Game Night Guide: Week 2 features home openers and playoff-caliber matchups
QUINCY — Week 2 of the prep football scene should offer some insight into who is going to be a playoff contender and who has work to do to make it to the postseason. And join Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for Muddy Night Lights, airing live at 10 p.m. Friday night.
Alton (0-1) at Quincy High School (1-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: A new turf surface was installed at Flinn Stadium over the summer. From 2011 through 2023 — the lifespan of the previous turf — the Blue Devils went 43-19 at home. The first win on that turf came against Alton, a 30-20 victory on Aug. 26, 2011. … Both teams opened the season with games against smaller schools. The Blue Devils beat Class 2A Quincy Notre Dame 40-12, while the Redbirds suffered a 41-14 loss to Class 1A Belleville Althoff. … This is the ninth consecutive season in which the Blue Devils and Redbirds have played in either the first or second week with Quincy winning the last three and five overall in that stretch.
Richmond-Burton (1-0) at Quincy Notre Dame (0-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Rockets have won 45 of their last 47 regular-season games, including a 25-6 victory over the Raiders in Week 2 last season. QND is 1-6 over the first three weeks of the season in the past three years, including last week’s loss to QHS, which has made chasing a playoff berth tougher. Following this week, the Raiders begin Central State Eight Conference play as the newest league member.
Hannibal (0-1) at Lutheran St. Charles (0-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Pirates play their next three games on the road. Hannibal has not started 0-2 since 2019 when it lost its first three games but rebounded to finish with a 7-5 record. Lutheran St. Charles suffered a 50-0 loss to Cahokia (Ill.) in its season opener.
Camp Point Central (1-0) at Calhoun (1-0), 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Panthers and Warriors have played each other in WIVC crossover games each of the past six seasons with Central winning the past five. The Panthers also beat the Warriors 32-14 in the Class 1A playoffs last season. Central has won five of the last six WIVC North championships, while Calhoun has not won the WIVC South since 2016 when it reached the Class 1A state semifinals. The teams did not play each other that season.
Greenfield-Northwestern (1-0) at Unity-Payson (0-1), 7 p.m.
• Unity Mustangs Sports Network on YouTube
Did you know?: Lightning delayed the start of the Mustangs’ season opener at Winchester West Central by two hours last week. Unity-Payson lost its first two games last season and rallied to win six games and make the Class 2A playoff bracket. Thee Tigers are 44-9 in the last five seasons combined, including going 12-1 last season with a Class 1A state semifinal appearance.
Winchester West Central (1-0) at Brown County (0-1), 7 p.m.
• BC Hornets Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Hornets’ 6-0 loss last week at Greenfield-Northwestern marked the third time in their last six games they were shut out.
Elmwood/Brimfield (1-0) at Illini West (0-1), 7 p.m.
• Illini West stream on YouTube
Did you know?: The Chargers have lost their last two home openers at Fuzz Berges Field, but they went 3-1 at home last season and are 10-9 at home the last five seasons combined.
Farmington (1-0) at West Hancock (0-1), 7 p.m.
• TSSR Game Time Live on YouTube
Did you know?: This will be a measuring stick for the progress the Titans have made. In three seasons since joining the Prairieland Conference, West Hancock has lost three times to Farmington and allowed 45 or more points in each outing.
Knoxville (0-1) at Macomb (1-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Malachi Conley’s 177 yards rushing in last week’s victory marked the most rushing yards in a game by a Bomber since Max Ryner rushed for 237 yards against Elmwood-Brimfield in 2022. It was only the second 100-yard rushing effort in the last 10 Macomb games.
Athens (0-1) at Pittsfield (0-1), 7 p.m.
• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube
Did you know?: The Warriors finished as the Class 2A state runner-up last season, going 11-3 overall. However, Athens suffered a 47-14 loss to Maroa-Forsyth in the season opener. Pittsfield has not beaten Athens since joining the Sangamo Conference in 2014.
Pleasant Hill (0-1) at Beardstown (0-1), 7 p.m.
• No livestream
Did you know?: Last week’s 8-6 loss to Triopia marked the best defensive effort by a Pleasant Hill team since allowing just seven points in back-to-back against against Unity-Payson and Brown County in Weeks 8 and 9 of the 2017 season.
Palmyra (1-0) at Bowling Green (1-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Bowling Green coach Mark St. Clair, who became a Hall of Famer during two decades coaching at Hannibal, sits at 199 career victories. The Panthers haven’t beaten the Bobcats since a 13-0 victory in 2020.
Monroe City (0-1) at Montgomery County (0-1), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: This will be the third consecutive season the Panthers and Wildcats have met in Week 2. Monroe City won the previous two meetings — 46-13 in 2022 and 44-34 in 2023. The Wildcats opened the season with a 26-6 loss to Hermann.
Westran (0-1) at South Shelby (1-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: Last week’s 60-22 victory over Harrisburg marked the second time in the last three seasons the Cardinals have scored at least 60 points. They’ve reached the 50-point mark five additional times and at least 40 points 10 other times. South Shelby is ranked eighth in the first Class 2 state poll.
Highland (0-1) at Scotland County (1-0), 7 p.m.
• KMEM Scotland County sports stream
Did you know?: The Cougars and Tigers have met in a non-conference matchup three of the previous four seasons with Highland winning all three. Scotland County beat Louisiana 29-6 last week, while Highland lost 32-14 to Mark Twain.
Salisbury (1-0) at Mark Twain (1-0), 7 p.m.
Did you know?: The Tigers are 6-4 in their past 10 home openers, although this is the first time Salisbury has been on the schedule. The Wildcats won 30-15 last week at Cole Camp, but they haven’t had a winning season since 2014.
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