Hi Tyler. I don't have the inside story, but I believe he last played on Sept. 28, so Friday would make five weeks since he had seen any action. His father had said a while back he wouldn't play until the swelling subsided. I don't think he'll risk his future if he's not 100 percent. He is making progress, but I'm not sure he's ready to get back on the field yet.

Hi Tom. Let me dust off the crystal ball. ... OK, it says that LeRoy (1A), Bismarck-Henning (2A), Monticello (3A) and Unity (3A) will win and that the game between 10-0 Cerro Gordo/DeLand-Weldon/Bement and Camp Point Central is a total tossup.

That means the area underdogs are Villa Grove (1A), Salt Fork (1A), St. Joseph-Ogden (3A) and Urbana (5A). Being the underdog is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's worth noting each of those four uinderdogs are playing away from home, which will make the task even tougher.

Hi Bobby. Among area teams, the Salt Fork streak is pretty good. St. Joseph-Ogden is at 22 years in a row and Unity is at 19. Next is Salt Fork at 12, followed closely by Mahomet-Seymour at 11. As for the entire state, it's not in the top 10. Just in Class 1A this year, there's Stark County at 17, Lena-Winslow at 14 and Concord Triopia, also at 12. As for this week's game,  Carrollton is a tough defensive team (six shutouts) and, in some games, Salt Fork has been somewhat offensively-challenged. The Storm certainly won't win in a shootout and need their defense to do its job and hope for a low-scoring 7-6 or 10-7 game. A win is not out of the question, but Carrollton will certainly be the favorite going into the 2 p.m. Saturday game.

Hi Tom. That won't be my decision to make, but if you look at the big picture -- not just the impressive statistical numbers -- the obvious conclusion is, yes. First of all, you have his ability to lead the team, make plays when none seem possible and then to be a factor in all phases of the game, offense, defense, special teams. His impact is tremendous. Then, you look at how he and his senior class have turned around an Urbana program which won nine total games the past five years and now the Tigers carry a nine-game winning streak into the second round of the 5A playoffs. Add to that, the statistical factor. How many quarterbacks rush for at least 1,000 yards and pass for at least 1,000 in a year. How many athletes have passed for more yards and have more yards of total offense than anyone in the history of their community? That's my answer, anyway.

Hi Tom. On the surface, I would agree. Here's what gives me hope, however. There were times in last week's game against East Peoria where I though there was no way the team could contain that rushing attack and yet, the players found a way to get the job done, both defensively and offensively. I believe Morris is a stronger team than East Peoria, but I also believe Urbana is now in the position where the pressure is off. It no longer has to seek "that first playoff win." They've accomplished that huge goal and can go out and play football. Few people will expect an Urbana win on the road against a team that four weeks in a row this season was ranked as THE No. 1 team in all of Class 5A. So, what have they got to lose? It could be an interesting late afternoon on Saturday.