Althoff returns to Belleville with a perfect record

ALTON MARQUETTE EXPLORERS at ALTHOFF CRUSADERS

Start: Friday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., Althoff High School.

Coach Althoff: Austin Frazier.

Record 2024: 4-0.

Result week 4: The Crusaders defeated Tolono Unity 53-52 in a wild, thrilling game. Dierre Hill Jr., who is committed to the University of Oregon, ran for 255 yards and 4 touchdowns on 23 carries. He also caught the game-winning touchdown in the closing minutes and then ran the 2-point conversion to secure the win for Althoff. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Ellington completed 14 passes for 182 yards.

Alton Marquette Coaches/Results 2023: Eric Dickerson. The Explorers finished 1-8 last season.

Record 2024: 0-4.

Result week 4: The Explorers lost to Harrisburg (IL) 54-0.

Matchday 2023: Althoff defeated Alton Marquette 42-0.

Additional information: The Crusaders led 35-14 at halftime, but then trailed 52-45 after a Tolono touchdown with 1:23 left. However, Althoff answered when Ellington threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Hill Jr. with 7 seconds left. Crusaders coach Austin Frazier went for the win and Hill Jr. ran in the 2-point conversion, giving Althoff a perfect season win this season.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume action on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. when Althoff hosts Collinsville and Alton Marquette hosts Mater Dei.

BELLEVILLE EAST LANCERS at ALTON REDBIRDS

Start: Friday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., Alton High School.

Coach Belleville East: Michael Harrison.

Record 2024: 2-2 overall, 0-1 in the Southwestern Conference.

Result week 4: The Lancers lost to East St. Louis 40-0.

Alton Coach: Cody Markle.

Record 2024: 0-4 overall, 0-1 in the Southwestern Conference.

Result week 4: The Redbirds lost to Belleville West 44-6.

Matchday 2023: Belleville East defeated Alton 63-16.

Additional information: The Lancers started the season 2-0 before facing strong teams in Althoff and East St. Louis.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume SWC play next weekend when Alton visits Edwardsville on Friday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. and Belleville East hosts O’Fallon on Saturday, October 5 at 1:00 p.m.

BELLEVILLE WEST MAROONS at EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS

Start: Friday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., Edwardsville High School.

Coach of Belleville West: I’m Ken Turner.

Record 2024: 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Southwestern Conference.

Result week 4: The Maroons defeated Alton 44-6. Junior QB Bernard Chapman completed 11 of 13 passes for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns. Senior WR Calvin Nolan caught 3 passes for 63 yards, while junior RB Isaiah Williams ran for 80 yards.

Edwardsville Coach: Kelsey Pickering.

Record 2024: 3-1, 1-0 in the Southwestern Conference game.

Result week 4: The Tigers defeated O’Fallon 46-10. Edwardsville led the Panthers 14-0 after one quarter and was up 33-3 at halftime to secure the win.

Matchday 2023: Edwardsville defeated Belleville West 48-0.

Additional information: The Maroons are looking for their first win against Edwardsville since the 2010 season. Belleville West won that game 20-14.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume league play next weekend when Edwardsville visits Alton on Friday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. and Belleville West travels to East St. Louis on Saturday, October 5th at 1:00 p.m.

EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS at O’FALLON PANTHERS

Start: Saturday, September 28, 1:00 p.m., O’Fallon High School.

East St. Louis Coach: Darren Sunkett.

Record 2024: 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Southwestern Conference.

Result week 3: The Flyers defeated Belleville East 40-0. Senior quarterback Kendrick Lyons threw for 281 yards. Fellow quarterback 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.

Record 2024: 0-4 overall, 0-1 in the Southwestern Conference.

Result week 4: The Panthers lost to Edwardsville 46-10. Senior WR Donald Johnson caught 4 passes for 92 yards in the loss.

Matchday 2023: East St. Louis defeated O’Fallon 54–13.

Additional information: The Flyers have not lost a league game since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, which took place in the spring. Since that loss, East St. Louis has won 18 consecutive conference games.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume SWC action on Saturday, October 5th at 1:00 p.m. when East St. Louis hosts Belleville West and O’Fallon travels to Belleville East.

COLLINSVILLE KAHOKS at GRANITE CITY WARRIORS

Start: Friday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., Granite City High School.

O’Fallon coach: Colton Rhodes.

Record 2024: 2-2.

Result week 4: The Kahoks lost to Mount Vernon 45-21. Senior RB Chase Reynolds rushed for 132 yards on 10 attempts in the loss.

Granite City Coach: I’m Steve Roustio.

Record 2024: 0-4.

Result week 3: Granite City lost to Centralia 49-6.

Matchday 2023: Collinsville defeated Granite City 54-0.

Additional information: The Kahoks and Warriors were once members of the Southwestern Conference in football. Both programs are currently independent.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume action on Friday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. when Collinsville visits Althoff and Granite City travels to Carbondale.

FREEBURG MIDGETS at COLUMBIA EAGLES

Start: Friday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., Columbia High School.

Coach of Freeburg: Ronnie Stuart.

Record 2024: 1:3 overall, 0:1 in the Cahokia Conference (Mississippi Division).

Result week 4: The Midgets lost to Breese Central 42-0.

Coach of Columbia: Scott Horner.

Record 2024: 2-2 overall, 0-1 in the Cahokia Conference (Mississippi Division).

Result week 4: The Eagles lost to Roxana 14-7. Senior FB Cameron Janik scored Columbia’s touchdown. Senior QB Mason Voegele threw for 146 yards and rushed for 71 yards in the loss.

Matchday 2023: Freeburg defeated Columbia 28-14.

Additional information: Columbia trailed 14-0 at the end of the 4th quarter, but was able to close the gap to 14-7 thanks to Janik’s touchdown. However, the Eagles were unable to mount a comeback.

Outlook for week 5: Both teams resume Cahokia Conference (Mississippi Division) action on Friday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m., with Freeburg traveling to Roxana and Columbia visiting Wood River.

METRO-EAST STATISTICS LEADING

Several soccer players from the Metropolitan East region are having great seasons. Here is a look at the performances of some of the top stars over the last 4 weeks:

Dierre Hill, Jr., Althoff, RB, Sr. Hill Jr. leads the St. Louis area in several categories, including touchdowns (16), rushing yards (840), total yards (909) and total points (100). Notably, the player, who is headed to the University of Oregon, is averaging a whopping 17.9 yards per carry, also leading the region by a wide margin.

Zion Taylor, Cahokia, QB, senior. Taylor is the region’s third-leading passer with 1,242 yards. He has thrown 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on 89 pass attempts.

Bernard Chapman, Belleville West, QB, junior. Chapman has the best passer rating with at least 32 attempts (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. is the region’s third-leading player with 479 receiving yards. He has caught 11 passes for a region-leading average of 43.5 yards per catch.

Kingston Jones, Belleville East, P, second year student. With a punt average of 43.63 yards per punt, Jones ranks fourth among the region’s leading players.

Isaac Phipps, Cahokia, DE/LB, senior. Phipps is the best player in the region with 8 quarterback sacks. With 3 fumble recoveries, Phipps is also tied with several other players, making him the best player in the region.

Clayton Lakatos, Edwardsville, WR/DB, senior. Lakatos ranks third in the kickoff return comparison with an average of 44.33 yards per return.

Ethan Greenwald, Highland, senior. With 43 solo tackles, Greenwald ranks second among the region’s leading players.

Lucas Schwartzkopf, Red Bud, Senior. With 42 solo tackles, Schwartzkopf ranks third among the region’s leaders.

Michael Tongay, Collinsville, Sr. Tongay ranks first among the region’s leaders with 33 assists.