Round 2 | Preview
As we head into the Round of 16, the NUIC holds onto 6 teams still remaining in the playoffs, however with 4 of them squaring off in the 1A playoffs, at best only 3 will remain in 1A, while West Carroll is left to fend for themselves in the 2A playoffs. This week will shatter some nerves for some, as we have some very close predicted games, and for others it will be another notch on their belt as they hope to find their journey end in DeKalb. Sit back, kick your feet up, and dig in.
Last week both teams took care of their 1st round opponents with relative ease. Le-Win jumped out to a 34-0 1st quarter lead en route to a 55-20 win over #16 Stark County. Milledgeville on the other hand raced out to a 20-0 1st quarter lead as they cruised past Abingdon-Avon 56-14. Lena-Winslow, the #1 ranked team in state, and Milledgeville have never met before in the playoffs. This will be the first time meeting between these conference crossovers ever, as they have never met since the merge of the NWIC and UIC into the super-conference UIC, now known as the NUIC.
Lena-Winslow Panthers 10-0
Conference: NUIC Northwest
State Titles: 2010, 2013
Playoff Record: 31-21
Trips to Playoffs: 24
Consecutive: 19
Points/Game For: 47
Points/Game Against: 9
Milledgeville Missiles 8-2
Conference: NUIC Upstate
No State Titles
Playoff Record: 17-20
Trips to Playoffs: 21
Consecutive: 2
Points/Game For: 31
Points/Game Against: 16
Predictions:
Massey - Le-Win 42 Milledgeville 6
Calpreps - Le-Win 44 Milledgeville 10
In one the most anticipated match-ups in Round 2, the Steamers and Cardinals square off for the 3rd time in the playoffs. Each team won during their 1st state championship run, with Fulton edging Forreston out 20-14 in 1976, while Forreston took care of Fulton rather decisively in 2014, 53-20. Last week Forreston took care of #14 Salt Fork 50-14, while Fulton matched up with another state ranked opponent in Marquette, coming out on top 34-16. This will be the 2nd week in a row that Fulton faces a state ranked opponent, this one comes against the #3 ranked defending state champs.
Forreston Cardinals 9-1
Conference: NUIC Northwest
State Titles: 2014, 2016
Playoff Record: 25-20
Trips to Playoffs: 23
Consecutive: 8
Points/Game For: 42
Points/Game Against: 11
Fulton Steamers 7-3
Conference: Three Rivers Rock
State Titles: 1976, 1991
Playoff Record: 23-16
Trips To Playoffs: 19
Consecutive: 2
Points/Game For: 33
Points/Game Against: 22
Predictions:
Massey - Forreston 42 Fulton 21
Calpreps - Forreston 42 Fulton 20
The GCMS Falcons get their 2nd NUIC foe in as many weeks, as they throttled EPC in the opening round 50-14. On the other hand, West Carroll matches up with an HOIC foe in as many weeks as well, as they laid the hammer down on Fieldcrest 40-0, pulling away in the 4th quarter last week. This game has a lot of intrigue, as GCMS has the largest point differential in the 2A playoffs with a +41, but the West Carroll defense is giving up just over a score a game. This will be a tough test for both teams, as the winner should have an easier path to the semifinals after this week.
West Carroll Thunder 7-3
Conference: NUIC Northwest
No State Title Appearances
Playoff Record: 2-4
Trips to Playoffs: 5
1st trip since 2015
Points/Game For: 28
Points/ Game Against: 11
GCMS Falcons 10-0
Conference: Heart Of Illinois Small
No State Title Appearances
Playoff Record: 11-16
Trips to Playoffs: 17
Consecutive: 13
Points/Game For: 47
Points/Game Against: 6
Predictions:
Massey - GCMS 28 West Carroll 13
Calpreps - GCMS 28 West Carroll 17