The East St. Louis Flyers and the Belleville West Maroons have staged some epic battles dating back to 1916 during this long rivalry.
The winner takes home the coveted Alton Southern Bell that’s put on display at the respective high schools. This rivalry game used to be played annually on Thanksgiving Day.
However, when the Flyers started participating in the IHSA state finals, often played on Thanksgiving weekend, and other circumstances, the schools and the Southwestern Conference agreed to play the game during the regular season.
During the last three years the East St. Louis Flyers and Belleville West Maroons have not disappointed anyone. In fact, controversy usually surrounds the rivalry in a various ways. In 2014, the Maroons defeated East St. Louis 29-28 in a thriller.
On October 26, 2015, the Maroons defeated the Flyers 35-26 in Belleville when so many penalties were called against East St. Louis the officials didn’t have to do laundry for over two years. In addition, that was the last game of the Flyers season because the teacher’s strike forced them to forfeit their remaining games, thus putting a damper on the season.
Last season, Flyers’ quarterback Reyondous Estes (Minnesota) threw for 226 yards and four touchdowns, two to All American Jeff Thomas (Miami) as the Flyers got revenge with a 52-0 rout of the Maroons, which I’m sure left a sour taste in the game mouths on the west side of Belleville.
That sets up Saturday afternoon’s game. The winner will be in the driver’s seat for the Southwestern Conference crown. Simply put, if East St Louis wins, it probably will wrap up consecutive conference titles. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
But traveling to West will be a tough tour for Darren Sunkett’s team and the Flyers won’t take the Maroons lightly. Belleville West and East St. Louis both enter the matchup with 4-1 and 3-0 in conference play.
The only losses from both teams came in the Gateway Scholars Football Classic on September 2 against Timber Creek New Jersey for West, and Evangel Christian Academy for East St. Louis where both teams had a shot late to earn victories with those national powers.
Belleville West is led by running backs Kriston Davis (100 carries for 628 yards and 11 touchdowns), and Sherod Boyd. The Maroons feature a duo of quarterbacks in Matt Schmidt (22 for 44 for 304 yards and four touchdowns) and Jake McCloskey (13-19 for 174 yards and four touchdowns). Wide receiver Will Laxon is their main go-to guy with 22 catches for 264yds and four touchdowns.
It is one defense where the Maroons hope that they can contain the high-powered Flyers offense. Sherod Boyd, DeUndrey Johnson, Keith Randolph and LaMondre Carter are all guys who love to fly around the football and make plays for Belleville West.
However, Flyers head coach Darren Sunkett and his staff will have plenty of firepower to offset the Maroons defense. Quarterback Christian Perez has been brilliant for East St Louis. The 6’2 senior has completed 72-112 for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns with only one interception.
The Flyers lost their top two running backs in Jarrell Anderson and DeMonta Witherspoon earlier this season.
However, running back Jigg Brown has 87 carries for 586 yards with nine touchdowns through five games.
Freshman Jaylon Reed torched Collinsville last week for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
The Flyers offensive air attack is breathtaking. Receivers Eric Rogers II (28-catches 371 yards, three touchdowns), LaWaun Powell Jr. (19 catches, 250 yard and seven touchdowns) and Perez Hall Jr. (13 catches for 139 yards and one touchdown) lead the way.
Defensively, East St. Louis has been quite impressive and has one of the best linebacker groups in the state. They are led by highly touted outside linebackers Eric Owens (6’2, 208), Terrion Williams (6’2, 247) and Julian Smith (6’1, 235). In addition, inside linebacker Imuniqe Williams, (6’1, 200) East St Louis will also be hard to deal with.
Strong safety Oliver McDowell (6’2, 220) leads the secondary with an impressive seven sacks through five games along with Antonio ‘A.J. Johnson at cornerback. The defensive front is also huge for the Flyers.
Walter Baxter (6’2, 275) leads the way with six sacks on the young season. It will be a another knock down showdown this Saturday afternoon with plenty of bragging rights up for grabs with many of the players growing up together in East St. Louis now playing at Belleville West.
Scott’s Prediction:
The Maroons will have a lot of familiar faces from East St. Louis rooting for the Maroons on Saturday. But it won’t matter and Darren Sunkett and his boys dial it up once again and keep the Alton Southern Bell in East Boogie.
Flyers 32 Belleville West 17
