Updated weather information.

As far as Massey is concerned, the Little Illini Conference is about to have another outstanding non-conference football weekend. The renowned company which predicts the score of every high school, college, and pro game in the U.S. has the LIC winning six of eight Week 2 games – which would match the 6-2 finish in the first week of the season. If that indeed happens, the LIC will have finished the non-league portion of the season with a 12-4 mark against outside opposition, in stark contrast to last year’s 5-11 record.

This weekend, the slate of games is being spread over three days, beginning on Thursday, due to the ongoing shortage of licensed football officials. Here are the matchups:

THURSDAY
Lawrenceville (0-1) vs. Carlyle (0-1), 6:00 p.m.
Indians vs. Indians in this one… the game was moved up one night to Thursday due to lack of available officials… Carlyle lost to Nashville 28-21 last week… They are members of the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division, and were 3-6 (1-3) last year… QB Zack Persing ran for a touchdown and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass against Nashville… It’s a short turnaround for Lawrenceville, which lost at 14th-ranked (Class 3A) Kankakee Bishop McNamara, 56-0, on Saturday… The Indians were limited to 55 total yards on offense, but they struggled when they had the ball, turning it over five times (2 fumbles, 3 interceptions). Massey says: Carlyle, 31-21. Weather: Sunny, 70.

FRIDAY
Olney (1-0) at Salem (0-1), 7:00 p.m.
Olney QB Gavyn Cothern rushed for a career-best 305 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Tigers’ 60-36 win over Taylorville… TD count matched his career-high set last year vs. Paris… Yardage count is second best in Illinois… Sophomore RB Xavier Owusu-gyan added 88 yards on 16 carries… Olney has now won 10 straight regular-season games… Salem was 2-7 last year, 1-4 in Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division… Wildcats lost to county-rival Centralia 42-0 last week… They ran the ball on 37 of 48 plays last week…   Leader on the ground was RB Trey Clark (14 carries for 75 yards)… QB Kaeden Bovolo was 6-of-11 in the air for 55 yards… Massey says: Olney, 42-21… Weather: Cloudy, 69.

#5 1A Casey-Westfield (1-0) at #13 1A Tuscola (1-0), 7:00 p.m.
It’s ranked Warriors vs. ranked Warriors in this one… Casey-Westfield is coming off a 50-6 victory over Fisher last week, while Tuscola edged past Shelbyville, 16-14, in its’ opener… As good as C-W’s defense was in the opener (they even collected a safety) , special teams may have even been better, with points coming on a kickoff return and a punt return… All-State RB Luke Karras scored 2 TDs, as did QB Nolan Clement… Tuscola, a member of the Heat Of Illinois Conference small-school division was 5-5 last year… Senior RB Dylan Graves led Tuscola in the opener, rushing for 128 yards on 17 carries… Massey says: Casey-Westfield, 38-14… Weather: Mostly cloudy, 66.

Mt. Carmel (0-1) vs. Effingham (0-1), 7:00 p.m.
The Golden Aces lost at Du Quoin 48-19 last week, while Effingham fell 42-7 to Breese Central… These two have split the last two games in the series… Mt. Carmel debuted sophomore River Desisher at QB last week. He was 12/22 for 165 yards, with 2 TDs and 1 interception… Shain Meador (who played at RB/WR/QB) caught five passes and both scores… RB Elliott Acree led on the ground with 8 rushes for 37 yards… Effingham (4-5 last year, 2-3 in Apollo Conference) was a pass-first team last week, with 26 of 46 plays over the top… QB Jaxon Bridges was 13/26 for 183 yards, 1 TD and 1 pick… Main RB is Hunter Holland 15/24)… Hearts lost 2 fumbles last week…  Massey says: Mt. Carmel, 35-28…  Weather: Partly cloudy, 71.

Paris (1-0) vs. Charleston (0-1), 7:00 p.m.
Paris is coming off a 57-0 win over North Vermillion, Ind., while Charleston tries to rebound after a 41-6 loss to Robinson… Paris rolled up a 49-0 lead by halftime, and played the entire second half with a running clock. QB Brayden Rogers only had to throw 3 passes in the first half, but it was junior RB Dawson Rogers who put on a show, with 109 yards on only 4 carries in the first half. He scored 3 touchdowns on runs of 47, and 30 yards, plus a TD catch covering 43 yards…Charleston, a member of the Apollo Conference, was 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the league… RB Blaine Taylor-Lutz scored the lone TD for the Trojans… Massey says: Paris, 35-21… Weather: Mostly cloudy, 65.

Newton (1-0) at Trenton Wesclin (0-1), 7:00 p.m.
Newton comes in at 1-0 after a 35-21 win over Bethalto Civic Memorial while Wesclin lost to Marshall, 36-34, in overtime… Newton QB Hayden Mulvey was 21-of-29 in the air for 254 yards and 2 TDs in the Eagles win… WR Dexter Fulton led all LIC receivers last week  with 17 receptions… Wesclin is a member of the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division…  … Senior QB Cael Madden did a little of everything in the opener for the Warriors… He was 11-of-17 in the air for 112 yards and 1 TD. Madden also rushed 18 times for 115 yards and another score… Massey says: Newton, 35-21… Weather: Cloudy, 67.

Robinson (1-0) at #14 4A Benton (1-0), 7:00 p.m.
Robinson is coming off a 41-6 win over Charleston, while Benton tries to stay unbeaten after a 69-0 thumping of Herrin last week… The Maroons held Charleston to 162 yards in total offense, and only a late score that averted a shutout… QB Reese Johnson helped lead the way for the Maroons with two first-half TD passes, one to Miles Hardiman covering 55 yards… Benton HB Wyatt Upton rushed for a school-record 253 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in the rout of Herrin… Rangers were 8-4 last year… 12th-ranked (4A) Benton is a member of the River to River Conference Mississippi Division…Massey says: Benton, 46-12… Weather: Cloudy, 70.

SATURDAY
Marshall (1-0) vs. Sparta/Steeleville (1-0), 4:00 p.m.
Marshall comes in at 1-0 after rallying from a 16-point deficit to record a thrilling 36-34 overtime win over Trenton Wesclin… Sparta/Steeleville is also 1-0 after a 48-32 victory over Madison last week… Marshall put up 287 yards in total offense last week… Sophomore QB Luke Brodie was 7-of-14 in the air for 149 yards with 1 TD… Senior RB Lucca Giannavola picked up 80 yards on the ground on 17 carries, with 3 touchdowns… The Bulldogs are a member of the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division… Massey says: Marshall, 41-21… Weather: Sunny, 71.