Game Night Guide: Week 9 of prep football

Friday’s Schedule

Quincy High School (4-4) at Rock Island (5-3), 7:30 p.m.

• WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM

Quincy Notre Dame (5-3) at Alton Marquette (0-8), 7:30 p.m.

• WTAD 930 AM

Hannibal (8-0) at Columbia Battle (4-3), 7 p.m.

• KICK 97.9 FM

Central (7-1) at Calhoun (2-6), 7 p.m.

• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube

Winchester West Central (6-2) at Unity-Payson (5-3), 7 p.m.

• Unity Athletics on YouTube

Carrollton (7-1) at Brown County (5-3), 7 p.m.

• BC Hornet Sports on YouTube

Williamsville (7-1) at Pittsfield (4-4), 7 p.m.

• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube

Beardstown (4-4) at Pleasant Hill (1-7), 7 p.m.

Monroe City (7-1) at Highland (6-2), 7 p.m.

• KWBZ 107.5 FM

• NFHS Network

Palmyra (4-4) at Centralia (4-4), 7 p.m.

• KRRY 100.9 FM

Mark Twain (7-1) at Louisiana (4-4), 7 p.m.

• KJFM 102.1 FM

First and 10

Here are 10 things you need to know about Friday’s slate of games:

• The Illinois High School Association will hold its annual playoff pairings show Saturday night from 8-9 p.m. and can be seen in this area on WGEM. Four area teams — Quincy Notre Dame, Central, Brown County and Unity-Payson — have qualified for the playoffs. Quincy High School and Pittsfield need to win Friday night to qualify with five victories.

• The Blue Devils’ challenge is quite large based on history. Quincy has beaten Rock Island only twice at Almquist Field in the past 40 years, and both have been memorable. It happened in the first round of the 2013 playoffs as Quincy won 40-20 for the only playoff victory in program history. In 2017, the Blue Devils won 29-15 during which Jirehl Brock knocked the helmet off a Rocks defender while running down the sideline.

• Rock Island has won three of its last four games, averaging 39 points per game in that stretch. It’s all happened since a 63-0 loss to Moline. Rocks quarterback Eli Reese leads the Western Big 6 Conference with 17 touchdown passes, including nine to senior wide receiver Marieon Anderson.

• Quincy Notre Dame is looking to guarantee itself a better-then-.500 record by finishing the regular season 6-3. The Raiders have won at least six games 19 times since 1994.

• Alton Marquette has been shut out in three of its last four games and is allowing 51.6 points per game. Despite facing Marquette, Granite City and Rock Island Alleman — all three are winless — the Raiders still have 39 playoff points going into Friday night, which could lead to a first-round home game even if they finish with a 6-3 record.

• Hannibal is looking to wrap up its first undefeated regular season since 2015. It has happened just six other times in program history — 1909, 1912, 1979, 1981, 1989 and 2000.

• Central is looking at being the No. 1 seed in the 16-team south bracket in the Class 1A playoffs should it finish the regular season with an 8-1 record. Carrollton is projected to be the No. 2 seed, which could lead to a state semifinal rematch should both advance that far. The Panthers beat the Hawks 30-22 in the season opener.

• Pittsfield’s 4-4 record is its best since 2009 when the Saukees went 8-2 and qualified for the Class 3A playoffs. A return to the playoffs is a longshot with Williamsville visiting Glenn Smith Field. The Bullets are 7-1 with the lone loss coming in Week 1 against Union Grove, Wis. Williamsville averages 43.4 points per game.

• Highland’s historic season could become quite grand with a victory over state-ranked Monroe City. The Cougars are guaranteed their first winning season in 31 years. They’ve secured a first-round home game in district play. And they could win the Clarence Cannon Conference championship by beating the Panthers.

• Missouri district tournaments begin next week with Hannibal and Monroe City expected to be No. 1 seeds and Highland and Mark Twain potentially No. 2 seeds in their respective districts.

Game Night Grub

• Hannibal athletic director Clint Graham is known to be a barbeque connoisseur, but if his trip to Columbia on Friday night for the Pirates’ game at Battle should take him anywhere, it should be to one of these three places — Shakespeare’s, Booches or CJ’s. Shakespeare’s is the best pizza place you will find in a college town. Booches was listed in USA Today as having one of the 10 best cheeseburgers in the nation. And CJ’s has the tastiest wings I’ve ever had. If you’re adventurous and like it spicy, order wings in the BYFO sauce. That’s Burn Your Face Off sauce.

• A unique assortment of flatbread pizzas, wings tossed in unique sauces and a slightly more upscale bar menu is part of what sets Bossanova Restaurant and Lounge apart. If you’re headed to Alton to watch QND and want a quality drink and some hearty food before the game, this is your place. Order the beef teepee skewer. Just do it and you won’t be disappointed. The garlic mashed potatoes make it even better.

• When your media colleagues steer you to a local restaurant, you expect it to be good. Pee Wee’s in Rock Island doesn’t disappoint. Fried chicken, po’ boys, smothered pork chops … just thinking about the flavor on the menu will make you hungry. It’s down-home cooking at its best. You won’t find a better stick-to-your-ribs meal around, especially one you know has that home-cooked feel to it.