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AM,
Roxana head to new league
Explorers,
Shells join up with Althoff, Madison, Mater Dei |
08/21/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - It is always good to have goals when it comes to
historic programs and the Alton Marquette
Explorers have something special just in front of them
to try in reach for this fall.
The
football program is sitting on 495-victories in its 99-years
of existence.
The
Explorers reached the playoffs last fall for its 26th time.
Coach
Eric Dickerson's team qualified with a 5-4 mark before losing
on the road to Carterville in the 4A first round.
This
coach is looking to keep the ball rolling into 2026 with some
help from some important returning players.
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Nashville,
WF, Carterville have talent back
A-J, Pinckneyville keep
rebuilding; Lions, Murphy set for Ohio battle |
| Last
season didn't end the way that head coach Stephen Kozuszek had
envisioned. The
Nashville Hornets were sitting
at 5-2 after a Week 7 win over Pinckneyville.
But
the squad hit a bad stretch where they dropped their final two
regular season contests and then lost a tough decision on the
road in the 2A playoffs, 42-39, to Flora to close the campaign
at 5-5.
The
best news is that there is always an abundance of talented athletes
roaming the halls t NCHS and most play all of the sports.
The
Hornets return a bunch of starters, including 6-4, 185 junior
quarterback Cole Stiegman.
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| Flora,
JC hope to continue to shine
Wolves,
Indians have had splendid runs; Fairfield looks strong again; SVW stays
on track |
| 08/17/2026
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - As the Flora Wolves head
into the 2026 football season, they have a lot to be proud about
from last season's 10-2 finish.
Coach
Brian Tackitt and his club accomplished a first for the program.
With
a victory over Nashville in the 2A first round, the Wolves won
their first ever playoff game.
After
beating the Hornets, 42-39, they took down Pana, 17-14, before
losing to Maroa-Forsyth 48-17 to finish the season.
Several
key players return for the Wolves as they want to continue their
current playoff run of making the postseason for the seventh
time in the last 12-seasons.
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Richland
County has three-peat in sight
C-W, MC
are threats; Paris, Newton, Robinson, Marshall look improved, L'ville
must rebuild |
08/19/2026
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - There are graduation losses
at every program, every year but the ones who hit the trail
from last season will sting for a while for Richland
County and head coach Luke Carmody.
There
are 12 important faces missing from last season's 9-1 campaign
that ended with a first round shocking loss at home to Jacksonville
in the 4A playoffs at home.
ASV
3A/4A “Player of the Year” quarterback Gavyn Cothern
put up some "mind-boggling" stats in his two seasons
as a starter.
Cothern
rushed 316 times for 3,205-yards and 41 touchdowns in two seasons
while completing 141-of-218 attempts for 2,679-yards and 30-touchdowns
in the same time frame.
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