Friday, November 23, 2012

Before today's contests...

...begin, I thought I'd provide a brief thumbnail sketch of each. (By the way, I'm recording all eight championship games and plan on watching them one at a time, in order. So please don't tell me anything.)

In 1A, the Stockton (above) Blackhawks take on the Maroa-Forsyth Trojans.

The Blackhawks (13-0) are ranked No. 30 by MaxPreps and have only 157 students enrolled in the whole school. While their biggest victory was over Orangeville, 59-0, their closest call was against Lena-Winslow, 22-6. Stockton outscored its opponents by a stunning 662-130 margin. Wow!

The Trojans, on the other hand, are 12-1 and ranked No. 46 in the state. Their only loss came to 3A finalist Tolono Unity, 7-6, while their biggest win was over Meridian, 61-0.

BOWG call: Stockton.

2A features the Aledo Mercer County Golden Eagles against the Belleville Althoff Catholic Crusaders.

While the Golden Eagles are undefeated and ranked No. 21 in MaxPreps, the Crusaders have three losses, are ranked only No. 104, and didn't even win their conference. In addition, Aledo defeated West Prairie by a score of 80-0 and only surrendered 100 points the whole season.

But I'm going to go with Althoff. Why? Because any team that can make the finals after being 3-3 after Week Six has enough heart to win.

BOWG call: Belleville Althoff.

In 3A, the mighty Aurora Christian Eagles take on the Tolono Unity Rockets.

Both teams are 12-1, with the Eagles losing to Montini, 31-27, and the Rockets falling to Central A & M, 47-41. Aurora Christian is ranked No. 11 in the state by MaxPreps but doesn't have an entry in Wikipedia. (That's a little strange.) Tolono Unity is ranked No. 45 but does have a Wikipedia page. Their biggest win was over Meridian (see above), 59-6. Still, I have to go with the Eagles.

BOWG call: Aurora Christian.

Finally, in 4A, the Rock Island Alleman Pioneers face the Rochester Rockets.

Both teams have only one loss, with the Pioneers' at the hands of Rock Island, 8-7, in Week Eight. The Rockets lone defeat, however, was to Sacred Heart-Griffin, 29-26, in Week Two. Also, Alleman is ranked No. 39 while Rochester is No. 17. The Rockets also had three victories this year by 42 points or more.

BOWG call: Rochester.

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