History of WB6 Schools in the IHSA Football Playoffs

 

History of IHSA Football Playoffs

1974- 5 Classes of 16 Teams- 80 Total Teams

1980- 6 Classes of 16 Teams- 96 Total Teams

1985- 6 Classes of 32 Teams- 192 Total Teams

2000- 8 Classes of 32 Teams- 256 Total Teams

2026- 8 Classes of 48 Teams- 384 Total Teams **

** In each class 16 teams receive a Bye and 32 teams play in what is called the “Opening Round.” Teams who win in the “Opening Round” advance to play the Bye teams in the “First Round.”

Bob Reade

2026 Seeds and Records

Receive Bye- Start in First Round

4A- #4- Sterling (7-2)

Start in Opening Round- Win Advances to First Round

4A- #9- Geneseo (6-3)

5A- #18- Galesburg (4-5)

6A- #9- Quincy (6-3)

6A- #16- UTHS (5-4)

7A- #18- Moline (6-3)

WB6 Schools- Playoff Appearances

46- Geneseo

38- Sterling

26- Rock Island

26- Moline

24- Rock Island Alleman

16- Quincy

14- UTHS

10- Galesburg

Mike Tracey

Most Consecutive Playoff Appearances

15- Geneseo- 1996-2010 (Diericx, Johnson Jr)

12- Sterling- 2014-2026* (Schlemmer)

11- Sterling- 2002-2012  (King, Schlemmer)

10- Geneseo- 1974-1983  (Reade, Johnson)

10- Geneseo- 1985-1994  (Johnson, Boblett, Diericx)

09- Rock Island- 2005-2013  (Boblett, Stertz)

08- Rock Island- 1996-2003  (Boblett)

06- Geneseo- 2012-2017  (Johnson Jr)

06- Moline- 1995-2000  (McGuire)

06- Quincy- 2013-2018  (Little)

05- Alleman- 2003-2007 (DeJaegher)

05- Alleman- 2010-2014 (DeJaegher)

05- Geneseo- 2022-2026* (Johnson Jr, Furlong)

05- Quincy- 2022-2026* (Little)

05- Sterling- 1991-1995 (Gaumer)

05- United Township- 1985-1989 (Sanders, Smith)

04- Alleman- 1983-1986 (Tracey)

04- United Township- 1998-2001 (Tracey)

04- Rock Island- 2004-2007 (Ryser)

* Streak is still active. 

# Since no Playoff during Covid, that did not stop an active streak. 

WB6 Schools- State Championship Games

Geneseo- 10 times

Alleman- 5 times

Rock Island- 1 time

1976- 3A State Champs- Bob Reade

Geneseo 20- Metamora 12

1977- 3A State Champs- Geneseo- Bob Reade

Geneseo 34- Metamora 0

1978- 3A- State Champs- Geneseo- Bob Reade

Geneseo 14- Kankakee McNamara 7

Vic Boblett

1981- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

Wheaton North 14- Geneseo 0

1982- 4A- State Champs- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

Geneseo 44- Springfield Griffin 36

1986- 4A- 2nd in State- Alleman- Mike Tracey

Tinley Park 21- Rock Island Alleman 15

Larry Johnson, Jr

1990- 3A- 2nd in State- Alleman- Mike Tracey

Belleville Althoff 21- Rock Island Alleman 13

1990- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Vic Boblett

Joliet Catholic 21- Geneseo 20

1992- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

Oswego 14- Geneseo 6

Denny Diericx

1993- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

Marian 13- Geneseo 6

1997- 5A- 2nd in State- Rock Island- Vic Boblett

Woodstock 35- Rock Island 28

2005- 5A- 2nd in State- Alleman- Dave DeJaegher

Springfield SHG 28- Rock Island Alleman 21

Dave DeJaegher

2009- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

Metamora 41- Geneseo 7

2010- 4A- 2nd in State- Alleman- Dave DeJaegher

Rochester 24- Rock Island Alleman 7

2012- 4A- 2nd in State- Alleman- Dave DeJaegher

Rochester 43- Rock Island Alleman 18

2013- 4A- 2nd in State- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

Rochester 16- Geneseo 8

Greg King

WB6 Schools- Undefeated/Untied Regular Seasons (Since 1974)

11- Geneseo

7- Sterling

4- Alleman

4- Rock Island

2- Quincy

1975- Alleman- Jim Jorgensen

1975- Geneseo- Bob Reade

1976- Geneseo- Bob Reade

1977- Geneseo- Bob Reade

1978- Geneseo- Bob Reade

1983- Sterling- Jim Scott

1984- Sterling- Jim Scott

1986- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

1989- Alleman- Mike Tracey

1990- Alleman- Mike Tracey

1992- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

1993- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

1994- Sterling- Max Gaumer

1997- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

1997- Rock Island- Vic Boblett

1998- Rock Island- Vic Boblett

2000- Geneseo- Denny Diericx

2001- Rock Island- Vic Boblett

2005- Sterling- Greg King

2006- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

2008- Rock Island- Vic Boblett

2010- Alleman- Dave DeJaegher

2014- Geneseo- Larry Johnson

2016- Sterling- Jonathan Schlemmer

2017- Sterling- Jonathan Schlemmer

2019- Sterling- Jonathan Schlemmer

2023- Quincy- Rick Little

2024- Quincy- Rick Little

Jonathan Schlemmer

Playoff Appearances for Coaches at WB6 Schools

21- Vic Boblett- Geneseo, Rock Island

15- Larry Johnson Jr- Geneseo

13- Rick Little- Quincy

13- Jonathan Schlemmer- Sterling

12- Mike Tracey- Alleman, UTHS, Moline

12- Denny Diericx- Geneseo

10- Greg King- Sterling

10- Dave DeJaegher- Alleman

8- Dan McGuire- Moline

7- Larry Johnson- Geneseo

7- Mike Morrisey- Moline

7- Max Gaumer- Sterling

6- Jim Scott- Sterling

5- Jim Sanders- UTHS

5- Joel Ryser- Moline

5- Bob Reade- Geneseo

Rick Little

State Championship Game Appearances by Coaches

3- Bob Reade- Geneseo

3- Dave DeJaegher- Alleman

2- Mike Tracey- Alleman

2- Larry Johnson- Geneseo

2- Denny Diericx- Geneseo

2- Larry Johnson, Jr- Geneseo

2- Vic Boblett- Geneseo, Rock Island

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 State Champions- Peoria Manual

Streaks Alumni Profile- Drake Sykes 2013 (plus Sonny GHS 2045)

 

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Drake Sykes from the Galesburg HS’s Class of 2013.

Drake was active as a student and athlete at Galesburg HS. He had an absolutely awesome career at Knox College as a student and as an athlete. He was selected to the Knox College Athletic HOF for his achievements. 

He is now the Knox College baseball coach. It will be exciting to see where he takes the Prairie Fire. 

Massey Quiz #68- Athletes in Politics and Government

  

 

 

I have fifteen pictures of athletes who went into politics and government positions. Identify who these people are. 

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champs- Teutopolis

HOF Insights- Getting Your Team Ready for the First Game

 

In the “HOF Insights”, I ask a group of successful, veteran coaches to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Each week, I ask a different question. The questions can be focused on helping coaches, parents or athletes to have a more successful athletic experience.  

Today the coaches were asked to describe their plan for approaching practices before their first games. Usually teams have about two weeks to practice and then play a game. How did these great coaches approach practice in preparation for the first game?

Streaks History in the IHSA Football Playoffs

It has been an exciting football season for the Streaks. Galesburg has been explosive offensively and has earned a IHSA Playoff spot. This will be the Streaks 10th trip to the IHSA Playoffs. 

Some Illinois sports have had a State Series for over 100 years. The first IHSA football series was in 1974. Initially there were just 5 classes of 16 teams. This year there will be 8 classes of 48 teams each. Here is how the playoffs have changed over the years. 

1974- 5 Classes- 16 Teams Per Class- 80 Total Teams

1980- 6 Classes- 16 Teams Per Class- 96 Total Teams

1985- 6 Classes- 32 Teams Per Class- 192 Total Teams

2000- 8 Classes- 32 Teams Per Class- 256 Total Teams

2026- 8 Classes- 48 Teams Per Class- 384 Total Teams

This year, the top 16 teams in each class will receive a bye, and the other 32 teams will play. The winners will advance to what the IHSA is calling the “First Round.” 

Here is a look back at Galesburg’s previous State Appearances…

Proactive vs Reactive Problem Solving in Coaching

(This was first published in November of 2025)

Sometimes in coaching it seems like there are a million things to do at the beginning of each season- assign uniforms and numbers, get opponents schedules, set up scouting schedule, arrange picture day, get senior banners, set up scorebooks, organize fundraiser, order shooting shirts. It goes on and on. All of this is on top of actually running practices and dealing with day to day issues. 

As coaches, just when we feel that we have everything covered, something unexpected comes up. This can especially be true with our players and their buying into our team culture. There is nothing worse in coaching than feeling you have gotten blind sided by a player problem. 

1986 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Teutopolis

2nd- Ohio

3rd- Hoopeston- East Lynn

4th- West Frankfort