WESTERN BIG 6

Galesburg (0-2) at Sterling (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Sterling 54-28 (2019)

About the Golden Warriors: With quarterback Drew Kested injured late in the Week 2 loss to Montini, the Sterling quarterback platoon will now consist of Colt Adams and Garrett Polson. In the loss to Montini, Polson was 1-for-5 passing, but his one completion was a bubble screen dropped for a three-yard loss. ... Antonio Tablante has 33 carries for 152 yards this season after he rushed 20 times for 86 yards against Montini. ... Against Montini, Sterling ran the ball 17 times on first down, gaining 66 yards, an average of 3.8 yards per attempt. Discounting a fumble going for a nine-yard loss, that’s 4.7 yards per attempt. But 12 carries on second-down plays went for 26 yards, just over two yards per play, and 10 third-down rushing attempts went for 25 yards.

About the Silver Streaks: Galesburg led Morton 14-13 at halftime of their Week 2 matchup, but the Potters scored 21 second-half points to rally for the 34-21 win. ... Tristan Legate is 25-for-40 passing for 318 yards through two weeks. The junior quarterback was elevated to the starting role in Week 2 of the spring season when Grant Aten was injured. Legate beat out the now-healthy Aten for the starting job this August. ... Senior wide out Dre Egipciaco had eight catches against Morton for 178 yards, the last a 23-yard touchdown. He is third in the league in receptions with 11 through two games for 196 yards. His twin brother Alex is ninth in the league in rushing with 20 carries for 106 yards.

FND pick: Sterling

BIG NORTHERN

Dixon (2-0) at Rockford Christian (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Dixon 63-26 (2017)

About the Dukes: Dixon played four games in the spring, all decided by a single possession. Through two games this fall, the Dukes have outscored teams 85-7. ... In the Week 2 win over North Boone, Hunter Gehrt came up with two sacks and added a tackle for a loss, costing the Vikings 30 yards of field position. ... Two of Dixon’s scores in Week 2 were set up by strong play on defense and special teams. Jacob Gusse intercepted a pass to set up one score, and Eli Davidson set up another by blocking a punt.

About the Royal Lions: Rockford Christian gained 23 yards rushing on 21 attempts in a Week 1 loss to Rock Falls, then picked up 123 rushing yards in a Week 2 loss to Oregon. ... Quarterback Keon Leach has completed 10 of 28 passes this season for 158 yards. ... The Rockford Christian defense has allowed 95 points in two games this season.

FND pick: Dixon

Rock Falls (1-1) at Winnebago (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Winnebago 63-7 (2019)

About the Rockets: Both of Rock Falls’ games this year have been shutouts, a shutout win over Rockford Christian and a shutout loss to Stillman Valley. ... Rock Falls has outscored its opponents on the year 50-48. ... So far this year, the Rockets have two touchdowns through the air, on 35- and 46-yard passes, as well as five rushing scores. Three of the rushing touchdowns were on one-yard plays, and the others came from six and four yards out.

About the Indians: Winnebago is 0-2, but those losses have come to a pair of strong teams, dropping a 26-3 game to Genoa-Kingston and a 41-13 game to Byron. Both Byron and GK are ranked in the latest AP polls. ... Michael Cunningham carried 13 times for 41 yards against GK.

FND pick: Winnebago

Stillman Valley (1-1) at Oregon (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Stillman Valley 35-7 (2019)

About the Hawks: Daniel Dominguez had a dominant game in a 45-20 Week 2 win over Rockford Christian, gaining 203 yards on 19 carries, including a 39-yard touchdown. He also ran in a pair of two-point conversions then kicked three other PAT tries. ... Oregon gained 20 first downs against Rockford Christian, and 19 of them came on the ground. ... The Hawks gained 372 rushing yards in Week 2 compared to 12 passing yards. Through two games, Hunter Buchanan has completed 2-of-9 passes for 19 yards.

About the Cardinals: Stillman Valley has played two games, and both were shutouts. The Cardinals lost 35-0 to Byron in Week 1 and beat Rock Falls 48-0 in Week 2. ... After a four-year stretch from 2014-17 in which the Cardinals won 13 games, Stillman went 7-4 and 9-2 the next two seasons before going 1-2 in the spring.

FND pick: Stillman Valley

THREE RIVERS

Orion (1-1) at Newman (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Last matchup: Newman 28-13 (2019 playoffs)

About the Comets: Newman comes in having lost Week 2 to Rockridge 27-14. ... Marcus Williams just keeps breaking off long touchdown runs. He had scores of 51 and 55 yards in a Week 1 win over Morrison, and a 52-yard touchdown in the loss to Rockridge. All of those touchdowns have come in the closing minutes of the first half. ... Jacob Donald is 6-for-7 on PAT kicks this year.

About the Chargers: Newman and Orion met twice in the 2019 season, with Newman winning 28-6 in Week 7 of the regular season and 28-13 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Both games saw Orion within striking distance at halftime before Newman staged long clock-chewing drives in the second half. ... Orion managed 81 yards on the ground and 83 through the air in a Week 2 loss to Princeton. Of the Chargers’ seven first downs, four came on the ground and three through the air.

FND pick: Newman

Monmouth-Roseville (1-1) at Morrison (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Mustangs: Danny Mouw completed 8 of 14 passes for 115 yards in Week 2 against Kewanee after not attempting a pass in Week 1 against Newman. ... Carson Strating had two rushing attempts for four yards in Week 1, then broke off 93 rushing yards on 19 carries in Week 2. He also caught five passes for 52 yards. ... Morrison went 6-for-13 on third-down attempts in the loss to Kewanee.

About the Titans: Monmouth-Roseville has been outscored 74-48 in its two games this year, scoring 40 in a win over Hall in Week 2, and allowing 42 in a loss to Kewanee Week 1. ... Monmouth-Roseville led Hall 32-26 after a high-scoring first half in Week 2, then in a low-scoring second half outscored the Devils 8-6.

FND pick: Morrison

Erie-Prophetstown (0-2) at Sherrard (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Erie-Prophetstown 33-7 (2019)

About the Panthers: The Panthers’ two losses have been decided by a total of 11 points, falling 24-14 to Mendota and 15-13, on a last-second field goal, to St. Bede. Both the Trojans and Bruins are 2-0. ... Kolby Franks passed for 74 yards and two touchdowns against St. Bede, while rushing for 107 yards. Both of his touchdown passes were to Mason Misfeldt.

About the Tigers: Sherrard has been outscored 103-7 in two losses. ... Sherrard gained a total of 72 yards, 55 of which came on the ground, in a Week 2 loss to Bureau Valley. ... Brandon Johnston is in his first season as Sherrard head coach. He went 85-27 during a decade at the helm at Annawan-Wethersfield, then, after briefly taking a job in Arizona, was the defensive coordinator for Mike Morrissey at Moline. ... Sherrard’s 3-1 run through the spring was the Tigers’ first winning season since 2009.

FND pick: Erie-Prophetstown

Bureau Valley (2-0) at Mendota (2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Storm: Two programs on the rise will meet for the very first time on the Trojans’ turf. BV is 2-0 for the first time since 2017, dominating Riverdale and Sherrard, snapping a 13-game skid dating back to 2018. ... BV coach Mat Pistole looks for a good first meeting with the Trojans. “Mendota and us really mirror each other with experienced groups that have built a lot of confidence in the first couple weeks. You can certainly tell they are well-coached and understand their schemes,” he said. “They will really challenge us with their size and depth. They are also very good on special teams; that has been a difference-maker for them, so we are going to have to be really solid on the special units. As always, we are going to have to tackle and block well and stay away from turnovers. This game will come down to who executes at a higher level. We are excited for the challenge.” ... The Storm dominated the stat sheets in last week’s 50-7 win at Sherrard, led by Friday Night Drive Player of the Week Jade Michlig (100 yards, 2 TDs) and running mate Levi Hardy (95 yards, 3 TDs).

About the Trojans: Mendota has won its first two games for the first time since 2013. It has not won more than one game since 2014, when it went 6-3 and made the playoffs. ... Mendota joins the Three Rivers this year after an eight-year run in the Big Northern. It was a longtime member of the NCIC and had a brief stint in the West Central, two conferences that no longer exist.

FND pick: Mendota

NUIC

Forreston (1-1) at Eastland-Pearl City (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Forreston 22-20 (2019)

About the Cardinals: Eight different Forreston ballcarriers combined for 125 rushing yards in a Week 2 loss to Durand-Pecatonica. Devonte King-Black led the way with 35 rushing yards. ... In the loss to Du-Pec, Forreston had six drives of less than 1 minute, and five other drives that lasted less than 2 minutes. The Cardinals held the ball for a total of 20:26. ... The last meeting between the two, a 22-20 Week 9 win for Forreston in 2019, knocked the Wildcatz out of playoff contention by dropping them to 4-5.

About the Wildcatz: EPC scored two touchdowns in its 18-13 loss to Stockton in Week 2, both involving Kellen Henze. The senior quarterback threw a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and ran for a five-yard score in the fourth. ... The Wildcatz outgained Stockton 344-236 in Week 2, picking up 122 yards through the air and 222 on the ground. ... EPC was penalized 11 times for 97 yards in the loss to Stockton, and turned the ball over twice – one fumble and one interception.

FND pick: Forreston

Durand-Pecatonica (2-0) at Fulton (2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Rivermen: Hunter Hoffman completed 13 of 24 passes in Week 2 against Forreston for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 17-yard run. ... Trent Taylor gained 91 yards on the ground on 18 carries in Week 2.

About the Steamers: Fulton was all about making big plays in a Week 2 win over East Dubuque, getting rushing scores of 60 and 33 yards from Jacob Jones, and an 81-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Lower to Brock Mason. Unfortunately, the Steamers also gave up a big play, as East Dubuque’s Dawson Feyen returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a score. ... Fulton picked up 14 first downs in Week 2, with 13 of them coming on the ground. Fulton gained 337 yards on 44 carries, and 127 yards on Lower’s 9-of-12 passing.

FND pick: Durand-Pecatonica

8-MAN

Polo (2-0) at Amboy (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Marcos: The defending state champion Marcos rolled to a 56-0 victory over Ashton-Franklin Center last week. In Week 1, Polo beat Milledgeville 40-38. … Avery Grenoble ran for 155 yards and three TDs on five carries last week, while Brock Soltow had 101 yards and two TDs on seven attempts. … QB Tyler Merdian completed 1-of-2 passes for a 24-yard TD to Kahlil Sankey. He also ran for 51 yards. … The Marcos held AFC to 94 rushing yards and 30 passing yards.

About the Clippers: After cruising to a 52-0 victory in their 8-man debut, the Clippers lost 24-12 to Milledgeville in Week 2. … QB Tucker Lindenmeyer has run for 149 yards and three TDs on 14 carries, while completing 4-of-9 passes for 61 yards and two TDs. … Joe Quest has 81 rushing yards and two TDs this fall. He also caught a TD pass last week.

FND pick: Polo

AFC (0-2) at Peoria Heights (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Raiders: AFC ran for 94 yards and threw for 30 more in a loss to Polo in Week 2. ... QB Carson Rueff led the Raiders with 47 rushing yards – with 24 coming on his only second-half carry – and completed hits first three passes before finshing 4-for-11. ... Auden Polk had 17 rush yards and 30 receiving yards in Week 2, while Sean Lauer rushed for 24 yards. ... The Raiders gave up 409 rushing yards to Polo last week, including 307 in the first half.

About the Patriots: Peoria Heights has given up more than 50 points in each of its first two games, a 52-0 loss to Amboy-LaMoille in Week 1 and a 56-16 loss to Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland in Week 2. … Caleb Gillan ran for 39 yards in Week 1, while Connor Barnes was 8-for-14 passing for 63 yards and an interception against Amboy. … The Patriots managed just four first downs in Week 1.

FND pick: AFC

River Ridge (0-2) at Milledgeville (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Milledgeville 54-14 (2018)

About the Missiles: Connor Nye has thrown for 346 yards and 8 TDs in the first two weeks, and he also ran for 75 yards and a score in a 40-398 loss to Polo in Week 1. … Ashton Nobis has a touchdown catch in each of the first two games, and ran for 67 yards in a 24-12 win over Amboy-LaMoille in Week 2. … Bryce Aude has four TD catches, two in each game. … The Missiles ran for 193 yards and threw for 201 in Week 1. … Milledgeville closed out the Week 2 win with a 20-play drive that ended with Nye taking a knee at the Amboy 21.

About the Wildcats: River Ridge has lost to a pair of 2-0 teams in the first two weeks, falling 52-8 to Aquin in Week 1 and 44-30 to South Beloit in Week 2. … The Wildcats advanced to the semifinals in the 8-man playoffs in 2019, losing 64-20 to eventual champion Polo.

FND pick: Milledgeville