HFF: Marion Wildcats hungry for more success

I say this each year at this time "I can't believe football season is here." Heartland Football Friday is set and ready to debut in less than a week. We roll it out Friday August 20th during Heartland News at ten.

You can catch me live at Mayfield, KY during the six and ten news. I will cover the Marshall County Marshall's game against Mayfield at, one my favorite places to watch a game, War Memorial Stadium.

Illinois teams open the season a week later on August 27th.

There is a lot of excitement brewing in Marion, IL and i'm not talking about the playoff bound Southern Illinois Miners. Just a few miles away from Rent One Park (behind Marion High School at 1501 South Carbon Street) Kerry Martin and his Wildcats are preparing for what many believe will be a season to remember. Marion finished 9-2 last year (4-1 in the South Seven) and has all the confidence to make a run deeper into the postseason.

"We build on every positive and every negative," said Marion senior Matt Grffith. "If there is something wrong going on in practice we come back and build on it, if there is something positive we give props to it and keep moving on."

A football coach once told me "If what you did yesterday still looks good today, then today you have done nothing". If you take a second and let it sink in, it's a powerful phrase. I have tried to do it justice but it's nearly impossible. Right now the Marion Wildcats will tackle 2010 with that phrase burned into memory.

"This is the time of year when everyone is optimistic," said Marion head coach Kerry Martin. "I think we are just like everybody else, we feel like we have a good bunch of guys returning and some new faces that will help our football team. We are looking for a good season and to be honest right now our focus is on getting better and focusing on that first ballgame."

Marion opens the season August 27 hosting Granite City. The Wildcats only losses last year came in week #4 to Cahokia and Peoria (Richwoods) in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

HFF Preview: Scott City ready to bring back winning

The Scott City Rams are eager to get the new football season going and driven to bring winning back to the program.

The Rams last enjoyed a winning season in 2007 (finishing 6-4), but the past two have been a struggle just six wins and fourteen losses.

Scott City won't make any predictions of what's to come but they believe the brutal heat they have had to battle through in the first week of practice will pay off during the season.

"It gets tougher, I just tell them August 27th it might be hot too so we ain't going to stop the game and take a rest," said Scott City Head Coach Jim May. "We've suffered through it and it's making them better players and more mentally tough."

Scott City senior running back Garett Schaefer says their is a confidence around the team this year and a feeling this may be the year they bring Rams football back to prominence.

"Coach really drilled football into us this year, we are really pumped" said Garett. "We've been working non stop this summer and we are ready to turn this program around."

Scott City opens the season August 27 hosting Malden.

2010 Scott City Football Schedule

8/27 Malden

9/3 @ St. Vincent

9/10 @ East Prairie

9/17 @ Dexter

9/24 Chaffee

10/1 @ Portageville

10/8 Hayti

10/15 @ Herculaneum

10/22 Crystal City

10/28 @ St. Pius X (Festus)

Jackson must avoid the injury bug

With each new day we get closer and closer to the start of the high school football season. Monday in Missouri all high schools began practice for fall sports.

The Jackson Indians hit the field Monday morning marking the first real chance to distance themselves from last seasons 1-9 record. Like most teams this time of year the Indians have questions, but feel confident about what lies ahead.

"We don't have a lot of depth but we do have some good skill people," head coach Van Hitt said.Jackson looks to forge ahead and a key to their success will be staying healthy.

The Indians can not afford to be bitten by the injury bug especially on the defensive side of the ball.

"We have to replace a lot of people," said Hitt. "We have a whole new linebacking crew, new secondary and a little bit of experience back on the line, but other than that it's going to be a challenge on defense this year."

Cape Central football prepares for new season

Lets shine the spotlight on head coach Rich Payne and his Cape Central Tigers as they begin football practice Monday for the upcoming season.

Coach Payne enters his third season as head coach and is looking for his first winning campaign. The Tigers have struggled for the past few years posting just a 1-19 record under Coach Payne. The last time the Tigers won a game you have to go all the way back to October 10th 2008. Cape Central beat Seckman 28-16 at Houck Stadium.

"Our goals this year need to be that we can play for a conference championship and be in the district championship also," said Coach Payne.

The Tigers are not making any predictions but they will give 100% effort.

"I think we have a group of seniors that can play," Payne said. "They have taken their lumps over the years but there is twenty of them here and hopefully they'll turn the corner for the program."

The Tigers open the 2010 season August 27th hosting New Madrid County Central.

High school football practice begins this week

NFL and college football practice has begun, most kicking off last week. High schools will soon follow....Illinois and Kentucky are set to start later in the week.

The green flag waves for Missouri schools Monday August 9th. Cape Central hits the field Monday afternoon around 5:30.

I talked with Jackson head coach Van Hitt Sunday night and he tells me the Indians will go at nine and again at five but the expected excessive heat could affect the practice schedule.

Both Jackson and Cape Central are looking to put last season in the rear view mirror neither team enjoying much success in 2009. Jackson finished 1-9 last year their lone victory coming in the final week of the season against arch rival Cape Central. The loss kept the Tigers winless in 2009 (0-10).

Looking ahead Heartland Football Friday 2010 begins friday night August 20th