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Ottawa (1-3, 0-2) at Woodstock North (0-4, 0-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last meeting: First meeting
About the Pirates: Ottawa played a one-loss Sycamore team pretty tough between the 20-yard lines last week but ultimately was handed a 42-6 defeat, its third straight loss since beating Sandwich in the opener. Aside from a Week 3 loss to La Salle-Peru, moving the ball has not been a problem for a balanced Ottawa offense led by QB Braiden Miller (15-of-22, 183 yards, 1 TD last week vs. Sycamore), favorite target Levi Sheehan (7 receptions for 134 and that score in Week 4) and RB Javarius Whitfield (30 yards rushing, 33 yards receiving last week). Cashing in at the end of those drives and stopping opposing offenses, however, has been, although the Pirates’ defense has received strong sideline-to-sideline play from sophomore LB Ryder Miller.
About the Thunder: This is the first meeting between Ottawa and its new Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 White Division foe. Woodstock North hasn’t won yet this season, but the Thunder have proved able to put up points, scoring 20 or more in three of their four losses (and two touchdowns in the game they failed to reach 20, a Week 3 loss to Morris). QB Jay Zinnen (169 yards, 3 touchdowns) has attempted only 23 passes, with the bulk of the offensive load given fairly equally to the 1-2 running back punch of Henry Goetz (41 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD) and Andrew Penn (40 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs). The Thunder’s defense, however, has struggled, allowing the most points in the KR/I8 White at 46.5 a game.
Friday Night Drive pick: Woodstock North
— J.T. Pedelty
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Sandwich (0-4, 0-1) at Richmond-Burton (4-0, 2-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Indians: Sandwich has missed its past two games because of a COVID-19-caused pause that caused it to forfeit games to archrival Plano and La Salle-Peru. Before the halt, the Indians were having a tough go of things, losing a 42-14 opener against Ottawa and a 58-7 Week 2 matchup at Geneseo. When things are going right, however, Sandwich features the type of offense – a wing-T led in the opening two weeks by RBs Seven Tornga and Austin Marks as well as QB Austin Sinetos – designed to churn up clock and keep powerful offenses such as Richmond-Burton’s off the field. The Indians should be rested but likely rusty.
About the Rockets: The No. 3 team in Class 4A in the latest Associated Press state poll, Richmond-Burton had been demolishing opponents to the tune of a 144-7 cumulative score through three weeks, running its winning streak to 24 games. Then came last week, when Sandwich’s archrival, Plano, nearly defused the Rockets, ultimately falling in a 21-14 thriller. RB Steven Siegel (113 yards vs. the Reapers) and two-way standout RB/LB Brock Wood (133 yards, two TDs, game-clinching fumble recovery against Plano) provide one of the state’s top 1-2 rushing attacks, while defensively the Rockets have allowed only three touchdowns this season.
FND pick: Richmond-Burton
— J.T. Pedelty
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Manteno (0-4, 0-2) at Streator (3-1, 1-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last meeting: Manteno 54, Streator 0 (spring 2021)
About the Panthers: Manteno was blanked by nonconference foes Evergreen Park (20-0) and Plano (28-0) to begin the season and has since fallen to Illinois Central Eight Conference rivals Peotone (35-21) and Reed-Custer (55-7). The Panthers’ offense is averaging only 2 yards a carry and 122.5 total yards (45.5 rushing, 77 passing) a game, while the defense has given up about 6 yards a rush and 341 yards an outing (273.8 rushing, 67.3 passing). Last week, Manteno was outgained, 494-43, against AP Class 3A No. 10 and undefeated league co-leader Reed-Custer, including running for minus-5 yards. Seniors lead the way statistically for the Panthers in QB Carter Drazy (30-of-59, 308 yards, TD; a pair of rushing TDs), RB Logan Worobey (44 carries, 150 yards, TD), WR John Prindeville (17 catches, 213 yards), DE Manuel Carrera (27 tackles, four for loss) and DB Ryan Stanley (18 tackles). The combined record of Manteno’s four opponents is 13-3.
About the Bulldogs: Streator was hoping to become the first Bulldogs team since 1977 to be undefeated in its opening four games before last week’s loss at Lisle but now will look to start 4-1 for the first time since 1996. The Bulldogs, who have been outscored, 103-101, on the season, are averaging 283.8 total yards (130.5 rushing, 153.3 passing) on offense, while the defense has allowed 298 total yards a contest. Senior RB Darryl Gullens (292 yards, 5 TDs) leads the ground attack, while sophomore QB Christian Benning (22-of-47, 621 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT) likely will continue to look for his favorite targets in wide receivers Aneefy Ford and Cade Stevens. Streator will be shooting for its third consecutive home win for the first time since 2008 when the Bulldogs topped Dixon and Rock Falls in Weeks 5 and 9, then advanced past Normal U-High in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. Streator has fallen to Manteno in each of the seven all-time matchups between the programs.
FND pick: Streator
— Brian Hoxsey
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Chicago Hope Academy (3-1) at Marquette (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last meeting: Marquette 51, Hope Academy 14 (2016)
About the Eagles: An old friend from their days in the Northeastern Athletic Conference, Hope visits the Crusaders looking like the same fast, athletic threat it’s always been in their spread attack, shown in a 42-0 win over Thornton and a 34-0 win over Christ the King. Ryan Williams had a 90-yard kickoff return and a fumble return for TDs at Kankakee in Week 3, but turnovers and 10 sacks allowed led to a 56-20 loss. Coach Chris Mallette feels senior RB/LB and captain Stephen Garth is the “heartbeat of the team,” along with seniors WR/DB Rashaad Whittington, OL/DL Jaylon Smith and WR/DB Tavaris Harris and junior WR/DB Judah Mallette. It’s been seven straight playoffs now for Hope. This year should make it eight.
About the Crusaders: Despite three straight weeks on the road, Marquette has been on a roll offensively, totaling more than 400 yards in last week’s 47-22 win at Heyworth led by RB/DB Tom Durdan (506 total yards, 11 TDs), RB/LB Jurnee Reed (414-4) and QB Alex Graham (521 passing, 5 TDs). The concern for the Cru is stopping the other guys after another kickoff return TD last week. A new defensive alignment limited the Hornets to 115 total yards, but they haven’t yet seen team speed like Hope’s. “That’s the key for us,” MA coach Tom Jobst said, “to shorten the game with our offense and, somewhere along the line, get some turnovers. We have to play fast and hard.”
FND pick: Marquette
— Charlie Ellerbrock
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Iroquois West (3-1, 0-0) at Seneca (1-3, 0-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last meeting: Seneca 25, Iroquois West 22 (spring 2021)
About the Raiders: Iroquois West comes in off its first loss of the season, 28-14 to a Salt Fork team that the week before defeated Seneca, 49-28. Before that, the Raiders bested Hoopeston Area-Armstrong, 31-14; Fithian Oakwood, 33-32; and Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 49-0; the upshot being Iroquois West found a little more, but not incredibly more, success against common opponents in the teams’ Vermilion Valley Football Alliance crossover contests. RB Trystyn Schacht (67 carries, 545 yards, 5 TDs) is the centerpiece of a Raiders offense that has attempted only 20 passes with QB Sam McMillan. With Seneca’s similar penchant for running the ball, expect a quick, physical contest.
About the Fighting Irish: Seneca is coming off the most prolific offense in school history in terms of points scored, with its 63 points against Georgetown-Ridge Farm breaking the record of 55 set against Westmont in 2016 and tied in a 2018 victory over Momence. The Irish easily could be coming in at 2-2 had the ball bounced differently in Week 2, but instead find themselves at 1-3 needing a win here to keep reasonable playoff hopes alive. Brock Moore, Asher Hamby, Zack Sulzberger, Dominic Griffin, Nathan Grant and Collin Wright rushed for touchdowns last week as the Irish rolled up 403 yards from scrimmage (383 of those on the ground). Things won’t come as easily this week, but an opportunity for a second straight win looks to be there.
FND pick: Iroquois West
— J.T. Pedelty
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Fieldcrest (0-4) at LeRoy (1-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last meeting: Fieldcrest 41, LeRoy 20 (2017)
About the Knights: Fieldcrest has been having done to it what it has done to opponents in recent seasons, coming into this Week 5 visit to LeRoy having been outscored by an average score of 43.5-12. While the defense has struggled, the offense has shown serious signs of life behind strong outings from QB Kolton Kearfott and his favorite targets, WR/RB Eddie Lorton and WR Kole Lowery. Getting the defense to catch up with the offense could deliver the Knights their first victory.
About the Panthers: LeRoy through four weeks has a close win (22-16 over Heyworth in Week 2), a close loss (last week’s 14-7 defeat to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) and a pair of lopsided defeats (41-6 to Moweaqua A&M and 42-12 to Tremont). What they do not have to this point is a common opponent with Fieldcrest, but on paper this looks like it should be a pretty good Heart of Illinois Conference crossover.
FND pick: Fieldcrest
— J.T. Pedelty
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Polo (4-0) at FCW (3-1)
About the forfeit: Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland is unable to play because of a COVID-19-related move to remote learning at Flanagan-Cornell High School. Polo moves to 5-0 with the forfeit; FCW falls to 3-2.
— J.T. Pedelty