A Look Back and Look Ahead

Some quick thoughts about the Heartland Football Friday Season.
Sikeston and Valle were never really challenged until they lost in the State Tournament.
Out of all the talented teams in Southern Illinois---Nashville was the last one standing. A nice run for a team that lost some tough games during the regular season.
Good luck to Mayfield, Paducah Tilghman and Lone Oak. All three of these teams from Western Kentucky have made it to the state finals. Now that's impressive!
This year provided some of the best plays I have ever experienced covering Friday night football.
How about that Salukis ballclub. An easy win over Eastern Illinois and now William & Mary comes to McAndrew Stadium. SIU looks very solid in all aspects of the game.
Senior running back Deji Karim named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
And SIU should continue to be good for years to come with redshirt freshman Quarterback Paul McIntosh who was voted the top football player in the state of Indiana his senior year at Evansville Reitz.
Salukis host William & Mary at 11:00 a.m. Saturday.

Only The Best On Heartland Football Friday

This is the time of year when only the best teams take the field on Heartland Football Friday.
On Saturday the Missouri State Semifinals feature two outstanding match ups.
In class 4 Sikeston plays at Helias. Both teams are a combined 24-0.
Both also manhandled their one common opponent---Farmington.
In class 1 Valle and Tipton are both 12-0 as well.
The Warriors are on the road again but it doesn't seem to matter the way they've been blowing everyone out.
The Kentucky Quarterfinals resume Friday with a couple battles of unbeatens.
In Class 2A powerful Fort Campbell visits Murray and in 4A Allen County Scottsville makes the trip to Lone Oak.
I can't wait to see how these games turn out.
Turning to College Football top ranked SIU visits SEMO.
The Redhawks are coming off their only OVC win against Murray State while the Salukis wiped out Missouri State for the outright Missouri Valley Conference title.
I would expect the out manned Redhawks to play with a lot of emotion Saturday on senior day at Houck stadium.
And finally, it's time to announce the winner of our final Cheer off between Marion and Poplar Bluff. See you On Heartland Football Friday.

Four Heartland Teams Advance to Quarterfinals

A huge Saturday ahead for Four Southeast Missouri High School football teams.
Valle Catholic, Caruthersville, New Madrid County Central and Sikeston all advancing to the Quarterfinal round.
Here's a breakdown:

Class 1 Quarterfinal Valle Catholic at Miller:
Valle is 12-0 and has hardly been challenged all season. 10-2 Miller will have home field advantage and should put up a tough fight--but I still like the Warriors in this one.

Class 2 Quarterfinal Caruthersville at Brentwood:
Caruthersville is 10-2 and playing great football lately. Brentwood is 10-1 and will be very tough at home. The Tigers will need to put together a complete team effort to pull it off.

Class 3 Quarterfinal NMCC at Priory:
New Madrid County Central put it all together with a big win over previously unbeaten Potosi.
The 9-3 Eagles now visit 7-5 Priory. If NMCC can keep it going the Eagles will be very dangerous.

Class 4 Quarterfinal Ladue Horton Watkins at Sikeston. The Bulldogs are 12-0 against against a talented 10-2 Ladue Horton Watkins ball club. I have to believe home field will be a big advantage for Sikeston in this game.

Class 3A Illinois State Quarterfinal Tolono (Unity) at Nashville.
This figures to a very difficult match up for Nashville against Unbeaten Tolono. But the Hornets have been up to the task so far--we'll see if they can keep the magic going one more time?

Catch all your scores and highlights Saturday on Heartland Sports!