Football Fanatic

Yeah. I guess if Reitz is going to lose at all this season, it could feasibly be one or two of those away games (at Jasper is a long trip, at Castle is on grass). But I just don't see it, they're too deep and talented. I see them repeating and making a playoff run. North losing 5 away games would be shocking with what they have. If they go 4-5 then that whole coaching staff may be on the hook. Central is not winning any games, except maybe against Harrison. I think Harrison will be worse than people think (they do not have much coming back). Bosse will win at least a game or two, as they return basically the whole team and some great athletes. I don't see any realm where Castle runs the table. If they don't lose to Reitz, I think they lose to one or two of the Memorial, Mater Dei, North group. I get that it's tough to make predictions, especially if you don't know a whole lot about the conference and who teams have coming back, but some of that seems way off.

Little update to the list of D1 offers for players in the SIAC! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 320 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point Indiana State University OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University Cornell University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University DL Benny Patterson (Castle) - 6'3” 230 lbs Indiana State University

Thanks for sharing. Needed a good laugh!

We have another player to add to the list! Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Benny Patterson of Castle got an offer from Indiana State! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 320 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point Indiana State University OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University Cornell University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University DL Benny Patterson (Castle) - 6'3” 230 lbs Indiana State University

I agree. Few things I thought when I saw it. Central won't get a win unless Harrison is REALLY bad. But I see Harrison with 1 win and Bosse with 2 wins. VL should be a win or two higher. North should be two wins higher, I think they are the 2nd or 3rd most talented team this year (but what will they do with it). And I don't see Reitz losing, except maybe one of their tough road games @ Castle or @ Jasper. Memorial and Mater Dei are tough reads this year. Both have good talent coming up/returning but both lose just enough key players that it's hard to tell how it will effect them.

Thanks! Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Quentin Boeke added an offer from Cornell. Also heard that he is visiting Stanford, which is pretty neat! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 320 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point Indiana State University OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University Cornell University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University

Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Jayden Hazelwood added an offer from Indiana State! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 320 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point Indiana State University OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University

Some class of 24 news: Porter Rode of Memorial and Calab Utley of Reitz both committed to Kentucky Wesleyan! Big time pick ups for KWC, as it seems they have made the Evansville area more of a focus which is probably a wise move.

Not real familiar with some of the classes or a lot of the teams from up north. I'll take a crack at 2A, 3A, 4A since I know more about some of those teams. 2A 1. Scecina 2. Triton Central 3. Luers 4. Eastside 5. Lafayette Central Catholic 6. Evansville Mater Dei 7. Rochester 8. Andrean 9. LaVille 10. Linton-Stockton 3A 1. Chatard 2. West Lafayette 3. Guerin Catholic 4. Gibson Southern 5. Lawrenceburg 6. Southridge 7. Norwell 8. Western Boone 9. Yorktown 10. Tri-West 4A 1. East Central 2. Roncalli 3. New Pal 4. Evansville FJ Reitz 5. Brebeuf 6. New Prairie 7. Mooresville 8. MV Fortville 9. Evansville Memorial 10. NorthWood

Updating the D1 offer list among SIAC players! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University

Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Harlen Summers added an offer from Illinois State and Antonio Harris joined the group with a D1 offer from Indiana State! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University Illinois State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University WR/RB Antonio Harris (Castle) - 6'1” 185 lbs Indiana State University

Heating up! Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Quentin Boeke added offers from two ISUs in the same day. OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 285 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University Indiana State University Illinois State University

I too am excited for the season to start and love the football talk - even if prematurely. Figured I'd put together some responses to your questions and statements. "Top 3 teams in the SIAC?" Reitz, North, Castle/Memorial (too close to call right now) "Can Reitz run the table again and go 9-0 again in SIAC play?" Yes. They may get upset and lose 1 game (maybe @ Jasper or @ Castle?) but definitely good enough to run the table. Maybe even more convincingly that last season. "If Reitz does go 9-0, will they be the first to get rid of the 9-0 Curse the last 2 seasons?" I think so. Jasper will be a little improved, but Boonville and Memorial both won't be quite as good as last season. Definitely expect Reitz to be in regionals where the formidable, defending champ East Central probably awaits. "Will there be a surprise team in the SIAC to win it outright? Since expansion, there has not been a repeat champion." I think the time for a repeat champion has come. "After achieving their first winning season in quite some time, will the Huskies finally see some success this upcoming? Dark horse contender?" I think so. I would be shocked if North does not have an improved record. Feel like at worst they go 6-3, but could see them going 7-2 or 8-1. They have a few skills guys to replace but there's no excuse to not improve with the size and experience on their lines. "How does this years Mater Dei’s offense look after Wunderlich, going to be tough after losing 9 offensive starters." MD is a huge mystery or question mark headed into the season. Hard to replace a QB like Wunderlich. Going from him to an undersized underclassman (well, that's the rumor anyway) at QB is a huge change. Expect them to change the offense a bit - more run heavy, more QB designed runs, more jet sweeps, more predetermined reads/passes, etc. - to utilize the QB skill set and help him get comfortable. But, it is MD - they have a great coaching staff and they do have some solid returning starters. Feel like they will be middle of the pack and still make a playoff run - move to 3A definitely a possibility. "How will Memorial look this season? They got the athletes, but questions on who will fill up the trenches" Memorial definitely has some solid players returning - Fisher, Rode, Ellspermann, Baker, Nichols, McGuire, Johnson, Broshears, Mattingly, Vaughn, Waller - is a solid group of 11 to return. However, how well will the rest of the spots fill out? I think they will struggle a bit at times but overall be a very competitive team. I could see them going 6-3 or 7-2 and be a top 3-4 team. I do think their sectional run ends and they move back to 3A. "One of the more interesting teams, but will Vincennes be a contender or a pretender this season? Very tough games in the beginning of the year with Mater Dei and Reitz in Week 2 and 3." I think a lot of people are engrossed by Vincennes after they were a surprise last season - almost beat Reitz, beat Mater Dei, almost beat North, had a shootout with Gibson Southern - and they return their conference POTY at QB and a handful of other starters. However, I think a bit part of their success last season was because they were a surprise and they rode that momentum and motivation. Teams did not expect them to be much improved or the QB to be that much of a weapon. It seems like the expectation is for them to make another jump but I feel like they do about the same or maybe even worse now that teams may be more prepared. However, the SIAC is obviously much better if Vincennes is competitive, so I hope to see them do well. "Jasper somehow will be in the Top 4 standings this season. How many wins does the Wildcats win and can they finally get a taste of a sectional crown." I'm not as high on Jasper as other people, but I do think they will be improved. They return a handful of players but also lose some difference makers like Young, Bair, and Perkins. If the next QB can step in and run the offense well, they will be in good shape though. If they can somehow beat Memorial and Reitz early in the season, look out. "Castle takes some hits in the trenches, and losing arguably the best defender in the SIAC. Who will step up for the mighty Knights this season?" I think the big question mark for Castle is what do they do at QB and what do they do to replace their top defensive players. They return a top 5 skill guy in the conference in Harris, but how will they utilize him. I think the Knights definitely have the potential to be a top 3-4 team. "Will Bosse/Harrison win a couple of more games this season? Bosse returns a very good offense duo and plenty of starters. And Harrison returns very good weapons, but does take a hit in the trenches." Bosse returns almost their whole team, including some very talented skill guys. I think the big question for them is - how much better and stronger will their lines be? With their skill guys and how much they rely on them, they cannot afford to get manhandled in the trenches. They will really struggle against teams with good lines (Reitz, North, Memorial, etc.) but could see them surprising some teams with their skill and competitiveness. Will that amount to many more wins, if at all? Probably not. Same with Harrison, although they don't return near as much. I think they will really struggle this year. "How will Central’s new HC handle the reigns this year? Very tough job right now on First Ave" I think he will handle the reigns well, but it will be another very tough year for the Bears. But that might be okay. It could be a rare situation in which an 0-9 or 1-8 season is a positive. Regardless of wins or losses, their time for change is now, with a motivated coach that is willing to stick around. If their numbers can increase and their lower levels can be more successful, their future will be in good shape.

Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Quentin Boeke added an offer from SIU. OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 275 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University Southern Illinois University

I agree that the bottom three are in a tier of their own. However, I do think there is some separation. Bosse has a lot coming back. Even if they aren't that good, returning almost all of your starters is huge for high school football. Even if that means they only win one or two extra games. Harrison loses most of their size and best players, but does have a few starters returning, especially if they have that QB back. Don't see them upsetting a team like Jasper again this year. Central will probably be about just as bad as they were last season, even with the new coach and culture improvement. It'll be a multi-year process for them but do expect improvement.

Good point. I know I said 8-1 for them but seeing that away schedule I have a hard time seeing them only lose one of those. I think they will be much improved, but that away schedule is a gauntlet. However, if they want to be respected as a serious contender in the SIAC and the 5A south, they need to make a jump and should get to the point where they win some of those tough away games. Will this be the year? Who can tell, but we will see. I mentioned the hot seat if they go 4-5 or 5-4 again with that group...maybe it's more likely than I think.

I could see it playing out that way too. I think the only safe bets right now are Reitz being at the top, and the bottom three teams. And personally, I think Castle and North being top 5 are safe bets too. Not saying it won't happen (we've seen North do less with more before), but if they go 4-5 with the group they have coming back, I think the coach will seriously be on the hot seat.

Similar to MD and who all they’re losing, I also wanted to put Memorial lower but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Just watch - Memorial and MD will find a way to finish top 3 - and nobody would be surprised.

Believe me, it was difficult to predict that. I have MD beating Harrison, Bosse, Central, and VL (which was tough to give MD but that game will be at The Bowl the week after Reitz hosts VL there too). Hard for me to pick them over the other teams who all have more impact players returning. I could maybe see them beating Jasper too if their new QB struggles to run that offense. I do agree that MD could easily be 6-3 or 7-2 though, especially if their new QB works out well. But remember, MD could go 4-5 in this SIAC and still be good enough to make it to regionals or semis in 2A. Which would move them up to 3A. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Definitely. Talking around, it sounds like they are even expected to be much better than last season. Getting their QB back healthy + who they have returning and stepping in...it seems like they will be a juggernaut. And then, as we discussed before, predicting 2-7 is very difficult and I could see them finishing in any order. Maybe we will learn more over the summer as teams compete and players get settled into their roles. Was surprised by this. I do think it is a better fit for him though. Wunderlich to Collins would be a cool duo to see.

*a bump post* updated '23-'24 season standings prediction: 1. Reitz 9-0 2. North 8-1 3. Memorial 7-2 4. Castle 6-3 5. Jasper 5-4 6. Vincennes 5-4 7. Mater Dei 4-5 8. Bosse 2-7 9. Harrison 1-8 10. Central 0-9 Might be way off. Just throwing a dart and bridging the gap with some football talk until the season starts. I'm sure I will update this another time or two as we learn and hear more about the teams and players over the summer.

Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Summers got the offer from Murray State. Keeps growing, love to see it. Hopefully the other two start getting some more as well! OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 275 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University Murray State University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University

Updating the SIAC D1 offer list after Hazelwood picked up an offer from Army. OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University Army West Point OL/DL Harlen Summers (Reitz) - 6'4" 275 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University OL Quentin Boeke (Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University

From the SIAC down here in Evansville - the class of '24 has some linemen picking up D1 offers. Expect all to pick up more and maybe even more players eventually. OL/DL Jayden Hazelwood (Evansville North) - 6'3" 315 lbs Eastern Kentucky University Miami (OH) University OL/DL Harlen Summers (Evansville Reitz) - 6'4" 270 lbs Butler University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Lindenwood University OL Quentin Boeke (Evansville Reitz) - 6'5" 265 lbs Columbia University Lindenwood University

Interesting for reasons better not said. But I think you're right. I doubt they got many, if any, out-of-town candidates. And if I had to guess, not many experienced in-city guys applied either. Sad thing is, I don't think their players were being "poached". They were willingly leaving for better situations. But yes, I think this hire will help them retain their players and start to build something.