HS football playoffs: Belleville East, Althoff, O’Fallon all have first round games

The high school football playoff circuit in the metro-east will kick-off Friday night and continue Saturday afternoon and evening.

Below is a snapshot of the opening round matchups featuring metro-east teams, along with several key players to watch.

On Friday night, the BND will also post game results from around the region. We will update the scores list as we get results throughout the evening. We will do the same Saturday afternoon and evening.

On Saturday and Sunday morning, we will also post a game by game recap from around the region, along with coverage from a few individual games.

You can see all of this coverage at bnd.com, beginning Friday evening.

Here’s a look at the weekend’s games.

Madison at Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington, Class 1A

Records/seeds: Madison is 5-3 and seeded No. 16. Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington is 9-0 and seeded No. 1

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

Most recent game: The Trojans defeated Wesclin 47-0.

Madison’s most recent playoff appearance: 2018 when the Trojans lost to Albion Edwards County 7-0 in the first round.

Dupo at Camp Point Central, Class 1A

Records/seeds: Dupo is 5-4 and seeded No. 15. Camp Point Central is 9-0 and seeded No. 2.

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Tigers defeated Nokomis 36-30.

Dupo’s most recent playoff appearance: 2012 when the Tigers lost to Maroa-Forsyth 54-6 in the first round.

Dupo player to watch: RB Logan Stevens (149 rushes, 1,139 yards, 14 TD; 28 receptions, 378 yards, 3 TD).

Nashville at Red Bud, Class 2A

Records/seeds: Red Bud is 7-2 and seeded No. 6. Nashville is 7-2 and seeded No. 11.

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Musketeers defeated Wood River 14-12.

Red Bud’s most recent playoff appearance: 2019 when the Musketeers lost to Pana 46-12 in the first round.

Nashville’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Hornets reached the state championship before losing to Wilmington 24-7.

Red Bud players to watch: QB Thomas Friess (52-88, 925 yards, 10 TD); RB Nick Gantner (128 rushes, 745 yards, 11 TD).

Althoff at Shelbyville, Class 2A

Records/seeds: Althoff is 5-4 and seeded No. 14. Shelbyville is 8-1 and seeded No. 3.

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Crusaders lost to Cahokia 56-6. The Redbirds lost to O’Fallon 52-0.

Althoff’s most recent playoff appearance: 2017 when the Crusaders reached the second round before losing to Rochester 41-23.

Althoff players to watch: RB Malike Nave (138 rushes, 545 yards, 2 TD); WR Lucious Dones (42 receptions, 520 yards, 2 TD; 1 kickoff return for touchdown; 1 fumble return for touchdown); QB Braylon Grayson (112-181, 1,474 yards, 11 TD; 39 rushes, 117 yards, 3 TD).

Roxana at Hillsboro, Class 3A

Records/seeds: Roxana is 6-3 and seeded No. 9. Hillsboro is 6-3 and seeded No. 8.

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Shells defeated Alton Marquette 68-0.

Roxana’s most recent playoff appearance: 2019 when the Shells lost to Columbia 56-28 in the first round.

Columbia at Murphysboro/Elkville Elverado, Class 4A

Records/seeds: Columbia is 6-3 and seeded No. 11. Murphysboro/Elkville Elverado is 7-2 and seeded No. 6.

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

Most recent game: The Eagles lost to Jerseyville 19-0.

Columbia’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Eagles lost to Sacred Heart-Griffin 49-13 in the first round.

Columbia players to watch: QB Dominic Voegele (75-134, 796 yards, 7 TD; 138 carries, 1,248 yards, 15 TD; 1 punt return for a touchdown); WR Zach Wetzel (29 catches, 370 yards, 2 TD); WR Brennan Weik (24 catches, 227 yards, 2 TD).

Mount Zion at Breese Central, Class 4A

Records/seeds: Breese Central is 7-2 and seeded No. 5. Mount Zion is 6-3 and seeded No. 12.

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Cougars defeated Herrin 27-0.

Breese Central’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Cougars reached the second round before losing to Sacred Heart-Griffin 55-14.

Breese Central players to watch: QB Conner Freeze (107-196, 1,692 yards, 14 TD; 122 rushes, 507 yards, 5 TD); RB/WR Chase Lewis (16 catches, 226 yards, 3 TD; 9 rushing TD); WR Braden Revermann (51 catches, 951 yards, 8 TD).

Waterloo at Olney Richland County, Class 4A

Records/seeds: Waterloo is 6-3 and seeded No. 10. Olney Richland County is 7-2 and seeded No. 7.

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Bulldogs defeated Freeburg 45-14.

Waterloo’s most recent playoff appearance: 2016 when the Bulldogs lost to Highland 10-6 in the first round.

Waterloo players to watch: RB Evan Davis (18 rushes, 1,262 yards, 13 TD; 12 catches, 218 yards, 1 TD); RB Koby Osterhage (79 rushes, 760 yards, 9 TD).

Wood River at Coal City, Class 4A

Records/seeds: Wood River is 6-3 and seeded No. 9. Coal City is 6-3 and seeded No. 8.

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Oilers lost to Red Bud 14-12.

Wood River’s most recent playoff appearance: 2018 when the Oilers lost to Carlinville 47-8 in the first round.

Wood River player to watch: RB Seth Slayden (148 rushes, 1,106 yards, 15 TD).

Dunlap at Highland, Class 5A

Records/seeds: Highland is 8-1 and seeded No. 2. Dunlap is 5-4 and seeded No. 15.

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

Most recent game: The Bulldogs defeated Effingham 34-20.

Highland’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Bulldogs lost to Morton 56-33 in the first round.

Highland players to watch: QB Brent Wuebbels (114-158, 1,644 yards, 29 TD); RB Travis Porter (135 rushes, 1,012 yards, 15 TD); WR Brode Lewis (39 catches, 581 yards, 6 TD); WR Cade Altadonna (25 catches, 420 yards, 6 TD).

Marion at Mascoutah, Class 5A

Records/seeds: Mascoutah is 6-3 and seeded No. 7. Marion is 6-3 and seeded No. 10.

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Indians defeated Carbondale 50-23. The Wildcats defeated Mattoon 42-20.

Mascoutah’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Indians reached the second round before losing to Marion 51-21.

Mascoutah players to watch: QB Zane Timon (101-173, 1,581 yards, 19 TD; 97 rushes, 556 yards, 11 TD); WR Quincy Hall (30 catches, 600 yards, 9 TD); WR Allen Middleton (38 catches, 655 yards, 9 TD).

Marion players to watch: RB Jordyn Beverly (96 rushes, 802 yards, 16 TD; RB Patrick Walker (98 rushes, 725 yards, 7 TD).

Centralia at Triad, Class 5A

Records/seeds: Triad is 7-2 and seeded No. 5. Centralia is 5-4 and seeded No. 12

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Knights defeated Lincoln 28-0. The Orphans lost to Collinsville 35-31.

Triad’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Knights reached the second round before losing to Mahomet-Seymour 49-14.

Centralia’s most recent playoff appearance: 2017 when the Orphans lost to Morton 41-33 in the first round.

Triad players to watch: QB Nic Funk (75-119, 1,045 yards, 13 TD; 71 rushes, 177 yards, 6 TD); RB Drake Keller (100 rushes, 532 yards, 3 TD); WR Tashon Cockarell (21 catches, 355 yards, 5 TD).

Centralia player to watch: RB Amir Johnson (158 rushes, 1,045 yards, 16 TD).

Oak Lawn Richards at East St. Louis, Class 6A

Records/seeds: East St. Louis is 7-2 and seeded No. 6. Oak Lawn Richards is 6-3 and seeed No. 11.

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Flyers defeated De Smet 40-10.

East St. Louis’ most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Flyers reached the state championship game before losing 37-36 to Cary-Grove.

East St. Louis players to watch: QB Robert Battle (114-197, 1,400 yards, 17 TD; 78 rushes, 414 yards, 6 TD); RB Larevious Woods (92 rushes, 607 yards, 8 TD); RB TaRyan Martin (99 rushes, 631 yards, 12 TD); WR Christopher Bennett Jr. (32 catches, 369 yards, 2 TD); LB Dominic Dixon (83 tackles, 26 assists, 109 total tackles, 7 sacks).

Bradley-Bourbonnais at Collinsville, Class 7A

Records/seeds: Collinsville is 8-1 and seeded No. 8. Bradley Bourbonnais is 5-4 and seeded No. 25

Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.

Most recent game: The Kahoks defeated Centralia 35-31.

Collinsville’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Kahoks lost to Geneva 28-21 in the first round.

Collinsville players to watch: QB Kolby Anderson (57 rushes, 354 yards, 9 TD); QB Ethan Bagwell (78-149, 1,006 yards, 9 TD; 101 rushes, 523 yards, 8 TD); RB Jerry Richardson (104 rushes, 840 yards, 9 TD; 22 catches, 334 yards, 3 TD); WR Darren Pennell (21 catches, 262 yards, 2 TD).

Belleville East at South Elgin, Class 8A

Records/seeds: Belleville East is 5-4 and seeded No. 29. South Elgin is 9-0 and seeded No. 4.

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

Most recent game: The Lancers defeated Granite City 66-0.

Belleville East’s most recent playoff appearance: 2015 when the Lancers lost to Oswego 28-20 in the first round.

Belleville East players to watch: WR Armon Vinson (20 catches, 226 yards, 5 TD); RB Moisey Trimble (54 rushes, 475 yards, 4 TD); RB Markevious Curiton (64 rushes, 328 yards, 8 TD).

Edwardsville at O’Fallon, Class 8A

Records/seeds: O’Fallon is 8-1 and seeded No. 11. Edwardsville is 6-3 and seeded No. 22.

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Most recent game: The Panthers beat Cahokia. 49-20. The Tigers lost to CBC 44-17. Of note, the two teams met earlier this season in Southwestern Conference play with O’Fallon rallying for a 32-31 victory.

O’Fallon’s most recent playoff appearance: 2021 when the Panthers lost to Glenbrook South 34-6 in the first round.

Edwardsville’s most recent payoff appearance: 2021 when the Tigers lost to South Elgin 24-13 in the first round.

O’Fallon players to watch: QB Colt Michael (135-232, 1,948 yards, 29 TD); WR Jalen Smith (48 catches, 765 yards, 15 TD); RB Christopher Caldwell (128 rushes, 923 yards, 11 TD); WR Christian Joiner (30 catches, 445 yards, 7 TD).

Edwardsville players to watch: QB Jake Curry (97-151, 1,496 yards, 18 TD; 7 rushing TD); WR Daoin Gaston (32 catches, 517 yards, 7 TD); RB Da’Shawn Larson (55 rushes, 498 yards, 5 TD).

This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 5:30 AM.