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Playoff picture: A look at who’s in, who’s close, who’s out

Football Notebook

Princeton quarterback Teegan Davis takes off for a run against Bureau Valley Friday night.

Six area football teams have clinched playoff berths through eight weeks of the 2021 season with a week to go.

The IHSA Playoff Pairing Television Show will reveal the 2021 football playoff field during a live telecast on the IHSA TV Network that will air statewide from 8 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Here’s a rundown of the Three Rivers Conference teams and other area hopefuls:

WHO’S IN

Kewanee (8-0): The Boilermakers are 8-0 first time since 1943 and looking to run the table to gain the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, which should fall in 3A, rather than 4A where they’ve been ranked this season.

Princeton (7-1): The Tigers will boost their playoff seeding with a home win over Monmouth-Roseville (6-2) Friday night. The Tigers were ranked No. 6 in last week’s 3A poll.

Monmouth-Roseville (6-2): The Titans lost a shot at the Three Rivers West conference championship with Friday’s loss to E-P and look to rebound against Princeton. The Titans are in the playoffs regardless.

Sterling (6-2): The Golden Warriors had their five-game win streak snapped by East Moline (38-7), but look to get back on track heading into the postseason at East Moline (4-4) in the Western Big Six finale.

St. Bede (6-2): The Bruins clinched their first playoff bid with a come-from-behind 15-12 win at rival Hall. The Bruins face Mendota (5-3) Thursday looking for win No. 7 to boost their playoff seeding. The Bruins’ losses have come at the hands of state-ranked Princeton and Kewanee.

Erie-Prophetstown (6-2): The Panthers’ 25-16 win over Monmouth-Roseville clinched the Three Rivers West crown and they close out at home Friday with a highly favorable matchup vs. Morrison (2-6).

WHO’S CLOSE

Dixon (5-3): The Dukes have dropped two straight at the hands of Genoa-Kingston (34-19) and Byron (52-35), but can clinch a berth by beating Rock Falls (1-7) Friday.

Mendota (5-3): The Trojans have dropped two straight by a combined 80-14 margin (Kewanee and Newman) since starting 5-1 and need a win Thursday at St. Bede (6-2) to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2014.

L-P (5-3): The Cavaliers lost to Morris 34-7 last week, but can still clinch a berth with a win at Friday at Kaneland (4-4).

Annawan-Wethersfield (5-3): The Titans become playoff eligible with last week’s win over Oneida (2-5) and can clinch a berth by following up with win at Mercer County (5-3), which is in the same position.

Newman (5-3): The Comets are taking care of business, beating Hall (43-0) and Mendota (24-7) the last two weeks to become playoff eligible. They face a tall task for a third straight win at state-ranked Kewanee (8-0) Friday.

WHO’S ON THE BUBBLE

Rockridge (4-4)/Orion (4-4): It will be do or die in Friday’s game between the Rockets and Chargers at Orion with the winner becoming playoff eligible and the loser likely knocked out, though some 4-5s should sneak in this year.

WHO’S OUT

Bureau Valley (2-6), Morrison (2-6), Hall (1-7), Riverdale (0-8) and Sherrard (0-8) are all out.

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a regular contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals Magazine. He is a member of the IBCA and Illinois Valley Hall of Fames. He is one of 4 sportswriters from his tiny hometown Atlanta, IL