start to put the pieces of their puzzle together with their eyes set on Aug. 27. During the next 16 days, players will grind through long days enduring the wrath of their coaches and heat indexes expected well over 100 degrees. Through it all, their sights will be set on laying the groundwork to a championship season. No practice will be easy, but the sacrifice that leads to winning is well worth it. With the help of some area coaches, we take a look at our 10 biggest questions heading into the 2010 season. For that list, go to Page B4

What can we

Ozzie: Where’s our respect? White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen apparently thinks his team isn’t getting enough respect. The outspoken skipper went off on another tangent before Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, the first of three between the AL Central co-leaders, saying his team deserves more credit and doesn’t “feel the support” in Chicago. Guillen sarcastically waved off headlines hyping the Twins’ arrival and when his wife mentioned Minnesota visiting, he responded by saying, “Good, you dating somebody from there?” Guillen went on to say he feels “more proud of this ballclub than any team I ever managed” and even vowed to write a book about this season.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Can Mount Zion go through the Apollo Conference undefeated for a third straight season?

Heralded linebacker ready to try it again

Illini rebounding from back surgery By STU DURANDO Lee News Service

Associated Press

Phil Mickelson talked about how he has been slowed lately after being diagnosed as having a form of arthritis. percent, like I say. But when I’m laying there on the couch and I can’t move, you know, yeah, I had some concerns. But I feel a lot better now.” As if that bombshell was not enough for the day, Lefty dropped another one: the burger connoisseur is now a vegetarian. “I know, I know,” he said

as reporters laughed. “As long as I believe that there’s a possibility that it will help me overall, yeah, I’ll continue to do that. If it will somehow keep this in remission or stop it from coming back, yeah, I’ll be able to do it. But I haven’t been put it to the real test.

HEALTH/B2

RANTOUL — Martez Wilson felt his body go numb on the field at the Edward Jones Dome and hoped the sensation would pass. An uneventful collision with two Missouri players in the 2009 season opener in St. Louis had produced a frightening moment, even for a guy who had survived stab wounds less than a year earlier. “I couldn’t feel a muscle in my body at one time for 20 or 30 seconds, and I was scared,” he said. “All I could tell myself was don’t fall. … It was just a scary moment.” By the time the next defensive play was sig-

Martez Wilson naled, Wilson felt better and went back to work. He finished the game with nine tackles and without further problems. But a week later he announced that he would need surgery to repair a herniated disc, which left him with numbness in his

ILLINI/B5

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010

hrpreps

www.herald-review.com

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

www.hrpreps.com Let’s get it started

Will there be an Okaw Valley Conference team that emerges this season?

Can Cerro Gordo sneak up and steal the Little Okaw Valley?

This season has the potential to nearly mirror last season if some teams in the bottom half of both divisions can’t break through, and that could be difficult. Expect Maroa-Forsyth, Tuscola, St. Teresa and Tolono Unity to field their usual powerhouses, and don’t look for dropoffs from last year’s emergent teams, Monticello and Central A&M. If there’s one team that could break through, it’s Argenta-Oreana. Though the Bombers lost a lot at the skill positions, they return all but one lineman and Dylan Whicker will return from injury to be part of their backfield. “It’s always a nice setup when you return three or four starters on the line,” Maroa coach Josh Jostes said.

Cerro Gordo missed the playoffs for just the third time in the last 11 years in Paul Workman’s last season as coach. There are a lot of question marks entering Andy Kerley’s first season in charge of the Broncos, but there’s enough talent returning that if the team can mesh by the time LOVC play comes around, they could make a run. “It’s possible,” Kerley said. “It’s more wide-open than it has been in the past. I don’t think there’s a single team you can call a lock. From what I’ve gathered talking to people and watching film, Villa Grove, Tri-County and South Piatt are probably the favorites. And Arcola is going to be a lot better with a hall of fame coach in Gerald Temples. “But I think we have a shot.”

The PREPS BLOGS are open now. Head to www.heraldreview.com/blogs/preps and discuss anything preps. We’ll get you started, you take over. GAME CENTRAL is also up and going. Check in at www.heraldreview.com/blogs/gamecentral to check out analysis on some of each week’s top games. Chime in or discuss what’s happening before the game.

Can Monticello do it again with Ben Palla and Cale Huisinga graduated?

After Effingham went 7-0 in the Apollo three years ago, Mount Zion has since gone 14-0. It’s clear that the conference is prone to undefeated teams, especially when the Hearts and Braves are usually stacked each season. “We think we can challenge for the conference championship, but they’re no doubt the team to beat,” Effingham coach Mike McDonald said. After losing in the first round of the playoffs a year ago and welcoming back its starting QB Jack MacIntosh and fullback Jacob Smith (above), look for Mount Zion to take its play to another level, win its home game against Effingham and run its three-year Apollo record to 21-0. “Everybody is out looking for us,” Mount Zion coach Dave Smith said. “The Apollo isn’t going to just let us come in and go undefeated. It’s just not.”

to be improved. Is this the year? “Yes,” Eisenhower coach Rick Austin said. “I hope so. We had five games last year where we were tied or winning at half, but lost all of them in the second half. What we’ve worked in the summer is understanding that in the second half, you have to play at another level. We fell like we’ve learned that.”

Who will be the area’s next 1,500-yard rusher?

And start thinking about getting together your entries for our TOP FAN CONTEST. We will be looking for the H&R area’s craziest, most loyal or supportive fans. Through the first eight weeks of the season, you can submit photos with reasons why you think that person deserves to be our top fan. Keep up with area football through our TWITTER account at www.twitter.com/hrpreps as we start traveling out to practices and providing feedback on what our teams are going through.

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There’s no doubt the pressure cooker is on high and hovering over Jud. If he handles the high expectations, the comparisons to his brother and spreads the ball to the playmakers around him as he did when he stepped into the Class 1A title game, then Wienke and Tuscola will be fine. Rick Reinhart “The big on Jud Wienke question mark is whether he can stay healthy,” MaroaForsyth coach Josh Jostes said. He has all the physical tools and a great team around him.” Tuscola coach Rick Reinhart isn’t too worried about what the stats look like because if the Warriors are winning, the production will be there, too. “He can lead us to a great season,” Reinhart said. “Jud has to worry about his own identity. He has to be his own man.” It seems like with all the talent Tuscola has back, Jud will at least be able to equal John’s number of state championship game appearances.

‘He can lead us to a great season.’

Who will step up as Maroa-Forsyth’s playmaker? Maroa had two constants last year — Wyatt Washburn and Dalton Coventry. When the Trojans put the ball in their hands, good things happened. But they’re gone. Maroa does have quarterback Logan Stelzriede back for his first full season at quarterback and a defense that should bring pressure behind linebacker Tyler Marsh and defensive end Aaron Ford. But the Trojans’ offense demands guys who can get the ball down the field and coach Josh Jostes offered a host of guys who could take over that role. To start the season, look for them to count on Joe Hockaday at receiver and Eisenhower transfer Gary Scott at both running back and slot receiver. “I’ve heard the kid who moved into Maroa (Scott) is just phenomenal,” Tuscola coach Rick Reinhart said. “I think he should have moved to Tuscola. I’ve heard good things about him.”

Participating courses: Can QB Colin Townsend take the next step and put Central A&M in position to challenge as the Okaw Valley’s best team? As a junior, Townsend (right) finished with the second-most passing yards in the area at 1,670. But his completion rate (43 percent) wasn’t as high as other passers. That’s where Townsend will get better. He’s a year older and with the running game carrying most of the burden, Townsend should be more comfortable in the pocket. “I’m sure they expect them to,” Maroa coach Josh Jostes said. “I’m not sure the offense will be designed for him to put up big stats — (coach Mark Ramsey’s) not going to throw it a whole lot. But (Townsend) has the body and the mentality to be great player.” There’s no doubt if Townsend comes around and can make all the big passes when the Raiders need him to, A&M will be a juggernaut.

Can a maturing Sangamon Valley team become a contender for a playoff spot?

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The biggest hurdle for a budding Sangamon Valley team is going to be its own conference, the Sangamo. The area has seen all the athleticism the Storm has in the junior and senior classes with success on the track and basketball court. Getting that to transfer to the gridiron would be monumental. “It’s been good to have the success they’ve had in those sports,” Sangamon Valley coach Michael Lee said. “I hope that filters through. I know they have some good confidence.” Perhaps thinking playoffs after winning only one game is a bit much. If that is going to happen, junior running back Dan Rentschler is going to need some help. “We have some nice parts and pieces we’ve put together,” Lee said. “We have some steps to take this season.”

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Will Tuscola senior Jud Wienke approach the type of numbers his brother John put up his final two years?

Central A&M’s Evan Hayes got it done last year, going over 1,700 yards. But other names are worth mentioning for this season. “I’d say, because of the system he plays in and the line he’ll have blocking for him, Ryan Smith (right) from St. Teresa will be the one,” Maroa-Forsyth coach Josh Jostes said. Jostes could have one on his team, too. The early reviews on Eisenhower transfer Gary Scott have been stellar. Outside of Hayes, the only other top-five running back from last season who is still around is Sangamon Valley’s Dan Rentschler. Rentschler finished with 1,338 yards. “I think he’s capable,” Coach Michael Lee said about Rentschler. “I think 1,500 yards is approachable for a number of backs. The last 10 years, there have been some excellent backs in the area.”

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U.S. 51

Not since current San Francisco 49er Brit Miller ran for four touchdowns in Eisenhower’s 42-20 win in 2004 have the Panthers tasted victory in the Staley Day game. Last year, they came the closest. The game was scoreless at half, but the Panthers couldn’t stop LaDarion Shelby and fell 21-12. This year, Shelby is gone and Eisenhower expects

Can Mount Zion go through the Apollo Conference undefeated for a third straight season?

CHURCH

Will Eisenhower break its five-year losing streak to MacArthur?

The Sages engineered one of the most drastic turnarounds in the state last season, going from 0-9 to 8-3 with a regularseason win over St. Teresa and a memorable 57-40 shootout win over Camp Point Central in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. Palla and Huisinga are big losses, and other than Matt Palla, there aren’t a lot of familiar names returning on offense. But coach Cullen Welter always seemed to reload at Aledo, and Monticello has a history of producing the athletes to make that happen “I think he’s done a good job of changing the attitude and atmosphere over there,” St. Teresa coach Scott Davis said. “They experienced success and saw his way works, and that will help even more this year.” Plus, this year’s players will be in their second season in Welter’s system. “Welter is a great coach, and they’ve had him for 15 months now instead of three,” Maroa coach Josh Jostes said. “That will help. The longer he’s there, the better they’ll be.”

The Herald & Review’s PREPS FOOTBALL PICK’EM CONTEST will be back for another season. Take on the H&R experts or form a group of friends and battle it out. Last year, “David” beat “farmer21” by one game so we’re all chasing them this time around. Go to www.heraldreview.com/sports and click on Pick’em to register. Prizes to be announced.

EDWARDS

B4 SPORTS