:quality(70):focal(1991x676:2001x686)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/NAUGWSEF5FGRRMTD7FBHIYAYAM.jpg)
Big Northern
Dixon (5-0, 5-0) at Winnebago (1-4, 1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Dukes: Landon Knigge is coming off a 335-yard, four touchdown game in a 56-13 win over Rockford Lutheran, which was tied for the second-highest single game rushing total in school history. Dixon won last year’s matchup against Winnebago 62-12 to get to 6-0.
About the Indians: Winnebago is coming off a 41-0 loss to Genoa-Kingston last week. Winnebago has struggled on both sides of the ball this season, being outscored 145-35. Their lone win is via forfeit by Rockford Christian.
Friday Night Drive pick: Dixon
Rock Falls (1-4, 1-4) at North Boone (2-3, 2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Rockets: Rock Falls got its first win of the season by forfeit after not playing last week. Their original opponent, Rockford Christian, canceled its season in August, and Rock Falls was unable to find a replacement game. The Rockets lost last year’s matchup 33-14.
About the Vikings: North Boone beat Oregon 18-13 in Week 1 and Winnebago 20-16 in Week 3. The Vikings lost 48-7 to Stillman Valley last week.
FND pick: North Boone
Stillman Valley (3-2, 3-2) at Oregon (2-3, 2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Cardinals: Stillman Valley is seeking a third straight win following the forfeit victory over Rockford Christian and a 48-7 win over North Boone. The 48 points was a season high. The Cardinals lost last year’s matchup 28-7.
About the Hawks: Oregon is looking to bounce back after a 49-7 loss to top-ranked Byron last week. Prior to the loss, Oregon beat Genoa-Kingston 3-0 and Winnebago 35-12.
FND pick: Oregon
Lincoln Trail-Prairieland Large
Elmwood-Brimfield (4-1, 3-1) at Bureau Valley (3-2, 2-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Storm: Bureau Valley enters its homecoming game coming off a 46-13 win over Knoxville. Farmington beat Knoxville 41-28. … QB Bryce Helms threw for 136 yards and three TDs and ran for 77 yards and a TD last week, while RB Elijah Endress rushed for 136 yards and two TDs. … The Storm have not won or lost back-to-back games this season. … Bureau Valley is averaging 46.7 points per game and allowing 16.7 in its three wins and is averaging 3.0 points and allowing 44.5 per game in its two losses.
About the Trojans: Elmwood-Brimfield suffered its first loss last week, 40-0 against Farmington. Bureau Valley lost 54-6 to the Farmers. … The Trojans were averaging 464.8 rushing yards and 45.5 points per game entering last week but were held to 193 rushing yards and no points. … Bo Windish (86 carries, 911 yards, 14 TDs this season) was held to 71 yards last week, while Matthew Glenn (90 carries, 860 yards, 11 TDs) was limited to 94 yards. … E-B threw three interceptions and had a punt blocked last week. … The Trojans allowed Farmington QB Lane Wheelwright to throw for 313 yards and five TDs and run for 50 yards and a score.
FND pick: Elmwood-Brimfield
Northwest Upstate Illini
Fulton (2-3, 2-3) at Galena (3-2, 2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Steamers: Fulton snapped a three-game losing streak with last week’s 45-6 win over Dakota. QB Dom Kramer is the team’s leading rusher with 383 yards on 62 carries with four touchdowns. Skylier Crooks is second on the team with 215 yards and six touchdowns on 68 carries. He also leads the Steamers with 44 tackles. Kramer has completed 76 of 124 passes for 840 yards and six touchdowns. Jacob Huisenga is the team’s leading receiver with 323 yards and four touchdowns on 21 catches.
About the Pirates: Galena lost last year’s matchup 18-7 during a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The Pirates are coming off a 61-13 loss to Durand-Pecatonica but have beaten Morrison, Forreston and Fennimore of Wisconsin this season.
FND pick: Fulton
Dakota (0-5, 0-4) at Morrison (2-3, 1-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Indians: Dakota has been outscored 228-6 this season. Dakota is coming off a 45-6 loss to Fulton last week.
About the Mustangs: Morrison earned its first NUIC win last week after beating Forreston 28-12. Morrison closed out the win after trailing 12-7 in the third quarter and 12-0 at halftime.
FND pick: Morrison
Stockton (2-3, 1-3) at Forreston (1-4, 1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Blackhawks: Stockton last year’s matchup 22-8. Stockton is coming off a 34-8 loss to E-PC. Their wins have come against Fulton and Shullsburg of Wisconsin.
About the Cardinals: Forreston is on a three-game losing streak, with its lone win being a 38-0 victory over Dakota. Dan Setterstrom had 70 yards rushing and two touchdowns in last week’s loss to Morrison. Morrison had three unanswered rushing touchdowns and a fumble return score in the comeback win.
FND pick: Forreston
Three Rivers Rock
Erie-Prophetstown (3-2, 1-2) at Riverdale (2-3, 1-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Panthers: Erie-Prophetstown won last year’s matchup 46-7 as Riverdale went 0-9 last season. E-P beat Mercer County 20-14 last week after trailing 14-0 as Keegan Winckler had two touchdown passes. Winkcler hit Max Milem with 15 seconds left for the game winner and a Demetree Larson interception sealed the E-P win.
About the Rams: Riverdale is coming off a big 28-26 win over Orion last week. Caen Beckett had 15 carries for 267 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams snapped a five-game road losing streak in the matchup. The last road win came in 1971.
FND pick: E-P
Newman Central Catholic (4-1, 3-0) at Mercer County (3-2, 2-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Comets: Newman is coming off a thrilling, 15-7 overtime win over Rockridge. Briar Ivey scored in overtime, Daniel Kelly ran in the 2-point converstion, and a Baylen Leemans interception sealed the overtime win. Newman’s starters have allowed just two offensive touchdowns in the past two games combined, and the Comets have won four straight.
About the Golden Eagles: Mercer County lost to E-P 20-14 last week in the closing seconds after leading 14-0. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak over Sherrard, Orion and Riverdale. They have been held to 14 points in both losses this season and scored 34 points or more in three wins.
FND pick: Newman
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Western Big 6 Conference
Geneseo (3-2, 1-2) at Sterling (3-2, 2-0)
About the Maple Leafs: Geneseo is coming off a 28-21 win over Galesburg, which was coach Matt Furlong’s first Big 6 win. Furlong was the defensive coordinator for Cary-Grove when it won Class 6A state titles in 2018, 2021 and 2023. Geneseo lost last year’s matchup to Sterling at home 13-3.
About the Golden Warriors: Sterling won a third straight game after holding Beloit Turner to 128 yards in a 32-0 win in Wisconsin. For the season, Sterling is holding opponents to an average of 52 yards rushing and 158 yards passing each contest, allowing just 14.8 points per game. Drew Nettleton followed his school-record, four-passing-touchdown game against Galesburg with a 10-of-19 performance for 185 yards and two touchdowns, both to Kaedon Phillips.
FND pick: Sterling
Nonconference
Westmont (1-3) at Eastland-Pearl City (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Sentinels: Westmont has lost two straight as an independent. The Sentinels are coming off a 46-20 loss to Madison and fell 54-0 to Fieldcrest in Week 3. Their lone win was 56-34 over Chicago Catalyst/Maria.
About the Wildcatz: Eastland-Pearl City is coming off a third straight victory, 34-8 over Stockton. Draven Zier had 207 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 15 carries in the win. Adam Awender had a 45-yard touchdown run in the win as E-PC held Stockton scoreless until the fourth quarter.
FND pick: E-PC
8-Man Football North
Polo (5-0) at Milledgeville (5-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Marcos: Polo has scored 44 points or more in every game while allowing only 14 points all season. The Marcos’ offense averages 52 points a game, second only to Milledgeville. They beat Alden-Hebron 54-6 last week following three straight shutout victories.
About the Missiles: Milledgeville handed West Carroll its first loss in eight-man football 44-0, posting its first shutout of the season. The Missiles have the top offense in the division, outscoring opponents 328-40 for an average of 66 points per game. Their high score was an 80-8 win over Ashton-Franklin Center in Week 1.
FND pick: Milledgeville
River Ridge (1-4) at Ashton-Franklin Center (0-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Wildcats: River Ridge earned its first win last week, beating Hiawatha 22-12. In four defeats, they Wildcats have allowed 54 points or more.
About the Raiders: Ashton-Franklin Center lost 35-14 to South Beloit last week as the defense has yet to allow fewer than 28 points. Offensively, the 28-24 loss to Christian Life in Week 2 was the Raiders’ high point so far.
Amboy co-op (4-1) at Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Clippers: Amboy had its 17-game winning streak snapped with a 34-22 loss to Ridgewood, which the Clippers beat 36-8 in Week 1. … Amboy was held to 151 rushing yards. … Amboy’s Josh McKendry was held to 39 yards last week after running for more than 100 in each of the first four weeks. He leads the area in rushing at 676 yards and 11 TDs on 57 carries. … The Clippers beat FCW 62-7 in the second round of the playoffs last year.
About the Falcons: FCW is 4-1, and its only loss also came to Ridgewood 30-7. Two of the Falcons’ four wins are against West Prairie (36-22 and 49-12). … FCW beat Busnell-Prairie City 41-12 last week. … Leelynd Durbin ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries last week, while QB Seth Jones completed 5 of 6 passes for 100 yards and two TDs and also ran for two TDs.
FND pick: Amboy
West Carroll (4-1) at Christian Life co-op (1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Thunder: West Carroll looked to be on a roll before losing to Milledgeville, the top team in the division, 44-0. The Thunder had scored 28 points or more in their previous four wins.
About the Eagles: Christian Life’s lone win is a 28-24 victory over A-FC in Week 2. The Eagles have lost three straight, including last week’s 44-18 loss to Orangeville and a 76-6 loss to Milledgeville the week prior.
FND pick: West Carroll