St. Francis junior James McGrath, an All-CCL/ESCC player who helped the Spartans win the Class 5A state championship, recently received a Division I offer from Oklahoma. A two-sport standout, McGrath is preparing for a bigger role as a senior.

Rochelle senior Roman Villalobos, an IHSFCA All-State running back with over 2,800 career rushing yards, has committed to play football at North Central College. "I've wanted to go to North Central since I was a little kid."

Wilmington head coach Jeff Reents has spent the last three decades building the Wildcats into one of the state's premier football programs, and after winning his fourth state title in 2025, he is the Daily Journal Male Sports Citizen of the Year.

Benet senior wide receiver Luke Doyle, a two-time All-CCL/ESCC player and the 2025 CCL/ESCC Purple Offensive Player of the Year, has committed to play football at Division I FCS Lafayette College.

Four Bureau County’s collegiate football players went bowling at the end of season - Spring Valley’s Mac Resetich (Illinois) and Princeton’s Noah LaPorte (Northwestern), Teegan Davis (Iowa) and Drew Harp (North Central College).

Stillman Valley's Mike Lalor is stepping away as head football coach after 28 years.

St. Francis grad Tommy Rittenhouse came back from throwing five picks to throw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes and lead Illinois State in a colossal upset of No. 1 North Dakota State. Two wins later, Rittenhouse is set to lead the Redbirds into the FCS title game.

RJ Haines, a core of the Kankakee area football coaching scene for more than two decades, is a part of the upcoming Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame class.

There is one thing you will find behind every winning head coach and successful football program: a good assistant coach who is loyal and dedicated to the head coach and the mission of the team. For 38 years, for nine different head coaches, Charlie Waca was that assistant coach.