Game Night Guide: Week 5 of prep football

Friday’s schedule

Galesburg (1-3) at Quincy High School (2-2), 7:30 p.m.

• WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM

Quincy Notre Dame (4-0) at Breese Mater Dei (4-0), 7 p.m.

• WTAD 930 AM

Hannibal (4-0) at Mexico (4-0), 7 p.m.

• KICK 97.9 FM

Palmyra (2-2) at Monroe City (4-0), 7 p.m.

• KRRY 100.9 FM

• KWBZ 107.5 FM

Bowling Green (3-0) at Mark Twain (4-0), 7 p.m.

• KJFM 102.5 FM

Beardstown (2-2) at Brown County (4-0), 7 p.m.

• BC Hornets Sports on YouTube

Jacksonville Routt (2-2) at Central (3-1), 7 p.m.

Triopia (1-3) at Unity-Payson (2-2), 7 p.m.

• Unity Sports on YouTube

• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube

Pittsfield (2-2) at North Mac (2-2), 7 p.m.

• Central Illinois Sports on YouTube

Pleasant Hill (0-4) at North Greene (0-4), 7:30 p.m.

• NFHS Network stream

South Shelby (2-2) at Highland (3-1), 7 p.m.

• NFHS Network stream

First and 10

Ten tidbits to know about this week’s slate of games:

• Quincy High School finds itself chasing a playoff berth following last week’s 48-14 dismantling of previously unbeaten United Township. The topsy turvy nature of the Western Big 6 Conference through two weeks makes every game over the final five weeks of the season winnable, and the Blue Devils need only to win three to secure a playoff berth.

• The Blue Devils are 0-2 at Flinn Stadium and 2-0 on the road, a trend they hope to change this week with the homecoming game against the Silver Streaks. Traditionally, the Blue Devils have been solid at home in the Rick Little coaching era, owning a .656 winning percentage at Flinn Stadium since he took over as the head coach in 2007. The Blue Devils have had four perfect home seasons in that span.

• Galesburg won its first game of the Derrek Blackwell coaching era last week with a 28-7 victory over Geneseo. The Silver Streaks have allowed just 31 points this season, second fewest in the WB6, but they’ve forced only three turnovers. Galesburg’s offense is balanced with 492 yards rushing and 462 yards passing.

• Quincy Notre Dame coach Jack Cornell and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their first child this week when she gave birth to Troy Eldon Cornell on Wednesday. Baby Cornell checked in at 7 pounds, 8.75 ounces and 20.5 inches long. Rumor has it growing a beard like his father may take a while, but Baby Cornell is already prepared to wear No. 73. Cornell missed a couple days of practice this week while tending to his family’s needs, but his coaching staff described the efforts as efficient and on-point in his absence.

• Mater Dei runs a pass-heavy offense with quarterback Bryce Revermann completing 53 of 77 passes for 940 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Cameron Haag has 24 catches for 484 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 121 yards and two scores, while also scoring on a kick return and an interception return. Haag has six touchdowns of 45 yards or more.

• It’s easy to see what Hannibal is up against as it heads into the North Central Missouri Conference showdown with Mexico. The Bulldogs run the ball … and run the ball … and run it some more. Mexico has piled up 1,174 yards on the ground and averages 7 yards per carry. Three Bulldogs have each rushed for 260 or more yards. Bulldogs senior Michael White has seven rushing touchdowns.

• Hannibal is much more balanced and much more diverse. The Pirates have 1,223 yards rushing and 706 yards passing with seven different players having scored touchdowns. Sophomore all-purpose back Aneyas Williams remains the most dangerous player on the field, picking up 440 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and catching 23 passes for 493 yards and six touchdowns.

• Unity-Payson finds itself in bounce-back mode. The Mustangs suffered back-to-back losses to Central and Jacksonville Routt, the second of which came after squandering a two-touchdown lead. A victory over Triopia is needed with a gauntlet of talented teams looming. In the final three weeks of the season, the Mustangs will face undefeated Brown County, one-loss Carrollton and undefeated Winchester West Central.

• When Monroe City coach David Kirby was building his team’s schedule, he pegged Palmyra as the homecoming opponent. Kirby projected both teams to be salty, and with that in mind, there’d be no better opponent to create the best game atmosphere possible on homecoming. The Mayor’s Cup always brings out the best in both, and this one will showcase how tough and physical Monroe City’s line can be as it must handle the Palmyra hard-nosed duo of Luke Triplett and Braden Madden.

• Bowling Green ended up with a bye week last Friday night when Wright City was forced to back out because of COVID reasons, so the Bobcats ended up with extra time to prepare to face Mark Twain. They already are familiar with the Tigers head coach as Austin Leake spent five years on the Bowling Green staff before returning to his alma mater. What the Bobcats may struggle to replicate in practice is the game speed of the Tigers’ Lakoda Preston, who has four returns for touchdowns this season. 

Game Night Grub

• A picture truly can make you hungry. Looking at the snapshot of the loaded Thai chicken waffle fries from the Gridiron Grill in Breese, Ill., will make your mouth water. The paninis have the right crispness on the outside of the bread and softness inside with stacked fillings to satisfy any hearty appetite. And Gridiron wings will get you fired up for any game. So when QND fans reach Clinton County and need a bite that makes you feel at home in a football atmosphere, hit up the Gridiron Grill. The Friday special is Southwest chicken lasagna. It’s a touchdown.

• A good sandwich or a really good burger will get you in the right mood to cheer for the ol’ varsity. Pratt’s on Monroe in Mexico, Mo., will tickle any tastebud with its selection of both. From the shaved prime rib sandwich to the Rancher (a spicy treat) to the andouille sausage sliders, you’ll get your fill. You even get to choose between skinny and thick fries. You can’t go wrong either way, but thick is the way to go.

• Many moons ago when Eric Ervin and I were a broadcast duo, he made mention during an ad for State Street Bar and Grill that the tenderloins were “as big as Matt Schuckman’s head.” We happened to be eating lunch there one day when someone called in an order and asked for such a tenderloin. The waitress laughed and told the caller I was eating lunch there at the time. Needless to say, the tenderloin was as big as my head. It still is today. I’m somewhat partial to the double cheeseburger and an order of cheddar cheese balls, but the menu is stocked full of great food. There are great drinks coming from behind the bar as well. Before or after any Quincy game, it’s the perfect to stop.