With just two games left in the regular-season, there is a mad scramble among Little Illini Conference football teams to gather enough wins to qualify for the newly-expanded IHSA state tournament series.
The magic number of necessary wins appears to be four. Already three LIC teams are in: Mt. Carmel, Newton, and Paris. One more team is guaranteed to qualify Friday, because the winner of the Casey-Westfield at Olney game will pick up Win No. 4. Two other teams could join tonight with with upset victories.
The IHSA, in its’ weekly playoff outlook summary, indicates that any team with four or more wins has clinched a playoff spot. A total of 247 teams are in already, leaving 137 spots yet to be filled in the expanded 384-team field. Each of the eight playoff classes will consist of 48 teams, with the top 16 seeds in each class receiving a first-round bye.
Though final playoff classifications won’t be known until the entire field is determined, early indications show Newton landing in Class 2A, with Mt. Carmel and Paris winding up in Class 3A. In fact, undefeated Mt. Carmel, which can clinch the outright conference championship with a win on Friday at home against Marshall, is in a position to land one of the coveted byes.
Here is the Friday night lineup, including conference and season records, kickoff times (CDT), plus predictions (from Massey, in addition to our own rating system). Be sure and check out our new statewide rankings, located on the football page (under the main Sports tab) after the composite LIC game-by-game results list.
Friday, Oct. 9
Marshall (2-3, 3-4) at Mt. Carmel (5-0, 7-0), 7:00 p.m.
Massey says: Mt. Carmel by 35 points
Our prediction: Mt. Carmel 40-6
Lawrenceville (0-5, 0-7) at Newton (3-2, 4-3), 7:00 p.m.
Massey says: Newton by 35 points
Our prediction: Newton 54-8
Casey-Westfield (2-3, 3-5) at Olney (3-2, 3-4), 7:00 p.m.
Massey says: Olney by 16 points
Our prediction: Olney 33-15
Robinson (2-3, 3-4) at Paris (3-2, 5-2), 7:00 p.m.
Massey says: Paris by 30 points
Our prediction: Paris 47-8
This story has been edited.
