Missouri Valley Football Conference Weekly Notebook

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Players of the Week

Offense
QB Chris Streveler, South Dakota Sr., 6-3, 215, Crystal Lake (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic High / Minnesota

Streveler passed for 306 yards, ran for a game-high 119 yards, and accounted for four of South Dakota’s five touchdowns in a 35-27 win at Bowling Green. It was the program’s second win against a FBS program (Minnesota, 2010).

Streveler passed for 300 yards for the second time in 12 games as a Coyote, and surpassed 100 yards rushing for the sixth time. His three rushing scores are a career best, and he hooked up with Kody Case on a 72-yard bomb in the middle of the first quarter.

Streveler has accounted for 10 touchdowns in two games this season.

Defense

SS Robbie Grimsley, North Dakota State Jr., 6-0, 191, Hutchinson (Minn.) High

Grimsley recorded his eighth and ninth career interceptions in North Dakota State’s 40-13 win at Eastern Washington.  Grimsley had two other pass breakups and totaled four tackles for the Bison, who slowed the Eagles to 54 plays and allowed just 73 yards in the final three quarters.

LB Jared Farley, UNI Sr., 5-11, 224, Cedar Falls (Iowa) High With Saturday’s game vs. Cal Poly tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, Farley scooped up a fumble and took it 48 yards for the score.

The touchdown return was Farley’s first of his career, while the fumble recovery was Farley’s
fifth at UNI. Farley finished the game with 11 total tackles, with four solos and seven assists.

Special Teams

PK Chase Vinatieri, South Dakota State So., 6-1, 210, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Roosevelt High
Vinatieri booted a career-long 47-yard field goal and scored what proved to be the decisive
touchdown on a fake field goal to lift the fourth-ranked Jackrabbits to a 31-27 victory at
Montana State.

He also recorded touchbacks on five of his six kickoffs to limit the Montana State return game.

Newcomer

DE Justus Reed, Youngstown State Jr., 6-3, 250, Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic

Reed had three sacks and three quarterback hurries in the Penguins’ 30-0 win over
Robert Morris. It was the first shutout win for the program in exactly five years – Sept. 9,
2012. He had five total tackles in the game.

Offensive Lineman LT Nick Jensen, South Dakota Jr., Vermillion (S.D.) High

Graded out at 78 percent in leading the Coyotes to a 35-27 win against Bowling Green. It
was the program’s second win against an FBS program. The Coyotes racked up 520 yards of
total offense against the Falcons including 214 on the ground and 306 through the air. Three
of USD five TD drives spanned 74 yards or more, including a 99-yard touchdown drive to
open the game that gave USD a 7-0 lead.

SIU defense leads the nation in the least rushing yards gained

The MVFC holds the top four spots in the NCAA FCS statistics for rushing yards allowed
per game. Last week, Southern Illinois held Mississippi Valley State to minus-8 rush
yards, and the Salukis currently lead the nation (having played just one game).
FCS Leaders – Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed
Rank, Team (Conf.) Rush Yds. YPG
1. Southern Illinois (MVFC) 29 -8 -8.0
2. Illinois State (MVFC) 21 0 0.0
3. North Dakota State (MVFC) 51 39 19.5
4. Western Illinois (MVFC) 46 57 28.5
5. Sacred Heart (Northeast) 61 58 29.0
6.. N.C. A&T (Mid-Eastern) 69 87 43.5
7. Monmouth (Big South) 54 107 53.5

Running Away With It

Six MVFC schools rank among the Top 20 in the FCS in rushing yards per game, led
by North Dakota State’s 436.5-yard figure.  Three MVFC schools rank in the Top 8.

FCS Leaders – Rushing Yards Per Game
Rank, Team (Conf.) Rush Yds. YPG
1. North Dakota St. (MVFC) 116 873 436.5
2. The Citadel (Southern) 140 809 404.5
3. Western Caro. (Southern) 97 695 347.5
4. Illinois State (MVFC) 48 320 320.0
5. Kennesaw St. (Big South) 106 602 301.0
6. Prairie View (Southwestern) 45 297 297.0
7. Sacred Heart (Northeast) 104 588 294.0
8. Southern Illinois (MVFC) 54 285 285.0
9. Wofford (Southern) 109 543 271.5

7 MVFC Teams in Top 25

For the 12th time in league history, seven MVFC teams are ranked in the same
week. Notably, 3 teams are in the Top 5 for the second time in history (9-28-15:
NDSU-2; ILS-3; SDSU-5). HERO Sports’ BennettRank is also listed and is a computer
predictive metric that ranks all FCS teams. The Sagarin ranking ranks all 254 Division I teams, but the number listed is each team’s position within the FCS.

Team FCS STATS HERO SAG.
North Dakota State 2 2 1 1
South Dakota State 4 4 4 3
Youngstown State 5 6 3 4
Illinois State 14 18 13 9
UNI 18 21 16 6
Western Illinois 22 20 19 12
South Dakota 23 23 22 13
Southern Illinois — rv 32 21
Indiana State — — 51 56
Missouri State — — 73 60

Sagarin Rankings, Conference Leaders (FCS)
1. MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL
2. CAA Football
3. Southern
4. Big Sky
5. Big South

 

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Z-R Junior High Girls Softball raised over $1K for Coaches vs. Cancer

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

By Steve Dunford

 

Randall Risley photo

ZEIGLER, IL-  Over time I have written a couple stories and shared a few links about the incredible work that Zeigler-Royalton Elementary/Junior High and High School has accomplished raising money for Coaches vs. Cancer.

I am going to mention in this story to people that I have a lot of respect for, Z-R superfan Randall Risley, and Tornado Junior High Girls Softball Coach, Amy Garmane.    I will be writing this from my own perspective.

Over the last several years, Z-R has raised $113,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer.  In the tournament over the weekend the junior high softball girls raised $1,058.10.

Let me give you a little background about Z-R Coaches vs. Cancer.  There have been a lot of   This effort has been spearheaded by Randall Risley, who in my book is the face of Zeigler-Royalton sports.  Even back in the 1980’s when I played basketball  Thompsonville, I would always see him sitting behind the bench keeping stats, etc.    I would see him around when I used to referee, and as a sportswriter and being at my son’s football games for C-Z-R I have got to know him..

Risley as well as Z-R High School Basketball Coach Matt Morgan had a conversation about can we do this here at Zeigler.  Both Risley and Morgan lost their fathers at a young age.  As you can see by the figure that I shared above, the rest is history.

I am nearly all the sports at Zeigler-Royalton have some type of fund raiser during the season for CVC.  Last Saturday, it was the junior high girls turn.

They are coached by Amy Garmane.  I have known her since she was in high school, first playing for Vienna, and later Sesser-Valier.  (They might have been co-oping with Waltonville at the time).  She later went on to play college softball for Rend Lake.   She has been an elementary teacher at Z-R for at least the last decade.

She has a passion for softball.  One thing that amazes me and we have not talked about it, she is pregnant and still coaching.  It was revealed Sunday that she and her husband Cory are going to have a little girl.

The Tornadoes went 1-1 on the day losing the opener to Crab Orchard 15-5 and winning the second game to Desoto 11-1.

Here is what the girls did at the plate on the afternoon:

Crab Orchard Game:  Lainey Morris 1-2, Skylar Hudson 1-2, Olyvia Crain 2-3, Hayley Pasquino 1-2, Bella Bate 1-3.

Desoto Game:  Lainey Morris 3-4 with a HR, Skylar Hudson 1-3, Olyvia Crain 2-3 with a HR, Hadleigh Swetz 1-3, Olivia Kirkpatrick 1-2, and Shelby Grove 1-1 with a sac and a walk.

They might have split on the day but their record is beyond 2-0 for the ones who worked real hard to raise $1.000 to fight cancer.  Yes I love sports and a stat freak, however, what was accomplished on the field is secondary to this amazing feat.

I am passionate about any fund raiser to fight cancer.  My mom has been gone over thirteen years to lung cancer, and she was a non smoker.

Any fundraiser the Zeigler-Royalton school district has for Coaches vs. Cancer I would be happy to share and promote.

Awesome job ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Royalton News, Slider, Zeigler News

Zeigler community demands answers about missing money

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36352353/zeigler-community-demands-answers-about-missing-money

ZEIGLER, IL –  (Hannah Gebresilasse, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below)

Z-R High School Social Studies Teacher joins over 300 concerned Zeigler citizens over the missing funds in the Zeigler treasury. (WSIL-TV photo.)

People in Ziegler packed Tuesday night’s city council meeting demanding answers as to why FBI agents raided the town hall last month, and the home of the city treasurer.

“The money that’s gone came out of the pockets of the people sitting here,” said Jaime Moyers, a local high school teacher.

Moyers grew up in Ziegler. He said it’s one reason he’s passionate about the city’s issues. In the heated council meeting, he and others called for town leaders to take ownership of their mistakes.

“The last thing that we need to hear here is whitewash because what I need to know is that these elected officials have our best interest in mind,” Moyers said.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider, Zeigler News

Benton man arrested on attempted first degree murder……other charges

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

West Frankfort woman arrested on obstructing  justice charges

Press Release from Don Jones, Franklin County Sheriff

Franklin County Sheriff’s office photos using WSIL-TV’s format

On 9-13-17 at 8:30 am Deputies responded to a reported break in at a rural Benton residence. Deputies discovered forced entry and conducted a search of the residence. Deputies initially located a female, Eva Y. McPherson age 54 of West Frankfort. McPherson stated she was alone and had the homeowner’s permission to be in the house.

Deputies conducted a search of the house and located a second subject identified as Alan W. Bennett age 47 of Benton hiding in a bedroom. Bennett is wanted on a Franklin County warrant for attempted first degree murder, home invasion, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of weapons by a convicted felon.

He also will be charged with a second count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as a handgun was found in his possession at the time of his arrest. McPherson is also being charged with obstructing justice.

Filed Under: Benton News, Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider, West Frankfort News

Street named after long time pillar of the community in Coello

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

COELLO, IL –  In my adult life, I spent a lot of time around the village of North City (Coello).  I came to be acquainted with Louis (Louie) Thery.

I spoke this morning with mayor Curtis Overton, about naming a street after Louie Thery, who recently passed away on August 3rd.

Over the years it was my assumption that Thery was a long time, full time employee of the Coello water department, in my conversation with Overton most of the work he performed was volunteer, especially when they had a water main break in the village.

Thery served as a long time village trustee, volunteered with the “Dumplin Gang” and did whatever needed to be done in the city.

I also know first hand that he had two great-nephews he thought a lot of, and spent a lot of time watching them come up the athletic ranks at Sesser-Valier.

In my conversation with Overton, he said after his passing, there were some people that suggested a street in town be named after him.  The two residents that lived on the street agreed to the name change, which the street is directly north of the city park.

In our conversation we agreed that Louie was a type of man that had no enemies, would do anything for anyone, and went about his daily business.

After the next “Dumplin Dinner” I will be writing a story on the “Dumplin Gang” and the work they do for the residents of the small Franklin County village.

Filed Under: Coello News, Featured, Slider

Franklin County News.com was launched five years ago today

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

One of the best ways that I can find out what is happening in the world and getting links to potential stories is to troll social media.  I only do Facebook and Twitter.  I am on Instagram, and still don’t know how.  I don’t plan on getting a snap chat account.  I want to make inroads with people, and not scare them away with my selfies.

I always go through the memories part.  I came across this post about an hour ago.  It was when Jim Muir launched this website.  Here is a link to the initial story that was ran on this webpage.  Click on the link below to read this.

Welcome to franklincounty-news.com

I can tell you exactly where I was when I read this post.  I was sitting in what was an office/den that I had.  I was watching Cardinal Baseball on a portable TV and was scrolling trough Facebook.

Five years later, I had no idea that I would be working on this website, let alone a member of the media.

My life has changed drastically since that time.  I lost my drivers license because of health issues.  I live alone.  I live in West Frankfort now.

I know I butcher the English language bad at times, but when I look back at things that I have written from the day I started until now, I have came a long way.

I was a C English student in College.  I had to take the ACT four times in High School for two reasons.  First I was trying to get a 25 to become an Illinois State Scholar.  Second to get my English score high enough to avoid taking remedial English at Rend Lake College.

I never had one journalism class in my life, but I hope that over the nine months that I have worked on the site, is to give you the news and information that you the people of Franklin County need to know in your everyday lives.

I know the owner-publisher Jim Muir went into this field at mid life as well.  He did what most people did in Franklin County at the time after high school, or shortly after, went to work in the coal mines.

When Old Ben 21 shut down, Jim reinvented himself, and through taking some courses at Rend Lake College became a long time award winning member in print and broadcast media.

There are days that I wonder how I am going to keep the website full, and there are days that I am like where do I begin.  Today, is one of those where do I begin days, and I love every minute of it.

I might not drive, but at one stage or another, I have had ties with nearly every community in this county.  There is not a back road in the county that I have not traveled.

I want to give recognition to who recognition is due, and want to know what is going on in each of your communities.  You can contact me by sending me a message on Facebook. e-mail me at sdunford1970@hotmail.com, call me at 937-0253, or send me a text at 513-1274.

To continue and improve, we will need some more sponsors of this site.  An aggressive advertising campaign will be launched soon, with possibly an account executive that will be added.  The website has over 5,000 followers on its Facebook page, and an average of 25,000 households, on any given week, will be reached in Franklin and the surrounding counties.

At this time, this website is the only daily publication in Franklin County.

The sky is the limit for potential growth.  I want to thank all of you whether reader or advertiser, for the past, current, and future success of this website.

I also want to thank you all for over the last nine months in the confidence you have placed in me for giving you accurate news to the best of my ability, especially in the crisis and emergency situations that we as the people of Franklin County have faced over the last nine months.

As a reader, and over the last few months as a news/sports reporter it has been an excellent five years, again thank you.

 

.

Filed Under: Columns, Editorials, Opinion

RLC, Land of Lincoln Foundation partnering for free legal services

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL– Coming in September, Rend Lake College and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation will be partnering to assist individuals with legal barriers to employment. Attorneys from Land of Lincoln will provide on-site free legal services by appointment from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Rend Lake College in Applied Science Center, Room 103.

Land of Lincoln attorneys will assist clients with filing petitions for the expunging or sealing of criminal records and will address other employment barriers. It is preferred that attendees bring their criminal records, but it is not required. The services are free and open to the public.

If you are interested in attending the event or would like more information, please contact Charah McKinzie, paralegal for Land of Lincoln, at 618-457-7800, Ext. 133, or Kaylee Smith, Career Services Specialist at Rend Lake College, at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1264.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Faith Based Organizations key in Irma and Harvey recovery efforts

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Christians Provide More Aid To Hurricane Victims Than FEMA

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 Cargo Plane loads relief supplies for the Caribbean after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (provided to TheDCNF courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

(Joshua Gill, The Daily Caller.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below)

Christian non-profit organizations have outdone FEMA and provided the vast majority of the relief aid to victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Faith-based relief groups are responsible for providing nearly 80 percent of the aid delivered thus far to communities with homes devastated by the recent hurricanes, according to USA Today. An alliance of non-profit organizations called National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), 75 percent of which are faith based, has helped FEMA distribute relief assistance to communities hit by disasters and assisted families in navigating government aid programs to begin the process of rebuilding.

“About 80 percent of all recovery happens because of non-profits, and the majority of them are faith-based,” Greg Forrester, CEO of NVOAD, told USA Today.

Filed Under: Featured, Slider

Local musicians plan music tutoring program at schools

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36340610/local-musicians-plan-music-tutoring-program-at-schools

AKIN, IL  – (Joe Ragusa, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.

A local school teacher and musician wants to bring back music programs in schools that can’t afford to keep them.

Craig Tessone, an Akin Grade School teacher and musician, wants to bring students that experience by bringing music back to schools.

“It has taken me to places I’ve never dreamed of,” Tessone said. “I’ve gotten to sing and perform in front of lots of people. I’ve written original songs and gotten to record in Nashville.”

Tessone said his tutoring program remains in the planning stages but he hopes to teach groups of 15 kids once a week at several schools.

“

Filed Under: Benton News, Featured, Thompsonville News

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 21

September 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

The Fall Catch-and-Release Fly Fishing-Only Season Opens October 7 at nine sites

Press Release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The 2017 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will open on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 54 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

Two weeks prior to the fall trout opener, the Fall Catch-and-Release Fly Fishing Season will open at nine sites (locations marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below) on Saturday, Oct. 7.  Fly fishing anglers can use fly fishing gear to catch and release trout beginning Oct. 7 at those nine sites. No trout may be kept during the fly fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular fall trout season beginning Oct. 21.

The Illinois catchable trout program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. For the fall season, the IDNR stocks approximately 80,000 rainbow trout into bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted.

No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from Oct. 1 until the fall trout season opens at 5:00 a.m. on Oct.21 (not all sites are open at 5:00 a.m. on opening day). Anyone attempting to take (harvest) trout before the legal harvest season opening will be issued citations.

All anglers – including those using fly fishing gear who intend to release fish caught before Oct. 21 – must have a valid fishing license and an Inland Trout Stamp, unless they are under the age of 16, blind or disabled, or are an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces. The daily catch limit for each angler is five trout.

Illinois fishing licenses and Inland Trout Stamps are available at DNR Direct license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. For a location near you, check the IDNR website at this link:
https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx

Fishing licenses and trout stamps can also be purchased by using a credit card through DNR Direct online via the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, or by calling DNR Direct toll-free at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).

Filed Under: Sports
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