By Troy Hayes, Decatur Herald & Review
Special to MaxPreps.com
There wasn’t a lot of moping around, in fact, most of the Warrensburg-Latham/Maroa-Forsyth soccer players seemed not to notice the Cardinals two-and-a-half-year, 40-game win streak had just ended in their 3-1 loss to MacArthur last week.
“It was sort of expected, you know?” said senior Ross Cornelissen, who along with fellow senior Alex Phillips, are the only two that played on the last Cardinals varsity team that lost in the regular season. “We lost nine starters and 12 seniors to graduation, and we have a bunch of freshman and sophomores up so there will be some struggles. (The loss) is still really disappointing, but we kind of knew it probably wouldn't last through the year.”
The 2008 Cardinals are talented but young. Their best offensive player (Cornellisen) may be playing defense leaving a freshman, Bryce Hawthorne, to help Phillips lead the offense. Once the youngsters that are playing now settle in and become stronger, Warrensburg should again be one of the downstate teams to beat on the pitch.
T-Town Rolling in the Fall
Teutopolis is having a big boys fall season. Both the baseball and soccer teams are undefeated as of Sept. 18, with baseball going 12-0 and soccer 10-0 so far.
The Wooden Shoes have gotten contributions up and down the lineup on the diamond but the unquestioned leader on the pitch has been junior Michael Brummer. Brummer has been nearly unstoppable, pounding 23 goals in the 10 games.
Football: Springfield SHG knows Central State Eight dominance
Gary Wilson, Darryl McMath and John Lantz scored two touchdowns each last week as Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin continued its dominance over Lincoln and, truth be told, the Central State Eight Conference with a 46-0 win. It’s the Cyclones 44th consecutive conference win.
Sacred Heart-Griffin (2-1, 1-0) lost a tough one, 34-31, to 3-0 Lombard Montini to open the season.
Class 1A-3A Week 3 Top 20
1. Casey-Westfield (3-0, 2A) — Virtually untouched so far.
2. Dakota (3-0, 1A) — Just as fast as always and hit like a train.
3. Columbia (3-0, 3A) — Putting up major points so far.
4. Galena (3-0, 1A) — Escaped tough one with Lanark Eastland.
5. Auburn (3-0, 2A) — Outscoring opponents 154-26.
6. Jacksonville Routt (3-0, 1A) — Haven’t given up a point yet and might not.
7. Toulon Stark County (3-0, 1A) – Unscored upon and thrashing teams.
8. Salt Fork (3-0, 1A) — Still the class of East Central Illinois.
9. Mount Sterling Brown County (3-0, 1A) Routt in Week 4 will show who’s best in WIVC North.
10. Du Quoin (2-1, 3A) — Will bounce back from one-point loss to Herrin.
11. Lena Winslow (2-1, 2A) — Loss is to No. 2 Dakota by a TD.
12. Oregon (3-0, 3A) — Racing to big start.
13. Aurora Christian (3-0, 3A) — Don Beebe’s club rolling.
14. St. Teresa (3-0, 3A) — Bulldogs just pile up regular season wins.
15. Aledo (3-0, 3A) — Green Dragons spit fire and take names.
16. Elmhurst Immaculate Conception (2-1, 2A) — Played 3-0 Aurora Christian to 22-12.
17. Morrison (2-1, 2A) — Dropped close one to Sterling Newman Catholic.
18. Cerro Gordo (2-1, 1A) — Broncos fell to much bigger (Class 3A) Farmington.
19. Concord Triopia (3-0, 1A) — Given up just 20 points to two 2-1 teams.
20. Greenville (3-0, 3A) — Hasn’t dropped one yet despite playing on the road.
Week 3’s Must See
Jacksonville Routt at Mount Sterling Brown County: Both are salty tests perfect for midseason.
Greenville at Vandalia: Both 3-0 but Greenville stuck on the road while field is finished. Aledo at Carthage Illini West:Green Dragons still may be the speediest on the field
Toulon Stark County at Cuba North Fulton: Can North Fulton score on the Stark County defense? Can anyone?
Troy Hayes covers central and southern Illinois for MaxPreps. He may be reached at thayes@herald-review.com
