Vedette Sports Report
By Jeff Vorva
The schedules are out, and they are official.
The Illinois High School Association released the football schedules for the 2024 season and all three teams in the Vedette coverage area are looking for playoff bids. Here is a look at what the three teams are up against this season:
Crete-Monee
The traditionally strong Crete-Monee football program opens things up at 6 p.m. on August 30, hosting Richards. The Warriors follow that up with a September 6 battle at St. Charles North, a team that beat them 30-14 in 2023. The only other non-conference game on the schedule is at Danville on September 27.
Also on tap are Southland Conference games with Thornton, Thornwood, Thornridge, Rich Township, Bloom, and Kankakee.
Last year, the Warriors finished 7-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference. They qualified for the playoffs in Class 6A and beat Champaign Centennial in the first round, 47-13, but lost to Washington, 21-0, in the second round.
Manteno
Manteno needed just one win in the final two games of the 2023 season to qualify for the playoffs but lost to Wilmington, 56-13, and Coal City, 34-14, to finish 4-5. This year, they are hoping to bump up that win total and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Panthers open the 2024 campaign hosting Sandwich at 7 p.m. on August 30 and visiting Plano on September 6 in non-conference action – two teams that beat them to open the season at 0-2 in 2023.
On the Illinois Central Eight Conference slate this year with be games against Herscher, Streator, Lisle, Peotone, Reed-Custer, Wilmington, and Coal City.
Peotone
The Blue Devils have a pattern to their schedule as they play all of their odd games (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) at home and the even games (2, 4, 6, 8) on the road. They open up at 7 p.m. on August 30 hosting Noble Muchin out of Chicago and make a lengthy trip to Marengo on September 6.
The Illinois Central Eight Conference will feature games with Reed-Custer, Wilmington, Coal City, Manteno, Streator, Lisle, and Herscher.
Last year, the Blue Devils were 7-4 and opened the Class 3A playoffs with a 34-13 win over Crane but fell in the second round to eventual state champion Byron, 56-7.
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