WESTERN BIG 6

Sterling (5-1) at Rock Island (4-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Golden Warriors: Currently tied for first with Moline in the conference at 4-0, the Warriors have outscored conference teams 154-46 this year. ... Antonio Tablante leads the Western Big 6 in scoring with eight touchdowns for 48 points. ... Carter Ryan leads the league in receiving with 22 catches for 314 yards. ... Sterling has the top pass defense in the league, allowing 80.8 passing yards per game. Rock Island is second with 95.0 yards per game allowed. ... So far this year, Sterling has outgained opponents on the ground 1,303-609. The Warriors average 4.9 yards per carry. ... Four Warriors have intercepted a pass this year, and three of those have pick-6s by AJ Kested, Tyree Kelly and Alejandro Arellano. Arellano, a defensive lineman, had a pick-6 when he correctly read a screen pass Week 6 against Quincy.

About the Rocks: Rock Island quarterback Eli Reese leads the Western Big 6 in passing yards per game with 167.0. In conference games, he has completed 45 of 69 passes for nine touchdowns. Including nonconference play, he is 68-for-106 for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns. ... Kai Rios is the Rocks’ top receiver, having hauled in 26 catches for 299 yards and two scores. Marieon Anderson has 22 catches for 352 yards and five touchdowns. Anderson also has an interception. ... As a team, the Rocks are averaging 5.8 yards per carry and 168.7 rushing yards per game, but are still being outgained on the ground by opponents this year, 1,206-1,012.

FND pick: Sterling

BIG NORTHERN

Genoa-Kingston (5-1) at Dixon (5-1)

About the Cogs: Their defense has been rolling, as the 30 points they’ve allowed this season is the fewest in the conference. The only points they’ve allowed in the past three weeks came in a 7-3 loss to state power Byron. ... The offense also is surging, putting up 88 points the past two weeks after not topping 35 in any of the first four games. They’ll try to carry that momentum into Dixon in a battle between two of the three teams in second place in the conference – although the Dukes are the only one of the three not to face Byron yet. ... “It is a big one on Friday, and the kids know it,” first-year coach Cam Davekos said. “We’ve been harping on them to make sure they feel good about the plays that they’ve made the last two weeks, but also to make sure they’ve got a chip on their shoulder to get better.”

About the Dukes: Among the three teams in the three-way tie for second in the Big Northern (Dixon, G-K and Stillman Valley), Dixon has scored the most points this year with 240. In fact, the only team in the BNC with a higher-powered offense this season is 6-0 Byron, who has scored 242 points. ... During the spring season, Dixon played four one-possession games, going 1-3. So far this fall, the Dukes have played just one one-possession game, the 20-14 loss at Stillman Valley Week 4. In their other five games, the Dukes have outscored teams 226-40. ... Sophomore QB Tyler Shaner has run for 449 yards and 5 TDs, and also thrown for 710 yards and 12 TDs on 59-for-95 passing, with only 2 interceptions. ... Rylan Ramsdell leads the Dukes’ rushing attack with 477 yards and 5 TDs, and Zavion Johnson has run for 338 yards and 3 TDs on just 23 carries (14.7 yards per carry). ... Mason Randick (22 catches, 281 yards, 8 TDs) and Jacob Gusse (16 catches, 223 yards, 3 TDs) are Shaner’s favorite downfield targets.

FND pick: Genoa-Kingston

North Boone (2-4) at Rock Falls (1-5)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Vikings: North Boone has been outscored 154-125 this season, with 99 of the points allowed coming in losses to Dixon (50-7 in Week 2) and Byron (49-7 in Week 5). … The Vikings haven’t scored more than 14 points in any of their four losses, while they’ve scored 35 and 49 in their wins over Rockford Lutheran in Week 1 and Rockford Christian in Week 4. … North Boone has a new QB this season in Chandler Alderman, but he still has all-conference wideout Will Doetch to throw to.

About the Rockets: Rock Falls has been outscored 211-73 this season, but has scored just 23 points since a 50-0 win over Rockford Christian in Week 1. … Booker Cross rushed for 110 yards, including an 80-yard TD run, last week against Byron. … Since facing 0-6 Rockford Christian in the opener, the Rockets’ opponents have had a 21-9 record.

FND pick: North Boone

Oregon (1-5) at Byron (6-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Hawks: This will be Oregon’s fourth opponent of the year who is playoff eligible. The Hawks have previously played a trio of teams who are currently 5-1: Dixon, Genoa-Kingston and Stillman Valley. ... Oregon’s lone win was against Rockford Christian. The Hawks have scored a total of 19 points in four games since.

About the Tigers: Byron has outscored teams 242-49 this season. ... Aside from their 7-3 win over Genoa-Kingston Week 4, the fewest points the Tigers have scored in a game so far this year is 35, in a Week 1 win over Stillman Valley.

FND pick: Byron

THREE RIVERS

Hall (1-5) at Newman (3-3)

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

About the Red Devils: Hall beat Morrison 44-20 in Week 4 and has continued its solid play, battling both 5-1 Mendota (43-34) and state-ranked Kewanee (24-22) tough the last two weeks. Those kind of efforts shows Hall it can play with anyone on its schedule if it brings its ‘A’ game. ... Junior RB Mac Resetich leads the Red Devils players with 13 TDs and 80 points scored. He rushed for 65 yards with two TDs last week. ... Senior LB Dominic Guerrini returned a 66-yard interception return to pay dirt just before halftime to give Hall a 14-12 lead over Kewanee.

About the Comets: Newman takes the field on the heels of a 41-0 setback at Princeton last week. The Comets were overmatched from the opening kickoff on, held to 112 net yards while surrendering 374. ... Princeton’s 41 points matched the most scored against Newman in nine years when the Comets lost to Aurora Christian (41-7) in the state quarterfinals. ... Newman has won the six meetings over Hall by a combined 192-65 margin (32-10.9). ... Newman has won all six meetings since 2012 when Hall joined the Three Rivers/Big Rivers. ... The Comets have four rushers with more than 200 yards this season: Brennen Cook (51 rushes, 239 yards, 4 TDs), Nolan Britt (32-249, 3 TDs), Ethan Van Landuit (46-232, 3 TDs) and Marcus Williams (14-207, 3 TDs).

FND pick: Newman

Erie-Prophetstown (4-2) at Bureau Valley (2-4)

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

About the Panthers: E-P lost its first two games, but rides a four-game streak into Storm Stadium. The Panthers’ losses came to 5-1 Mendota and St. Bede, while their wins have come over two winless teams (Sherrard, Riverdale) and two .500 teams (Rockridge, Orion), which have a combined 6-18 record. ... “E-P is big, experienced, and has two really good playmakers in the backfield we will have to control to win,” BV coach Mast Pistole said. “Penalties and turnovers that cost us last week have to get cleaned up, because you can’t beat good teams playing that way. We are excited for the challenge, and I’m excited for the kids to get a homecoming this year.” ... The teams met this spring, with the Panthers winning at BV 44-0. E-P also beat the Storm 33-14 in the 2019 season opener in Pistole’s coaching debut at BV. ... The Panthers lost their last six games of the 2019 season.

About the Storm: Friday’s contest is the 2021 Homecoming game for Bureau Valley. ... The script for the Storm’s season is a flip of E-P’s. BV won its first two games of the season, but has dropped its last four. ... The Storm gave state-ranked St. Bede all it could handle last week, falling 13-7. ... Senior RB Jaden Michlig leads the Storm with 566 yards rushing and 6 TDs. Senior QB Alex Johnson has completed half of his passes (20-for-40) for 323 yards and a pair of TDs. Brock Foster has caught half of those passes for 181 yards and a score, a 56-yard TD reception last week to give the Storm an early 7-0 lead over St. Bede. ... The Storm must win out in the last three weeks to make the playoffs. BV leads the all-time series with Erie-Prophetstown 19-4, including the games before they co-oped.

FND pick: Erie-Prophetstown

Morrison (1-5) at Orion (2-4)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Mustangs: Morrison picked up its first win in Week 5, a 12-6 victory over 0-6 Sherrard. The record of its opponents in the five losses is 18-12. … The Mustangs have been outscored 182-80 on the season. … In its five losses, Morrison has scored in single digits three times (6, 6, and 8), but also put up 28 in a loss to Monmouth-Roseville and 20 in a loss to Hall in back-to-back weeks.

About the Chargers: If the season’s trend continues, Orion is seemingly due for a win, as it won the opener and then three weeks later in Week 4; this Friday will be three weeks since the last victory. … The Chargers scored 26 and 41 in their two wins, but last week against Monmouth-Roseville was the first time they’ve scored more than 14 points in a loss; they fell 34-28. … Orion has been outscored 70-129 on the season.

FND pick: Orion

NUIC

Eastland-Pearl City (0-6) at East Dubuque (1-5)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Cougars: Eastland-Pearl City might be without its starting QB, as Kellen Henze will be playing at the state golf meet in Bloomington-Normal this weekend and was trying to decide if he’ll try to make the trek to East Dubuque for the football game. Henze has led EPC in rushing and passing this season. … The Wildcatz almost notched their first win of the season last week, before falling 41-40 in double overtime against Galena. … That game marked the first time all season EPC has scored more than 13 points in a game. … The Wildcatz have been outscored 213-88 this season; only one NUIC team has scored fewer points (Dakota, 58), and only one has given up more points (East Dubuque, 217).

About the Warriors: East Dubuque has been outscored 217-126, and has not beaten a team from Illinois this season; the Warriors defeated Deerfield (Wis.) 58-20 in Week 3. … The Warriors haven’t scored more than 20 points in any of their losses, while allowing at least 24 points. … QB Trey Bowman was 12-for-22 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday’s loss to Forreston, with Zach Freiburger catching nine passes for 90 yards and both TDs.

FND pick: East Dubuque

Forreston (5-1) at Fulton (4-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Cardinals: Forreston rushed for 411 yards and eight touchdowns on 47 carries in Saturday’s 56-20 win over East Dubuque, an average of 8.7 yards per carry and a TD every 5.9 plays. … Jacob Fiorello (145 yards, 3 TDs) and Matthew Beltran (136 yards, 1 TD) both ran for more than 100 yards last week, and Kaleb Sanders took three of his six carries to the end zone. … The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 232-101 this season, and have scored at least 34 points in every win. The lone loss was 28-0 to Durand-Pecatonica in Week 2. … Only Lena-Winslow (264) has scored more points among NUIC teams, and only the Panthers and Du-Pec have allowed fewer points.

About the Steamers: Fulton has outscored its opponents 159-139 in its first season in the NUIC, and has scored at least 24 points in four of its six games. … The Steamers’ losses were 38-24 to Du-Pec in Week 3 and 54-7 to Le-Win in Week 5; they’ve defeated Galena, East Dubuque, Madison and Stockton. … Keegan VanKampen leads Fulton with 479 yards and 9 TDs on 77 rushes, while Jacob Jones has 354 yards and 3 TDs on 54 carries. … Patrick Lower has completed 38 of 60 passes for 435 yards and 5 TDs, with Brock Mason (16 catches, 284 yards, 3 TDs), Jones (12 catches, 135 yards, 2 TDs) and Baylen Damhoff (6 catches, 135 yards, 2 TDs) all over 100 yards receiving. … Kicker Endi Qunaj has made 16 PATs and a field goal this season.

FND pick: Fulton

8-Man

Milledgeville (5-1) at Aquin (5-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Missiles: Milledgeville’s only loss came in Week 1 to unbeaten Polo, a 40-38 defeat on a late two-point conversion. ... The Missiles have outscored opponents 252-62 since the season opener. ... In last week’s 56-26 win over previously unbeaten Orangeville, the Missiles led 32-20 at halftime despite the Broncos scoring first. ... Connor Nye’s passing and Ashton Nobis’ running have led Milledgeville all season.

About the Bulldogs: Aquin has outscored its opponents 260-78 this season. Only Milledgeville has scored more points (290) among North Division teams, and only Polo has allowed fewer points (72). … The Bulldogs’ lone loss was to Orangeville in Week 4, 34-26. They haven’t scored fewer than 26 points all season, and have fine games with at least 42. … Aquin is coming off a 42-0 win over West Central and a 42-22 win over South Beloit the last two weeks.

FND pick: Milledgeville

Polo (6-0) at Peoria Heights (2-4)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Marcos: Polo has outscored opponents 201-72 this season, and that’s including a pair of forfeits in Weeks 4 and 5. … After that two-week hiatus, the Marcos ran for 538 yards and 9 TDs on 40 carries in last week’s 66-6 win over River Ridge, and had six different players run for touchdowns. … Avery Grenoble and Brock Soltow have both rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season. … Grenoble has run for 9 TDs this year, and Soltow has 11 TD runs. … Grenoble caught the winning 2-point conversion against Milledgeville in Week 1, while Soltow caught the game-sealing TD pass from Tyler Merdian against Amboy in Week 3. … Merdian has either passed for or run for a touchdown in every game.

About the Patriots: Peoria Heights has been outscored 238-170 this season, with a 100-36 scoring edge in its two wins and a 202-70 scoring deficit in its four losses. … The Patriots have scored more than 14 points in only one of their losses, a 44-42 defeat at the hands of River Ridge in Week 5. … Peoria Heights was AFC’s opponent in its final game this season before forfeiting the remainder due to injuries and low numbers; the Patriots won that game 52-8 before following that with a 48-28 win over Bushnell-Prairie City in Week 4.

FND pick: Polo