Illinois
Gimme him: Illinois high school football players pick an opponent they want as a teammate
PEORIA — Building a high school football team would be fun.
Filling in each position could be a tough task, sorting through all the skill guys, lineman and special teamers. But as much as talent would play a factor, there are intangibles that certain players would bring to the squad.
Building team chemistry is also important, so mixing together several unfamiliar players adds another wrinkle to forming the team.
This is the third of a multi-part series where the Journal Star talks with coaches and players about numerous topics relating to the world of high school football. Some of those questions range from favorite game moment, opponents they would want as a teammate, toughest teammate and go-to postgame meal. Look for more stories as the season progresses.
Here’s who Peoria-area football players want on their team.
Conference rivals
- “JJ Barnes from Morton. We already play lacrosse together. He’s a hard worker and great teammate.” — Will Freeman, Washington
- “Nobody, but if I had to choose probably Connor Daum from Stark County. He’s fast and that is something every team could use more of.” — Noah Geiger, Princeville
- “Layne Johnson (from Elmwood/Brimfield). Hard, physical athlete.” — Noah Passmore, Farmington
- “Tre Hoggard from Tolono Unity, because he is good at what he does.” — Tom Davis, Illinois Valley Central
- “Aidin Hindert from East Peoria. I work with him, and it would be awesome to suit up together.” — Tyler Hammond, Limestone
Division-I athletes
- “Jaiduan Cranford (from Metamora), because he’s a buddy of mine and would fit in with our offense.” — Layne Johnson, Elmwood/Brimfield
- “Mack Sutter (from Dunlap), because (he) is a good player and isn’t cocky about his talent.” — Gavin Otto, Canton
- “I would want Jaquarius Green (from Peoria High) on my team because I think the sheer size that he has could help our team on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.” — Mitch Sager, Peoria Notre Dame
- “Jack Gronewold and Landon Crawford (from Farmington) because I know they are great players who work hard and are overall great guys.” — Dylan Shane, Elmwood/Brimfield
- “Mack Sutter, because he’s a versatile athlete, can play multiple positions and is a good leader.” — RJ Jackson, East Peoria
- “Jaiduan (Cranford) from Metamora, because he’s a great player and a better guy.” — Jack Steffen, Dunlap
- “Jack Gronewold, because he’s a two-way player and a good teammate.” — Dalton Oakman, East Peoria
- “Mack Sutter. Highly-rated prospect that can both block and catch.” — Boh Johnson, Limestone
- “Nasir Rankin. He (is) a great wide receiver from (Chicago) Morgan Park and caught every ball.” — Riley Blue, Metamora
- “Big Baby (Jaquarius Green) from Peoria High, because we have played together before and we need more size on the line.” — Josh Hoffer, Washington
- “I would want Mack Sutter on my team. Every team could use a 6’5″, 230-pound athlete. Who doesn’t want a ‘Bama commit on their team?” — Brady Mullens, Peoria Notre Dame
Other talented guys
- “Collin Lower from Princeville. Strong, smart and would well in our system.” — Walter Lampe, Elmwood/Brimfield
- “Kylan McMillen (from Metamora). We played 7-on-7 together.” — Jack Gronewold, Farmington
- “Josh Papenhause from Tremont. I have played other sports with him and he always made sure to keep team morale high.” — Easton Orwig, Canton
- “Keimon Lee (from East Peoria). We are childhood best friends and played growing up when we were younger.” — Ty Jackson, Pekin
- “Aaden LaMar (from Morton). I work with him at Morton Dairy Queen and he is a great guy. He also is a big boy and from experience in football, big boys run people over and I like the sound of that. Also, he is 6-foot-7, 300 pounds.” — Hunter Fogle, Deer Creek-Mackinaw
- “Dalton Oakman (from East Peoria). I’ve been training with him since eighth grade and we’ve always got along really well. I think we’d have a fun quarterback room.” — Brett Bane II, Tremont
- “Will Freeman (from Washington). He’s a good athlete and physical player.” — Teigan McCoy, Pekin
- “Colton Barlow (from Dunlap). Definitely a playmaker as a lineman and was a ball of energy to be around when we played together.” — Daryl Barfield III, Richwoods
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
The 29th Big Ten men’s basketball tournament starts Tuesday and ends Sunday at the United Center, where the champion will snip down the nets while the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal furiously gets underway.
In keeping with tradition, the NCAA selection committee will claim to have factored the Big Ten final into its seeding even though it — how to put this? — did not.
Unlike last year, when 15 teams made the Big Ten field, this tourney will include all 18 teams and begin a day sooner, because clearly a five-day event just wasn’t long enough.
A team-by-team glimpse, in order of seeding (odds via FanDuel):
1. MICHIGAN (29-2, 19-1)
Next: TBD, 11 a.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +105.
Snip? If the ginormous frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. brutalizes foes like it did Illinois in Champaign, it’s over-and-out for everybody else.
Or slip? Point guard Elliot Cadeau might wear down with injured L.J. Cason unable to spell him.
2. NEBRASKA (25-5, 15-5)
Next: TBD, 5:30 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +1000.
Snip? No team plays harder at the defensive end, and the Huskers move the ball beautifully on offense. Is it shooter Pryce Sandfort’s time to shine?
Or slip? Is coach Fred Hoiberg allowed to win a championship at the UC? Asking for a few million friends.
3. MICHIGAN STATE (25-6, 15-5)
Next: TBD, approximately 8 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +650.
Snip? Jeremy Fears is one of the best playmakers around, and we are bound by law to say it’s hard to beat Tom Izzo in March.
Or slip? As tough as this team is, it lacks the kind of star power we’ve often seen in green.
4. ILLINOIS (24-7, 15-5)
Next: TBD, approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +470.
Snip? If freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic hold up to postseason competition, the shooters around them will give the Illini a shot to win it for the third time in the 2020s.
Or slip? The Illini likely would have to get past Michigan in the semis, and the first meeting was ugly.
5. WISCONSIN (22-9, 14-6)
Next: Washington-USC winner, approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +3500.
Snip? The team that popped Purdue for 97 points to ruin the Boilermakers’ Senior Day can beat anybody.
Or slip? The team that ham-fisted its way through recent lopsided losses at Ohio State and Oregon isn’t going anywhere.
6. UCLA (21-10, 13-7)
Next: Minnesota-Rutgers winner, approximately 8 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +3500.
Snip? When point guard Donovan Dent is on his game, this offense — particularly shooter Tyler Bilodeau — is dangerous.
Or slip? The Bruins are a different team, and not in a good way, away from home.
7. PURDUE (23-8, 13-7)
Next: TBD, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +550.
Snip? Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer have been there so many times before.
Or slip? Who would’ve believed the Boilers would tumble all the way to seventh? Something’s off with Matt Painter’s crew.
8. OHIO STATE (20-11, 12-8)
Next: TBD, 11 a.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +7500.
Snip? Bruce Thornton, the school’s career scoring leader, isn’t the only Buckeye who can fill it up.
Or slip? Statistically, this team is right down the middle in the conference. That has “also-ran” written all over it.
9. IOWA (20-11, 10-10)
Next: Oregon-Maryland winner, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +5000.
Snip? Guard Bennett Stirtz is terrific, and first-year coach Ben McCollum’s postseason record (most of it at Northwest Missouri State) is unreal.
Or slip? Stirtz doesn’t have a whole lot in the way of sidekicks.
10. INDIANA (18-13, 9-11)
Next: Northwestern-Penn State winner, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: +10000.
Snip? Guard Lamar Wilkerson led the Big Ten in scoring in league play and had multiple 40-plus-point games.
Or slip? Look, it’s a football school and the whole world knows it.
11. MINNESOTA (15-16, 8-12)
Next: Rutgers, approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The Gophers have beaten three higher seeds, one of them Michigan State.
Or slip? Minnesota still hasn’t won this tournament. Why start now?
12. WASHINGTON (15-16, 7-13)
Next: USC, approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +20000.
Snip? The Huskies went 3-3 down the stretch and had late leads in two of the losses.
Or slip? One NCAA win in the last 14 years kind of says it all.
13. USC (18-13, 7-13)
Next: Washington, approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? A 4-1 stretch that began at Wisconsin looked really good.
Or slip? There have been seven straight losses since then, and star Chad Baker-Mazara was just booted from the program.
14. RUTGERS (13-18, 6-14)
Next: Minnesota, approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? A lot of steals and not many turnovers from this squad.
Or slip? Every league win came against Penn State, Maryland, Oregon or Northwestern.
Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning basket during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) ORG XMIT: ILNH117
15. NORTHWESTERN (13-18, 5-15)
Next: Penn State, approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The name’s Nick Martinelli. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.
Or slip? And then there are the rest of the Wildcats.
16. OREGON (12-19, 5-15)
Next: Maryland, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The Ducks won four of seven down the stretch. They aren’t total pushovers.
Or slip? Injured Jackson Shelstad isn’t entering the building. At least not in shorts.
17. MARYLAND (11-20, 4-16)
Next: Oregon, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? Freshman guard Andre Mills has been going off and scored 39 at Northwestern.
Or slip? Uh, the Terrapins still lost in Evanston.
18. PENN STATE (12-19, 3-17)
Next: Northwestern, approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? Aside from being utterly terrible at defense, rebounding and three-point shooting, the Nittany Lions are merely subpar.
Or slip? Gee, you think?
One person was injured this weekend in a townhome fire in the southwest Chicago suburb of Orland Park, which officials said may have been exacerbated by hoarding.
The Orland Fire Protection District was called Saturday afternoon for the fire in a two-story, four-unit townhome complex the 9100 block of Greencastle Lane in Orland Park. Firefighters arrived at 1:43 p.m.
There was no obvious evidence that the townhouse complex was on fire when firefighters arrived, but they later found a basement fire involving the end unit of the complex, the district said.
All occupants were evacuated from the attached townhouses as firefighters went in. They entered the front door with a hose, but found “mounds of obstacles” in the way, the district said.
Fire crews found what were believed to be heavy hoarding conditions obstructing the path to the basement, the district said. Multiple crews had to come in to clear everything out of the way to get to the fire.
One homeowner was treated for a minor head injury, but declined to go to the hospital, the district said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday.
The Illinois Attorney General is suing a suburban McDonald’s restaurant, accusing the operator of overworking teens, some for 17 hours straight.
The lawsuit alleges the Lockport location owned by Nicholas J. Kory and Lockor LLC violated 568 Illinois Child Labor Laws in 2023.
The restaurant allegedly worked children aged 14 and 15 years old for longer than 8 hours without rest and meal breaks. One minor worked until 1:30 a.m.
The Illinois Department of Labor is seeking over $2.1 million for victims, which the company has not paid.
In a statement, the local owner said, “We are committed to ensuring that all our employees feel safe, respected, and valued. We have taken steps to address concerns that have been raised.”
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