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Gillespie quarterback Tristen Wargo (15) passes to teammate Evan Webb while Litchfield's Carson Saathoff (11) applies pressure in last Friday's SCC game in Gillespie. 

Carlinville quarterback Rex Reels (left) fakes a handoff to receiver Liam Tieman during a Week 1 game against North Mac in Virden. The Cavaliers lost 40-0 and open at home Friday against Vandalia.

Alton (0-1) at Quincy (1-0)

The Redbirds make the familiar trip to Quincy to take on the Blue Devils after opening at home with a 34-15 loss to Cahokia at Public School Stadium. The Devils took down city rival Quincy Notre Dame 21-13 last week. Quincy and Alton have played 24 times in the past 27 years – they did not meet in the covid spring season or in 2013-14 – with the Devils owning a 16-9 edge in the series between these river cities. Quincy defeated the Redbirds 27-20 last season in Alton, halting a string of three successive Redbirds wins over the Devils. This is the first of three consecutive road games for Alton, which plays at Collinsville next week before opening Southwestern Conference play at Belleville West in Week 4.

Highland (1-0) at Edwardsville (1-0)

The Tigers broke into the Class 8A state poll at No. 10 after rallying from a 20-0 deficit to stun Jackson (Mo.) 41-34 in overtime last week. That Edwardsville victory halted Jackson’s home winning streak at 31 in a row. Highland opened its season by winning 54-7 at Washington. Edwardsville and Highland met last season for the first time in at least 60 years, with the Tigers beating the Bulldogs 41-33 in Highland to give coach Matt Martin career victory No. 100. The Tigers play next week at St. Louis Soldan.

EA-WR (1-0) at CM (1-0)

The Oilers and Eagles did not play in the covid season, but resumed the rivalry last year with Civic Memorial winning 28-0 at Memorial Stadium in Wood River. East Alton-Wood River has not been 2-0 since beating Columbia 13-0 and Staunton 50-6 to open the 2004 season that got to 9-0 before a first-round playoff defeat to Breese Mater Dei. The Oilers can get back to 2-0 by beating the Eagles after defeating Harrisburg 29-28 in OT last week in Wood River. CM has won three of the four meetings with EA-WR since the series was revived in 2017 with the Oilers winning 21-7. CM has outscored the Oilers 79-5 in the last three matchups. The teams stopped playing after EA-WR left the Mississippi Valley Conference after the 1996 season. The Eagles won the final 13 games with the Oilers as MVC rivals. EA-WR has not won in Bethalto since 1983. CM broke in its new artificial turf at Hauser Field by beating Marquette 24-3 last week.

Marion (1-0) at Jersey (1-0)

This is the fourth season for the Week 2 series between the Wildcats and Panthers, with Marion owning victories in all three previous matchups. The Wildcats  pounded Jersey 64-29 last season in Marion and went on to finish 10-2. That is the most points the Panthers have allowed in a game since falling to Highland 68-21 in 2018. Jersey gave new coach Caleb Williams victory No. 1 last week in a 35-0 rout of Granite City, while Marion shut out Herrin 21-0 in Marion. Jersey is on the road at Lincoln in Week 3, while Marion makes a trip to play another MVC foe at Highland.

Roxana (1-0) at Red Bud (1-0)

The Shells make their first trip to Red Bud after beating the Musketeers 35-20 last season at Raich Field in Roxana. Red Bud, which plays in the Illinois Division of the Cahokia Conference with Roxana cast with larger schools in the Mississippi Division, finished 4-5 in 2021. Roxana went 2-7 last year. The Shells beat Robinson 16-13 last week in Roxana and are looking to start 2-0 for the first time since a 10-1 season in 2003. Red Bud opened with a 52-0 victory over Pinckneyville. The Musketeers were a Class 2A playoff qualifier three times in the four seasons before covid. The Shells are back home in Week 3 to play CM before opening conference play at Columbia in Week 4.

Salem (0-1) at Marquette (0-1)

The Explorers have not won a home game since beating Salem 28-21 in Week 2 of covid's shortened spring season and they get another home shot at the Wildcats here at Public School Stadium. Marquette has lost 12 in a row after losing at CM 24-3 last week. Included in that losing streak is a 40-21 defeat at Salem last season in Week 2. The Cats, who finished 5-5 in 2021, opened with a 24-14 loss at Centralia last week. This is first of three consecutive home games for Marquette, which plays host to Columbia next week.

North Mac (1-0) at Southwestern (1-0)

After picking up their first South Central Conference victory by beating Carlinville 40-0 last week in Virden, the Panthers make their first SCC road trip to take on the Piasa Birds at Knapp Field in Piasa. North Mac left the Sangamo Conference to fill the void left by Roxana’s exit from the SCC. This is the first matchup between Southwestern and North Mac. The Birds won at Staunton 26-10 last week and are looking to start 2-0 for the third season in a row. Southwestern is home again next week to play Litchfield, while the Panthers are home to play Vandalia.

Vandalia (1-0) at Carlinville (0-1)

The Vandals turned heads in the SCC with their performance in a 34-10 home victory over defending league champion Pana. The Cavaliers, coming off an 8-3 season in 2021, were outgunned last week in a 40-0 defeat at North Mac. It does not get any easier for the Cavies in their hope opener, with Vandalia ranked No. 7 in the Class 2A state poll. Vandalia defeated Carlinville 49-41 last season and 48-7 in 2019 – the teams did not meet in the 2020 covid season – but the Cavaliers are 14-4 vs. the Vandals since Vandalia joined the SCC in 1997. The Vandals go to North Mac next week, while Carlinville plays at Hillsboro in Week 3.

Gillespie (1-0) at Greenville (0-1)

The Comets will be fired up to play their first game on their new artificial turf in Greenville after losing at Hillsboro 13-7 in Week 1. Gillespie, which has not defeated the Comets in Gillespie since 1991, held on at home to defeat Litchfield 24-18 last week. The Miners have not been 2-0 since 2015, when they finished 3-6. Greenville won 35-2 at Gillespie last season, with the Miners winning 42-28 when they last visited Greenville in the covid spring season to halt a nine-game losing streak to the Comets. Gillespie returns home next week to play Pana.

Staunton (0-1) at Litchfield (0-1)

The Purple Panthers’ losing streak reached 47 in a row with last week’s 24-18 defeat at Gillespie, but the competitiveness in that loss sparked hope that victory is in sight for Litchfield. The Bulldogs are hoping that Panthers win does not come at their expense, with Staunton looking to even its record after losing at home to Southwestern 26-10 last week. Litchfield took a forfeit loss to Staunton in Week 2 last season, giving the Bulldogs 11 victories in the last 12 dates with Litchfield. Staunton has not lost at Litchfield since 2005. The Bulldogs are home next week to open a rugged stretch of consecutive SCC games vs. Greenville, Pana and Carlinville and Vandalia.

Greenfield (1-0) at Concord Triopia (0-1)

The Tigers rolled over Beardstown 40-14 last week at Fleur de Lis Field and now travel to Concord to take on the Trojans. Triopia lost at West Central 38-6 in Week 1. The teams met in Week 2 last season, with the Trojans beating the Tigers 13-12 in Greenfield. It was Triopia’s first victory in Greenfield since 2012 and ended the Trojans’ four-game losing streak vs. the Tigers. Greenfield is back on the road next week at North Greene.

Brown County (1-0) at North Greene (0-1)

The Spartans open at home under new coach Brian VanMeter after losing at Mendon Unity 48-6 last week. Brown County beat Calhoun 40-22 at Mount Sterling in Week 1. The Hornets defeated North Greene 48-0 last season in their first meeting since 2018. The Spartans have lost their last four dates vs. Brown County, with North Greene’s last win over the Hornets coming in 2011 at White Hall.

Carrollton (0-1) at Jacksonville Routt (1-0)

The Hawks had played 89 games since last getting shutout 6-0 by Casey-Westfield in a second-round Class 1A playoff game in 2013. That streak ended last week with a 43-0 defeat to Camp Point Central in Carrollton. Camp Point is ranked No. 6 in this week's Class 1A state poll and the Hawks draw another ranked opponent in the No. 10 Rockets. Carrollton beat Routt 54-8 last season and has won its last six games with the Rockets. Routt, which opened last week with a 54-0 win at Pleasant Hill, has not defeated Carrollton since 2011. The Hawks are back in Carrollton next week to play Pleasant Hill in the first of three consecutive home games.

Greg Shashack is a graduate of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. He has been covering sports for The Telegraph in Alton since March 1988. You can reach him at gshashack@thetelegraph.com.