Team previews

Coal City Coalers

Coach: Francis Loughran (5th season)

2024 record: 10-3 (6-1)

Schedule: Aug. 29 Pontiac; Sept. 5 at Richmond-Burton; Sept. 12 Bloom Township; Sept. 19 at Streator; Sept. 26 Reed-Custer; Oct. 3 at Manteno; Oct. 10 at Peotone; Oct. 17 Herscher; Oct. 24 at Wilmington

Worth noting: The perennial powerhouse Coalers – who have been to the playoffs 34 of the last 37 full seasons including the last 13 postseasons in a row – finished runners-up in the ICE last season due to a 21-14 loss at champion Wilmington, but made it all the way to the Class 4A state semifinals before bowing out with another 21-14 loss, this one to eventual state champion DePaul Prep. Coal City lost a good senior class highlighted by the graduation of all-everything/do-everything Landi

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