Trivia Thursday #8

The Carterville Lions have appeared in the IHSA football playoffs 21 times since 2000. The only seasons they missed were 2011, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The 2020 season was shortened due to COVID, and the Lions finished 4-1 that year.

Carterville made the playoffs twice under head coach Kerry Martin before he left to take over at Marion. His assistant, Dennis Drust, then led the Lions for 17 seasons, guiding them to the playoffs 15 times and compiling a record of 136-46.

Brett Diel took over as head coach in 2019. His first team finished 3-6, followed by a 4-1 record during the COVID-shortened season. Since then, the Lions have made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.

Now sitting at 7-0, Carterville has already clinched a playoff berth for the 22nd time since 2000. With a win over Murphysboro this week, the Lions would complete a clean sweep of the River to River Ohio Division.