Belleville teams eye another clean sweep in high school football week 2

Week 2 of the 2024 high school football season will commence this weekend for metro-east teams.

Here is a snapshot of some key games, including a pair of rivalry contests:

Althoff (1-0) at Decatur St. Teresa (1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Decatur St. Teresa High School.

Althoff coach: Austin Frazier.

Week 1 result: The Crusaders defeated Alton 41-14. Senior RB Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for 4 touchdowns, while sophomore QB Jayden Ellington connected with senior WR Charleston Coldon and sophomore WR Kylin Jordan on touchdown passes.

Decatur St. Teresa coach/2023 record: Brit Miller. The Bulldogs went 1-8 last season.

Week 1 result: The Bulldogs defeated Urbana 40-8.

2023 matchup: Althoff defeated Decatur St. Teresa 46-13.

Additional notes: The Crusaders led 35-0 at haltime against Alton; after facing Pekin, Althoff plays host to Belleville East at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13

Pekin (1-0) at Belleville East (1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Belleville East High School.

Belleville East coach: Michael Harrison.

Week 1 result: The Lancers defeated Collinsville 30-15. Junior running back Jaedon Beamon rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries; sophomore quarterback Kingston Jones threw for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.

Pekin coach/2023 record: Doug Nutter. The Dragons went 4-5 in 2023.

Week 1 result: The Dragons defeated Rolling Meadows 28-14.

2023 matchup: The Lancers defeated the Dragons 34-14.

Additional notes: Belleville East led Collinsville 16-15 at halftime before posting 14 unanswered points in the second half; after facing Pekin, the Lancers will visit Althoff at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13.

Belleville West (1-0) at Fort Zumwalt West (0-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Fort Zumwalt West High School.

Belleville West coach: Ken Turner.

Week 1 result: The Maroons defeated Mascoutah 34-21. Junior WR/DB Nicholas Hankins returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown and caught a 98-yard touchdown pass from sophomore QB Caiden Capell, who also ran for a touchdown. Junior RB Isaiah Williams rushed for 120 yards.

Fort Zumwalt West coach/2023 record: Ben Pike. The Jaguars went 5-5 in 2023, losing in the first round of the MSHSAA postseason.

Week 1 result: The Jaguars fell to Kirkwood 49-21.

2023 matchup: Fort Zumwalt West defeated Belleville West 47-14.

Additional notes: Leading 20-14 after 3 quarters against Mascoutah, the Maroons put the game away with a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns. After facing the Jaguars, Belleville West will host Normandy at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13.

Troy Buchanan (1-0) at O’Fallon (0-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at O’Fallon High School.

O’Fallon coach: Joe Speaks.

Week 1 result: The Panthers fell to Downers Grove North 42-0.

Troy Buchanan coach/2023 record: Brett Wiggers. The Trojans went 7-4 in 2023, losing in the second round of the MSHSAA postseason.

Week 1 result: The Trojans defeated Ladue 48-20.

2023 matchup: O’Fallon defeated Troy Buchanan 47-28.

Additional notes: After facing the Trojans, O’Fallon hosts St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13.

Newton, Georgia (1-2) at East St. Louis (1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at East St. Louis High School.

East St. Louis coach: Darren Sunkett

Week 1 result: The Flyers defeated Wilmette Loyola Academy 34-7. Senior QB Kendrick Lyons completed 23 of 26 passes for 277 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Newton coach/2023 record: Joshua Skelton. The Rams went 8-3 in 2023 where they lost in the second round of the Georgia postseason.

2024 results: Newton already has played 3 games, losing to Eastside 26-15; defeating Alcovy 70-0; and losing to Douglas County 35-15.

2023 matchup: The two teams did not meet in 2023.

Additional notes: The Flyers led Wilmette Loyola Academy 26-0 at halftime and cruised to victory. The Ramblers’ only score was on a 90-yard fumble return for a touchdown. After facing Newton, Georgia, the Flyers will visit Philadelphia Imhotep at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.

Waterloo (1-0) at Columbia (1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Columbia High School.

Columbia coach: Scott Horner

Week 1 result: The Eagles defeated Mater Dei 35-0. Junior RB Jase Nelson caught 1 touchdown pass and rushed for 2 others, while finishing with 146 yards rushing. Senior QB Mason Voegele ran for a score, threw for another and rushed for 100 yards.

Waterloo coach/2023 record: Dan Rose. The Bulldogs went 4-5 last season.

Week 1 result: Waterloo defeated Mount Vernon 35-21. Senior RB Justin Manning and sophomore RB Jaxson Mathenia each rushed for 2 touchdowns. Mathenia finished with 137 yards rushing.

2023 matchup: The Bulldogs defeated their Monroe County rivals 14-0.

Additional notes: The Eagles led 21-0 at halftime and put the game away with a 14-point 4th quarter. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, trailed 14-0 after the 1st quarter before rallying to win. After their annual rivalry game, both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, as Columbia visits Taylorville and Waterloo hosts Centralia.

Breese Central (1-0) at Mater Dei (0-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Mater Dei High School.

Breese Central coach/2023 results: Brian Short. The Cougars went 9-3 and advanced the IHSA Class 4A quarterfinals where they lost to eventual state champion Rochester.

Week 1 result: Breese Central defeated Highland 24-21. Senior RB Kaden Rakers rushed for 3 touchdowns.

Mater Dei coach: Jim Stiebel.

Week 1 result: The Knights lost 35-0 to Columbia.

2023 matchup: Breese Central defeated Mater Dei 17-14 in the annual Milk Bowl contest between the Clinton County rivals. The Cougars won the game on Bryce Wieter’s 37-yard field goal with just 4 seconds remaining.

Additional notes: The Cougars led 21-7 at halftime against Highland and held on for the win. After this week’s rivalry game, both teams resume action at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, as Breese Central hosts Red Bud and Mater Dei welcomes Effingham.