Week 2 in The Times coverage area includes the on-field debuts of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland and Dwight, Marquette's home opener and Streator visiting Ottawa to continue the state's third-oldest rivalry.

Here is a look at the Illinois 8-Man Football Association teams within our Friday Night Drive footprint, including West Carroll, Polo, St. Anne, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland, Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio, Milford/Cissna Park, Milledgeville, Hiawatha, Ashton-Franklin Center and Alden-Hebron.

Here's a game-by-game look at Week 1 across The Times area, with games including Streator, Ottawa, Marquette, Seneca, Fieldcrest, Dwight, Sandwich and Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland.

The goal for the 2025 Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Falcons? Earn a third consecutive playoff berth for the first time since the eight-man football co-op made the 11-man playoffs the first nine years of the co-op between the old and fierce rivals.

The Illinois high school football season kicks off later this month, and official practices begin Monday. Here are five storylines we here at The Times have our eyes on this coming fall.

With the release of the 2025 IHSA football schedules, here is a week-by-week look at the can't-miss games across The Times coverage area.

Here are five of our very early guesses as to Ottawa/Streator-area players to watch for when the 2025 season arrives.

We are proud to present The Times 2024 All-Area Football Team, with 22 first-team selections and 22 more honored as second-teamers from area teams Marquette, Seneca, Streator, Sandwich, Ottawa, Fieldcrest and Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland.

West Carroll defensive linemen Aden Wiest and Cole Herrell stopped FCW fullback Elijah Detwiler inches short of the goal line with under a minute to play, sending the Thunder on to a 20-17 I8FA playoff win.