Illinois

Why Michigan’s ‘tough battle’ vs Illinois in 2022 still means something

Published

1 month ago

October 14, 2024

Why Michigan’s ‘tough battle’ vs Illinois in 2022 still means something

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

For the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines (4-2), they’ll be hoping there were lessons learned from their nail-biter 2022 matchup against currently No. 22-ranked Illinois (5-1).

It was a chilly day at Michigan Stadium on November 19, 2022 — the temperature was just 25 degrees with a real feel of just nine with 15 mph winds swirling. It was a brutal day to watch football at The Big House, let alone play in the game.

It was a game where Michigan running back Blake Corum injured his knee, requiring surgery that took him out of the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff.

The Illinois defense flew to the football all game long and made an abundance of hard hits. It was the definition of a smashmouth Big Ten Football game.

Michigan trailed 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter, but Michigan’s defense held Illinois scoreless in the final frame and the offense did just enough to turn a loss into a win. Jake Moody made three field goals in the fourth quarter, including one with just nine seconds left to put Michigan up 19-17.

Moody’s game-winning kick wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Isaiah Gash hauling in a clutch catch on 4th & 3 earlier in the drive. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema went on to criticize the officiating after the game saying he was “extremely pissed off” and “very angry” about everything that he perceived went against Illinois.

The win put Michigan at 11-0 on the season heading into a road matchup against Ohio State, a game they won 45-23 to finish the regular season undefeated.

On Monday, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore reflected on the matchup. Moore was Michigan’s offensive coordinator at the time.

“It was a physical battle. It was physical at the line scrimmage. It was physical in the air. I remember it was super windy. We couldn’t throw one direction, so you can only run one direction because the wind was all over the place. It went down to the wire and I thought our kids fought to the end — offensively, defensively, special teams, Jake Moody hitting the kick to win it. It was a tough battle, and we know it’s going to be a tough battle down there. It’s a physical team that Coach Bielema does a great job coaching his program from his days at Wisconsin to now. So, we’re just ready for the challenge.”

Moore noted that it’s a different Michigan team and a different Illinois team. However, Moore anticipates Illinois to play with the same style as 2022.

“Coach Bielema does an outstanding job building the program, physicality, toughness, detail in what they do offensively,” Moore said.

Moore went on to call the Illinois defense “tough.”

“Physical defense,” Moore said. “You’ve got to be ready for that challenge.”

Part of the challenge will be starting out faster than they did in 2022 when they scored just seven points in the first half. Illinois will want to turn this into a bare-knuckle brawl once again. While Michigan has a lot of new faces on its roster than they did in 2022, they still have plenty of key pieces who were around for that game including Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings, Makari Paige, Will Johnson, Colston Loveland, and Kenneth Grant. These Michigan leaders, along with Sherrone Moore, are fully aware of what Illinois is capable of if they put together a cohesive game plan. It may be 2024, but the 2022 game still means something and has set the template for what we should expect to see on Saturday in Champaign, Illinois.

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Illinois

Illinois' best elementary schools revealed in new report. Here are the top 25

Published

6 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

Illinois' best elementary schools revealed in new report. Here are the top 25

A number of schools from Chicago and the suburbs were recognized as among the top elementary schools in Illinois, according to a new list.

The “2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools” list from U.S. News and World Report examined more than 79,000 public schools in all 50 states, a press release revealed. Editors used publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze mathematics and reading performance at the state and district levels — while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.

For a school corporation to receive a district-level ranking, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings, according to the website. In all, 47,573 elementary schools and 23,861 middle schools were assessed.

In Illinois, a total of 3,421 schools were ranked. Seven of the top 25 schools in the state were Chicago Public Schools, including the top school, Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center.

Almost all of the top 25 schools were in either the city or suburbs — except for No. 10 – Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Rockford and No. 22 – Congerville Elementary School in downstate Woodford County.

Following behind Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center was Hinsdale’s Oak Elementary School and Naperville’s Meadows Glen Elementary School at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center, a Chicago Public School, and Brook Forest Elementary School rounded out the top five.

Here’s a look into the top 25 elementary schools in Illinois, according to the report.

Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
Oak Elementary School – Hinsdale
Meadows Glen Elementary School – Naperville
Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
Brook Forest Elementary School – Oak Brook
Elm Elementary School – Burr Ridge
Forest Hills Elementary School – Western Springs
The Lane Elementary School – Hinsdale
Eisenhower Academy – Joliet
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School – Rockford
Skinner North Elementary School – Chicago
Greenbriar Elementary School – Northbrook
Westmoor Elementary School – Northbrook
Ellsworth Elementary School – Naperville
Prospect Elementary School – Clarendon Hills
Walker School – Clarendon Hills
Lincoln Elementary School – River Forest
Highlands Elementary School – Naperville
Bronzeville Classical Elementary School – Chicago
George B Carpenter Elementary School – Park Ridge
Madison Elementary School – Hinsdale
Congerville Elementary School – Congerville
Decatur Classical Elementary School – Chicago
Lincoln Elementary School – Chicago
Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy – Chicago

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Illinois

No I-Pass Sticker Yet? Illinois Tollway Extends The Deadline

Published

13 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

No I-Pass Sticker Yet? Illinois Tollway Extends The Deadline

Even though the Illinois Tollway would really like it if you would make the switch soon from the plastic I-Pass transponder you have over to the new I-Pass sticker tags, they understand that it’s going to be an ongoing process for Illinois drivers to make the switch. That’s why they’ve decided to extend the deadline for replacing your soon-to-be-outdated plastic transponder.

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Illinois

Northwestern wins dual season opener 29-8 over Northern Illinois

Published

21 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

Northwestern wins dual season opener 29-8 over Northern Illinois

Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Dedrick Navarro’s gutsy decision win over No. 27 Blake West set the tone for Northwestern’s statement 29-8 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday.

NU entered its dual season opener with a point to prove, having lost to Northern Illinois 18-17 to start last year.

“After dropping a match to them that stung for a whole year, it was nice to go out there and not just win, but to really put it on them and win in dominating fashion,” coach Matt Storniolo said.

The night got off to a flying start as Navarro pulled off a stunning upset over West. An escape and a takedown by West put Navarro in a 0-4 hole entering the third period, but he battled back, scoring a takedown of his own before a trip with seconds left vaulted him to a 7-6 decision win.

Navarro said he tried to push the pace in the moment, and it felt good to get his first win of the dual season.

“We’ve only got a few years of this, so I’m just soaking it in and being grateful, having fun and putting on a show,” Navarro said.

The Huskies notched their first team points of the night in the 133-pound bout as redshirt sophomore Markel Baker won by major decision over sophomore Massey Odiotti. Three Baker takedowns in the first period cemented his 14-3 victory.

Graduate student 141-pounder No. 10 Chris Cannon made his NU homecoming with a 9-3 decision win over NIU’s Charles Curtis.

A two-time All-American for the Wildcats, Cannon transferred to Michigan before the 2024 season but missed nearly all of it after suffering a head injury in his dual season opener exactly one year ago Sunday. Storniolo said Cannon was not back to full strength yet, but that didn’t stop him from competing and winning.

“It was good for him to know that he’s still got that fight inside him,” he said.

No. 20. redshirt freshman 149-pounder Sam Cartella’s 15-0 win by technical fall put the ’Cats in the driver’s seat, and they didn’t look back from there. Dominant decision wins by No. 12 graduate student 157-pounder Trevor Chumbley and No. 16 redshirt senior 165-pounder Maxx Mayfield ran up the team score. Then, redshirt sophomore 174-pounder Joseph Martin secured his first dual meet win of his career, lasting nearly a minute underneath NIU’s Jake Evans without conceding a takedown and holding onto a narrow 4-0 lead.

Graduate student 184-pounder Jon Halvorsen secured extra team points by scoring a late takedown in his match, upgrading his victory from a decision win to a major decision win. He said his feelings after the win were unexplainable.

“The guys around me believe in me, and the coaches I have believe in me,” he said. “It’s just a reflection of my team and how awesome these guys are.”

A professional 19-4 win by No. 25 redshirt junior 197-pounder Evan Bates put the finishing touch on the NU rout.

Redshirt freshman 285-pounder Dirk Morley lost his match with NIU’s Jacob Christensen to end the night. An initially strong defensive performance unraveled in the third period, ending the night with a 12-2 loss by major decision.

In its return to the mat nine months after posting a 1-9 record, NU matched last season’s win total in one night. Storniolo attributed the team’s improvement to Cannon’s return to Evanston, Cartella’s continuing dominance in the 149-pound weight class and new faces like Navarro entering the lineup.

“Guys are hungry this year,” Storniolo said. “They feel like they really have something to prove after last year. They want to let the rest of Division I wrestling know that we’re a strong program, and last year doesn’t represent who we are as a team.”

The ’Cats are back at Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on Little Rock.

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