No. 3 Newman heads to Rockridge in a matchup of two undefeated teams on Friday. Dixon heads to Oregon, Sterling hosts Galesburg and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Although Week 5 isn't filled with games pairing undefeated teams, there's more than enough contest of intrigue to keep an eye on. Steve Soucie takes a look at some of the top games of Week 5.

An unexpected wrinkle was introduced into the projection this week, changes of the enrollment number to over 300 schools by the IHSA, as such some things moved around. Steve Soucie breaks down how the playoff field projects after the fourth week of games.

Congratulations to these 23 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge as they preview Week 5 in Illinois high school football

Brother Rice continued its climb up the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings in a week with substantial shuffling of the rankings.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald as they break down Week 4 in Illinois high school football

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week. Vote for your favorite players for Week 4!

E-P fell to Rockridge 29-12 in week 4 football action. Photos by Jessie Ottens-Shaw Local News Network

Matthew Blackert, 'the Harmon Bullet,' ran for over 170 yards and three touchdowns in No. 3 Newman's 40-14 win at Orion on Friday night.

After a defensive slugfest in the first half, Milledgeville answered Polo's third-quarter score with three straight touchdowns in a 28-6 victory in the Battle for the Blacktop on Friday night in Polo.

The Oregon Hawks downed the Rock Falls Rockets 49-0 at Landers-Loomis Field on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 4 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

Milledgeville heads just down the road to Polo for an 8-man Week 4 football powerhouse showdown Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. After a close first half, Millegeville hangs on to win 28-6.

Milledgeville and Polo face off in the Battle for the Blacktop game this Friday as each team is 3-0. No. 3 Newman heads to Orion, Dixon heads to North Boone, Oregon hosts Rock Falls and Sterling is at 3-0 UT. Here is a rundown of this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

There are 16 games around the state that feature a pair of undefeated teams from a wide array of classifications.. Steve Soucie takes a look at some of the top games.

Here are the latest Associated Press IHSA football polls released Wednesday for all eight classes.

Join hosts Josh Welge and Steve Soucie as they preview Week 4 in Illinois high school football

Are their warning signs as to whether or not the field will need 4-win teams to complete the field of 256? The data seems to think so. Steve Soucie breaks down how the playoff field projects after the third week of games.

Sterling quarterback Brady Berlin and receiver Jack Saathoff added to their highlight reels Friday against Moline. Newman's Asher Ernst is enjoying his new role and Dixon bounced back against Rock Falls in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2025 high school football season

Minor shuffling was all that really happened in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings as all but four of the previous week's ranked teams claimed victory.

Newman bested E-P Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Roscoe Eades Field in Sterling by a score of 49-14.

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week for Week 3. Vote for your favorite players!

Newman's Asher Ernst had two interceptions and Rylan Alvarado had two rushing scores as the two Morrison transfers made big plays in the No. 3 Comets' 49-14 win over Erie-Prophetstown on Saturday.

Sterling QB Brady Berlin threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns, but Moline running back Marc Cary's 45-yard TD run with a second left before halftime was a backbreaker for Sterling in a 36-20 loss to the Maroons.

Polo downed West Carroll in 30-20 in 8-man football action in Mt. Carroll on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

Forreston beat Fulton 36-28 in NUIC football action on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

Dixon scored on all 10 possessions in its home opener Friday night, defeating Big Northern Conference foe Rock Falls 70-0 at A.C Bowers Field

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 3 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

Dixon hosts Rock Falls Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Big Northern Conference action. Dixon dismantled the Rockets 70-0.

Sterling football hosts Moline Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Roscoe Eades Field. Moline won 36-20.

Sterling opens Western Big 6 Conference play against Moline, Dixon hosts Rock Falls, Newman hosts E-P on Saturday and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football previews.

A total of 162 teams enter Week 3 with 2-0 record, with 50 of those teams playing against another 2-0 team. Steve Soucie takes a look at some of the top games.

Hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge preview Week 3 in Illinois high school football on the Friday Night Drive podcast

A group of 23 new teams worked their way into the projection this week. Where do they fit? And how did they change the projected classification breaks for all eight classes. Steve Soucie breaks down how the playoff field projects after the second week of games.

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 2 of the 2025 high school football season

Five new teams broke into the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings based on strong performances in Week 1.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald as they break down Week 2 in Illinois high school football on the Friday Night Drive podcast

Despite the loss, Dixon running back Landon Knigge got plenty of props from Bryon after rushing for 204 yards. Newman got to 2-0, Sterling rolled at home, Rock Falls showed fight and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

The number of teams undefeated through two weeks is about the same, but some of the names of the teams on the list are a bit surprising. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 2.

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week. Vote for your favorite players!

Erie-Prophetstown bests Hall in Week 2 action 19-7 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. -Photos by Jessie Otten/Shaw Local News Network

On a Friday when Polo and FCW fought hard for supremacy of the line of scrimmage, special teams provided the early gut punch for the Marcos on their way to a 40-20, eight-man win.

Byron scored on two long runs and cashed in two turnovers for touchdowns in a 28-7 win against Dixon

Mendota took an early lead, but Newman responded and went on to win 35-18 on Friday in Mendota.

After Hall-Putnam County broke through and scored in the fourth quarter to pull within a score, Erie-Prophetstown responded with a TD of its own and stepped up defensively to finish off a 19-7 win in Spring Valley.

Erie-Prophetstown defeated Hall-Putnam County 19-7 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Richard Nesti Stadium. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

Rock Falls tied North Boone late before falling 21-14. Oregon beat Rockford Lutheran, Forreston won, Eastland-Pearl City beat Morrison 22-0, results in 8-man and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup

Newman Central Catholic defeated Mendota 35-18 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Mendota High School. Check out photos from Kyle Russell.