The Marquette Catholic Explorers of Alton starts its last year in the South Central Conference before joining the Prairie State in 2012. The South Central Conference voted to expel Marquette, East Alton-Wood River and Roxana. The Explorers will move on but they get a final chance in 2010 to make their mark on the SCC.
Playoff Outlook
Coach Tim Nelson starts his fourth year at Marquette Catholic hoping to continue his playoff qualifying streak. His first three years he has lead his team to the playoffs. The last playoff game won by the Explorers was under Coach Tom Pagliaro in 2006. Because of that 7-6 first round win over Du Quoin on a muddy field the new IHSA automatic enrollment waiver for private schools was not granted and the multiplier will be applied in 2011 for Alton Marquette. This means that their enrollment for this year is 488, rather than 296, if the waiver was applied and that most likely puts the Explorers in Class 3A.
