The 2020 Illinois high school football season is up in the air like a Hail Mary at the moment, it's true, but prep gridiron fans are holding out hope things can get underway as scheduled with the season kicking off under the Friday night lights August 28. For those fans, Friday Night Drive takes a deep look into the schedules of teams in and around La Salle County to find our Games of the Week and Runners-Up for the fall of 2020.
Week 1 (Aug. 28-29) Game of the Week: Seneca at Marquette The Fighting Irish and Crusaders move their newly-renewed rivalry from Week 2 to what should be an explosive season-opener. Marquette went up big early and held on late to win last year's meeting, 21-13. Runner-Up: FCW at Milford-Cissna Park The team that ended Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland's season in 2019's Illinois 8-Man Football Association state semifinals opens the Falcons' 2020 schedule. (Shaw Media)
Week 2 (Sept. 4-5) Game of the Week: Sterling Newman at Princeton The Tigers will have revenge on their minds against the defending Class 2A state champions — the only team to defeat the Tigers during the 2019 regular season, a game which Princeton led at the half. Runner-Up: Ottawa at Streator The Pirates visit the Bulldogs in the resumption of the state's third-oldest rivalry, one which dates back to 1894. The Route 23 Rivalry was last contested in 2013. (Shaw Media)
Week 3 (Sept. 11-12) Game of the Week: La Salle-Peru at Sandwich Last fall, the Cavaliers dominated this meeting of two teams which walked the playoff-qualifying line the entire season, with this result ultimately getting L-P in and keeping the Indians out. It will be a key one to both teams' postseason hopes again. Runner-Up: Peoria Heights at L-W/H-S Fans wanting to check out the wide-open 8-man game will have an opportunity close to home as Lowpoint-Washburn/Henry-Senachwine hosts a team new to the 8-man game on Saturday afternoon. (Shaw Media)
Week 4 (Sept. 18-19) Game of the Week: Fieldcrest at GCMS Expect emotions to run high in this return bout from last season's 14-6 Fieldcrest victory which ended two-time-defending 2A state champion Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley's 31-game winning streak. Runner-Up: Rochelle at La Salle-Peru It became clear early on last season the winner of this game had a great chance to make the playoffs and the loser would have a tough row to hoe. L-P finished the regular season 5-4; the Hubs 4-5. (Shaw Media)
Week 5 (Sept. 25-26) Game of the Week: Hall at St. Bede On a mud-soaked field, the playoff-bound Red Devils survived a tough challenge from the visiting and then-winless Bruins, winning only 9-0 in a rivalry contest played over two days due to unrelenting lightning. Runner-Up: Monmouth-Roseville at Bureau Valley The Storm were kept out of the win column last season, but this year they get the team they played their closest game against in 2019 — a 21-7 defeat — at home. (Shaw Media)
Week 6 (Oct. 2-3) Game of the Week: Ottawa at La Salle-Peru The old rivals meet for the 121st time in this Interstate Eight Conference tilt on Howard Fellows Stadium's new turf surface in what is almost always an emotional, throw-out-the-records affair. Runner-Up: Princeton at Hall The Tigers dominated the Red Devils 41-0 in last year's meeting of two playoff qualifiers, but this time have to face them in Spring Valley. (Shaw Media)
Week 7 (Oct. 9-10) Game of the Week: Plano at Sandwich Another in a series of late-season rivalry showdowns with electric atmospheres, the War on 34 last fall went the way of the Indians via a 36-7 final tally. No matter the score or records, expect a slobberknocker. Runner-Up: Watseka at Seneca The Fighting Irish managed to shut out the playoff-bound Warriors 20-0 in a meeting of what on paper looked like two evenly-matched teams last season, propelling Seneca to a playoff berth of its own. (Shaw Media)
Week 8 (Oct. 16-17) Game of the Week: Rockford Christian at Marquette The Crusaders and Royal Lions split two meetings last season as members of the Northeastern Athletic Conference, and both earned their way into the playoffs. They meet only once this year, for Gould Stadium's regular-season finale. Runner-Up: Fieldcrest at Eureka Yet another fierce rivalry, this one is dubbed the Veterans Bowl complete with a traveling trophy and tributes to military servicemen from the two communities. (Shaw Media)
Week 9 (Oct. 23-24) Game of the Week: Lisle at Streator When the Lions and Bulldogs have fielded teams vying for playoff spots in recent years, this typically late-season matchup is often a must-win for one, the other or both. Last year it was Lisle getting its qualifying fifth win and heading on to Week 10. Runner-Up: Rock Falls at Mendota Last season's Big Northern Conference meeting saw the Trojans score their one win of the season over the one-win Rockets in a thrilling, 26-21 contest. (Shaw Media)