NewsTribune Week 1 football capsules

La Salle-Peru at Morton

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Morton 14, La Salle-Peru 7 (2019)

About the Cavaliers: L-P brings a strong core back from its 5-0 spring team, including offensive linemen Aidan VanDuzer and Will Daugherty, receiver/safety Tre’von Hunter, fullback Matt Carrico, linebacker/fullback Chris Swayne, linebackers Byron Verdun and Luke Mertes and quarterback/safety Sean Whitfield. In the spring, Whitfield played running back/receiver. He’ll take over as starting QB after serving as the backup the last two seasons. He threw for 55 yards and a touchdown and ran for 68 yards and a TD in his lone start at QB in the spring. … The Cavaliers relied on a stout defense in the spring that allowed just 10.4 points per game. L-P brings back several starters at linebacker and in the secondary but must replace its entire defensive line, including NewsTribune Defensive Player of the Year Levi Reed. …. L-P has lost its last two games to Morton, falling 14-7 in 2019 and 23-0 in 2018.

About the Potters: Morton went 3-3 in the spring … Morton’s offense centers around two-time First-Team All-Mid-Illini Conference running back Seth Glatz, who ran for 1,194 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games in the spring, including 1.004 yards in the final three games. He ran for 360 yards against Jacksonville and 368 yards against East Peoria. “We’ve played them tight the last two years we played them,” L-P coach Jose Medina said. “They’re a well-coached team. Offensively, they want to power the ball down team’s throats. Defensively, we have to get after it and hopefully stop (Glatz). Defensively, Morton is solid as well.” … Another player to watch for the Potters is receiver Jackson Weber, a second-team all-conference pick in the spring who also handled all the team’s kicking duties.

FND pick: La Salle-Peru

Sherrard at St. Bede

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Sherrard 42, St. Bede 18 (2019)

About the Tigers: Sherrard is coming off a 3-1 spring, which was the Tigers’ first winning season since 2009. The Tigers have a new coach in Brandon Johnston, who was the Annawan-Wethersfield coach from 2009-18, going 85-27 and qualifying for the postseason every year, including quarterfinal runs in 2009 and 2012. Johnston inherits a team that suffered heavy graduation losses but return senior linebacker Dylan Russell and junior offensive tackle Walker Anderson, who were All-Three Rivers Conference honorable mention in the spring. Senior WR/DB Wyatt Dochterman and lineman Brenin Krack also return.

About the Bruins: St. Bede returns a strong nucleus from its 5-1 spring team, including senior running back/receiver Tyreke Fortney, who ran for 202 yards and five touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 437 yards and five TDs in the spring. He’ll also play defensive back this fall. Rylan Heersink and Jayce Ladzinski are back to anchor the offensive line, while Ladzinski also is a returning All-Three Rivers Conference linebacker. Senior Ethan Sramek is back at running back and linebacker after missing the final four games last season due to injury.

FND pick: St. Bede

Orion at Hall

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Orion 42, Hall 21 (2018)

About the Chargers: Orion returns six starters on offense and seven on defense from its 1-5 spring team. Senior TE/LB Quinn Hoftender is back after catching 17 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns while making 40 tackles and four tackles for loss. Also back are junior RB Cole Kratzberg and QB Jared Mohr. … Linebacker Maddix Moninski will lead a defense that returns its entire back seven. The Chargers are inexperienced on the line on both sides of the ball. … Before going 1-5 in the spring, Orion had six consecutive seasons of being .500 or better, going 48-19 in that span with six playoff appearances.

About the Red Devils: After going 1-4 in the spring, the Red Devils returns several key players hoping to lead a turnaround, including senior QB Gabe Lucas, junior RB Mac Resetch (505 total yards, two touchdowns in the spring) and senior RB Dominic Guerrini (226 rushing yards, 3 TDs). … Defensively, Hall brings back its top four tacklers in Guerrini, Resetich, Caleb Savitch and Gianni Guerrini.

FND pick: Hall

Erie-Prophetstown at Mendota

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Panthers: The Panthers, who went 1-4 in the spring, return dual-threat quarterback Kolby Franks along with running backs Connor Sibley (367 total yards, 3 TDs in spring) and Jase Grunder. E-P plans to put Franks in shotgun more and spread teams out. Seniors Jacob Otten and Mason Misfeldt anchor the line. … Defensively, E-P returns all four starting linebackers, led by Sibley and Grunder. The Panthers must replace their entire defensive line.

About the Trojans: Mendota enters the Three Rivers Conference looking to win a season opener for the first time since 2014. … The Trojans have not won more than one game since 2014, but are looking for a turnaround with an experienced roster that featuers seven three-year starters. QB Ted Landgraf threw for 370 yards and three TDs and ran for 228 yards and three TDs in three spring games, while RB Damien Magallanes had 304 total yards and five scores. Both return on defense as well. Magallanes and Christian Tellez were the team’s top tacklers in the spring.

FND pick: Mendota

Rockridge at Princeton

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Rockridge 48-6 (2014)

About the Rockets: The Rockets, who went 6-0 this spring, are favored to win the Rock Division and return the talents of senior quarterback Brayden Deem (1,123 yards, 16 TDs passing; 440 yards, 7 TDs rushing) and speedy junior back Peyton Locke (109 carries, 1,064 yards, 17 TDs) among others. ... Rockridge and PHS had a brief run in the West Central after the break-ups of the NCIC and Olympic Conference.

About the Tigers: PHS fans will be in for a treat at Bryant Field. Like the Rockets, the Tigers went 6-0 this spring. They are three-time defending conference champions in the Three Rivers Mississippi (South) and reached the 3A semifinals in 2019. “We’ll find out what we’re made up of pretty quickly, that’s for sure. Starting off with a heavy hitter right off the bat,” PHS coach Ryan Pearson. ... Graduation took a heavy toll on PHS with the the loss of all-state running back Ronde Worrels, all-state lineman Grant Foes and quarterback Tyler Gibson, and a host of linemen. Junior quarterback Teegan Davis and seniors Logan Glancy (RB/DB) and Bennett Sierens (E) head up a list of returning top talent.

FND pick: Princeton

Riverdale at Bureau Valley

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Last matchup: Riverdale 54-13 (2019)

About the Rams: The Rams went 0-4 this spring (4-5 in 2019) and face a numbers problem with only 26 players out in the whole program. ... Riverdale won the last meeting, 54-13, in 2019, but the Storm still holds a 17-6 series edge.

About the Storm: The Storm’s opener was pushed from Friday to a Saturday matinee due to a shortage of officials. No matter when they play, the Storm are ready, seeking their first win since Week 9 of the 2018 season (over Morrison), having gone 0-9 in 2019 and 0-4 this spring. “We are really excited to get things going. We have 11 seniors that have been through the ringer the past two years and we want nothing more than to right the ship in the 2021 season,” BV coach Mat Pistole said.

FND pick: Bureau Valley

Fieldcrest at Aurora Christian

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Knights: Fieldcrest found its Week 1 opponent less than a week before the start of the season. … The Knights return just one starter from its 4-0 spring team in linebacker Ethan Stoeger. He’ll also play fullback. … Sophomores Brady Ruestman and Koltin Kearfott along with freshman Jackson Hakes are in the mix at quarterback. … Senior Logan Halley, who went to grade school at Fieldcrest but is a transfer back from Normal Community, along with freshman Eddie Lorton will see time in the backfield. … Juniors Carter Stimpert, Aiden Harsted, Coltin Perry and sophomore Aydin Stimpert are in the mix on both sides of the line.

About the Eagles: Aurora Christian, which went 2-3 in the spring, are experienced on the offensive and defensive lines with Nathan Henry, Maxx Garcia, Grant Henderson and Braden Hunter all back. … Safety Cam Colquitt, running back Cam Ajazi, and receiver/defensive backs Trey Beebe and Owen Hampton also provide experience. … QB Max Bray, WR Tyron Ferguson, QB Conner Kendall and WR-LB Than Lindoo are expected to make an impact.

FND pick: Aurora Christian

Peoria Heights at Amboy-LaMoille

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Patriots: Peoria Heights played its first 8-man season in the spring and won one game, which was the Patriots’ first victory in football since 2017. … Senior quarterback/linebacker Connor Barnes will lead the senior-heavy Patroits.

About the Clippers: A-L will be playing its first varsity 8-man season, but the school’s JV team played 8-man football in the spring. Quarterback Tucker Lindenmeyer is among the Clippers with 8-man experience. … The Clippers have 10 more players in the program now than they did for their final 11-man season in the spring. … Jordan Gulley is in the mix to replace all-conference running back Sean Fitzgerald, who ran for 478 yards and four touchdowns in four spring games.

FND pick: Amboy-LaMoille