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WESTERN BIG 6
Quincy (2-3) at Sterling (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Blue Devils: Quincy has alternated wins and losses all season, opening with a loss to Quincy Notre Dame, beating Alton, falling to Moline, beating United Township (which snapped UT’s seven-game winning streak) and falling to Galesburg. ... In league games so far, Quincy has the top passing offense with 524 yards on 33-of-91 completions. Adon Byquist and Bradyn Little have split quarterbacking duties. Greg Quince is the top receiving target with 13 catches in league games for 265 yards.
About the Golden Warriors: Sterling is off to a 3-0 start in conference play, outscoring foes 104-28. ... Carter Ryan, who missed the first two games of the season with an injury, is the league’s top receiver, having reeled in 16 catches for 194 yards. ... Sterling has league scoring leaders in two different categories. The overall scoring leader is Antonio Tablante, who has put 42 points on the board in league games with seven touchdowns. The scoring leader among league kickers is Luis Diaz with 12 extra points and a pair of field goals. ... In league games, Sterling has picked up 54 first downs and allowed 23.
FND pick: Sterling
BIG NORTHERN
Dixon (4-1) at Rockford Lutheran (2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Dukes: The Dukes quickly bounced back from their Week 4 loss at Stillman Valley with a 53-26 win over Winnebago. Dixon has topped the 50-point mark three times this year, and currently leads the BNC in total scoring with 214 points this season. ... Six different Dukes have found the end zone with rushing touchdowns this year, with Tyler Shaner and Rylan Ramsdell leading the way with five each. Shaner also leads the team with 462 rushing yards out of the option offense, with Ramsdell having gained 417 yards and Zavion Johnson 225. ... Through five games, Shaner is 47-for-78 passing for 575 yards and nine touchdowns, with just one interception. ... Mason Randick is the top receiver this year with 19 catches for 232 yards and five touchdowns. Jacob Gusse has 15 catches for 189 yards and three scores.
About the Crusaders: Rockford Lutheran won the last meeting 7-2 in April, scoring on the first drive of the game before a steady rain began to pour, slowing both offenses. Dixon’s lone points came after Lutheran had made a fourth-down goal-line stand and took an intentional safety on their own fourth down on the ensuing drive after failing to move the ball.
FND pick: Dixon
Byron (5-0) at Rock Falls (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Tigers: Byron has outscored teams 179-42 this season. ... Chandler Binkley and Andrew Claunch are leading the way in the rushing attack. Each had 82 yards on the ground in the Week 4 slugfest of a 7-3 win over Genoa-Kingston. Through five games, Binkley has 53 carries for 501 yards and nine scores. Claunch has 48 carries for 232 yards and four touchdowns.
About the Rockets: This will be Rock Falls’ first home game since the death of senior Brock Parker, the son of head coach Kevin Parker. Teams around the area have paid tribute to Parker in the days since, including Byron, who posed for a picture on their football field in the shape of the number 55, Parker’s uniform number. ... The Rockets come in off of a game at Genoa-Kingston in which they were outgained 324-54 on the ground.
FND pick: Byron
Oregon (1-4) at Genoa-Kingston (4-1)
When: 7 p.m.
About the Hawks: In three games this season against teams not from the city of Rockford, Oregon has been outscored 106-13. Oregon’s 13-6 loss to Rockford Lutheran in Week 5 was the first game the Hawks have played this season decided by fewer than 29 points. ... In rainy conditions against Lutheran, Oregon was held to 28 rushing yards and 12 passing yards and did not convert a first down until late in the game – but was still in the game until the end thanks to a slew of Crusaders fumbles.
About the Cogs: As strong as the defense has been for Genoa-Kingston, it picked up its first shutout of the year Friday in a 41-0 win against Rock Falls. The Cogs have allowed 7.5 points a game, by far the fewest in the conference. ... Against the Rockets, the Cogs allowed only 54 yards of total offense. And early in the second quarter, they blocked a punt for a defensive score. ... “We feel really good. We gained some confidence in what we needed to do offensively, defensively and even special teams,” coach Cam Davekos said. “So we’re pretty confident heading into Friday night. However, Oregon is pretty big – they’ve got some numbers. So we’ve got to make sure we dot our i’s and cross our t’s to get the job done.”
FND pick: Genoa-Kingston
THREE RIVERS
Newman (3-2) at Princeton (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Comets: Newman bounced back from a Week 4 loss with a 26-14 win over Bureau Valley last week. … After allowing a score on a short field in the first quarter against BV, the Comets limited the Storm to 15 yards or fewer on seven consecutive drives. … Newman put together a 15-play drive that ate up most of the first quarter and a 12-play drive that took up most of the fourth quarter. … Hunter Luyando ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns against the Storm. … Ethan VanLanduit and Gabe Padilla also ran for TDs last week. … The Comets are averaging 21.6 points per game, while giving up 14.6 points per game.
About the Tigers: Princeton lost 49-21 to Kewanee last week, snapping a 10-game winning streak and a 17-game regular-season winning streak. … The Tigers were down 28-21 at halftime against Kewanee before the Boilermakers outscored Princeton 21-0 in the second half. … Princeton outgained Kewanee 349-273. … Against Kewanee, Princeton was held to its lowest rushing total (73 yards) since the 2019 semifinals, but did have its highest passing output (276 yards) of the season. … QB Teegan Davis has thrown for 810 yards and eight touchdowns this season, while rushing for 398 yards and seven TDs. … WR Bennett Sierens caught eight passes for 181 yards and two TDs last week, and has 17 receptions for 386 yards and two TDs on the season. … The Tigers allowed more points against Kewanee (49) than they did in the previous four games combined (41).
FND pick: Princeton
Rockridge (2-3) at Morrison (1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Rockets: Rockridge’s three losses were to teams with a combined 11-4 record so far this year. The Rockets have just one team left on their schedule with a winning record, in Week 8 when they face currently unbeaten Kewanee. ... In the loss to Monmouth-Roseville, the Rockets were held scoreless in the first half before scoring twice, both on Brayden Deem runs, in the second half. Deem was 5-for-17 passing for 60 yards in the game, and ran 15 times for 154 yards. ... Peyton Locke added 16 runs for 108 yards in the loss to Monmouth-Roseville.
About the Mustangs: Morrison comes in off of its first win of the season, and the first of the Steve Snider era, having beaten Sherrard 12-6 in Week 5. ... Morrison led 16-14 at halftime of the March 26 meeting between the two teams, and 22-20 after three quarters before Rockridge scored the final 14 points to pull out the win. ... Morrison’s last win over Rockridge was in 2019, when the Mustangs beat the Rockets by 14 en route to a 9-0 regular season.
FND pick: Rockridge
Riverdale (0-5) at Erie-Prophetstown (3-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Rams: Riverdale has been outscored 231-65 this year. Winless through five games, the Rams’ closest game so far was in Week 5, a 13-point loss to St. Bede. ... Gage Hugart struck through the air and on the ground in the Week 5 loss to St. Bede, with a 67-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Jennings and a 19-yard TD run. Hugart passed for 288 yards in the game, 152 of that to Jennings. ... Riverdale had more first downs in the game than St. Bede, 23-13, and a 475-397 edge in total offense, but also got flagged nine times.
About the Panthers: In a Week 5 win over Orion, the Panthers scored 36 unanswered points to win on the road, led by 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Kolby Franks. Orion punched it in on a short field in the third quarter after a fumble to take a 14-13 lead, but Erie-Prophetstown was in control from there. ... E-P got three TD runs from Franks and two more from both Connor Sibley and Jase Grunder against Orion. On defense, Grunder had 10 tackles and a sack, and Sibley intercepted a pass. ... Since scoring 27 points in total the first two weeks of the season, both losses, Erie-Prophetstown has scored 55, 50 and 49 points the last three weeks, all wins.
FND pick: Erie-Prophetstown
St. Bede (4-1) at Bureau Valley (2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Bruins: A win makes St. Bede playoff eligible for the first time since 2016, and would match its spring win total when the Bruins went 5-1. … The Bruins are balanced on offense, averaging 146.6 rushing yards, 163.6 passing yards and 28.4 points. ... St. Bede allows 131 rushing yards, 120.4 passing yards and 19.6 points per game. QB John Brady had a big game in St. Bede’s 34-21 win over Riverdale on homecoming on Saturday, completing 10-of-16 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also St. Bede’s rushing leader with 272 yards and two TDs on the season. … Tyreke Fortney (4 catches, 146 yards) and Anton Cain (2 catches, 86 yards) each caught a pair of TD passes last week … Cain led the Bruin defense against Riverdale with nine tackles and two interceptions.
About the Storm: Bureau Valley has lost three in a row after a 2-0 start, including a 26-14 loss to Newman last week. … The Storm’s 14 points last week were their lowest output of the season. … Against the Comets, the Storm took possession at the Newman 10-yard line and scored on a 1-yard run by Levi Hardy to take a 7-0 lead, but were then held to 15 yards or fewer on seven consecutive drives to fall behind 26-7. BV added a TD in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard pass from Adam Johnson to Isaac Attig. … BV is averaging 224.2 rushing yards, 42.6 passing yards and 30.8 points, while allowing 121 rushing yards, 141.2 passing yards and 27.2 points per game.
FND pick: St. Bede
NUIC
Galena (2-3) at Eastland-Pearl City (0-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Pirates: Since its 14-13 loss to Fulton in Week 1, Galena has had a 36-point win, a 20-point loss, a 14-point win, and a 32-point loss. ... Julian Garcia-Ayala and Ethan Hefel are the Pirates’ top rushers, with Hefel carrying 42 times for 157 yards and Garcia-Ayala 34 times for 155. Hefel is also second in the league in passing, completing 37 of 78 throws for 503 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
About the Wildcatz: EPC has played two one-possessions games, losses to Stockton and Dakota, who are currently 2-3. ... Kellen Henze leads the Wildcatz with 73 rushes for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, he has completed 32 of 69 passes for 330 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. ... Thomas Owens leads the team in receiving with four catches for 68 yards.
FND pick: Galena
Fulton (3-2) at Stockton (2-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Steamers: Through five games, two Steamers are handling the bulk of the rushing. As a team, Fulton has gained 739 yards on the ground, with 352 of that coming from Keegan VanKampen and 296 coming from Jacob Jones. Between them, they also have all seven of Fulton’s rushing touchdowns, five for VanKampen and two for Jones. ... Fulton in Week 5 became the first team since Eastland-Pearl City to score against Lena-Winslow. The Panthers had won via shutout Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4. ... Brock Mason has 12 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns this year, an average of 15.8 yards per catch.
About the Blackhawks: After starting the season 1-3, Stockton comes into Week 5 off of a 35-20 win over East Dubuque. ... Jace Phillips and Dustin Oppold are the Blackhawks’ top two rushers. Phillips has 55 carries for 245 yards, and Oppold has 57 carries for 234 yards. Ian Broshous is not far behind with 13 carries for 162 yards, and Parker Luke has 41 carries for 159 yards.
FND pick: Fulton
East Dubuque (1-4) at Forreston (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Warriors: East Dubuque has not won a game in Illinois this season, with its one win coming at Deerfield, Wisconsin. ... Sam Bowman leads the league in passing with 54-of-108 completions for 578 yards and six touchdowns. East Dubuque deployed a lot of four-wideout shotgun looks in Week 5 against Stockton, with Bowman able to hit deep routes. Brevin Lee leads the league in receiving with 17 catches for 328 yards and two scores. Zach Freiburger has added 16 catches for 146 yards. ... Sam Huntington has 59 carries for 338 yards and six touchdowns this year. Teammate Dawson Feyen has 27 carries for 270 yards.
About the Cardinals: Forreston has faced one team with a winning record, Durand-Pecatonica, a game it lost 28-0, and four teams with a losing record, with the Cardinals winning all four and outscoring teams in those games 172-53. ... Matthew Beltran is third in the league in rushing with 46 carries for 421 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jacob Fiorello is second on the team with 39 rushes for 251 yards. Fiorello leads the team in receiving with two catches for 47 yards.
FND pick: Forreston
8-MAN
Amboy (2-3) at Hiawatha (3-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Clippers: Amboy followed up a Week 4 win over the then-top-ranked team in the state in 8-man football, West Central, with a wild Week 5 loss to Milford-Cissna Park on a late touchdown. ... So far this season, Amboy has outscored teams 198-122. The loss to Milford-Cissna Park was the third time this season the Clippers have scored 46 or more points, having done so previously in wins over Peoria Heights and West Central. ... Kye Koch rushed five times for 181 yards and three touchdowns in the win over West Central, while Tucker Lindenmeyer had six carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
About the Hawks: Cole Brantley scored three defensive touchdowns – two fumble recovery returns and an interception return – in Hiawatha’s 56-0 win over Ashton-Franklin Center last week. … The Hawks have scored 50 or more points in all three of their wins, and have given up 50 or more in both of their losses.
FND pick: Amboy
Orangeville (5-0) at Milledgeville (4-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Broncos: In a Week 5 win over South Beloit, Orangeville’s Nate Anderson had 20 tackles, one sack, a tackle for a loss, and then went out and played offense where he grabbed a 26-yard touchdown. ... Just five games into the season, Gunnar Lobdell is already over the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 92 carries for 1,068 yards and 18 touchdowns. Carson Rote has added 40 carries for 261 yards to the Broncos’ rushing attack.
About the Missiles: Ashton Nobis leads Milledgeville in rushing with 56 carries for 396 yards and three touchdowns. ... Connor Nye has a remarkable 16 touchdown passes to just two interceptions this year. He has completed 38 of 67 passes for 621 yards. ... Milledgeville is on a four-game winning streak since its Week 1 loss in the Battle of the Blacktop to Polo. Over the past four games, Milledgeville has outscored its opponents 196-36.
FND pick: Orangeville
River Ridge (2-3) at Polo (5-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Wildcats: Breyton Fry leads River Ridge with 63 carries for 451 yards. Seth Nicholas has 34 carries for 187 yards. Fry also has completed 37-of-73 passes for 528 yards. ... River Ridge beat Peoria Heights 44-42 in Week 5 for the Wildcats’ first on-field win of the season. River Ridge took a forfeit win the week before against AFC.
About the Marcos: This will be Polo’s first game since a Week 3 win over Amboy, having received forfeits the past two weeks from Decatur Lutheran and Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland. ... After three games on the field, Avery Grenoble has 58 carries for 451 yards and five touchdowns, and Brock Soltow has 50 carries for 354 yards and eight touchdowns. ... Tyler Merdian has thrown for 558 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions this year on 11-for-23 passing, and he’s also run for 90 yards.
FND pick: Polo