Friday, Sep. 26, 2008

Winless Orphans up next for Althoff

Collinsville hopes to follow up on upset of Edwardsville

--

In desperate need of a win, the Althoff Crusaders hope to find their salvation today in Centralia.

The Crusaders (1-3) visit the winless Orphans (0-4) in a battle of South Seven Conference bottom feeders. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Evers Field

Althoff (1-3) has lost three straight but is coming off its first blowout loss, a 42-21 decision at Mount Vernon. In previous losses to Belleville West and Mascoutah, the Crusaders blew fourth-quarter leads.

Richard Burrell accounted for all three touchdowns against Mount Vernon, scoring on a 90-yard kickoff return, a 68-yard pass from quarterback Brady Nowak and a 7-yard pass. A senior, Burrell leads the Crusaders with 510 total yards (313 receiving, 197 rushing) and nine TDs.

Centralia has been outscored 150-50 in its first four games. The Orphans are riding a 30-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 1,283-275. Centralia's last victory came in a 34-7 decision over Salem in the 2005 season opener.

Collinsville (1-3) at Granite City (2-2), 7 p.m.: Two of the area's most improved programs hook up in a game that is a family affair for both coaches.

Granite City coach J.D. Lorton's wife, Terry, and Collinsville coach Mike Liljegren 's wife, Kelley, are sisters.

"Their maiden name was Davis and they're from Collinsville," Liljegren said. "J.D. and I talked about football a lot (before), but now since we're both in the Southwestern Conference, we can't talk as much. I think everybody's looking forward to this."

Especially Collinsville, which is coming off one of the biggest wins in school history last week -- a 59-28 thrashing of rival Edwardsville.

Kahoks quarterback Jevon Hawkins threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth as the Kahoks romped.

"After the game, I asked everyone if we had worked all summer for one game. Nobody raised their hands," Liljegren said. "Our goal is still to make the playoffs, and we've got a lot of work to do in order to get there.

"Granite City is a very good, physical football team. We need to be ready to play."

The Warriors have lost two straight after a 2-0 start, hurt by eight turnovers in losses to Belleville West and O'Fallon.

Alton (1-3) at East St. Louis (3-1), 7 p.m.: Alton's tough early season schedule continues with its toughest test this week against the Flyers, ranked second in the 7A state poll.

Counting the Flyers, the combined record of the Redbirds' last four opponents is 13-3.

"It will be a true test for our kids. They are an extremely talented and well-balanced football team," Alton coach Joe Hook said. "They can score at any second and from anywhere on the football field."

East St. Louis has outscored O'Fallon and Belleville West 125-20 the last two weeks.

"Offensively we've done a good job. I just wasn't very happy with the number of yards we gave to Belleville West last week," Flyers coach Darren Sunkett said. "That's one of the area's we've tried to address this week."

O'Fallon (2-2) at Edwardsville (3-1), 7 p.m.: The Edwardsville Tigers will be trying to bounce back from their lopsided loss to the Collinsville Kahoks last week.

"We sort of refocused this week, and picked up the intensity a little bit and got on them a little bit," Tigers coach Mark Bliss said. "I would like to think that we've had a pretty good week of practice. Hopefully, that will be a good sign that we'll compete better on Friday."

O'Fallon coach Brandon Joggerst expects the Tigers to fix any problems that surfaced against the Kahoks.

"Collinsville scored on big plays and some special teams plays," Joggerst said. "We keep reminding our kids that they're 3-1 for a reason. They're a very good football team. I'm sure they are going to square those things away this week and be ready to go."

Joggerst said junior running back Erin Lewis likely won't play against the Tigers because of a shoulder injury.

Junior B.J. Hendrix rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries after filling in for Lewis in the Panthers 20-12 win over the Granite City Warriors last Friday.

Panthers senior quarterback Sonnie Rollins has thrown for 251 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Tigers senior quarterback Ish Roundtree still is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered three weeks ago.

"He has a high ankle sprain, and that may last a week, that may last a season," Bliss said.

Roundtree's injury has meant that sophomore quarterback Chase Westra has been thrown into the fire.

Mater Dei (4-0) at Central (2-2), 7 p.m.: The 32nd annual Milk Bowl, pitting the two Breese high schools against one another, commences tonight, and the task of stopping the Knights will be a monumental challenge for the home team.

Ranked third in the Class 4A state poll, the Knights are averaging 48.8 points per game and last week beat Freeburg 50-42. They needed almost every one of those points as the Midgets exploited Mater Dei's prime weakness this season -- its defense.

"It's going to be a big game," said Central coach Brian Short. "The hype is already there. You don't have to worry about being excited for the Milk Bowl. It'll be a tough game for us.

"We do have some confidence now seeing that Freeburg was able to move the ball on them and produce. It shows our kids that they are a very good team, but they're not perfect."

Mater Dei has won 18 of the last 19 Milk Bowls, including the last four. Central's last Milk Bowl victory came in a 13-12 decision in 2003. The Knights won 40-7 last year, the most lopsided victory in the series since 1997.

Senior quarterback Justin Vonder Haar has completed 65 percent of his passes (51 of 78) for 868 yards and 14 TDs. Senior wide receiver Aaron Fuehne has caught 18 passes for 378 yards and eight TDs.

Central has won two of its last three, beating Carlyle 34-13 last week. Junior running back Matt Elliot (504 yards, nine TDs) and senior quarterback Brennan Richter (205 passing yards, 166 rushing) are the Cougars' main weapons.