Pigskin Previews - Week 7

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Princeton (4-2, 2-1) at IVC (6-0, 3-0)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Taylor Field, Chillicothe.

BCR insider: Four yards. That’s how close Princeton came to a road victory in Spring Valley after marching 87 yards in the final three minutes. The potential game-winning drive stalled with an illegal procedure call and ended on an interception in the end zone. The Tigers will have little time fretting over that heart-breaking loss with Friday’s trip to Chillicothe to face IVC. The Grey Ghosts are the front-runners in the NCIC Lincoln after tripping league favorite Mendota and seek their second league title since joining the NCIC four years ago. The Grey Ghosts are ranked ninth in this week’s AP 3A poll. ... Tiger coach Dave Moore says the Tigers have remained upbeat despite last week’s loss. “We were down on the (4) with 1:30 to go, you’re thinking your going to score and go ahead. You’ve just got to be positive. We had every chance to win that football game. We didn’t (win), but we played very hard and gave it a great effort. We have to come above that effort this week. Obviously, IVC is undefeated and they beat Mendota at Mendota. They play good hard defense. We can’t let mistakes beat us. We played error free ball last week, except for the one down on the goal line. We’ll have to have that kind of effort this week against IVC.” The Grey Ghosts are very quick and fast and get after the ball on defense, the Tiger coach says, noting the Tigers are “going to have to pick up their blitzes.” The Ghosts will have to do the same for the Tigers’ Drew Compton, who was a deadly weapon last week on blitzes into the Hall backfield for big stops. ... PHS QB Brik Wedekind proved to be a primetime player in leading the Tigers’ downfield in the final moments at Hall, using both his arm and his legs for big gains. Compton continues to provide heavy duty excitement, but the Tigers need to get running mate Dylan Olson untracked. ... IVC has won the past five meetings with PHS, the Tigers’ last win being the 56-14 blowout in 2003 under coach Joe Ryan.

Last week: PHS lost to Hall 20-14; IVC beat Kewanee 42-6.

Last year: IVC 41-10.

All-time series: PHS 34-20-1.

Radio: WZOE 1490 AM.

Hall (3-3, 2-1)
at Rock Falls (2-4, 0-3)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Helms Field, Rock Falls.

BCR insider: The Red Devils come off an emotionally charged win over archrival Princeton, thanks to Michael Swingel’s game-saving interception in the end zone. Hall coach Jason Bland knows the Red Devils will come down off that high, but can’t afford to come down too much Friday at Rock Falls. Hall needs to come up with two wins over the last three weeks including games with NCIC Lincoln leader IVC and state-ranked Champaign St. Thomas Moore ahead. Bland says even though the Rockets are struggling, they are still dangerous. “They have some athletes on offense that can make big plays. They will giving it all they have. They’re cornered. They have three winnable games on their schedule and have to win out to make the playoffs,” Bland said. Most notable of the Rockets weapons are wide receiver Tevin Rumley and defensive lineman Bobby Clapper. Bland says the Red Devils “really have to put in another solid effort on defense, contain their athletes, and don’t give up the big play. Offensively, we’re tightening up on a couple of things that we had slacked off on and Princeton was able to exploit last Friday. We’re just trying to get better at the things we’ve been doing all season. We’re still improving at the right time of the season,” he said. ... Bland said the Red Devils have several players who are battling through pain, but all are expected to be ready for the game.

Last week: Hall beat Princeton 20-14; RF lost to Mendota 55-8.

Last year: Hall 47-30.

All-time series: Hall 25-7.

Radio: WAJK 99.3 FM.

St. Bede (2-4, 2-4) at

Riverdale (3-3, 3-3)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Port Byron.

BCR insider: The Bruins made it two in a row with a convincing 28-0 shutout at Erie last week. They must win out to become playoff eligible, but finish with their softer half of their schedule. St. Bede has scored 48 points over the past two weeks after totaling just 16 the first four weeks. Both teams own wins over Erie/Prophetstown and Marquette while the Bruins have played closer games with Morrison and Newman. ... St. Bede racked up 405 yards of total offense in last year’s 51-6 blowout over the Rams.

Last year: SBA 51-6.

Last week: SB beat Erie/Prophetstown 28-0; Riverdale beat Marquette 23-7

All-time series: St. Bede 5-2.

Radio: WSOG 88.9 FM.

Morrison (6-0, 6-0)
at Bureau Valley (5-1, 5-1)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Manlius

BCR insider: The Storm have one mission Friday, and that’s to win. It’s a must win if they want to keep in contention for their second straight league championship. A win by Morrison will have the Mustangs stampeding toward their second BRC crown in three years. ... Morrison takes over the top spot in this week’s 2A rankings, moving up a spot from No. 2. BV, which was No. 1 ranked before losing to Amboy, climbed two spots to No. 5. ... These two Big Rivers rivals have had some real shootouts and knock down dragouts in recent years, none more thrilling than last year’s 12-6 win on four overtimes by the Storm. Before that they played to 21-19 and 22-20 nailbiters in 2007 and 2006, both won by BV.

Last week: BV beat E/P 51-20; Fulton lost to Amboy 28-0.

Last year: Morrison 28-0, BV 12-6 (4 OT).

All-time series: BV 5-3.

Radio: WZOE 98.1 FM.

Amboy/LaMoille (5-1, 5-1)
at Sterling Newman (5-1, 5-1)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Roscoe Eades Field, Sterling High School.

BCR insider: This game may come down to deciding second place in the Big Rivers, but the winner could stay in contention for first if Bureau Valley upsets undefeated Morrison Friday. The Clippers will be challenged to recover from last week’s 35-6 loss at the hands of Morrison,

Last week: Amboy lost to Morrison 35-6; Newman beat River Valley 52-0.

Last year: Newman 22-15.

Radio: 101.7 FM.

Other area games

River Valley at Marquette

Erie/Prophetstown at Fulton

Mendota at Kewanee

Grayslake at Dixon

L-P at Geneseo

Sterling at Streator

Annawan/Wethersfield at Galva

Morris at Ottawa, (canceled due to Ottawa teachers’ strike.)

— Kevin Hieronymus