The Dixon Dukes led late, but Winnebago scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to pull out a Big Northern Conference win. Also, Class 1A No. 1 Lena-Winslow dominated the third quarter to top No. 6 Fulton, and Eastland-Pearl City picked up its first win of the season.

Sterling returns to Roscoe Eades for its first home game since Week 1, while Rock Falls hosts Genoa-Kingston, and Dixon and Newman both hit the road for conference games Friday night.

Fulton suffered its first loss of the season, but it took a team from another state to achieve the feat. Muskegon (Mich.) Catholic scored a touchdown in the first quarter, then held the host Steamers to a pair of Endi Qunaj field goals to hand Fulton a 7-6 loss Saturday.

Dixon hosts Stillman Valley in a battle of two of the three unbeaten left int he Big Northern, while Sterling hits the road for the third straight week looking for yet another 2-0 start in the Western Big 6.

Special teams played a big part in Newman’s 13-12 road win over Orion on Friday night, as both Comet touchdowns came directly from punts.

Dixon is looking to win its home opener this week, while Sterling and Newman are trying to bounce back on the road after losses last week. Rock falls is searching for its first win, and plays at home for the second straight week.

The Dixon Dukes hit the road for the second straight week and returned with another win, topping North Boone 21-14 in a Big Northern Conference contest Friday night in Poplar Grove.

Sterling, Dixon and Newman are among the local teams that will try to reach 2-0 this weekend. Here are the Sauk Valley Media area preview capsules for Week 2.

The Fulton Steamers can picture themselves as playoff contenders in two months, and one thing they know: that version is going to have to improve upon the version that defeated Galena 31-12 on Friday night in the 2022 season opener for both teams.