Illinois Central Eight Conference 2023 Preview With Coach Big Pete - Wide Open Challenge
We are back IHSA Football Family!!! As is every summer conference previews and again please remember predictions and previews mean crap. High school football is the greatest thing because of pure parity. What is up last year could be down this year and what is down last year can up this year. ANYTHING AND I MEAN ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN IHSA FOOTBALL. Last year, 2022 was mild to surprises and was calm predictable season. Also, unlike some prep writers who take credit and copy and paste the coach's work off a crap team questionnaire I do my own work. Thank You, to the high school coaches that put the info up on HUDL and emailed me info as well.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT CONFERENCE 2023 Season Preview
This year's version of the Illinois Central Eight is more of a head scratcher than definite favorite. Lots of talent left for graduation this season. Again, the reason you are reading this article is for the picks. Wilmington, Coal City are my on my top dogs list of the conference. Wilmington will always be on top when Reents is Coach, and they graduate some key playmakers but have youth coming through this season. Coal City has a strong athletic backfield and an underrated passing attack. Coalers lose Reilly and Hennings but again Coal City has that next man up mentality. For the 2023 ICE Challengers, I have Reed Custer, Streator, Peotone. Blue Devils might be a huge challenger for this season for ICE teams this upcoming season with great athletic skill spots. Overall Coach Tolly has these Blue Devils dreaming big this season with nice big dose of Chase Rivera. Reed Custer lost some key players to graduation. Reed Custer program has grown leaps and bounds the past seasons and will be a top team. Streator has the talent, but I thought last season they would make a move up last season but didn't. So, I'm rolling the dice again and in Benning we trust. Manteno again is my surprise team for this season and if I'm wrong again, I will eat crow. I believe Manteno will be a huge surprise to everyone this season and I do not doubt the Panthers especially with Coach Haines offense. Lisle could be a surprise as well but again they lost some athletes and star OL Farrell to Kent State. Lisle Coach Dillard will sure be another great Lion football coach. Herscher looks strong this season but again it's a wait and see project with the Tigers, but Coach Mosier is building this program up. Very impressed with them at the Clifton Central 7on7 along with the Coalers.
ICE FANS RIGHT NOW
BEST BET: 4 Teams In the ICE will make the playoffs
TELL ME WHY: Manteno & Herscher could change their luck this season with nice dose of parity.
TELL ME WHY 2: I keep picking Streator to be good every season, and the Bulldogs keep kicking me in the ass.
TELL ME WHY 3: Reed Custer will be challenging again for State title next season.
WOULD LOVE TO SEE: ICE add teams and bring back two divisions like the old I8
TOP BET 2: Herscher will be a lot better this season with a passing attack.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT CONFERENCE GAMES TO WATCH FOR 2023
Coal City vs Reed Custer
Wilmington vs Reed Custer
Coal City vs Wilmington
Peotone vs Wilmington
Peotone vs Coal City
Reed Custer vs Lisle
Streator vs Coal City
Manteno vs Herscher
TOP DOG TEAMS FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT CONFERENCE 2023
Wilmington, Coal City
Challenger Teams For The Illinois Central Eight Conference 2023
Streator, Reed-Custer, Peotone, Lisle
Surprise Team For The Illinois Central Eight Conference 2023
Manteno (Yes, I'm saying it again). Panthers don't let me down. I'm a madman.
COACH BIG PETE'S 5 TAKES FROM THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT 2023
1. There is too much parity in this conference to begin with.
2. Wilmington is Wilmington with their ability to recovery quickly and disciplined.
3. Reed Custer will be good this season, but will show their green side
4. Streator please don't screw me over again
5. Coal City is Coal City look out for the defense of the Coalers.
Illinois Central Eight Conference Players You Must Know For 2023 Season
Christian Benning Streator
Landin Benson Coal City
Travis Bohac Reed Custer
Brendan Moran Wilmington
Aidan Stevens Streator
Porter Chandler Manteno
Drew Nigro Lisle
Kenneth Royal Herscher
Gavin Carpenter Coal City
Kyle Farrell Wilmington
Aidan Dotson Manteno
Chase Rivera Peotone
Landen Robinson Reed Custer
Brody Benson Wilmington
Adin Morrical Herscher
Joe Algood Wilmington
Peyton Bradley Reed Custer
Matt Williamson Streator
Tony DeWald Lisle
Remember Deep Dish Football Is Just Not About Recruiting
But About The Love Of The Game Of IHSA Football
RESPECT THE GAME
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