Friday Night Drive

Downers Grove North rising senior tight end Will Vala announced his commitment to Illinois this week. Vala chose the Illini from over 20 offers, including Wisconsin, Purdue and Louisville.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 is seeking donors to fulfill a $1 million capital campaign and sell naming rights to help fund renovations for Prairie Ridge High School’s stadium.

Josh Gesky, a former Manteno High School standout and current starting left guard at University of Illinois, hosted a youth football camp at Legacy Park in Manteno on Saturday.

Former Cary-Grove offensive lineman Addison West signed with the Miami Dolphins as a priority free agent after not being selected in the NFL Draft. "This really has been the goal and the dream since Day 1."

Jacobs senior Matt Scardina starred on the football team and now is excelling as a first-year sprinter in track. He was named Athlete of the Meet after winning the 100, 200 and 400 dashes in the McHenry County Meet last week.

Under new rules from the IHSA, 44 football schools will get the IHSA multiplier for 2025, causing big potential changes in the classes for the playoffs.

Burlington Central junior offensive tackle Zach Hultgren suspects he would get beat by a swim move - by his kid sister, who's a swimmer. Fortunately for Hultgren, who recently committed to Miami (Ohio), he’s much better at not getting beat by swim moves by defensive linemen.

Hall Athletic Director Eric Bryant said the new Red Devils football coach will be named April 23. That same night, Bureau Valley’s new coach could be approved as well at its board meeting.

Prairie Ridge senior Gavin Tinch, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive lineman, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play college football for Southern Illinois University.

Crystal Lake Central has a new head football coach in Matt MacCrindle, who replaces longtime coach Dirk Stanger. MacCrindle, a 2003 Central graduate, has been a longtime assistant coach for the Tigers.

After leading Woodstock North's football program to a school-record eight wins, including one in the playoffs, Matt Polnow has resigned as head coach.

More than four years since leaving McHenry to take over the football program at Stagg, Colt Nero has been named the Warriors' new head coach. Nero starred at Crystal Lake South and Minnesota State University Mankato.

Former longtime Marian Central assistant coach Terry Stanger has been named to the IHSFCA Hall of Fame. In his 22 years as an assistant, he helped the Hurricanes win 202 games and four Class 2A state championships.

McHenry Community High School District 156 board of education members on Tuesday approved the appointment of Colt Nero as McHenry’s head varsity football coach. Nero is a former football player at Crystal Lake South and head coach at Stagg High School.

The stats don’t tell the whole story about Eli Davidson. They only scratch the surface as to how big an impact he had for thew Class 4A quarterfinalists. He is the 2024 Sauk Valley Media Football Player of the Year.

After a productive season at Central Michigan as a three-technique defensive tackle, former Marengo star Jonah Pace has transferred to Iowa for his final season of college eligibility.

Congrats to all of the players who made Friday Night Drive's 2024 Team of the Year

Jeff Schroeder hoped to add stability to McHenry’s football program when he took the head-coaching position two seasons ago. He resigned this week.

Senior quarterback Jackson Alcorn guided Burlington Central to its first playoff berth since 2014, threw 22 TD passes to one interception and is the 2024 Northwest Herald Football Player of the Year.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area football team.

Armed with a team loaded with three-year varsity players, Brian Iossi guided Burlington Central to its first playoff berth since 2014. Iossi is the 2024 Northwest Herald Football Coach of the Year.

East St. Louis finishes in the No. 1 spot of the final Friday Night Drive Power Rankings for the season. See how things stacked up in the latest version of the Top 25.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they break down the IHSA state football title games this past weekend, and talk about the future of the IHSA playoffs with public and private schools

Iowa commits Drew MacPherson and Ryan Fitzgerald was Loyola's "dynamic" duo one last time Saturday as the two helped the Ramblers win the Class 8A state championship Saturday.

The York and Loyola football teams squared off in the Class 8A state championship Saturday in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

York faces Loyola in the state title game of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

The Batavia and Mt. Carmel football teams battled for the Class 7A state championship Saturday in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

Batavia faces Mt. Carmel in the state title game of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Geneva faces East St. Louis in the state title game of the 2024 Class 6A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Nazareth faces Joliet Catholic in the state title game of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

DePaul defeated Mt. Zion 40-6 to win the Class 4A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Montini defeated Monticello 49-8 to win the Class 3A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

DePaul Prep faces Mt. Zion in the state title game of the 2024 Class 4A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Montini faces Monticello in the state title game of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Lena-Winslow takes on Althoff Catholic for the 1A state football title, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University. Althoff won 52-14.

Lena-Winslow faces Althoff in the state title game of the 2024 Class 1A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Chicago Christian takes on Maroa-Forsyth for the 2A state football title, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University. Chicago Christian won 47-0.

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Michal Dwojak and Josh Welge as they get you ready for the exciting matchups in the state title games of the IHSA football playoffs

Georgia commit Talyn Taylor helped Geneva end Cary-Grove's undefeated football season, but the wide receiver wasn't alone. Plus more notes from the Trojans' season-ending loss in the Class 6A semifinals.

There's a new team at the top of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. See how things stacked up in the latest version of the Top 25.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they break down the semifinals of the IHSA football playoffs and look ahead to the state title games

Join hosts Josh Welge and Joel Boenitz as they preview the state title games of the IHSA football playoffs in the western suburbs

Naperville Central hosted York football in a Class 8A state semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Naperville.

Michael Vander Luitgaren found Isaiah Brown for the go-ahead touchdown to cap off an 85-yard drive in the final two minutes to help Batavia advance to the state title game once again after defeating Lincoln-Way Central 25-21.

Loyola entered Saturday's Class 8A semifinal contest as an underdog to most. But the Ramblers certainly didn't play like that, particularly in the second half, where a dominating offensive performance led them to a 27-24 win and gives them a shot at a third straight state title.

St. Rita hosted Mount Carmel football in a Class 7A state semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Chicago.

Senior QB Tony Chahino threw for almost 400 yards, and third-seeded Geneva upset top-seeded Cary-Grove 28-26 in the Class 6A state semifinals Saturday to reach its first state title game since 2008.

Montini football hosted Wilmington in a Class 3A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Lombard.

Nazareth hosted St. Francis football in a Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in La Grange Park.

Loyola faces Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game