IHSA football: 2024 Week 1 games to watch around Peoria, Illinois
Here are 3 big matchups to watch around Peoria for Week 1 of the high school football season.
It’s Week 1 of the Illinois high school football season, and our predictions for the IHSA games around Peoria area in. All games are Friday unless noted.
Last season, the picks in this space went 145-52 (.736). Last year’s records are in parentheses.
Watch IHSA football games on NFHS Network all season long
Illinois high school football predictions Week 1Champaign Centennial (6-4, 5-3) at Peoria High (0-10, 0-8), 7 p.m.
Peoria High 55, Centennial 24: Peoria High won seven games last season before forfeiting its victories due to an ineligible player. Aaron Montgomery will be making his head coaching debut for the Lions. Centennial made the Class 6A playoffs last season following a 4-0 start. This game will be played at Peoria Stadium. In 2021, Peoria High won 30-20.
Peoria Notre Dame (7-4, 5-3) at Normal West (6-4, 6-2), 7 p.m.
Peoria Notre Dame 34, Normal West 21: The Irish, who have at least six significant starters returning, are coming off a Class 4A second-round appearance, losing a heartbreaker to Harrisburg. Normal West beat Chicago Simeon, but lost in the second round of the 2023 Class 6A to eventual state runner-up East St. Louis. Last season, PND won 26-14.
Normal Community (12-1, 8-0) at Richwoods (4-5, 3-5), 7 p.m.
Normal Community 34, Richwoods 13: Richwoods finished last season strong, winning two of its last three on-the-field games. Reigning Big 12 champ Normal Community made the 2023 Class 7A state semifinals, falling to state runner-up Downers Grove North. This game will played at Richwoods Stadium. In 2022, Normal Community won 20-0.
Manual (2-7) vs. Normal U-High (7-3), 7 p.m.
Normal U-High 21, Manual 18: Manual is coming off a 2023 campaign where they scored 94 points including a 50-point effort in a Week 8 win over Urbana. U-High made the Class 4A playoffs, while scoring 36.1 points a game. This game will be played at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University, home of the IHSA state championships. These teams did not play last season.
All the stories in one place: Peoria’s ultimate guide to 2024 high school football
Springfield Southeast (2-7) vs. East Peoria (2-7), 7 p.m.
East Peoria 41, Springfield Southeast 15: East Peoria will be debuting its new head coach in Sam Durley. The Raiders started last season 2-2 but loss their five games including a 62-46 loss to Metamora. Southeast started 2023 at 0-7 before winning its final two games by averaging 56 points in its final two contests. This game will be played at EastSide Centre.
Mt. Zion (8-3) at Limestone (1-8), 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Zion 41, Limestone 8: Limestone’s Frank Leach Stadium will be debuting its new artificial turf field. Mt. Zion, which lost in the second round of the 2023 Class 4A playoffs by three points to Breese Central, features Illinois commit Brayden Trimble and Division-I recruit and four-star tight end JC Anderson. Last season, Mt. Zion won 42-6.
Canton (1-8) at Eureka (5-5), 7:30 p.m.
Eureka 48, Canton 12: Canton, under first-year head coach Nick McCormick, rides the momentum of ending last season with a 14-7 win over Limestone. McCormick comes to the Little Giants after being the Illinois Valley Central offensive coordinator. The Hornets, a Class 3A playoff qualifier in 2023, feature a ton of returning starters with 16 players back. Last season, Eureka won 49-6.
Galesburg (2-7) at Dunlap (6-4), 7:30 p.m.
Dunlap 48, Galesburg 6: The Eagles have high expectations for 2024, returning several starters including skill positions like Johnny Bargen, Mack Sutter and Jackson Oldham. Dunlap is looking to snap a four-game losing streak following a 6-0 start to 2023. Shawn Hickey is the Galesburg interim coach for the 2024 season. Last season, Dunlap won 53-14.
Morton (8-2) at Mahomet-Seymour (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
Morton 48, Mahomet-Seymour 16: The Potters, who were a Class 5A playoff qualifier in 2023, were the Mid-Illini Conference runner-up last season. Morton has big-play threats in running back Seandon Buffington and wideout Julian Alexander. Mahomet-Seymour also made the Class 5A playoffs, losing by one in the first round. Last season, Morton won 20-14.
Metamora (8-3) at Sterling (5-6), 7:30 p.m.
Metamora 34, Sterling 28: Metamora went 2-2 to start 2023, then ran off six successive victories before a Class 5A first-round playoff exit. The Redbirds were 3-2 as a road team last season. The Golden Warriors, who are coached by Metamora grad Jonathan Schlemmer, made the Class 5A playoffs with a 4-5 record. Last season, Metamora won 28-17.
Rolling Meadows (2-7) at Pekin (4-5), 7:30 p.m.
Pekin 31, Rolling Meadows 28: Pekin put a five-game losing streak behind them in 2023, winning three games to finish out the season. The Dragons scored 42 points a game during that stretch highlighted by a 56-point output against Limestone. Rolling Meadows new head coach is former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould. Last season, Pekin won 19-7.
Maple Park Kaneland (7-4) at Washington (11-2), 7:30 p.m.
Washington 55, Kaneland 20: Washington made a run to the Class 6A state semifinals and won the Mid-Illini title during coach Darrell Crouch’s final season. The Panthers are now under the leadership of first-year coach Todd Stevens, the longtime defensive coordinator. Kaneland made the second round of the Class 6A playoffs last season. Last season, Washington won 33-27.
Illinois Valley Central (1-8) at Paxton-Buckley-Loda (5-5), 7 p.m.
IVC 15, P-B-L 13: IVC lost two games by eight points or less in 2023, scoring 22 points a game last season. Coach Tim Heinz is in his 20th season with the Grey Ghosts, nearing his 100th victory at the Chillicothe-based school. The Panthers made an appearance in the 2023 Class 3A playoffs. Last season, P-B-L won 46-39.
Elmwood/Brimfield (4-5, 3-4) at Knoxville (7-3, 6-1), 7 p.m.
Elmwood/Brimfield 24, Knoxville 21: The Trojans and Blue Bullets open LincolnLand-Large Division play, looking to get a headstart on the league race. Elmwood suffered back-to-back losses by eight points or less before winning its final three games. Knoxville made the Class 2A playoffs last season. Last season, Knoxville won 26-8.
Illini West (4-5, 3-4) at Farmington (9-2, 7-0), 7 p.m.
Farmington 43, Illini West 15: IW and the Farmers are another LincolnLand-Large Division matchup between two potential playoff teams. Farmington won the league in 2023, making the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. IW lost three of its last four games to conclude its season. Last season, Farmington won 39-12.
Seneca (11-1) at Tremont (0-9), 7 p.m.
Seneca 35, Tremont 28: The Turks will look to rebound from last season’s winless campaign. Tremont scored 40 total points and were shutout four times in 2023. Seneca won its first 11 games before losing in overtime of the Class 2A quarterfinals, falling to the eventual state champion Wilmington. These teams didn’t play last season.
Warsaw West Hancock (1-8) at Deer Creek-Mackinaw (5-5), 7 p.m.
Dee-Mack 41, West Hancock 6: Dee-Mack won its final three games to make the Class 1A playoffs. The Chiefs relied on its defense during their five victories, allowing just 8.2 points a game in those wins. West Hancock has a rough start to the season, taking on Farmington, then Elmwood/Brimfield in the first three weeks.
Macon Meridian (2-7) at Fieldcrest (4-5), 7 p.m.
Fieldcrest 42, Macon Meridian 14: Fieldcrest was a one-point loss to Heyworth last season to making the playoffs. The Knights will be geared up to make a return to the playoffs following a 2019 Class 2A state semifinal appearance. Meridian scored 61 points in its lone on-the-field victory last season. These teams didn’t play last season.
Princeville (5-5, 5-3) at Abingdon-Avon (2-7, 2-6), 7 p.m.
Princeville 42, Abingdon-Avon 20: These LincolnLand-Small Division foes are starting the conference season in Week 1. Princeville lost two in a run to end the 2023 season, falling to rival Stark County in the Class 1A playoffs. ATown went 2-2 to end the season after starting 0-5 to begin the season. Last season, Princeville won 30-13.
8-player: Bushnell-Prairie City (4-5) at Peoria Heights (3-6), 7 p.m.
Bushnell-Prairie City 42, Peoria Heights 18: Peoria Heights won its final game in Week 9 of last season, putting up 40 points. The Patriots averaged 42 points a game in their three victories. The Spartans started the season 4-1 before losing their final four games including two by a combined three points. Last season, Bushnell-Prairie City won 46-6.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
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Publish date : 2024-08-28 22:09:00
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