The IHSA has released the 2023/24 football schedule for the upcoming season. The Salem Wildcats are coming off a disappointing 2-7 season, but look to have a bounce back season with a ton of experience in key spots coming back. Salem will open up their season with the Shrine Game on August 25th at home against the Orphans. Salem will play 4 of their first 5 games at Jim Finks Field as Week 2 see’s a matchup with Alton Marquette at home before the first road trip of the season in Week 3 at old Apollo rival Mt. Zion. Then 2 straight home games with as we start the very good Cahokia Conference with Wood River and then Roxana. Salem will head to Breese Central in Week 6. They return home for a matchup with Columbia before finishing the final 2 regular season weeks on the road with Freeburg and Charleston.
After Week 1 with the Wildcats, Centralia will open up their home schedule in Week 2 with Collinsville and a big rivalry matchup with Althoff in Week 3. The biggest of big when it comes to rivalries obviously are the Mount Vernon Rams and this year the game will be in Week 8 in Centralia.
The Rams open the season at Waterloo and don’t open up home play until Week 4 against Collinsville.