Fearful forecast

Well, here goes nothing - because of course these are strictly for fun and recreational purposes only...

Those who have seen my predictions through the years know they're frequently good for a few laughs and not much else. But we're here to entertain and make you chuckle a bit, so here goes with the Elite Eight that will emerge from Champaign holding title trophies this weekend.

CLASS 8A - Maine South vs. Hinsdale Central
After a 42-0 quarterfinal romp at Barrington (with a running clock the last 21 minutes), Maine South coach Dave Inserra said to his team "the only team that can beat Maine South is Maine South." And it doesn't look like that's going to happen here with so many explosive weapons in QB Charlie Goro, RB Matt Perez and WR Joey Orlando. Most impressive was the way the defense shut down an explosive Barrington offense and nearly got another shutout against Bartlett last week. Coach Mike DiMatteo has great things going at Hinsdale and there are dangerous threats in QB John Whitelaw and WR Rich Zajeski, but the Hawks soar back to Park Ridge with their third title trophy and first for Inserra 42-21.

CLASS 7A - Geneva vs. East St. Louis
Michael Ratay, Michael Ratay, Michael Ratay. Fans are going to hear that name a lot - at least Geneva's hope so - as one of the most prolific running backs in state history tries to finish a perfect season with the first title trophy for the Vikings. East St. Louis was one of the state's most powerful and respected programs from the late 1970s until 1991 when it won six titles under Bob Shannon. And this Flyers team seems to remind many of the glory days with D-I receivers Terry Hawthorne and Kraig Appleton and a pair of stud juniors at QB in Detchauz Wray and RB Courtney Molton. Geneva has been one of the great stories of recent years as coach Rob Wicinski has paid his dues for some hard times there and at Niles North, but the title goes back to East Side 41-24.

CLASS 6A - Lemont vs. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin
Lemont is looking to make amends for last year's 49-7 title game loss to Joliet Catholic and no one has come closer than 14 points all season. Junior Danny Hayes has rushed for 1,800 yards behind stud lineman Trevor Rothstein. Springfield Griffin has been here before under veteran coach Ken Leonard, who won titles in 2005 and 2006 and has finished second twice. QB Tim Dondanville has thrown for 28 TDs and Gary Wilson has rushed for 28 scores (nice balance). Griffin lost a season-opening heart-breaker on the final play to Montini its opener but closes with a 13- game winning streak and another title 28-14.

CLASS 5A - St. Francis vs. Metamora
Didn't take long for Greg Purnell to work the magic he had in Iowa (3 state titles) in Wheaton by turning a 3-6 team in his first year into a 12-win team making its first trip to Champaign. Mark Kachmer and Stan Bobowski have run through people for more than 3,000 yards. But Metamora appears to be making up for so many near misses (six second-place finishes) as it brings a 27-game winning streak to Champaign. What's scary for opponents in its vaunted option attack is QB Michael Fay and FB Aaron Peters, who have combined for 54 rushing TDs, are back next year. The Redbirds repeat as champs 35-20.

CLASS 4A - Aurora Christian vs. Bloomington Central Catholic
Don Beebe played with one of the NFL's greatest QBs in Jim Kelly and now he's coaching one of the best in Illinois HS history in Jordan Roberts. Matt Morse and David Zielke are talented receivers and Lewis Gaddis is a formidable running threat in Aurora Christian's first title appearance. BCC was second last year and is looking for its fourth title behind QB Adam Rebholz, but Roberts caps a magical career with a title in a 28-21 win.

CLASS 3A - DuQuoin vs. Carthage Illini West
Small-school QBs seem to get better and better through the years and DuQuoin's AJ Hill is no exception with 31 TDs passing and 17 running. No wonder he's heading to NIU. What a coaching matchup, too, between DuQuoin's Al Martin and Carthage's Jim Unruh - nearly 450 career wins and 6 state titles. Martin gets his third title here with a 45-28 win.

CLASS 2A - Immaculate Conception vs. Casey-Westfield
OK, you thought it was a nice little story when IC came in at 5-4 and won its first game in a romp. And the routs have just kept coming for the Knights and their dangerous running game with Carlos Rodriguez and Paul Hornstra as they try to become the first 4-loss champion. Casey has 7 shutouts and allowed only 52 points (which IC scored last week), but it hasn't seen anything like this as the Knights complete the ultimate Cinderella story 34-13.

CLASS 1A - Toulon Stark County vs. Concord Triopia
Yes, I've been to Toulon nearly two decades ago back in the day when I worked in Peoria and wrote a feature story on a state champion sprinter named Brandi Mock. OK, enough of the trivia - Stark County didn't exactly speed into the postseason with 3 straight losses that included a 40-7 disaster, but it recovered to get here. Triopia had no struggles like that and it finishes an unbeaten season 42-7.

Can't wait to see how silly these things look after this weekend.