Here are the top 6 football matchups for Week 1 and predictions around Springfield

High school football kicks off with a bang on Friday and Saturday in the Springfield area.

The Central State Eight opens nonconference action with at least a few buzzworthy games, while top teams from the Sangamo collide.

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Here are the top six matchups, along with predictions for the rest of the Springfield area:

🏈 TOP KEY MATCHUPS

Central State Eight

Sacred Heart-Griffin at St. Louis Christian Brothers, 6 p.m.: SHG received a good opening test in a Week 0 scrimmage against East St. Louis, the Class 6A state runnerup from last season. The Cyclones now meet Missouri Class 6 runnerup St. Louis Brothers Christian, which had won the previous two state titles until falling to Liberty North in last year’s championship game.

CBC’s Jeremiah McClellan perhaps left for Oregon, but senior receiver Corey Simms remains. He committed to USC in June. Jackson Kohl is another Division I prospect at tight end while defensive edge rusher Triston Abram is committed to Indiana. McClellan’s younger brother, Nicholas, will take over as the QB.

The Cyclones retain a wealth of receivers themselves — including seniors Seamus O’Brien, Jamarion Bardwell, Chris Link and Mylin Logan. SHG will also introduce a new QB. Trent Caldwell, Cam Brinkman, Drew Ward and Beau Chance each took reps against ESL. Prediction: CBC 42, SHG 21

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Edwardsville at Chatham Glenwood, 7 p.m.: Edwardsville certainly isn’t a cakewalk either. The Tigers have made the Class 8A playoffs in each of the last 12 seasons, excluding the canceled 2021 spring postseason. They ultimately fell to Elmhurst York in last year’s quarterfinals. Yale Weaver will assume the QB role in place of prolific passer Jake Curry, who left for Southern Illinois. Weaver’s older brother, Jack, will be among the top targets at tight end. Defensively, Iowa commit Iose Epenesa will be a force upfront.

The 6A Titans repossess much of their pass game production from last season beginning with junior QB Colten Knoedler, who threw for 2,392 yards and 30 TDs while rushing for five more scores. He has no shortage of options at receiver, including Gavin Simmons, Blake Lehnen, Mason Neumann and Jonathan Helm. Prediction: Edwardsville 49, Glenwood 35

Rochester at Chicago Simeon (Gately Stadium), Saturday, 1:15 p.m.: Simeon boasts Division I prospects of its own. That includes senior edge rusher Christopher Burgess Jr., who is committed to Notre Dame. Another Notre Dame target is also joining the defensive line this year, junior transfer McHale Blade. That proceeded Sinque Turner’s departure from Kenwood to become the head coach at 6A Simeon. Turner led Kenwood to five consecutive playoff appearances in 6A and 7A.

It will be a tough hurdle for Rochester’s relatively young offense. The reigning Class 4A state champions return senior QB Bryan Zulauf but just one offensive lineman, Jake Milliron, from last year’s starting lineup. Prediction: Simeon 30, Rochester 28

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Sangamo

Auburn at Williamsville, 7 p.m.: Both offenses found their groove in last year’s meeting. All-state running back Braddock Cates set a school record with 330 rushing yards and five TDs in a 51-22 Williamsville victory. Cates returns for his final season after churning out more than 1,400 rushing yards and 16 TDs last season. He will work with a veteran offensive line that includes all-Sangamo first team pick Matthew Crouch.

Auburn QB Jack Jones made his first start against the Bullets and completed 32 of 47 passing attempts for 353 yards and two scores. He may turn to senior receiver Carter Hunley, who had 30 catches for 383 yards and four TDs last season. Prediction: Williamsville 49, Auburn 28

Maroa-Forsyth at Athens, 7 p.m.: Both teams made deep postseason runs in Class 2A but lost to eventual state champion Wilmington. Maroa has won seven of the last eight meetings against Athens, but four of those games were by a combined 12 points, including Maroa’s 28-21 win last year to clinch a second straight Sangamo title.

Junior QB Ryne Sheppard is expected to take over the pocket after sitting behind Kaiden Maurer. Senior tight end/linebacker Grant Smith and senior receiver/defensive back Mitch Williams will pack a punch on both sides of the ball.

Athens graduated running backs Cory Craig Jr. and Camren Bigard, but the offensive and defensive fronts may be the team's biggest assets early in the season. That includes senior center Kody Walsh, who was all-Sangamo second team last season. Prediction: Maroa 27, Athens 20

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South Central preview: South Central Conference football preview for 2024: Top players, matchups, predictions

South Central

Pana at Vandalia, 7 p.m.: These SCC contenders have split the last two meetings. Pana won last year’s meeting 46-34, led by Isaiah Harbert’s 163 rushing yards and four TDs. The senior running back/linebacker returns after grabbing all-SCC laurels offensively and defensively. It was also QB Wyatt Kile’s first start in the pocket. He completed 8 of 13 passing attempts for 188 yards and two TDs. The Panthers will need to be wary of Vandalia junior wideout Kohnor Depew, who racked up nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 15 TDs last season. Prediction: Pana 48, Vandalia 44

🏈 OTHER PREDICTIONS

Central State Eight

Springfield High 42, Champaign Central 35

Lincoln 36, Lanphier 13

Southeast 27, East Peoria 20

Jacksonville 56, Pittsfield 13

Sangamo

New Berlin 34, Pleasant Plains 29

Stanford Olympia 49, Petersburg PORTA 14

South Central

Piasa Southwestern 40, Gillespie 13

North Mac 22, Hillsboro 20

Carlinville 40, Litchfield 20

Greenville 48, Staunton 22

Elsewhere

Taylorville 50, Olney Richland County 8

Nokomis 28, Arcola 27

Oneida ROWVA 42, Havana 6

Niantic Sangamon Valley 16, Oakland Tri-County 13

Toulon Stark County 34, Rushville-Industry 21

Kincaid South Fork 32, Farmer City Blue Ridge 13

Hardin Calhoun 38, Jacksonville Routt 34

Carrollton 20, Beardstown 18

Champaign St. Thomas More 36, Pawnee 35

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here are the top 6 football matchups for Week 1 and predictions around Springfield