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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Former Illini Kerby Joseph is having a standout season so far as a starting safety with the Detroit Lions.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The final home game of the Illinois football season has a start time now. The Illini (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) will host Michigan State (4-5, 2-4) at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, the Big Ten announced on Monday.
➜ 2. Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph continues to make a name for himself. The former Illini and third-year pro, who started his college career in Champaign as a wide receiver, now has 14 career interceptions. He is the first NFL safety to have that many in his first three seasons since Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed had 14 from 2002-04.
➜ 3. Joseph’s sixth interception this season turned into a 27-yard touchdown return, helping the Lions beat the Packers 24-14 on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
St. Joseph-Ogden plays at Unity at 2 p.m. Saturday in a Class 3A playoff game.
Numbers game: 16
Friday night high school football second-round playoff games across the state this week. Out of a possible 64. Class 8A has the most, with six games kicking off on Friday night, followed by five in 7A, two apiece in 5A and 4A and one in 6A. All of the 24 second-round playoff games in 3A, 2A and 1A will kick off at various times on Saturday afternoon.
Sophia Hill, left, and Shannon Monahan will try to lead the St. Thomas More volleyball team to a win against Maroa-Forsyth on Tuesday night in a Class 2A sectional semifinal match in Monticello.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. No. 19 Florida State at Illinois women’s basketball. A Top 25 test awaits the Illini at 6 p.m. Thursday in their season opener at State Farm Center. Illinois is 3-8 this century against nonconference Top 25 foes in Champaign, beating No. 6 Georgia 70-59 on Dec. 28, 2012, No. 15 Oklahoma 86-75 on Dec. 18, 2005 and No. 16 UCLA 78-63 on Dec. 19, 2004.
➜ 2. Class 2A Monticello volleyball sectional. St. Thomas More meets Maroa-Forsyth at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first semifinal match before Westville tangles with Bloomington Central Catholic at 7 p.m.
➜ 3. IHSA cross-country state meet. The Class 1A girls’ race at 9 a.m. is first of six on Saturday at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Schlarman Head Coach Jason Dixon
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Schlarman football coach Jason Dixon:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … Ohio State.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Ryan Day, Bill Cowher and Andy Reid.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … being late to practice.