BCR Friday Night Drive Week 5 Capsule Previews

BCR GAME OF THE WEEK

Princeton (4-0, 2-0) at Kewanee (4-0, 2-0)

Game time: Friday, 7 p.m.

About the Tigers: The Tigers can take a big step in defending their Three Rivers Conference champion Friday night in a battle that promises to be one of many in the history of the storied rivalry with the Boilermakers which dates back to 1897. ... Princeton has dominated the past three meetings with Kewanee, winning by an average of 41.3 points a game. ... “Kewanee’s going to be, in my opinion, the best team we’ve played up to this point,” PHS coach Ryan Pearson said. “We’ve got to their place. Both teams are going to be 4-0. They’re extremely athletic. This is the year they’ve been looking to. They got a lot of kids playing varsity football, two-three years. So they’ve got athletes. Got a nice, tough physical line. We certainly got to bring our A game over to Kewanee.” ... The Tigers are battling back through injuries/sickness that knocked several starters out in last week’s 28-7 win over Mendota, including both QBS, Tegan Davis and Ean Compton, and ends Danny Cihocki and Matt Lucas. Pearson told the BCR Tuesday afternoon that all will be cleared to play except for sophomore RB CJ Hickey, who remains sidelined from a Week 1 injury. ... The Tigers remain No. 2 ranked in Class 3A with three first-place votes behind No. 1 Wilmington. ... PHS heads the all-time series with Kewanee 62-56-4. … The Tigers have won 17 consecutive regular season games and 20 of their past 21 games overall.

About the Boilermakers: Kewanee is 4-0 for the first time since 1999, when KHS senior Niko Powe’s father (Deniko, Sr.) played for the Boilermakers, who went 5-0 on the way to a 10-2 3A quarterfinal appearance. ... The Boilermakers’ offense is led by QB Will Bruno who has thrown for 575 yards and 13 TDs with Jordan Johnson (7) and Powe (6) combining for 13 TDs. Keyontiss Patterson leads the running attack with 8 TDs. ... The Boilermakers are averaging 42.5 points a game while surrendering 15.5 points a contest. … “I am very excited about Friday night. 4-0 vs 4-0. Looking forward to a big crowd at Kewanee Stadium,” third-year Kewanee head coach Brad Swanson said. ... Kewanee came on strong to beat Bureau Valley going away last week 49-21 in a game that was tied 21-21 midway through the second quarter. ... Swanson succeeded former PHS assistant Tyler Nichols, who is now head coach at Galva.

Last week: PHS beat Mendota 28-7, Kewanee beat BV 49-21.

Last meeting: Princeton 43-7 (Spring 2021).

FND pick: Princeton.

All-time series: PHS 62-56-4.

Bureau Valley (2-2, 0-2) at Newman (2-2, 2-0)

Game time: Friday, 7 p.m.

About the Storm: The Storm battled 4A Kewanee to a 21-21 tie late in the second quarter, before running out of gas and falling 49-21, last week. ... Jaden Michlig (445/6), the Week 2 Friday Night Drive MVP, and Layton Britt (330/4), have combined for 765 yards and 10 TDs rushing. ... BV head coach Mat Pistole returned to his alma mater in 2019 after serving as an assistant at Newman.

About the Comets: Newman is off to an unusual 2-2 start following its first loss (13-7) to St. Bede in 10 years last week. ... This is the first season since 2000 the Comets did not start 3-1 or better. … The Comets are the reigning Class 2A state champion with 17 players on the roster who were on the 2019 team that beat Nashville 35-14 in DeKalb. .... The Comets lead the all-time series 11-6 over the Storm including a 42-0 win this spring.

Last week: BV lost to Kewanee 49-21, Newman lost to St. Bede 13-7.

Last meeting: Newman 42-0 (Spring 2021).

All-time series: Newman 11-6.

FND pick: Newman.

Riverdale (0-4) at St. Bede (3-1)

Game time: Saturday, 1 p.m.

About the Bruins: The St. Bede alumni returning for the 2021 Homecoming will find a talented Bruins football team coming off a 13-7 win over perennial state power Newman and ready to put on a good show for them. “We’re excited. It’s going to be a huge crowd,” SBA coach Jim Eustice said. ... St. Bede’s last game against Riverdale was a 48-8 Bruin win on homecoming in 2014. ... The Bruins are certainly no fluke. Dating back to the 2021 spring season (5-1), the Bruins have now won eight of their last 10 games. ... QB John Brady has thrown for 415 yards and 2 TDs, completing 23-49 passes, the bulk to Tyreke Fortney (449/4). Brady (196/0) and Fortney (182/5) have also combined for 378 yards and 5 TDs. .... The Bruins have outscored their opponents 108-71 with wins over Sherrard (53-0), E-P (15-13) and Newman (13-7), last week, its first over the Comets in 10 years. Kewanee beat the Bruins 51-17 in Week 3.

About the Rams: The Rams are struggling to get off the ground, dropping to 0-4 with a 41-0 loss to Orion last week. The Rams have been outscored 197-44, including losses to Bureau Valley (47-12), Mendota (57-20) and Rockridge (52-12). ... … QB Gage Hugart completed 9 of 19 passes for 56 yards while running for 44 yards on 16 attempt against Orion. Eli Hinde had 68 total yards. … The Rams allowed Orion’s Cole Kratzberg to run for a school-record 270 yards and three TDs.

Last week: Riverdale lost to Orion 41-0, St. Bede beat Newman 13-7.

Last meeting: St. Bede 48-8 (2014).

All-time series: St. Bede 9-4.

FND pick: St. Bede.

Hall (1-3, 0-1) at Mendota (3-1, 1-1)

Game time: Saturday, 2 p.m.

About the Red Devils: Last week’s 44-29 win over Morrison, the Red Devils’ first of the year, was just what the doctor order for the Hall gridders. Junior Mac Resetich had a big day, rushing for 142 yards and 3 TDs. QB Gabe Lucas ran for 99 yards and a TD on four carries and completed 1 of 3 passes for 49 yards and a score. ... “This is what we wanted,” second-year head coach Nick Guerrini said. “We have several goals this season and one was the first [win]. This is one off the board. We’re going to move from here.” ... The Red Devils are looking to use that morale-booster to go up against longtime rival Mendota for the first time in 10 years. ... Caleb Savitch leads the Red Devils in rushing with 318 yards while Resetich has rushed for 302 yards and 5 TDs. Lucas has completed 24-45 passes for 363 yards and 3 TDs.

About the Trojans: Mendota was off to its first 3-0 season in 10 years before falling at Class 3A No. 2 ranked Princeton last week 28-7. It scored first, but the Tigers answered with 28 points by halftime, which stood as the final scored. ... The Trojans opened the season with wins over E-P (24-14), Riverdale (57-20) and BV (42-22). ... Mendota won the teams last meeting in 2011, 36-14. Hall leads the all-time series 40-38 which dates back to 1917.

Last week: Hall beat Morrison 44-29, Mendota lost to Princeton 28-7.

Last meeting: Mendota 36-14 (2011).

All-time series: Mendota 40-38.

FND pick: Mendota.

- Kevin Hieronymus, Kevin Chlum