Southwestern Conference High School football capsules
Following is a brief look at the teams which will compete for the Southwestern Conference championship during the 2018 season. The East St. Louis Flyers won the title a year ago while the Edwardsville Tigers, Belleville West Maroons and Alton Redbirds also qualified for the IHSA playoffs.
Alton Redbirds
Coach: Eric Dickerson, (4th year, 7-22)
2017 record: 6-5, 4-3 in SWC
Playoffs: Lost to Lincoln-Way West 42-13 in second round of Class 7A playoffs
2018 opener: Aug. 24, Highland, 7 p.m.
Key returning players: QB Andrew Jones (41-of-86, 647 yards, 8TD. 3 int); WR Terrance Walker (3 receptions, 80 yards, 2 TD’s); L:B: Charles Miller (84 tackles, 52 solos); LB: Iseal Terrell (83 tackles, 60 solos, 2 INT)
Belleville East Lancers
Coach: Kris Stephens (4th year, 9-19)
2017 record: 2-7, 2-5 in SWC
2018 opener: Aug. 24, at St. Louis Chaminade, 7 p.m.
Key Returning players: QB: Kienen Waller (175-oif-328, 1993, yards, 17 TD’;s, 13 Int.); OL:Isaiah Flager-Hearan; OL Michael Muhammad; LB: Xavier Medina (50 tackles, 17 solos)
Belleville West Maroons
Coach: Cameron Pettus, (8th year, 38-32)
2017 record: 6-4, 5-2 in SWC
Playoffs: Lost to Buffalo Grove 17-7 in first round of Class 7A playoffs
2018 opener: Aug. 24, Riverview Gardens, MO., 7 p.m.
Key returning players: QB: Jack McCloskey (65-of-121, 754 yards, 7 TD’s); WR: Will Lanson (49 receptions, 601 yardsm 6 TD’s); OL: Dwight Oregon; DE: Keith Randoplh (38 tackles, 15 solos); K-P: Logan Seibert
Collinsville Kahoks
Coach: Mike Popovich, (1st year)
2017 record: 1-8, 1-6 in swc
2018 opener: Aug. 24, Cahokia, 7 p.m.
Key returning players: QB: Chris Chi (53-of-118, 785 yards, 10 TD’s, 4 Int); RB: Kameron Sloan (56 attemts, 287 yards, 3 TD’s, 10 receptions, 127 yards, 2TD’s;); WR: Malcoln Burns (20 receptions, 513 yards, 7 TD’s); LB: Gabe Miller (55 tackles, 32 solos, 2 fumble recoveries)
East St. Louis Flyers
Coach: Darren Sunkett (19th year, 161-44)
2017 record: 10-2, 7-0 IN SWC
Playoffs: Lost to Chicago Mount Carmel 21-18 in Class 7A quarterfinals
2018: opener: Aug. 25 at Detroit, Mich.. King, 6 p.m.
Key returning players: OL Demond Taylor, DB: Antonio Johnson, WR: Lawaun Powell (37 receptions, 594 yards, 15 TD’s); RB: DeMonta Witherspoon (45 attempts (382 yards, 6 TD’s).
Edwardsville Tigers
Coach Matt Martin (8th year, 64-17)
2017 record: 9-4, 6-1 in SWC
Playoffs: Lost to Loyola Acadeny 17-10 in Class 8A semifinals
2018 opener: Aug. 24, McCluer North, 7 p.m.
Key returning players: QB: Kendall Abdur-Rahman. (2,000 yards total offense, 26 TD’s, 8 TD passes); RB: Dionte Rodgers, LB: Evan Ramirez ; LB: Jacob Morrissey
O’Fallon Panthers
Coach: Brandon Joggerst, (12th year, 66-45)
2017 record: 3-6, 3-4 in SWC
2018 opener: Aug. 24 at St. Louis CBC, 7 p.m.
Key returning players: QB: Christian Curtis (78-of-173 attmpts, 1,277 yards, 14 TD’s, 8 int); RB: Jacob Flores (121 carries, 610 yards, 3 TD’s);; RB: Wil Osuma 87 attempts, 368 yards, 2 TD’s); WR: Chris Smith (21 receptions, 413 yards, 2 TD’s)