Friday Night Drive

Here are the previews and picks for each Sauk Valley area football game on Friday. Amboy faces Polo in a rematch of the I8FA title game, Dixon hosts North Boone, Sterling heads to Galesburg, Newman goes to Mercer County and more in Week 5.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Longtime defensive coordinator Dan DeFranza, now in his second season as head coach at Niles Notre Dame, has the Dons at 3-1 to start their 2026 campaign. Notre Dame has tied its regular-season win total from last year and is likely playoff bound for the first time since 2022.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In its second season under head coach and alum Theo Hopkins, Leo has already tied its regular-season win total from a year ago and likely earned playoff eligibility for the first time since 2013. The Lions, currently 3-1, are making a push for the Red Division title and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Here is the Week 4 Illinois Media Poll for football, which which was released Thursday for all eight classes.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Phil LoChirco never met a person he didn't try to serve to the best of his ability. It was that servant's heart that allowed the Yorkville grad and former Plano assistant coach to leave his mark on his schools — a legacy that lives on even after his passing.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Hosts Eddie Carifio and JT Pedelty preview Week 5 of Illinois high school football in the western and southern portions of northern Illinois.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

The Jacobs football team is 4-0 for the first time since 2022 after rallying to beat Burlington Central 31-27 on Friday night at Rocket Hill in Burlington. The Golden Eagles are the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week for Week 4.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Hosts Alex Kantecki and Joe Aguilar preview Week 5 in high school football in McHenry County.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Here's a look at the Week 5 football matchups for the teams in the Daily Journal area.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

There will be a lot of teams trying to find a flag planting win in a loaded slate of rivalry games and key clashes. Steve Soucie takes a look at the top matchups of Week 5.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

The Herald-News prep football capsules for Week 5, featuring key showdowns across the greater Joliet and Morris area.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Here's J.T. Pedelty's look at Week 5 of the 2026 IHSA/I8FA football season across The Times area, including big rivalry showdowns for Ottawa, Marquette, Seneca and Dwight plus Streator's homecoming game.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Playing alongside multiple Division I prospects on Loyola's offense, 5-foot-9 junior running back Melo Maldonado is once again leading the Ramblers in rushing. Maldonado, an all-CCL pick his sophomore year, has expanded his skillset to be a true three-down back.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A look at the Week 5 football games for the La Salle-Peru, Princeton, St. Bede, Bureau Valley, Hall-Putnam County, Mendota and Amboy co-op football teams.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Undefeated Huntley visits Cary-Grove, Jacobs looks to move to 5-0 when it faces McHenry, Woodstock faces a tough test at Johnsburg, plus previews of every team's game Friday night and other area contests in McHenry County.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

The Geneva flag football team knows its record doesn't indicate its talent. The Vikings proved as such with seven touchdowns in a 43-6 win over St. Charles East. Quarterback Linnea Popp threw for three scores in the first half.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Oswego and Yorkville take on a pair of unbeatens in Southwest Prairie Conference crossover week, and Sandwich hopes to regain a winning record against struggling Harvard. Here are previews and picks for those games and others around the Record Newspapers coverage area.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Get ready for Week 5 of high school football season with previews from games in the Kane County Chronicle coverage area, including Fenwick vs. St. Francis, St. Charles East vs. Wheaton North, and Kaneland vs. Sycamore.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Hosts Josh Welge and Steve Soucie preview Week 5 in Illinois high school football.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Here are previews and picks for all the 2026 Week 5 football games from around the Suburban Life area.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Hosts Steve Soucie and Russ Hodges discuss the latest about what's happening at Providence with the firing of Tyler Plantz, and preview Week 5 in the Chicago Catholic League.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

East St. Louis has submitted a request to play up in the Class 7A playoffs for this year's postseason.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Adam Schilling had his season cut short this week last year with a PCL tear in his knee. But the Wheaton North senior tight end/linebacker is a big reason why the Falcons are 4-0. That, Downers Grove North's 'Swiss Army knife' and two area QBs put up huge Week 4 numbers.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Burlington Central, Woodstock, Woodstock North and Alden-Hebron are the latest McHenry County-area schools to offer girls flag football at the high school level. The number of local schools participating in the fast growing sport has increased each of the last two years.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Sycamore and Kaneland meet in an Interstate 8 rivalry showdown, DeKalb hopes for a breakthrough against Naperville Central, Hiawatha faces resurgent South Beloit, and Genoa-Kingston faces newest BNC foe Durand-Pecatonica.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Studying things that don't usually need much inspection has become commonplace in trying to project this year's state playoff field. Steve Soucie projects the IHSA playoff field here.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

After snagging five first-half interceptions and taking a 13-0 lead over Oswego, Oswego East looked poised to roll to another big win. But it wasn't until a failed one-point attempt in the final seconds that the Wolves came away with a 13-12 road victory over their archrivals.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

After missing last year with an ACL tear, Sandwich's Chase Clark is back to play more hard-nosed football for the run-loving Indians. That, Joel Castillo's big night for Yorkville and Oswego East's continued reliance on defense in Skyler Kisellus' Kendall County football notes.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Join hosts Josh Welge, Skyler Kisellus and Matt McGowan as they preview Week 5 in the western suburbs in IHSA football.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald as they go Inside the Huddle and review what they saw during Week 4 of Illinois high school football, and they discuss the situation involving Providence firing coach Tyler Plantz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

St. Bede is likely in the playoffs with three wins and La Salle-Peru, Princeton and Mendota are close at two wins, Amboy had its bye week and more in the NewsTribune football notebook.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

JCA scored a touchdown in the opening minute of Friday night's 21-10 win over St. LaurenceBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Here's more from the Week 4 sidelines across The Times coverage area, including notes on Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland and Seneca.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Former Providence football coach Tyler Plantz said that he was asked to resign and was never formally notified of his termination before the school announced that he was out as the Celtics' head coach.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

IC Catholic Prep's Jakobe Baldwin, Loyola's Will Mettee, Mount Carmel's Brady Cloherty, Montini's Israel Abrams and Nazareth's Jackson Flickinger are some of the top individual performers from Chicago Catholic League teams during Week 4 of IHSA football action.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

First-year starting quarterback Cash White has been throwing dimes and then some for Woodstock, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2017. Plus, Johnsburg's dependable 'D,' McHenry freshman Max Michalski showing big potential, and more in the McHenry County football notebook.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Sterling's defense has stood out during a 2-0 Big 6 start, an update on Newman's injuries, Dixon's Xavion Jones is dominant, Fulton is 4-0 for the first time since 2020 and more in this week's Sauk Valley notes.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Loyola, Providence, IC Catholic Prep and St. Patrick all remained undefeated through Week 4. Mount Carmel cruised over Marist, Montini won a shootout against Nazareth, St. Rita topped St. Francis and St. Ignatius knocked off previously-unbeaten Fenwick.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

The list of undefeated teams is dwindling quickly after a week where scoreboards around the state were strained. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 4.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Sycamore and Madden Larsen air it out in their Week 4 win against Ottawa, Kash Sunderlage and Blake Ides are in the middle of any big rally kills for Genoa-Kingston and more. We look at the biggest Week 4 stories for Sycamore, G-K, Hiawatha, Kaneland and DeKalb.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Providence football coach Tyler Plantz has been dismissed as the Celtics head football coach, effectively immediately.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Vote for the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week for Week 4 of the 2026 season! Choose your favorite school and submit your vote by 8 p.m. MondayBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.