Week six football predictions

St. Joseph-Ogden (4-1) at No. 8 St. Thomas More (5-0)

Last meeting: St. Thomas More def. SJ-O, 30-0 (Oct. 3, 2008).

Well first things first, St. Joseph-Ogden isn't losing this game 30-0 like they did last year. The Spartans weren't pleased with how they played in Gilman last week and I really think they'll want to avenge that performance with a big game Friday. The Sabers have been hot all season and didn't let a halftime deficit slow them down against Clifton Central last week, pitching a shut out in the second half to grab a 13-9 win. Both teams are 3-0 in the conference and tied for first, so Friday's winner will be two-thirds of the way to the Sangamon Valley Conference title.

I think SJ-O can win this game, but they can't let the mistakes that have plagued them this year show up against the Sabers. The Spartans overwhelmed Iroquois West last week with their talent and size, but still missed their fair share of blocks and defensive assignments. That can't happen against St. Thomas More. The SJ-O defense needs to be in the right place every play. When they do that, they don't give up any yards.

St. Joseph-Ogden 20, No. 8 St. Thomas More 7.

No. 4 St. Teresa (5-0) at No. 5 Unity (5-0)

Last meeting: St. Teresa def. Unity, 25-20 (Oct. 3, 2008).

This should be a fantastic battle between two ranked teams for supremacy in the Okaw Valley black division. The Rockets and Bulldogs are the only undefeated teams left in the Okaw, and the team that comes out of this game with the W should be overwhelming favorites to finish the season with the conference title. Unity has lost to St. Teresa each of the last two years, but the Rockets have the bigger, stronger, faster and more-experienced squad in 2009. St. Teresa's offensive line is one of the area's best, but their skills players come up short when compared to the Rockets.

The one thing Unity has to do in this game is control the clock. Everything I've heard and read about St. Teresa says the longer they have the ball, the more likely they are to break a team. Unity has to force them into punting situations and create turnovers. They can't let that Bulldogs' offense get revved up and rolling on long-scoring drives. If Unity can keep St. Teresa possessions to six plays or less, they should have the edge in the game.

No. 5 Unity 27, No. 4. St. Teresa 21.

Week five football predictions

St. Joseph-Ogden (3-1) at Iroquois West (1-3)

Last meeting: SJ-O def. Iroquois West, 34-14 (Sept. 26, 2008).

After a dominant win over the third-ranked team in Class 2A last Friday, this game shouldn't be much of a problem for the Spartans. SJ-O rolled the Raiders by 20 points in week five last fall and I expect them to win by even more this week. The Spartans' offense is really clicking and their defense has given up nine points their last eight quarters.

I think Iroquois West will seriously struggle to score against the Spartans, which could be a problem since they're probably going to spend most of the game playing catch up. I think SJ-O gets out in front early behind Blake Hoveln, Jake Bock and the Spartans' offensive line and rolls to an easy win — making a case for a spot in the Class 3A rankings.

St. Joseph-Ogden 52, Iroquois West 7.

No. 6 Unity (4-0) at Sullivan (0-4)

Last meeting: Unity def. Sullivan, 48-20 (Sept. 26, 2008).

Unity should also be poised for a big win after taking down Tuscola on Homecoming last week, as the Rockets will face a Sullivan team that is yet to win a game this year. The Redskins have won just twice since the completion of the 2005 season, and this year's team is giving up a cool 40 points per game.

The Rockets should be able to get back to their patented power running attack Friday. Look for Matt Franks, Dylan Sturgeon and the Unity offense to have a big game as they approach the 50-point mark for the first time in 2009. 

No. 6 Unity 49, Sullivan 6. 

Week four football predictions

No. 3 Clifton Central (3-0) at St. Joseph-Ogden (2-1)
Last meeting: Clifton Central def. SJ-O, 19-14 (Sept. 19, 2008).

Oh my goodness what a pair of games we have coming up this Friday. Arguably the best two games on the slate all season, and wouldn't you know they would be scheduled at the same time. The game in St. Joseph will be for Sangamon Valley supremacy, and both teams are capable of coming out with a win. Central has rolled through its first three opponents by a combined score of 120-23, while SJ-O dramatically increased its margin of victory with a 47-0 throttling of Momence last week.

After amassing 10 wins going to the Class 2A semifinals last season, I think the Comets are even better this year. Their line has gotten a year older and that experience has made them an explosive offensive team. That said, teams don't just waltz in to St. Joseph and leave with wins very often. If the Comets win Friday, they will have earned it.

St. Joseph-Ogden 27, No. 3 Clifton Central 23.

No. 8 Tuscola (2-1) at No. 6 Unity (3-0)
Last meeting: Unity def. Tuscola, 30-7 (Sept. 5, 2008).

Two of the hardest hitting teams in central Illinois will lock up on the gridiron Friday in Tolono as the Rockets host Tuscola. Unity has been rolling offensively since surviving at Central A&M in week one, while Tuscola has ridden its tremendous defense to a 2-1 mark. Both of these teams are going to the playoffs and should go far, making Friday's game a regular-season treat.

I spent two years covering the Tuscola football team before coming to the County Star and Leader and I can say from experience -- the Tuscola linebacking core is absolutely terrifying. These kids cover a ton of ground, and missing tackles just isn't their thing. Unity should do more against them than past teams have, but if Rockets' fans expect 45 points again, they're going to be disappointed. But that doesn't mean they can't expect a win.

No. 6 Unity 20, No. 8 Tuscola 14.

Week three football predictions

St. Joseph-Ogden (1-1) at Momence (0-2)

Last meeting: SJ-O def. Momence, 12-7 (Sept. 12, 2008).

Momence needs this game badly, but it won't be easy against an improving and confident SJ-O team. The Spartans played pretty well at fourth-ranked Stillman Valley last week and are gaining experience every day. The one advantage Momence has going into the game is a big play offensive unit — which could bode well against a Spartans' defense that has given up some big plays.

I think the team that has the most success covering their defensive flaws should win the game. SJ-O's weakness is the deep play; the Redskins is their ability to force quick outs. The Spartans' problem can lead to bigger scores but is easier to fix. The Redskins' problem is a slow, leaking defense — the kind you can't fix with some quick-rete.

St. Joseph-Ogden 27, Momence 19.

No. 6 Unity (2-0) at Warrensburg-Latham (1-1).

Last meeting: Unity def. Warrensburg-Latham, 32-21 (Aug. 29, 2008).

After opening the season with a pair of games against teams they haven't seen, Unity gets back to its yearly common opponents this Friday with a game at Warrensburg-Latham. Unity beat W-L to open the regular season in 2007 and 2008. While both teams made the playoffs in 2008, the sixth-ranked Rockets boast a much stronger team here in 2009. Unity survived Central A&M and rolled Argenta-Oreana to start the season, while W-L was blown out by St. Teresa and clipped Sullivan.

I think Unity's offense is capable of putting up big points in this game, though I don't know if they'll need a ton of points to win the game. I don't think the Cardinals' offense is going to score much against the Rockets' defense. W-L graduated too many seniors, this is going to be a down year for them.

No. 6 Unity 48, Warrensburg-Latham 13.

Unity junior high softball begins playoff run

The Unity Jr. High Softball team ended their regular season play with a strong 10-3 record earning them the second seed in Regional 15 hosted by Charleston Middle School.

The Lady Rockets will begin post season play hosting Danville Southview Middle School at 4 p.m. today at the Unity Softball field directly behind the Jr. High. The winner of the game will then travel to Charleston on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 12 p.m. to face the winner of the Charleston vs. Danville Northridge game. The winner of this game will then advance to the Regional Championship game on Monday, Sept. 14.

The girls are exciting to watch and if you get a chance you should come out and be a part of what has been an exciting season. For more information on post season play please go to www.iesa.org.

Week two football predictions

St. Joseph-Ogden (1-0) at No. 5 Stillman Valley (1-0)

Last meeting: Stillman Valley def. SJ-O, 44-25 (Sept. 5, 2008).

After playing with a small but controlled lead in week one against Robinson, the Spartans will have their work out out for them in week two with the Cardinals. Stillman Valley is an offensive juggernaut, and the Cardinals hung 42 on perennial power Spring Valley Hall in a shut-out victory in last week.

The Spartans' will need to play mistake free football Friday to have a chance. The offense won't be able to turn the ball over and miss third-and-short conversions, while the defense has to plug the leaks up the middle of their run defense. Is the game winnable? Sure. Is it expected? Not really.

No. 5 Stillman Valley 35, St. Joseph-Ogden 19.

Argenta-Oreana (1-0) at No. 6 Unity (1-0)

Last meeting: None on record.

This will be the first meeting for these teams since the Rockets entered the Okaw Valley in 2007. Though they've been close to meeting the playoffs before (both squads lost to Meridian in consecutive weeks in the 1999 postseason) they've never actually met. I think the unknown factor in Friday's game should make it a good one. 

The Rockets escaped Moweaqua last week with a six-point win while the Bombers pounded the always-down Sullivan. I think the Bombers should be ready for a much closer game this week. Unity is bigger and tougher than anything A-O sees on a regular basis, and the Rockets' new offensive sets should give them fits. I think the Bombers are on the rise and should stay in the game, but I don't think they have much chance to win it.

No. 6 Unity 42, Argenta-Oreana 20.