The current teacher’s strike in East St. Louis may put a wrap on the 2015 Flyers’ football season.
It would be unfortunate for the senior players who have worked since last winter in the weight room. In addition, there was the work during those hot days during the summer months in 3-on-3 drills, 7-on-7 camps, the whole 9 yards.
The Flyers’ chances of qualifying for the state playoffs are in serious jeopardy. At press time the Flyers had accumulated a total of 35 playoff points.
The Flyers haven’t competed on the field since a 35-26 loss to conference rival Belleville West on September 26. Since then, the Flyers have forfeited games against Edwardsville and Belleville East, thus making their overall record 3-4.
With just two weeks left in the season, the chance of East St. Louis participating in this season’s playoffs comes down to this scenario.
If the teachers end their strike by Thursday, and 51 percent of the students are in class on Friday, according to the Illinois High School Association, the Flyers can play their regularly scheduled game Friday night against the Collinsville Kahoks. They would finish up the regular season on October 30 against the O’Fallon Panthers.
If East St. Louis plays and wins both games, they will try to receive an at-large playoff bid from IHSA the following night on October 31 when the playoff pairings are officially announced. No teams in Illinois can make the playoffs with a 4-5 record. So, if the kids don’t report to school by Friday, the season is virtually over.
Scott’s notes
East St. Louis junior basketball standout Jerimiah Tillmon has transferred from the program. The 6’11 junior left last Friday for powerful LaLumiere Prep in Laporte, Indiana. Tillmon is the No. 1-ranked player in Illinois regardless of class, and one of the top players in the class of 2017. He played for the St. Louis Eagles this summer.
Some of the street patrol in East St. Louis think Eagles’ President Tim Holloway had a hand in the transfer. When asked about why Tillmon’s mother didn’t make a statement prior her son leaving, he told me, “There wasn’t a story regarding him transferring.” Really?
However, East St. Louis should still be one of the top teams in the area with Marquis Chairs, Karon Randolph, Antonio Johnson, Reyondus Estes and Arthur Carter leading the way.
