Bearcats fall in season opener to Vienna-Goreville

by Steve Dunford

Sophomore Gabriel Motsinger (15) and freshman Caleb Davis (11) in the C-Z-R backfield. (Thank you Randall Risley for your use of photos)

CHRISTOPHER, IL-  Coach Anthony Hargorve’s debut as head coach of the Bearcats,  was spoiled by the pioneer of the Vienna-Goreville program and Christopher native Mike Rude, as the Eagles came out early in route to a 41-6 victory over Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton last night.

The Eagles put up 33 points in the first quarter, as Jakob Breeden, and Peyton Massey score two TD’s a piece.  Nolan Dancke runs back and interception late in the first for a TD.  V-G quarterback Frassato finds Roper in the end zone in the last few seconds of the first quarter to end the scoring for that frame.  The visitors pile on 19 points in the last two minutes of the quarter.

Dancke runs it in from four yards and Massey runs in the two-point conversion at the 3:29 mark of the first half to make the score 41-0, and there would be continuous clock in the second half.

C-Z-R gets on the board in the fourth quarter with 42 ticks left on the clock as sophomore QB Bryce Pratt finds Greg Fletcher in the end zone for the final 41-6.

Vienna-Goreville (1-0)  host the Eldorado Eagles next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton (0-1), will have the Carmi-White-County Bulldogs paying a visit next Friday night at 7:00 p.m.

Box Score

RUSHING 

V-G:   Massey 12-112, N. Dancke 5-55, Breeden 4-39, Davis 1-8, Frassato 1-5  B, Dancke 1-2

C-Z-R:  Cole 9-25, J. Davis 6- (-7), Pratt 3- (-9)

PASSING

V-G:  Frassato 1-1 31

C-Z-R:  Pratt 7-12, 85

RECIEVING

V-G:  Roper (1-31)

C-Z-R:  Fletcher 4-80,  Hervey 1-8,  Cole 1(-1),  Motsinger  1 (2)

Score By Quarters

Vienna-Goreville                         (1-0)  33 8 0 0 -41
Christopher –Zeigler-Royalton (0-1) 0  0  0 6 –  6

Link to WSIL Sports Extra (4:25) – (5:15)

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36222203/sports-extra-august-25-2017

 

 

 

 

Curt Reed, Wayne Harre To Be Inducted Into Southern Illinois High School Coaches Hall Of Fame

From the Southern Illinois Miners

MARION, IL  – The Southern Illinois Miners announce that former McLeansboro/Hamilton County High School boys basketball coach Curt Reed and former Nashville Community High School girls basketball head coach Wayne Harre into the Southern Illinois High School Coaches Hall of Fame on Tuesday, August 29th, in an on-field, pregame ceremony before the Miners face the Gateway Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m.

Curt Reed began a long and storied tenure at McLeansboro/Hamilton County High School in 1985, and over the course of 26 years as the Foxes’ varsity head coach amassed a record of 488 wins and 297 losses, including nine regional championships and two sectional titles. In 1990-91, his squad went 25-11 and went on to finish third in the Class A Illinois state tournament. Under his leadership, the Foxes won 20 or more games 12 times, and twice finished with 28 wins in 1991-92 and 1996-97.

In addition to his time with the varsity, Reed also coached the junior high and junior varsity teams at McLeansboro/Hamilton County, ending his storied coaching career in 2011 with an overall record of 800 wins and 457 losses. A graduate of McLeansboro High School in 1960, he later attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale as well as McKendree University, and was inducted into the McKendree College Hall Of Fame in 2003 and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000. He also received the IBCA’s District 20 Coach of the Year award twice, in 1991 and 2009.

Wayne Harre coached the girls basketball program at Nashville Community High School for 15 years and had an incredible run of success from 2000-2015. His Hornettes teams won a regional title every season that he was at the helm, along with eight sectional and super-sectional championships while making eight trips to the state tournament as well, winning the Class 2A state championship in 2012-13 with a record of 33-2. Having also finished in the top four at the state four times. Harre’s record at NCHS was an incredible 412 wins and just 77 losses for a win percentage of .843. None of his Hornettes teams lost more than nine games, with seven dropping four or fewer games.

Harre also was an assistant coach for the softball (1999-2015) and volleyball (2009-15) teams at NCHS, and was recently named the new head coach of the Hornets boys’ basketball program beginning this winter.

Tickets for Tuesday night’s game can be purchased online at southernillinoisminers.com, over the phone at (618) 998-8499 or at the Rent One Park box office.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.

HS Football Week 1 Scoreboard: S-V-W-W pulls big upset at Carmi-White County

by Steve Dunford

I am going to give an upset of the week.  Congratulations to coach John Shadowens and the Sesser-Vailer-Waltonville-Woodlawn Red Devils for defeating the Carmi-White County Bulldogs on the road 27-12.  This is my upset of the week.

I had to go with the Franklin County School, however I think it is notable the Harrisburg Bulldogs went to the pit in Mt. Carmel and defeated the Purple Aces 17-14 tonight.

Here are the scores across Southern Illinois tonight.

Black Diamond

S-V-W-W  27 Carmi-White County 12

Vienna-Goreville  41  C-Z-R 6

Eldorado  42  Chester 22

Fairfield 48  Johnston City 0

Edwards County 21  Hamilton County 6

SIRR Ohio Non Conference Games

Carterville 28  Benton 15

 Anna-Jonesboro  43  West Frankfort 18

Harrisburg 17  Mt. Carmel 14

DuQuoin  48  Massac County  8

Carbondale 21  Murphysboro 6

Herrin 28  Waterloo  21

SIRR Mississippi Non Conference Games

Red Bud  21  Pinckneyville  7

Carlyle  34  Nashville  27

Freeburg  61  Sparta  14

South Seven Non Conference Games

Taylorville  42  Mt. Vernon 6

Marion  47  Mascoutah  35

Centralia  49  Salem  19

 

 

 

 

SVW takes three-game match victory over Woodlawn

VOLLEYBALL: SVW takes three-game match victory over Woodlawn

Paul Wilcoxen – Jefferson County Sports Photo

WOODLAWN, IL – (Paul Wilcoxen – Jefferson County Sports.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

“I’m on the verge of tears,” said SVW coach Rachel Payne. “I’m so excited. We have a to-do list and it was to take Woodlawn to three. We did, so I was excited.”

The Lady Cardinals found themselves trailing 20-14 in the final set but tied it up (23-23) before the Red Devils rolled off two straight points to close it.

Payne credits her team’s serving as one of the key factors to the Red Devils’ victories in Games 1 and 3. SVW was trailing 11-9 in the third game when Dakota Quinn served eight straight points to put the Red Devils on top, 17-12, after the side-out.

The 2017 Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcats

by Steve Dunford

C-Z-R Roster

3 Landen Bate 5’10” 160 QB/DB 9
7 Triston Shively 5’9″ 150 RB/LB 9
8 Austin Wampler 5’8″ 120 WR/DB 10
11 Gabriel Motsinger 5’11” 160 WR/DB 10
12 Bryce Pratt 6’3″ 175 QB/DB 10
15 Caleb Davis 5’7″ 147 RB/LB 9
16 Dustin Richard 5’10” 140 WR/DB 10
20 Grant Shaffer 5’7″ 146 QB/DB 10
21 Jason Cole 5’10” 140 RB/DB 11
22 Josh Davis 6’0″ 170 RB/MLB 10
26 Garrett Vanfossan 6’0″ 145 WR/DB 11
28 Trinton Bishop 6’0″ 160 WR/DB 12
30 Jeremiah Bright 5’10” 180 DB/LB 11
32 Dalton Humphrey 5’9″ 185 LB/RB 10
33 Greg Fletcher 6’0″ 170 TE/LB/QB 10
42 Chris Lane 5’7″ 145 RB/LB 11
52 Darrick Leiser 5’8″ 235 OL/DL 11
53 Scotty Killip 5’6″ 160 OL/DL 12
61 Camden Kirkpatrick 6’2″ 200 OL/DL 11
62 Christian Shadowens 6’0″ 205 K/OL/DL 11
65 Ryan Helfrich 6’2″ 190 OL/DL 11
68 Frankey Rebolledo 5’10” 180 OL/DL 11
70 Ryan Bond 5’11” 300 OL/DL 10
73 Gavin Jay 5’10” 170 OL/DL 11
74 Gannon Dollins 6’4″ 200 OL/DL 9
75 Zack Marvel 6’2″ 240 OL/DL 12
76 Adrian Ratajczyk 6’0″ 277 OL/DL 9
78 Aaron Abrahamsen 6’2″ 250 OL/DL 11
86 Noah Hervey 6’1″ 175 WR/LB 11
88 Cole Gelso 6’0″ 200 TE/LB 9

C-Z-R Schedule

Nickname: Bearcats
Head Coach: Anthony Hargrove
2016 Record: 0-9
2017 Classification Enrollment: 414.00

Aug 25 7:00 H Vienna [V.-Goreville Coop] 548.00
Sep 1 7:00 H Carmi (C.-White County) 370.00
Sep 8 7:00 A Fairfield 423.00
Sep 15 7:00 A Albion (Edwards County)  280.00
Sep 22 7:00 A Sesser (S.-Valier) [Coop] 488.00
Sep 29 7:00 H Eldorado 358.00
Oct 6 7:00 A Johnston City 334.00
Oct 13 7:00 H Chester 311.00
Oct 20 7:00 A McLeansboro (Hamilton County) 376.00

Link to WSIL Sports Extra Preview

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36122570/bearcats-ready-to-hit-in-first-full-pads-practice

Link to the story in the summer where Anthony Hargrove was hired as coach

Former NFL DE Anthony Hargrove takes over as C-Z-R head coach

As stated above, Anthony Hargrove has taken over as head coach of the Bearcats.  He was the defensive coordinator last season, and has been very active in establishing a junior high program in the community.

Even though the Bearcats were 0-9 last season, there is a good crop of sophomores coming up from Christopher and Zeigler-Royalton has a very talented freshman class coming in.  You can see several freshmen dotted along the varsity roster.

The three sport athletes of QB Bryce Pratt and RB/WR Gabriel Motsinger should lead the Bearcat offense.  At the freshman level, the Bearcats had a great year, either 7-2 or 6-3.

Pratt picked up some varsity experience against Vienna-Goreville last year, and held his own.

Tonight, this is a winnable game for the Bearcats.  There could be some week 10 football in the future with this young team.  I am going to put their record this season around the 3-6 mark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2017 Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn Red Devils

by Steve Dunford

S-V-W-W Roster

 

S-V-W-W Schedule

Nickname: Red Devils
Head Coach: John Shadowens
2016 Record: 5-5
2017 Classification Enrollment: 488.00

Aug 25 7:00 A Carmi (C.-White County) 370.00
Sep 1 7:00 A Albion (Edwards County) 280.00
Sep 8 7:00 H Eldorado 358.00
Sep 15 7:00 A Johnston City 334.00
Sep 22 7:00 H Christopher [C.-Zeigler-Royalton Coop] 414.00
Sep 29 7:00 H Chester 311.00
Oct 6 7:00 A McLeansboro (Hamilton County) 376.00
Oct 13 7:00 H Vienna [V.-Goreville Coop] 548.00
Oct 20 7:00 A Fairfield 423.00

Link to WSIL-TV Sports Extra preview

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36170010/red-devils-hopeful-for-consecutive-playoff-appearances

The Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn Red Devils will try to improve on their 5-5 mark last season.  With it being a closed conference, a 5-4 record will get you in the playoffs with 45 playoff points.   They went on the road and fell to Mt. Carmel at the pit last season.

Clayton Smith will be calling the signals for the Devils this year.  Smith has a rocket for an arm and he hit WR Joshua Gunter a lot last season.  Peyton Rock, who missed some time last year because of injuries will be in the backfield again this year for S-V-W-W

The Devils will be on the road at Carmi-White County tonight, who will be one of the top contenders for a Black Diamond Conference Crown.  Coach John Shadowens says that going over there and facing a team that has 15 returning seniors and a first ballot hall of fame coach in Kurt Simon is an understatement for a tough opener.

S-V-W-W over the last few years has been caught right in the middle of being in a conference over the last several years been the have and have not’s.  They have went from 4-5 two years ago, improving to 5-4 last year.  A 6-3 mark would give them a middle of the road seed in class 3A.  With a football enrollment of 488, they would be guaranteed to be in 3A again.  This team has a great opportunity to play November football.

 

 

The 2017 Benton Rangers

by Steve Dunford

Rangers Roster

Rangers Schedule

Nickname: Rangers
Head Coach: Bob Pankey
2016 Record: 4-5
2017 Classification Enrollment: 564.00

Aug 25 7:00 H Carterville 581.00
Sep 1 7:00 A Sparta 336.00
Sep 8 7:00 H Pinckneyville 418.00
Sep 15 7:00 A Herrin (H.S.) 757.00
Sep 23 12:00 A West Frankfort (Frankfort) 517.00
Sep 29 7:00 H Harrisburg 542.00
Oct 6 7:00 H Metropolis (Massac County) 591.00
Oct 13 7:00 A Murphysboro [Coop] 743.00
Oct 20 7:00 A Anna (A.-Jonesboro) 514.00

Link to WSIL-TV’s Sports Extra Preview

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36194120/veteran-skill-players-leading-bentons-offense

One more win last season, and the Rangers would have been playing in week 10.  With one of the better quarterbacks that I watched last year, Hamilton Page, and Blaine Pankey in the backfield, the Rangers will be in the thick of things in the SIRR-Ohio.

Pankey will be behind the line waiting on the oppositions backfield in the linebacker slot.  Besides Page and Pankey returning starters for the Rangers are WR/DB’s Joey Craig and Cade Thomas, OL/LB Warren Smothers, offensive lineman Carston Sanders, linebacker Andrew Dunn, and defensive backs Neal Carlton and Ty Gordon.

The Rangers will have a tall task, going against the veteran Carterville coach Dennis Drust and TE/LB Luke Ford.  Ford verbally committed to Arkansas last spring, and pulled his commitment.  Several publications have Ford listed in the top two high school tight ends in the country.   He has drawn interest in most of the Big 10 and SEC programs, with Alabama coach Nick Saban has been in frequent contact with him.

Here is what Benton Coach Bob Pankey had to say about facing the Lions tonight, “Expect Carterville to be well coached and have some athletic kids, obviously Luke Ford is the biggest threat. We have to play sound technique football with few mistakes.”

About the Rangers overall this year, Coach Pankey had this to say about his team, “Our skill positions have a ton of experience with most as returning starters. We are still having to plug some holes in the offensive line. Our biggest weakness this year is lack of depth. We will have to be smart with how we practice and play to keep kids healthy.”

Each week, when I preview a game I will have a game of the week the four programs in Franklin County are participating in.  This is the week 1 game of the week.  I have watched Luke Ford play on film several times and live on the basketball floor.  This will be the opportunity to see a power five conference recruit.

This might be the Rangers toughest test of the year out of the gate.  If Benton stays healthy, there could be some Saturday afternoon November football beyond week nine.

 

 

 

 

The 2017 West Frankfort Redbirds

by Steve Dunford

The 2017 Redbird Seniors

Redbird Schedule

West Frankfort (Frankfort) (0-0)
Nickname: Redbirds
Head Coach: Brian Beery
2016 Record: 6-4
2017 Classification Enrollment: 517.00

Last Number = opponents enrollment

Aug 25 7:30 H Anna (A.-Jonesboro)  514.00
Sep 1 7:00 H Pinckneyville  418.00
Sep 8 7:00 A Sparta  336.00
Sep 15 TBA A Harrisburg  542.00
Sep 23 12:00 H Benton  564.00
Sep 29 7:00 A Murphysboro [Coop] 743.00
Oct 6 7:00 N Herrin (H.S.)  757.00
Oct 13 7:00 H Metropolis (Massac County) 591.00
Oct 20 7:00 A Nashville  411.00

Redbird Roster

2 Matt Reiger 11 6’2 175 WR/LB
3 Mason Clay 10 5’11 160 WR/DB
5 TJ Vanzandt 11 5’11 170 RB/DL
8 Brendan Johnson 11 6’1 210 RB/LB
10 Connor Eaton 10 5’11 189 QB/LB
12 Gavin Gaylor 10 5’11 150 RB/DB
13 Lane Short 11 5’10 175 WR/DB
14 Braxton Rose 11 5’10 170 WR/DB
15 Luke Smith 12 6’1 170 WR/DB
16 Shane Smith 10 5’8 130 WR/DB
17 Michael Velazquez 10 5’7 150 WR/DB
18 Brock Johnson 10 5’10 160 WR/LB
20 Bricen Forgatch 11 6’2 170 WR/DB
22 Lucas Davis 12 6’3 180 WR/LB
23 Kyle Hammers 11 5’11 175 RB/DB
26 Dennon Gilliam 10 5’9 160 RB/LB
27 Sam Cooksey 11 5’10 190 RB/LB
30 Jordan Brewster 12 6’1 155 RB/DB
35 Blake Engler 11 5’7 170 RB/LB
42 Madison Allen 11 6’0 190 RB/LB
44 Ben Souders 12 5’8 170 RB/LB
51 Shaun Williams 10 5’11 230 OL/DL
52 Tyler Broy 11 5’11 200 OL/LB
53 Bradley Croslin 12 6’6 245 OL/DL
56 Shane Richardson-Veil 12 6’1 230 OL/DL
57 Jackson Sailliez 11 6’5 265 OL/DL
58 Rylee Wilson 10 5’10 160 OL/DL
59 Johnny Simmons 11 5’10 260 OL/DL
62 Jimmy Drennon 11 5’10 230 OL/DL
64 Jaron Lindhorst 10 5’10 200 OL/DL
66 Greg Cooper 12 6’0 250 OL/LB
67 Zack Leschke 11 6’0 260 OL/DL
70 Max Pernitsky 11 6’3 270 OL/DL
71 Jacob Novak 12 5’10 160 OL/DL
72 Zane Uhls 12 6’3 290 OL/DL
75 Gabe Corzine 12 6’1 310 OL/DL
77 Jesse Helfrich 10 5’11 210 OL/DL
78 Andy Morris 11 6’7 335 OL/DL

Link to WSIL-TV’s Sports Extra Preview

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36194159/west-frankfort-football-adjusting-to-defensive-changes

 

The West Frankfort Redbirds were the Cinderella story across Southern Illinois in 2016, turning their fortunes from a  0-9 2015 campaign, to 6-4 in 2016.  They made the playoffs for the first time in several years.  They went up to the 309 area code and gave, Canton who made the final four in Class 4A, all they wanted before falling late 29-15.

The returning starters for this year are Jordan Brewster, Madison Allen, and Zane Uhls on defense, Bradlee Croslin on offense, and Greg Cooper on both sides of the ball.

I asked West Frankfort Coach Brian Beery who has stood out in practice and over the summer, he said,   “We are going to be a young team, with very few returning starters. I feel everyone has shown improvement throughout the summer and throughout practice. Madison Allen has worked hard in the off-season and has set our school Hang Clean record by cleaning 310 pounds. Furthermore, Jordan Brewster and Greg Cooper has shown steady improvement as well.”

The Redbirds will potentially have a very deep backfield.  Coach Berry mentioned that along with Allen and Brewster that he could see some big years out of,  Sam Cooksey, Connor Eaton, Brendan Johnson, Blake Engler and Kyle Hammers.

The Redbirds will be facing the tradition rich Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats this evening at home.  They fell to A-J in week one last season 12-6 on a Saturday night, as the game was moved because of some severe weather in Union County.

The Redbirds were driving deep into A-J territory, and there was just not enough clock left.  I feel the A-J game last year proved the Birds could be competitive and the win over Harrisburg proved they could be a playoff team.

Here is Coach Beery’s thoughts on the Wildcats coming into tonight,   I believe the A-J game will be a very physical game. I expect them to try to control the clock with their offense, while fielding a very well coached and aggressive defense.  We will have to be able to stop their ground game, and take advantage of any part of the field AJ’s defense is unable to defend.  I believe the key for us is to limit the number of turnovers and mental mistakes, if we can do that, it ought to be a great game to watch and be a part of.

Tonight’s game will be a 7:30 p.m. start, moved up from the traditional 7:00 p.m. start.  Tonight’s game is also the WSIL-TV sack for hunger game of the week.  Be sure to bring some non-perishable food items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changnon II

by Randy Olson, areasports.net

MT. VERNON, IL On a vote of 6-0, the Mt Vernon Twp High School board has voted to carry forward the name “Changnon Gym” to the new high school gymnasium. A sizable crowd was in attendance as Marc Changnon (grandson of late coach Stanley Changnon) and myself each spoke to the board in support of the gym naming as a way to carry on the tradition and legacy of Coach Changnon, who won back-to-back state titles at Mt Vernon in 1949 & 1950, while compiling a record that saw him win 80% of his games in a nine-year stint as the Rams head coach. Changnon is in the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame for BOTH basketball and football, a very rare feat.

The first ever tipoff at the New Changnon against the Cahokia Comanches (Photo provided by Randy Olson)

He taught and coached players that have also been recognized with IBCA Hall of Fame honors including Max Hooper, Walt Moore, and Albert Avant. Board member, Norma Fairchild, abstained from the vote and was critical of naming the gym after Changnon, claiming it was a money issue. It was pointed out to her and the board that NO high school gym in southern Illinois has ever been named after someone due to the purchase or sale of naming rights. Any high school gym that has a name on it was “earned” and chosen by each community to preserve the legacy, character, tradition and positive impact that a person had on a community. In the end, all other board members agreed that Stanley Changnon exemplifies the character, positive impact and tradition worthy of the MVTHS gymnasium continuing to be named in his honor at the new school. Changnon is a legend across all of Illinois. Max Hooper also made the trip to Mt Vernon from Alabama to attend the board meeting

WSIL Preview: Red Devils hopeful for consecutive playoff appearances

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36170010/red-devils-hopeful-for-consecutive-playoff-appearances

SESSER, IL-  (Sean Conway, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below)

WSIL photo

With preseason practices coming to a close, many high school football teams have their eyes set on the regular season and dreams of playoff contention.

Last season, the team made their first playoff appearance in four years, before an early first round exit.

“I think our biggest challenge is us stopping ourselves, and not being able to finish games. Because last year we had problems with that. Some games we weren’t able to finish. We had good leads on teams and we just let it slip. So I think the problem is us holding ourselves against each other,” said Red Devil fullback/linebacker Jayon Malone.

 

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News