I've said for a long time, I like the week one matchup between the Benton Rangers and the Carterville Lions. They are always entertaining games between two teams that are pretty evenly matched.
The Rangers were able to take advantage of three turnovers by Carterville and beat the Lions 23-6 last Friday night on a hot and humid night at the newly refreshed Tabor Field in Benton.
This week, the Lions will host cross-county rival Herrin in a week two matchup in which the Lions will honor the 25th Anniversary of the 1996 Class 3A Championship in football.
The Tigers lost to Marion last Friday night at home to the Marion Wildcats 40-7.
Here is my pre-game interview with Lions Coach Brett Diel:
Scott Hudson and I will have the broadcast starting with the pre-game show on NewsRadio WJPF starting at 6:40 PM. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
You can watch our livestream of the broadcast here:
I mentioned that this week Carterville will honor the 1996 Class 3A Championship football team during the game Friday night. Head Coach Brett Diel played in that game. Several players from the team will be on hand and I'm really looking to seeing them back at CHS.
As you enter the stadium, you will see a new sign recognizing that championship team.
If you would like to re-watch that game, played on a cold and rainy night in Normal, Illinois, twenty five years ago, you can watch it here:
Looking forward to a great game tonight. LET"S GO LIONS!!