ALTON MARQUETTE EXPLORERS at ALTHOFF CRUSADERS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Althoff High School.
Althoff coach: Austin Frazier.
2024 record : 4-0.
Week 4 result: The Crusaders defeated Tolono Unity 53-52 in a wild, thrilling game. University of Oregon commit Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for 255 yards and 4 touchdowns on 23 carries. He also caught the game-winning touchdown in the closing moments and then ran in the 2-point conversion to secure the victory for Althoff. Sophomore QB Jayden Ellington completed 14 passes for 182 yards.
Alton Marquette coach/2023 results: Eric Dickerson. The Explorers went 1-8 last season.
2024 record: 0-4.
Week 4 result: The Explorers lost to Harrisburg (IL) 54-0.
2023 matchup: Althoff defeated Alton Marquette 42-0.
Additional notes : The Crusaders led 35-14 at halftime only to find themselves trailing 52-45 after a Tolono touchdown with 1:23 remaining. However, Althoff answered, as Ellington connected with Hill Jr. on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 7 seconds remaining. Crusaders coach Austin Frazier went for the win and Hill Jr. ran in the 2-point conversion to keep Althoff perfect on the season.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, as Althoff hosts Collinsville and Alton Marquette entertains Mater Dei.
BELLEVILLE EAST LANCERS at ALTON REDBIRDS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Alton High School.
Belleville East coach: Michael Harrison.
2024 record: 2-2 overall, 0-1 in Southwestern Conference play.
Week 4 result: The Lancers lost to East St. Louis 40-0.
Alton coach: Cody Markle.
2024 record: 0-4 overall, 0-1 in Southwestern Conference play.
Week 4 result: The Redbirds lost to Belleville West 44-6.
2023 matchup: Belleville East defeated Alton 63-16.
Additional notes : The Lancers started the season 2-0 before running into powerhouse teams in Althoff and East St. louis.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume SWC play next weekend as Alton visits Edwardsville at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, and Belleville East hosts O’Fallon at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.
BELLEVILLE WEST MAROONS at EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Edwardsville High School.
Belleville West coach: Ken Turner.
2024 record: 3-1 overall, 1-0 in Southwestern Conference action.
Week 4 result: The Maroons toppled Alton 44-6. Junior QB Bernard Chapman completed 11-of-13 passes for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns. Senior WR Calvin Nolan had 3 catches for 63 yards, while junior RB Isaiah Williams rushed for 80 yards.
Edwardsville coach: Kelsey Pickering.
2024 record: 3-1, 1-0 in Southwestern Conference action.
Week 4 result: The Tigers defeated O’Fallon 46-10. Edwardsville led the Panthers 14-0 after a quarter and 33-3 at halftime en route to the victory.
2023 matchup: Edwardsville defeated Belleville West 48-0.
Additional notes: The Maroons are looking for their first win against Edwardsville since the 2010 season. Belleville West won that game 20-14.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume league play next weekend as Edwardsville visits Alton at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, and Belleville West travels to East St. Louis at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.
EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS at O’FALLON PANTHERS
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at O’Fallon High School.
East St. Louis coach: Darren Sunkett.
2024 record: 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Southwestern Conference play.
Week 3 result: The Flyers defeated Belleville East 40-0. Senior QB Kendrick Lyons threw for 281 yards. Fellow QB Reece Shanklin, a sophomore, threw for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore WR Ronnie GoMiller had 142 receiving yards, while junior WR Armaad Sharp had 120 receiving yards.
O’Fallon coach: Joe Speaks.
2024 record: 0-4 overall, 0-1 in Southwestern Conference play.
Week 4 result: The Panthers fell to Edwardsville 46-10. Senior WR Donald Johnson caught 4 passes for 92 yards in the loss.
2023 matchup: East St. Louis defeated O’Fallon 54-13.
Additional notes : The Flyers have not lost a league game since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign that took place in the spring. Since that loss, East St. Louis has won 18-straight conference games.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume SWC action at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, as East St. Louis hosts Belleville West and O’Fallon travels to Belleville East.
COLLINSVILLE KAHOKS at GRANITE CITY WARRIORS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Granite City High School.
O’Fallon coach: Colton Rhodes.
2024 record: 2-2.
Week 4 result: The Kahoks lost to Mount Vernon 45-21. Senior RB Chase Reynolds rushed for 132 yards on 10 carries in the loss.
Granite City coach: Steve Roustio.
2024 record: 0-4.
Week 3 result: Granite City lost to Centralia 49-6.
2023 matchup: Collinsville defeated Granite City 54-0.
Additional notes: The Kahoks and the Warriors once were members of the Southwestern Conference in football. Both programs are currently independents.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, as Collinsville visits Althoff and Granite City travels to Carbondale.
FREEBURG MIDGETS at COLUMBIA EAGLES
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Columbia High School.
Freeburg coach: Ronnie Stuart.
2024 record: 1-3 overall, 0-1 in Cahokia Conference play (Mississippi Division).
Week 4 result: The Midgets lost to Breese Central 42-0.
Columbia coach: Scott Horner.
2024 record: 2-2 overall, 0-1 in Cahokia Conference play (Mississippi Division).
Week 4 result: The Eagles lost to Roxana 14-7. Senior FB Cameron Janik posted Columbia’s touchdown. Senior QB Mason Voegele threw for 146 yards and rushed for 71 in the loss.
2023 matchup: Freeburg defeated Columbia 28-14.
Additional notes: Columbia trailed 14-0 late in the 4th quarter before drawing to within 14-7 on Janik’s touchdown. However, the Eagles could not pull off the comeback.
Lookahead to Week 5: Both teams resume Cahokia Conference action (Mississippi Division) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, as Freeburg travels to Roxana and Columbia visits Wood River.
METRO-EAST STATS LEADERS
Several metro-east football players are putting up big seasons. Here is a look at how some of the top stars have performed through 4 weeks:
Dierre Hill, Jr., Althoff, RB, senior. Hill Jr. is tops in the metropolitan St. Louis area in several categories, including touchdowns (16), rushing yards (840), total yards (909) and total points (100). Of note, the University of Oregon commit is averaging a whopping 17.9 yards per carry, also first in the area by a wide margin.
Zion Taylor, Cahokia, QB, senior. Taylor is 3rd among area leaders in passing yards with 1,242. He’s throw 6 touchdowns and has 0 interceptions in 89 passing attempts.
Bernard Chapman, Belleville West, QB, junior. Chapman boasts the best passer rating with a minimum of 32 attempts at 195.148. Overall, he has completed 29 passes in 38 attempts for 713 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Omar Mims Jr., Cahokia, WR, junior. Mims Jr. ranks 3rd among area leaders in receiving yards with 479. He has caught 11 passes for an area-leading average of 43.5 yards per catch.
Kingston Jones, Belleville East, P, sophmore. Jones is 4th among area leaders in punting average at 43.63 yards per punt.
Isaac Phipps, Cahokia, DE/LB, senior. Phipps leads the area with 8 quarterback sacks. Phipps also is tied with several other players with an area-leading 3 fumble recoveries.
Clayton Lakatos, Edwardsville, WR/DB, senior. Lakatos is 3rd among leaders in kickoff return average at 44.33 yards per return.
Ethan Greenwald, Highland, senior. Greenwald is tied for 2nd among area leaders in solo tackles at 43.
Lucas Schwartzkopf, Red Bud, senior. Schwartzkopf is 3rd among area leaders in solo tackles at 42.
Michael Tongay, Collinsville, senior. Tongay is tied for 1st among area leaders in assists with 33.
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