High school football is back in the metro-east. Here’s a preview of key week 1 games

This weekend kicks off the 2024 football season for metro-east teams. Here is a snapshot of some key games.

ALTHOFF CRUSADERS at ALTON REDBIRDS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Alton High School.

Althoff coach: Austin Frazier.

Althoff 2023 record: 10-2. The Crusaders advanced to the IHSA Class 1A quarterfinals where they lost to Camp Point Central.

Althoff’s key returnees: QB Jayden Ellington, sophomore. Ellington completed 101-142 passes for 1,584 yards and 17 touchdowns; WR Charleston Coldon, senior. Coldon hauled in 41 receptions for 869 yards and 15 touchdowns. RB Dierre Hill, who rushed for 1,788 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Alton coach: Cody Markle

Alton 2023 record: 1-8 overall, 0-5 in Southwestern Conference.

Alton’s key returnee: QB Riley Smith, junior. Smith threw for 4 touchdowns.

2023 matchup: The two teams did not play last season.

Additional 2023 notes: The Crusaders averaged 45.33 points per game. Althoff also lost multiple key players to graduation, including RB Antwan Strong, who rushed for 1,159 yards and 28 touchdowns.

BELLEVILLE EAST LANCERS at COLLINSVILLE KAHOKS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Collinsville High School.

Belleville East coach: Michael Harrison.

Belleville East 2023 record: 8-3 overall, 3-2 in the Southwestern Conference. The Lancers advanced to the second round of the IHSA Class 8A postseason where they lost to Maine South.

Belleville East’s key returnee: WR Kiethen Jones, senior. Jones caught 23 passes for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Collinsville coach: Colton Rhodes.

Collinsville 2023 record: 6-5 overall. The Kahoks advanced to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A postseason where they lost to Lincoln-Way West.

Collinsville’s key returnee: RB Ryan McIntyre, senior. McIntyre rushed for 434 yards and 9 touchdowns on 107 carries. He also caught 18 passes for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2023 matchup: The Lancers defeated the Kahoks 24-21.

Additional 2023 notes: Both teams lost very productive quarterbacks to graduation. For the Lancers, Armon Vinson threw for 2,344 yards and 24 touchdowns. For the Kahoks, Darren Pennell threw for 2, 158 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 10 touchdowns.

BELLEVILLE WEST MAROONS at MASCOUTAH INDIANS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Mascoutah High School.

Belleville West coach: Ken Turner.

Belleville West 2023 record: The Maroons finished 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Southwestern Conference.

Belleville West’s key returnees: QB Bernard Chapman, junior. Chapman completed 75 passes for 1,011 yards and 6 touchdowns; RB Troy McLean, senior. McLean rushed for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Mascoutah coach: Aaron Hilgendorf.

Mascoutah 2023 record: The Indians finished 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Mascoutah’s key returnees: QB Baruk Jonsson, senior. Jonsson completed 94 passes for 1,389 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also rushed for 8 touchdowns; WR Jackson Redenius, senior. Redenius caught 24 passes, including 3 touchdowns.

2023 matchup: The Maroons defeated the Indians 33-28.

Additional 2023 note: The 2023 campaign marked the return of Ken Turner to the metro-east football circuit as the Maroons’ first-year coach.

O’FALLON PANTHERS at DOWNERS GROVE NORTH TROJANS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Illinois Wesleyan.

O’Fallon coach: Joe Speaks.

O’Fallon 2023 record: The Panthers went 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the Southwestern Conference.

O’Fallon’s key returnees: WR Kortez Rupert, junior. Rupert caught 28 passes for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns; WR Omar Mims, senior. Mims caught 17 passes for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Downers Grove North’s coach: Joe Horeni

Downers Grove North’s 2023 record: The Trojans went 11-3 overall and 4-2 in the West Suburban-Silver Football conference. Downers Grove reached the IHSA Class 7A championship game where it lost to Chicago Mt. Carmel.

Downers Grove North’s key returnee: QB Owen Lansu, junior. Lansu threw for 2,061 yards and 25 touchdowns. Lansu is a University of Minnesota commit.

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

Additional 2023 note: The Panthers entered the final week of the campaign with a chance to secure a playoff spot but lost to Cahokia 12-7.

FREEBURG MIDGETS at DE SOTO DRAGONS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at De Soto High School.

Freeburg coach: Ronnie Stuart.

Freeburg 2023 record: The Midgets went 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the Mississippi Division of the Cahokia Conference. Freeburg advanced to the IHSA Class 4A postseason where it lost to Charleston in the first round.

Freeburg’s key returnee: WR Weston Jarvis, senior. Jarvis caught 5 passes, including 2 for touchdowns.

De Soto’s 2023 record: The Dragons went 1-9 overall and 0-4 in the Mississippi Area Red Conference.

De Soto’s key returnee: QB Austin Missey, senior. Missey threw for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns.

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

Additional 2023 notes: Stationed at 3-3, the Midgets won their final 3 games to qualify for a postseason berth. Freeburg lost two key players from the 2023 team, including QB Cole Stuart who ran for 1,217 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns. Stuart also threw for 7 scores; and RB Tucker Murphy, who rushed for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns.

COLUMBIA EAGLES at MATER DEI KNIGHTS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Mater Dei High School.

Mater Dei coach: Jim Stiebel

Mater Dei 2023 record: The Knights went 8-4 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 2A postseason where they lost to Shelbyville.

Mater Dei’s key returnee: RB Deacon Hagen, senior. Hagen rushed for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Columbia coach: Scott Horner

Columbia 2023 record: The Eagles went 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Mississippi Division of the Cahokia Conference.

Columbia’s key returnee: QB Mason Voegele, senior. Voegele threw for 950 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 353 yards and 5 touchdowns.

2023 matchup: The Knights defeated the Eagles 22-14.

Additional 2023 notes: The Knights lost considerable firepower to graduation, including QB Trenton Zeeb, who threw for 1,549 yards and 26 touchdowns. Zeeb also rushed for 10 scores; and WR Garrick Winkeler, who caught 33 passes for 534 yards and 9 touchdowns.

EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS VS. WILMETTE LOYOLA ACADEMY RAMBLERS

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at Illinois State University.

East St. Louis coach: Darren Sunkett

East St. Louis 2023 record: 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the Southwestern Conference. The Flyers captured the league crown and ultimately advanced to the IHSA Class 6A title game where they lost to Cary-Grove.

East St. Louis’ key returnees: RB TaRyan Martin, senior. Martin rushed for 496 yards and 12 touchdowns; RB Larevious Woods, senior. Woods rushed for 982 yards and 19 touchdowns; and WR Christopher Bennett, senior. Bennett caught 46 passes for 733 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Wilmette Loyola Academy coach: Beau Desherow

Wilmette Loyola Academy 2023 record: The Ramblers went 14-0 overall and 3-0 in the CCL/ESCC – Blue Football Conference (won the league title) and ultimately defeated Lincoln-Way East in the IHSA Class 8A state championship game.

Wilmette Loyola Academy’s key returnee: QB Ryan Fitzgerald, senior. Fitzgerald threw 20 touchdown passes and ran for another 14 scores.

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

Additional 2023 note: The Flyers lost some high-powered weapons on offense, including QB Robert Battle, who threw for 2,173 yards and 26 touchdowns while also rushing for 786 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Additional notes: Both programs are Illinois powerhouses. The Flyers have captured 10 state titles and 2 national championships. The Ramblers, meanwhile, have won 5 state titles and finished as the runner-up 5 other times.