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La Salle-Peru (5-3) at Kaneland (4-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: La Salle-Peru 21, Kaneland 20 (spring 2021)
About the Cavaliers: L-P is looking for its sixth win to guarantee a playoff berth. … The Cavs lost, 31-7, to Morris last week. … Against Morris, L-P’s offense was shut out for then second time this season and had its second-lowest rushing total (151 yards) of the season. … Ethan Bell returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown for L-P’s only points against Morris. … L-P allowed a season-high 31 points last week. Morris scored a TD when it recovered a fumble in the end zone. … QB Sean Whitfield has rushed for 587 yards and nine TDs this season while throwing for 344 yards and two TDs. … RB Matt Carrico has run for 691 yards – an area-best 98.7 yards a game – and five TDs. … The Cavs rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to beat Kaneland, 21-20, in the spring finale.
About the Knights: Kaneland needs a win to become playoff eligible for the fourth season in a row. … QB Troyer Carlson completed 19 of 30 passes for 373 yards and six touchdowns in a 52-26 win over Ottawa last week. … Corey Phillips ran for 132 yards and a TD on 20 carries and caught one pass for a 14-yard TD last week, while Johnny Spallasso caught four passes for 120 yards and two TDs. … Last week’s 52-point effort was Kaneland’s second 50-point game this season. … Kaneland allowed Ottawa QB Braiden Miller to throw for 300 yards, but held the Pirates to six rushing yards on 31 carries. … The Knights average 35.1 points a game while allowing 32 points a contest. … Kaneland is 0-3 against teams that currently have a winning record.
Friday Night Drive pick: La Salle-Peru
Mendota (5-3) at St. Bede (6-2)
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Last matchup: St. Bede 20, Mendota 12 (1985)
About the Trojans: Mendota has lost its past two games by a combined score of 80-14, including a 24-7 loss to Newman last week. … The Trojans are playing on only four days rest after losing to Newman on Saturday. … Mendota is looking for its sixth win to guarantee its first playoff berth since 2014. … The Trojans were held to 113 rushing yards last week, their lowest output of the season. … RB Uzi Angulo has rushed for 638 yards and eight touchdowns on 108 carries. … QB Ted Landgraf has run for 523 yards and five TDs on 95 attempts while throwing for 535 yards and five TDs to seven interceptions. … The Trojans are averaging 250.9 rushing yards, 71.3 passing yards and 30.8 points a game while giving up 165.8 rushing yards, 68.4 passing yards and 24.8 points a game.
About the Bruins: St. Bede beat rival Hall, 15-12, last week for its sixth win, clinching the Bruins’ first playoff berth since 2016. … The Bruins trailed, 12-0, in the second half against Hall before rallying. … St. Bede has won four games by six points or less this season. … Senior RB Luke Story, who had shoulder surgery in May, returned last week and rushed for 27 yards and two touchdowns while catching two passes for 29 yards. … QB John Brady has thrown for 1,157 yards and 11 TDs while running for 493 yards and three scores. … The Bruins are averaging 136.4 rushing yards, 153.8 passing yards and 23.8 points a game while surrendering 176.4 rushing yards, 108.8 passing yards and 20.5 points a contest.
FND pick: St. Bede
Hall (1-7) at Bureau Valley (2-6)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Hall 26, Bureau Valley 7 (spring 2021)
About the Red Devils: Hall lost, 15-12, to St. Bede last week after leading, 12-0, in the second half. … The Red Devils have lost four games by single digits this fall, including two games by three points or less. … Hall has lost four games in a row since beating Morrison, 44-20. … RB Mac Resetich has run for 666 yards and 11 touchdowns this season while catching 17 passes for 282 yards and three TDs. … The Red Devils average 22.4 points while allowing 32.5 points a game. … Hall’s lone win of the spring season came against Bureau Valley.
About the Storm: Bureau Valley has lost six games in a row since starting 2-0, including a 49-20 loss to Princeton last week. … After scoring 97 points in the first two games, the Storm have averaged 16 points a game over the past six. … Bureau Valley averages 202.6 rushing yards, 55.1 passing yards and 24.1 points a game while allowing 164.3 rushing yards, 138.3 passing yards and 29.1 points a contest. … Jaden Michlig leads the Storm ground game as he’s rushed for 719 yards and four touchdowns on 104 carries, while Levi Hardy has run for 382 yards and seven TDs on 94 attempts. … QB Adam Johnson has thrown for 434 yards and four TDs while running for 191 yards and five scores.
FND pick: Hall
Monmouth-Roseville (6-2) at Princeton (7-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Princeton 42, Monmouth-Roseville 13 (2019)
About the Titans: Monmouth-Roseville won six games in a row before losing, 25-16, to Erie-Prophetstown last week with the Three Rivers West title on the line. … The Titans are 1-1 against TRC East teams this season with a win over Hall (40-32) and a loss to Kewanee (42-8). … QB Silas Braun has completed 64 of 125 passes for 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns while running 77 times for 485 yards and 12 TDs. … RB/DB Derek Chandler has rushed for 1,137 yards and eight TDs on 143 carries. He also has 67 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. … Charlie Fletcher has 22 receptions for 378 yards and three TDs while Jerome Jackson has seven catches for 235 yards and four TDs. … The Titans are averaging 31.6 points a game while allowing 23.6 points a contest.
About the Tigers: Princeton has won three in a row – including 49-20 over Bureau Valley last week – since losing to Kewanee in Week 5, averaging 45.7 points a game during that stretch. … QB Teegan Davis has completed 73 of 134 passes for 1,231 yards and 14 touchdowns to just one interception while running for 735 yards and 11 TDs on 79 carries. … RB Auggie Christiansen has come on strong the last two weeks, running for 237 yards and five TDs on 34 attempts. … Matt Lucas hauled in three passes for 103 yards and two TDs last week. … The Tigers average 224 rushing yards, 167.1 passing yards and 41 points a game while giving up 112.8 rushing yards, 100 passing yards and 16.3 points a contest.
FND pick: Princeton
Fieldcrest (0-8) at Tremont (6-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Fieldcrest 42, Tremont 7 (2019)
About the Knights: Fieldcrest is looking to avoid the first winless season in school history. … Fieldcrest is struggling with injuries and eligibility and has only 20 players available for the season finale with seven injured and six ineligible. … The Knights have scored eight points or less in six games this season, including the past three. Fieldcrest lost, 36-0, to Deer Creek-Mackinaw last week. … Fieldcrest has improved its running game, rushing for 258 yards over the past two weeks after managing only 93 yards through the first six games. … Freshman Eddie Lorton has played quarterback the past two games after playing running back and receiver earlier in the season.
About the Turks: Tremont’s two losses came against Tri-Valley and Dee-Mack, which are a combined 14-2. … The Turks have scored 40 or more points four times this season. … Tremont pulled out a 27-19 victory over El Paso-Gridley last week. … Shemar Williams ran for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week, while QB Tate Martin ran for a 12-yard score and tossed a 22-yard TD on his only completed pass of the night. … The Turks are allowing 16.1 points a game.
FND pick: Tremont
Amboy-LaMoille (4-4) at Alden-Hebron (2-6)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Clippers: Amboy is looking to bounce back from a 55-6 loss to Orangeville last week and boost its chances of earning one of 16 spots in the Illinois 8 Man Football Association playoffs. The Clippers are seeded 13th entering Week 9. … QB Tucker Lindenmeyer has thrown for 520 yards and nine touchdowns while running for 524 yards and eight scores. … RB Kye Koch has 333 rushing yards and three TDs and WR Brennab Blaine has 14 receptions for 336 yards and six TDs.
About the Giants: Alden-Hebron has only one win on the field, beating West Prairie, 34-8, in Week 4. The Giants’ other win was a forfeit by Ashton-Franklin Center. … The Giants are scoring 15.1 points a game while allowing 43 points a game. … Alden-Hebron has lost its past three contested games, including a 44-30 loss to River Ridge last week. … The Giants have allowed 40 points or more five times, including 50-plus points in each of their first three games.
FND pick: Amboy-LaMoille