Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Playoff berth within Maroons' grasp

West's last six-win season was back in 1993

O'FALLON -- One number -- six -- has some special overtones for the Belleville West Maroons.

The Maroons (5-1, 3-1) will be aiming for their sixth win of the season when they play the O'Fallon Panthers (2-4, 1-3) at 7 p.m. today at O'Fallon High School.

The win would guarantee the Maroons their first playoff berth since 2001 and 2002 under Dennis Snep, and it would give them the school's first six-win season since 1993 under Dick Hood.

"It would be very special," West coach Ric Johns said. "We've gone to the playoffs twice since '93, but we've never eclipsed that five-win mark.

"To get that sixth win and clinch a playoff at the same time, that's going to be a special night for us. I hope it comes this Friday night."

The last time the Maroons won more than six games was 1983 when they went 8-2 under Bruce Arnold.

Johns said the Maroons, who close out the regular season against Alton and Collinsville, have a chance to reward their fans with a home playoff game.

"We've got such a strong student body as far as support and stuff like that," Johns said. "We would really like to be able to reward our people here, all the people that support us, with a home playoff game in that first playoff game. The better we finish, the better chance we have of having a home game.

"We'd like to win out, obviously. The more wins we can get, the better."

The Maroons racked up 514 rushing yards in a 40-27 win over the Edwardsville Tigers last week.

"It wasn't like it was one person, either," O'Fallon coach Brandon Joggerst said. "Their fullback didn't have 100, but at times he's their main focus and one of their best backs. They have a lot of weapons, that's for sure."

The Maroons had three players rush for more than 100 yards -- Jodeci Mack with 180, Jarvis Patterson with 126 and Dustin Heggemeier with 123.

A fourth player, fullback Sean Lewis, gained 73 yards on 17 carries.

Joggerst said the key for his team will be stopping the Maroons' ball-control offense.

"We have to make them punt some," Joggerst said. "They don't punt too often. They're a ball-control offense, and they can grind out drives. They also proved last week that they can take it to the house from deep on some runs.

"They're a handful to prepare for."

The Panthers had 304 yards -- 210 passing yards and 94 rushing yards -- in a 45-7 loss to Belleville East last week.

The Panthers moved the ball, but they couldn't capitalize once they got in the red zone.

"From our standpoint, we have to finish drives offensively," Joggerst said. "We've gotten in the red zone multiple times the last two games and never got anything to show for it. We have to get some points on the board and keep our defense off the field."

Johns sees the Panthers as a dangerous opponent.

"I know they're in a little bit of a slide right now, but I really believe it will be a real test for us," Johns said. "It's the homecoming game for them. I know they're not happy with the way things have gone of late. I know they're going to want to turn it around. I just expect one more really tough ballgame."

Johns said most of his team's games -- other than a 61-7 loss to East St. Louis -- have been close contests this season.

"Like I've said before, we're just good enough that whoever we play, it's going to be a real dogfight," Johns said. "The only dogfight we haven't been in this year was the game when East St. Louis blew us out.

"Every other game -- every one -- has been a very tough ballgame, and this one will be, too."

Belleville East (4-2) at Edwardsville (4-2), 7 p.m.: The host Tigers, who need two wins in their final three games to make the playoffs, will again be tested on defense against a productive Lancers backfield led by senior tailback Jamon Bester, senior fullback Donovan Sanford and junior quarterback Aaron Hampton.

Edwardsville yielded 514 rushing yards last week in a 40-27 loss at Belleville West.

"They've got a great quarterback and tailback combination, and every once in a while they give it to that fullback," Edwardsville coach Mark Bliss said. "Their speed in space is pretty good.

"Our whole season hinges upon us performing well. We need to take care of business (Friday) night and against Granite City to get to six wins. If we don't, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We'll see how we respond. We know where we're at. Our backs are against the wall."

The Tigers also still must play East St. Louis in the regular-season finale.

East is coming off a 45-17 victory at O'Fallon. Sanford had two TD catches from Hampton and added a rushing TD. The Lancers probably need just one more victory to qualify for the playoffs.

"We've got to get at least one win," Lancers coach Tim Funk said. "We've got a lot of playoffs points and one win might get us in."

Edwardsville is led by senior quarterback Ishmiah Roundtree and has a bruising tailback in sophomore Rodney Coe.

"Both of them are dangerous," Funk said. "Coe's got some decent speed and he's a big, strong kid. He can run you over or run around you. Roundtree is a speed guy. Both those guys are very talented.

"They're going to get some big plays. We're going to have to hang in there and adjust to what they're doing."

The Tigers will play without senior linebacker Nick Griebel, one of their defensive leaders with 33 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Griebel is sidelined by a leg injury that has become progressively worse since the Collinsville game in the fourth week of the season.

Cahokia (6-0) at Mount Vernon (4-2), 7 p.m.: Cahokia can nail down the South Seven Conference championship with a road victory over Mount Vernon.

Both teams are 3-0 in league play and Mount Vernon has won its last four games. Cahokia, ranked third in the Class 5A state poll and second in the News-Democrat Large-School rankings, boasts one of the area's most prolific offenses led by quarterback Patrick Ivy.

Ivy has thrown for 1,269 yards and 16 TDs, while also rushing for 340 yards and three TDs. Jimmie Hunt (14 catches, 263 yards, eight TDs) and Donald Collier (20 catches, 381 yards, four TDs) and Brandon Beckner (17 catches, 270 yards, four TDs) are Ivy's top targets.

Cahokia's defense must contain Mount Vernon running backs Darrell Mitchell (625 yards, 11 TDs and Marquette Moore (466 yards) and Torrey Pollard (402 yards).

Althoff (2-4) at Carbondale (2-4), 7 p.m.: The Crusaders find themselves in dire playoff straits. They have to win their final three games to have a chance to earn an invitation, and it won't be easy.

Following the Terriers, Althoff closes with Cahokia (6-0) and Triad (4-2) in its final two games.

Injuries to several key starters have ravaged Althoff's defense, but its offense has several bright spots. Sophomore running back Keith Chism has rushed for 777 yards and nine TDs, senior Richard Burrell has 719 total yards (399 receiving, 320 rushing) and scored 10 TDs, and quarterback Brady Nowak has thrown for 907 yards and nine TDs.

Collinsville (2-4) at Alton (1-5), 7 p.m.: The visiting Kahoks still have playoff aspirations, but they need wins over the Redbirds, O'Fallon and West.

"Alton's record is not what they want it to be, but they're a good football team," Collinsville coach Mike Liljegren said. "Coach (Joe) Hook is dealing with injuries and other things. We're ready for a battle and we're assuming it's going to be a battle.

"If we win out, we're in the playoffs. That's what our kids are focusing on. In order for that to happen, we have to win Friday."

Kahoks senior quarterback Jevon Hawkins is one of the top players in the area. He's passed for 1,193 yards and eight TDs and rushed for 431 yards and nine TDs. Alton senior tailback Kenny Jones has 591 yards and nine TDs.

Freeburg (4-2) at Wesclin (5-1), 7 p.m.: Freeburg will try to bounce back from a 49-7 Cahokia Conference loss to top-ranked Columbia against Wesclin, the league's stingiest defensive teams.

Wesclin has shut out three of its six opponents, allowing only 53 points thus far.