Game Night Guide: Beginning of conference play raises stakes for area prep football teams
QUINCY — Week 3 of the prep football season brings the start of conference play for teams on both sides of the Mississippi River. Here’s what to look forward to this Friday night:
Rock Island (0-2) at Quincy High School (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Did you know?: The Blue Devils have won nine consecutive Western Big 6 Conference games ahead of this week’s league opener, but they have not played the Rocks in a WB6 opener since the 2015 season. Rocky won 30-28 at Rock Island that season. Quincy is averaging 41 points and 490 yards per game through two weeks with senior quarterback Bradyn Little having thrown nine touchdown passes.
Springfield Southeast (0-2) at Quincy Notre Dame (1-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: This will be the Raiders’ first game as part of the Central State Eight Conference, and they are 2-0 in previous conference debuts. QND beat Peoria Central 21-0 in its first game in the Mid-State 6 Conference in 2006, and it took down Bloomington 20-13 in the spring of 2021 as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
Hannibal (1-1) at Troy Buchanan (2-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: This is the second in a three-game road swing for the Pirates, who don’t return to Porter Stadium until Week 5 against Mexico. The Trojans have scored 103 points already this season, The Pirates and Trojans have played each other the last two years with the home team winning each time and total margin of victory in the two games combined being eight points.
South Shelby (2-0) at Monroe City (1-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Panthers won seven consecutive head-to-head matchups prior to last season’s 59-6 loss to the Cardinals. South Shelby has won 12 consecutive regular-season games dating back to the victory over Palmyra in the finale of the 2022 season. South Shelby enters the game ranked seventh in the Class 2 state poll.
Camp Point Central (1-1) at Beardstown (0-2), 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Panthers have not lost back-to-back games since Weeks 4 and 5 of the 2016 season when they fell to Beardstown and Unity-Payson. Since Brad Dixon took over as the Central head coach in 2011, the Panthers have lost back-to-back games only twice and are 126-26 overall.
Unity-Payson (0-2) at Brown County (0-2), 7 p.m.
• BC Hornets Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: This is the Hornets’ 75th season and the defense has played at an historic level, allowing only two touchdowns in two games. However, the offense continues to try to find its footing. The Hornets and Mustangs lost to the same two teams the first two weeks, so it will be interesting to watch how that impacts the adjustments the coaching staffs make.
Macomb (2-0) at Illini West (0-2), 7 p.m.
• TSSR Game Time Live on YouTube
Did you know?: The Chargers haven’t started a season 0-3 since before the Illinois High School Association began maintaining yearly results on its website and it’s likely been at least a half-century since it’s happened. Macomb’s strong start has been predicated on establishing success on the ground as the Bombers are averaging 9.8 yards per carry.
West Hancock (0-2) at Elmwood/Brimfield (2-0), 7 p.m.
• TSSR Game Time Live on YouTube
Did you know?: It’s only a matter of time before the explosive nature of the Titans’ offense leads to a breakthrough in the victory column. The Titans are averaging 28 points per game, but they’ve been undone by nine turnovers. Establishing a stronger run game will help. The Titans average just 2 yards per carry.
Pittsfield (1-1) at Stanford Olympia (2-0), 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Saukees’ victory last aweek against Athens was their first against the Warriors since joining the Sangamo Conference in 2014. Now, they chase their first victory over the Trojans since Stanford Olympia left the Illini Prairie Conference to join the Sangamo in 2022. Stanford Olympia could not find a replacement for Riverton on its schedule and took a forfeit victory last week.
Greenfield-Northwestern (2-0) at Pleasant Hill (1-1), 7 p.m.
• No livestream
Did you know?: The Wolves’ 20-0 victory last week at Beardstown marked their first victory against someone other than North Greene since Week 9 of the 2017 season against Unity-Payson. The Wolves allowed only 92 yards in Week 1 against Triopia and have allowed just 288 total yards this season. The Tigers are 32-6 since the start of the 2021 season.
Macon (0-2) at Palmyra (1-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Tigers have scored just one touchdown through two games and have lost 13 consecutive games overall. The Panthers beat the Tigers 34-20 last year and proved with Week 1’s double-overtime victory over Hallsville they should be able to move the ball more consistently.
Brookfield (2-0) at Highland (0-2), 7 p.m.
• No livestream
Did you know?: The Cougars have struggled offensively, scoring 22 total points in the first two weeks while allowing 61. The Bulldogs are no longer members of the Clarence Cannon Conference and Highland is the only former CCC opponent still on Brookfield’s schedule, but the Bulldogs still have bite, having outscored their first two opponents 81-14.
Mark Twain (1-1) at Winfield (0-2), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Defensively, the Tigers have been stout, allowing three touchdowns in the first two weeks. The Warriors opened the season against a Class 4 school in a 31-15 loss to Ft. Zumwalt South and fell 44-28 in Week 2 to Wright City, another Eastern Missouri Conference foe.
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