Sterling's Drew Nettleton and Kaedon Phillips set multiple records in final game, Carter Kibble's kick return sets up Dixon's strong finish in win, Newman's offense bounces back big, E-P lost a heartbreaker and West Carroll has goal line stop to win in Sauk Valley notes.

Eastland-Pearl City held Rockridge scoreless in the second half, but a 22-point deficit was too much to overcome in the Class 2A playoffs on Saturday.

Eastland-Pearl City faces Rockridge in Round 1 of the 2024 Class 2A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Drake Lansman will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Dixon and Newman are set for home playoff matchups, Eastland-Pearl City plays at Rockridge in a battle of 7-2 teams and four area 8-man teams open the first round in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Dixon and Newman have home games in round 1, No. 13 Sterling heads to No. 4 St. Francis, No. 13 Oregon plays at No. 4 Princeton, No. 9 E-PC heads to No. 8 Rockridge and No. 15 E-P goes to No. 2 Bismarck Henning in the IHSA playoffs.

Dixon (8-1, 7-1 BNC) beat North Boone 55-0, Rock Falls fell short to Winnebago, E-PC (7-2, 6-2 NUIC) won, and Milledgeville and West Carroll finished the regular season with 8-man wins in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Newman hosts Mon-Rose in a battle of TRAC champs, Sterling hits the road to Moline seeking a sixth win, the Wooden Shoe game between Morrison and Fulton returns with playoff hopes alive, Dixon hits the road to North Boone and more in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Newman won a seventh straight game after beating Kewanee, Fulton won a shootout, E-PC got a fifth win, E-PC edged Morrison to clinch a playoff spot and three 8-man teams won blowouts in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

State-ranked and undefeated Dixon and Byron face off in the Big Northern Conference game of the year, Sterling can bounce back against Rock Island, Newman heads to Kewanee, West Carroll hosts Polo and Amboy heads to West Central in 8-man in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.