Southwestern Conference play begins for Belleville East and West as Althoff heads north (original) (raw)
The Belleville East and Belleville West football teams will open Southwestern Conference action this week, while Althoff heads north for its contest.
Here is a snapshot of those games and other key local match-ups.
ALTHOFF CRUSADERS at TOLONO UNITY ROCKETS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Tolono Unity High School.
Althoff coach: Austin Frazier.
2024 record: 3-0.
Week 3 result: The Crusaders defeated Belleville East 49-21. University of Oregon commit Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 13 carries. Sophomore RB/DB Steven Brown also returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.
Tolono Unity coach/2023 results: Scott Hamilton. The Rockets went 9-3 last season while advancing to the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 3A postseason where they lost to Mt. Carmel.
2024 record: 2-1.
Week 3 result: The Rockets defeated Illinois Valley Central 48-6.
2023 matchup: The two teams did not meet in 2023. Additional notes: The Crusaders racked up 28 first quarter points and 42 points total in the opening half of the victory against Belleville East. Althoff is averaging 50.3 points per game.
Lookahead to Week 5: After facing the Rockets, Althoff will host Alton Marquette at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.
EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS at BELLEVILLE EAST LANCERS
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Belleville East High School.
Belleville East coach: Michael Harrison.
2024 record: 2-1.
Week 3 result: The Lancers lost to Althoff 49-21. Sophomore QB Kingston Jones completed 17 passes for 165 yards and 1 touchdown. Junior RB Jaedon Beamon rushed for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 carries, while sophomore WR James Johnson hauled in 5 passes for 80 yards.
East St. Louis coach: Darren Sunkett.
2024 record: 3-0.
Week 3 result: The Flyers defeated Philadelphia Imhotep 35-14 on the road. East St. Louis led 14-7 at halftime and then pulled away in the second half. Senior QB Kendrick Lyons completed 16 passes for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns.
2023 matchup: East St. Louis defeated Belleville East 48-0.
Additional notes: Belleville East actually grabbed a quick 7-0 lead against Althoff, and, after falling behind, rallied to tie the score at 14-14. However, the Crusaders took over from there, posting 28 points the rest of the first half for a 42-21 margin. As far as East St. Louis, its Week 3 foe was the defending Class 5A state champions in Pennsylvania.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume SWC play next weekend as Belleville East visits Alton at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, and East St. Louis travels to O’Fallon at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
ALTON REDBIRDS at BELLEVILLE WEST MAROONS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Belleville West High School.
Belleville West coach: Ken Turner.
2024 record: 2-1.
Week 3 result: The Maroons rolled past Normandy (Missouri) 55-0. Junior QB Bernard Chapman completed 5-of-6 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns. senior WR Michale Sutton grabbed 2 passes for 57 yards, while junior WR Nicholas Hankins caught 1 pass for 53 yards.
Alton coach: Cody Markle.
2024 record: 0-3.
Week 3 result: The Redbirds fell to Triad 43-25.
2023 matchup: Belleville West defeated Alton 8-7.
Additional notes: The Maroons are looking to go 2 games above .500 for the first time since the 2018 campaign.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume Southwestern Conference action at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, as Belleville West visits Edwardsville and Alton hosts Belleville East.
O’FALLON PANTHERS at EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Edwardsville High School.
O’Fallon coach: Joe Speaks.
2024 record: 0-3.
Week 3 result: The Panthers fell to St. Mary’s 36-23.
Edwardsville coach: Kelsey Pickering.
2024 record: 2-1.
Week 3 result: The Tigers defeated Jackson (Missouri) 41-7. QB Yale Weaver completed 24 of 35 passes for 201 yards and 4 touchdowns. RB Steven Moore Jr. rushed for 110 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries. Additionally, senior WR Clayton Lakatos caught 2 touchdown passes, while senior WR Gavin Potthast and junior WR Devyon Hill-Lomaz each grabbed touchdown passes. Senior RB Javion Smith also rushed for a touchdown.
2023 matchup: Edwardsville defeated O’Fallon 47-14.
Additional note: The Tigers led 28-0 at halftime against Jackson and coasted to victory.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume Southwestern Conference next weekend as Edwardsville hosts Belleville West at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, and O’Fallon entertains East St. Louis at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
MOUNT VERNON RAMS at COLLINSVILLE KAHOKS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Collinsville High School.
O’Fallon coach: Colton Rhodes.
2024 record: 2-1.
Week 3 result: The Kahoks defeated Carbondale 27-8. Senior RB Chase Reynolds rushed for 201 yards on 17 carries while junior RB Talin Nabors added 84 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Mount Vernon coach/2023 results: Dan Mings. The Rams went 6-4 last season and reached the first round of the IHSA Class 5A postseason where they lost to Highland.
2024 record: 1-2.
Week 3 result: The Rams lost to Marion 37-34. Senior QB Malakai Mays completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Marlin Price while also rushing for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries. RB Esias Jefferson added 128 yards rushing and 1 touchdown on 11 carries.
2023 matchup: Mount Vernon defeated Collinsville 33-24.
Additional notes: The Kahoks have won 2-straight after an 0-1 start.The Rams, meanwhile, led 28-21 heading into the 4th quarter before Marion rallied for the win.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27**,** Collinsville visits Granite City and Mount Vernon travels travels to Akron (Ohio).
GRANITE CITY WARRIORS at CENTRALIA ORPHANS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Centralia High School.
Granite City coach/2023 results: Steve Roustio. The Warriors went 0-8-1 last season.
2024 record: 0-3.
Week 3 result: Granite City lost to Cahokia 76-0.
Centralia coach/2023 results: Brad Goewey. The Orphans went 2-7 last season.
2024 record: 1-2.
Week 3 result: The Orphans lost to Waterloo 27-26.
2023 matchup: Centralia won against Granite City 2-0 via forfeit.
Additional notes: The Orphans led Waterloo 26-21 before allowing a touchdown with 5:21 remaining. That marked the second-straight close loss for Centralia, which fell to Collinsville 21-19 in Week 2.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, as Granite City hosts Collinsville and Centralia entertains Carbondale in a South Seven Conference match-up.
BREESE CENTRAL COUGARS at FREEBURG MIDGETS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Freeburg High School.
Freeburg coach: Ronnie Stuart.
2024 record: 1-2.
Week 3 result: The Midgets lost to Chester 31-14. Senior Weston Jarvis rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries.
Breese Central coach: Brian Short.
2024 record: 3-0.
Week 3 result: The Cougars defeated Red Bud 48-21.
2023 matchup: Breese Central defeated Freeburg 37-14.
Additional notes: The Cougars enter the game red hot, having outscored their last two opponents 97-34.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume Cahokia Conference action (Mississippi Division) Friday, Sept. 27, as Breese Central plays Wood River at noon and Freeburg visits Columbia at 7 p.m.