Game Night Guide: Week 1 of prep football finally arrives with full Friday night slate
QUINCY — The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. Friday on another high school football season. So here’s a look at the lid-lifting slate:
Quincy High School at Quincy Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: This will be the fourth consecutive season the city rivals have met in the season opener. The Blue Devils have won the last two and are 6-1 against the Raiders since the series was renewed in 2015. QND won the season opener in 2021 with a 40-20 victory at Flinn Stadium.
Jefferson City Helias at Hannibal, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Crusaders left the North Central Missouri Conference following the 2013-14 season, but they have played the Pirates every season since. Helias has won the season-opening battle four of the last five times, although the Pirates have enjoyed more success in that timeframe. Hannibal went 49-15 in those five seasons combined, while Helias went 40-16.
North Greene at Camp Point Central 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Panthers have lost only 15 games over the last eight seasons, but their streak of season-opening victories is only six seasons deep. The Panthers suffered a 16-14 loss to Calhoun in the first game in 2017 and finished 8-3 that season.
Brown County at Greenfield-Northwestern, 7 p.m.
• BC Hornets Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: Greenfield’s 12-1 record and Class 1A state semifinal appearance last season was its best record since going 13-1 and finishing as the Class 2A state runner-up in 1991. Brown County has been the playoffs 16 of the last 19 opportunities.
Unity-Payson at Winchester West Central, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Mustangs lost three of their first four games last season, including falling to the Cougars 28-15 in the season opener, before winning five straight games to reach the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Jacksonville at Pittsfield, 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: Both teams lost their originally scheduled Week 1 opponent, so they decided to play each other. The fact the towns sit just 37 miles apart should make for a good atmospher and large crowd at Glenn Smith Field.
Pleasant Hill at Triopia, 7 p.m.
• No livestream
Did you know?: The Wolves have not won a season opener since beating Triopia 12-8 to kick off the 2013 season.
Illini West at Farmington, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Chargers haven’t been to the playoffs since 2018 after qualifying for the postseason in 27 of the previous 28 seasons.
West Hancock at Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Titans are traveling the furthest of any area team this weekend, going 121 miles to Mackinaw, Ill. West Hancock has won just five combined games in the last five seasons.
Macomb at Lewistown, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Bombers coach Tanner Horrell has won 20 games in his three seasons at the helm. Lewistown has not won more than five games in a season since 2011 and has just three combined victories in the last four seasons.
Valle Catholic at Monroe City, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Valle Catholic has won the second most state championships in Missouri history with 15 titles, while Monroe City has won three crowns.
Palmyra at Hallsville, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Panthers are looking for their first season-opening victory since 2020. After winning 10 games in both the 2019 and 2021 seasons, the Indians have won just 10 games combined in the last two seasons.
South Shelby at Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Cardinals have not lost a regular-season game since Week 8 of the 2022 season.
Mark Twain at Highland, 7 p.m.
• No livestream
Did you know?: These two programs were once Clarence Cannon Conference rivals. Mark Twain has been a member of the Eastern Missouri Conference since 2014. Prior to that, the Tigers were in the CCC.
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