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Big Northern
Oregon (3-3, 3-3) at Rock Falls (1-5, 1-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Hawks: Oregon is coming off a 21-13 win over Stillman Valley, aided by a 67-yard touchdown run by Hunter Bartel. They have won three of their past four games and won last year’s matchup 39-0.
About the Rockets: It is homecoming week for the Rockets, who lost 35-14 to North Boone last week. It was Rock Falls’ closest game of the year so far, as their only win was via Rockford Christian’s forfeit. Rock Falls has yet to score more than 14 points this season and lost 30-14 to Stillman Valley in Week 2.
Friday Night Drive pick: Oregon
Northwest Upstate Illini
Eastland-Pearl City (5-1, 4-1) at Lena-Winslow (6-0, 5-0)
About the Wildcatz: Riding a four-game win streak, Eastland-Pearl City could put itself in the thick of conference title contention with a win over the defending NUIC champion and state runner-up. The Wildcatz’s only loss of the season was a 36-8 setback to Durand-Pecatonica in Week 2. They beat Westmont 54-8 last week as Draven Zier had two punt-return touchdowns for the first two scores; he also had a kick-return touchdown as E-PC led 38-8 at halftime. Peyton Spears had a pick six, with Jaxsyn Kempel, Brecken Hayden and Cohen Good adding rushing scores.
About the Panthers: Ranked second in the latest Class 1A AP poll, they won last year’s matchup 46-6. They are coming off a 46-22 home win over Du-Pec and are averaging 40.4 points per game.
FND pick: Lena-Winslow
Morrison (3-3, 2-3) at Stockton (3-3, 2-3)
About the Mustangs: Morrison is coming off wins over Forreston and Dakota after an 0-3 start to its first season in the NUIC. The offense has struggled against stronger opponents; Morrison lost 32-6 to Le-Win, 34-9 to Galena and 30-0 to Du-Pec. Their wins came 31-14 over Galesburg, 28-12 over Forreston and 49-6 over Dakota.
About the Blackhawks: Stockton is coming off a 44-20 win over Forreston after a 34-8 loss to E-PC. Stockton has alternated wins and losses through six games so far this season. The Blackhawks fell 32-26 to Du-Pec in Week 1.
FND pick: Stockton
Fulton (2-4, 2-4) at Durand-Pecatonica (5-1, 5-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Steamers: Fulton is entering must-win mode if it wants to avoid missing the playoffs for the first year since 2015, when it finished 4-5. The Steamers have home games against Knoxville and Morrison to finish the regular season after this week. QB Dom Kramer is the team’s leading rusher with 406 yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries (5.3 yard average). Skylier Crooks leads the team with seven rushing touchdowns. Kramer is 104-of-165 passing for 1,078 yards passing and six touchdowns to four interceptions. Jacob Huisenga is the team’s leading receiver at 361 yards and four touchdowns on 28 catches.
About the Rivermen: They suffered their first loss last week, falling 46-22 to Lena-Winslow. They have averaged 41 points in their five wins this season. Du-Pec won last year’s matchup at Fulton 46-14.
FND pick: Du-Pec
Lincoln Trail-Prairieland (Large)
Bureau Valley (3-3, 2-2) at Illini West (3-3, 2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Storm: Bureau Valley makes the 150-mile trek to Carthage, its longest of the season in a new conference, coming off a heartbreaking 27-21 loss on homecoming to Elmwood-Brimfield. Storm QB Bryce Helms was stopped on a keeper as time ran out. The Storm likely need to win two of their last three games, including Macomb (6-0) and West Hancock (1-5), to make their first playoff appearance since 2019.
About the Chargers: Illini West has won three straight, including Friday’s 32-20 home win over Knoxville. The Chargers faced the toughest part of their schedule in the first three weeks with losses to Farmington (33-0), Elmwood-Brimfield (42-12) and Macomb (21-6), who have a combined 17-1 record. They beat the LVC co-op 50-16 in Week 5, a team the Storm beat at home 46-16 in Week 3.
FND pick: Bureau Valley
Three Rivers Rock
Orion (1-5, 0-4) at Erie-Prophetstown (3-3, 1-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Chargers: Orion has lost five straight games as the defense has given up an average of 46.6 points per. Their lone win was a 42-14 victory over Hall in Week 1. They fell 35-14 to Rockridge last week.
About the Panthers: E-P has lost three of its past four games after starting 2-0. The Panthers fell short in last week’s 21-18 loss to Riverdale after a good win over Mercer County, 20-14. They can surpass last year’s three wins with a victory. The last time they made the playoffs was 2021.
FND pick: E-P
Riverdale (3-3, 2-2) at Newman (5-1, 4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Rams: Riverdale topped E-P last week 21-18 after forcing four turnovers. The Rams have gotten on track this season after going 0-9 last season. They beat Orion 28-26 the previous week after three straight losses to Kewanee, Rockridge and Mercer County.
About the Comets: Newman won a fifth straight game and clinched at least a share of the conference title with the win. Daniel Kelly had a pick six for Newman to help seal the win as the Comets led 21-16 in the fourth quarter. They have the top scoring offense in the conference with 195 points for a 32.5 per-game average.
FND pick: Newman
Western Big 6 Conference
Sterling (4-2, 3-0) at Quincy (6-0, 4-0)
About the Golden Warriors: Sterling matched last year’s win total with Friday’s 13-6 win over Geneseo. QB Drew Nettleton started the game 8-of-8 passing and finished 15-of-16 with an 81-yard touchdown strike to Kaedon Phillips. Cobey Shipma led the backfield with 46 yards on 12 carries. Defensively, the Golden Warriors have allowed 20.2 points per game on 69.2 yards rushing and 138 yards passing. This will be the secondary’s biggest test of the season so far. Nettleton has thrown for 949 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions this season on 69-of-112 passing. Shipma is the team’s leading rusher with 234 yards on 59 carries (3.4 yard average), and Kaedon Phillips is the leading receiver with 27 catches for 387 yards and five touchdowns.
About the Blue Devils: Ranked second in the Class 7A AP poll this week, Quincy won last year’s matchup 35-33 en route to an 11-0 start before falling in the state quarterfinals. The Blue Devils are led by all-state quarterback Brady Little, who has thrown for 2,168 yards with 28 touchdown passes to four interceptions this season. He has 97 career touchdown passes, which would crack the top five in IHSA history entering this season.
FND pick: Quincy
Nonconference
Dixon (6-0) at Johnston City (6-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Dukes: Ranked up a spot at second this week in the Class 4A AP Poll, Dixon is coming off a record-setting 71-point outing against Winnebago. Dixon led 64-0 at halftime as seven players scored touchdowns en route to a 71-7 win. The performance surpassed the previous school record set in 1925 when Dixon beat Polo 70-0. The Dukes have outscored their opponents 321-48 this season, averaging 53.5 points per game
About the Indians: Johnston City is Dixon’s replacement opponent for the Rockford Christian contest after Rockford Christian canceled its season in August. Ranked fifth in Class 2A, the Indians compete in the Black Diamond Conference. Johnston City, at least a five-hour drive from Dixon, started the season with three straight shutouts and has outscored opponents 272-56 in six games. They have scored 44 points or more in every game but a 14-0 win over Eldorado in Week 3. They have made the playoffs the past three seasons.
FND pick: Dixon
Hazel Green Southwestern (Wis.) (3-4) at Forreston (1-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Wildcats: Southwestern has lost four straight games, including a 35-26 loss to Mineral Point last week. The Wildcats are 1-4 in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League, tied for last place.
About the Cardinals: Forreston is in the midst of a four-game skid after falling 44-20 to Stockton last week. The Cardinals would need to beat Du-Pec and Le-Win the last two weeks to have a shot at the playoffs, which they have not missed since 2009.
FND pick: Forreston
Illinois 8-Man Football Association
West Carroll (5-1) at Orangeville (3-3)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
About the Thunder: West Carroll bounced back from a 44-0 loss to Milledgeville by beating Rockford Christian Life 56-21 last week. The Thunder are averaging 43.2 points per game this season while allowing an average of 18.8.
About the Broncos: Orangeville has won three straight games after an 0-3 start. The Broncos have scored 42 points or more in their past three games, including a 42-22 win over Hiawatha last week. West Carroll beat Hiawatha 54-0 in Week 2.
FND pick: West Carroll
Milledgeville (5-1) at South Beloit (5-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Missiles: Milledgeville is coming off its first loss of the season after falling to undefeated Polo 30-14 last week. The game was tied 8-8 before Polo pulled away. Milledgeville averages 57 points per game this season.
About the Sobos: South Beloit has won five straight games after falling 44-8 to Polo to open the season. The Sobos beat Alden-Hebron 6-0 last week, a team Milledgeville beat 70-20 in Week 2.
FND pick: Milledgeville
Christian Life co-op (1-5) at Polo (6-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Eagles: Christian Life’s only win is a 28-24 victory over winless AFC in Week 2. The Eagles lost 56-21 to West Carroll last week and are giving up an average of 40.8 points per game.
About the Marcos: Polo is coming off its best win of the season on the road after handing Milledgeville its first loss, 30-14. They have given up only 28 points all season while scoring 30-56 points in every contest.
FND pick: Polo
Ashton-Franklin Center (0-6) at Hiawatha (1-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Raiders: It’s been a roller coaster for the Raiders since joining eight-man, going 0-9 in their first season in 2021, making the playoffs in 2022 after a 6-3 campaign and now having lost 13 straight games after last week’s 48-46 loss to River Ridge. It replaced Week 2′s 28-24 loss to Rockford Christian Life as their closest game of the year. Hiawatha won last year’s contest 46-22.
About the Hawks: Coach Kenny McPeek said he liked the performance of the passing game last week in a 42-22 loss to Orangeville. Freshman Colby Wylde had 116 yards and three touchdown catches. Most teams have focused on 6-foot-5 sophomore receiver Jayden Gray, but McPeek said given Wylde’s performance, Gray may be more open. He also said the run game benefited, with Tommy Butler having one of his best games of the year with 75 yards on the ground.
FND pick: Hiawatha
Peoria Heights (2-4) at Amboy co-op (5-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Patriots: Peoria Heights lost its first four games before winning the last two – both against Galva (20-14 and 22-20). The Patriots won last week despite turning the ball over three times. Peoria Heights racked up 300 total yards last week – 276 rushing and 24 passing – while allowing 241 yards, 156 rushing and 85 passing. The Patriots scored 16 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the win last week.
About the Clippers: Amboy bounced back from its Week 5 loss with a 46-14 rout of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland last week. The Clippers scored 30 points in the third quarter to pull away for the win. Amboy QB Eddie Jones set a new school eight-man record with 2,175 passing yards, which ranks fourth on the Illinois 8-Man Football Association career passing list, according to www.nuicfootball.com. Josh McKendry has rushed for 785 yards and 14 TDs on 63 carries this season, while Brayden Klein has 555 yards and five TDs on 54 attempts.
FND pick: Amboy
– Eddie Carifio, Kevin Chlum and Kevin Hieronymus contributed to this report