High School Football: Preview Capsules for Week 14
Dixon at
Ottawa
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: King Field, 211 E. Main St., Ottawa
Radio: 1460 AM
AP Rank: Ottawa No. 8 6A
NIB-12 West: Dixon 0-2, Ottawa 2-0
Last week: LaSalle-Peru 53, Dixon 14; Ottawa 35, Geneseo 14
Last meeting: 2011, Ottawa 28-7
Series streak: Ottawa 3
Key to game: The Dukes will need to stop Ottawa running back Michael Hermosillo. The University of Illinois-bound senior has rushed for 1,189 yards and 18 touchdowns.
SVM pick: Ottawa 5-0
Geneseo at
Sterling
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Roscoe Eades Stadium, 1608 Fourth Ave.
Radio: 94.3 FM
NIB-12 West: Geneseo 1-1, Sterling 2-0
Last week: Ottawa 35, Geneseo 14; Sterling 34, Streator 15
Last meeting: 2011, Sterling 35-21
Series streak: Sterling 2
Key to game: The Warriors will key on Geneseo quarterback Luke Snyder, who can burn teams with his arm while also being dangerous running the veer option.
SVM pick: Sterling 3-2
Rock Falls at Mendota
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: 2300 W. Main St., Mendota
Radio: 1240 AM
Big Northern West: Rock Falls 0-4, Mendota 0-3
Last week: Stillman Valley 63, Rock Falls 27; Lutheran 56, Mendota 13
Last meeting: 2010, Mendota 19-7
Series streak: Mendota 4
Key to game: The Rockets are still looking for first win in the BNC, and they could get it against a former NCIC-mate. Again, the Rock Falls defense has to improve to pull this one out.
SVM pick: Rock Falls 5-0
Winnebago at Oregon
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Landers-Loomis Field, 210 South 10th St.
Radio: 95.7 FM
AP Rank: Winnebago No. 8 3A
Big Northern West: Winnebago 2-1; Oregon 0-3
Last week: Winnebago 28, Genoa-Kingston 7; Byron 41, Oregon 14
Last meeting: 2011, Winnebago 14-12
Series streak: Bago 1
Key to game: The Indians’ offense can do a little bit of everything, which will be a big test for the Hawks’ defense.
SVM pick: Winnebago 5-0
Erie-P’town at Kewanee
When: 7:45 p.m. Friday
Where: 1101 E. Third St., Kewanee
Big Rivers: Same as overall
Last week: E-P 56, Hall 26; Newman 42, Kewanee 0
Last meeting: 2011, Kewanee 22-0
Series streak: Kewanee 1
Key to game: The Panthers have been rolling and need this win to become playoff eligible before finishing the season with tough games against Newman and St. Bede.
SVM pick: EP 4-1
Fulton at
Bureau Valley
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: 9154 County Road, Manlius
Radio: 1390 AM, 98.1 FM
Big Rivers: Same as overall
Last week: St. Bede 35, Fulton 18; Bureau Valley 34, Riverdale 6
Last meeting: 2011, Fulton 34-14
Series streak: Fulton 1
Key to game: Fulton has stayed close to the top Big Rivers teams, but has not been able to pull off the upset. BV wants a fifth win before playing Amboy and Morrison to wrap up the season.
SVM pick: BV 5-0
Hall at
Newman
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Roscoe Eades Stadium, 1608 Fourth Ave.
Radio: 102.7 FM
AP Rank: Newman
No. 2 3A
Big Rivers: Same as overall
Last week: Erie-Prophetstown 56, Hall 26;
Newman 42, Kewanee 0
Last meeting: 1st meeting
Key to game: The Comets have scored 95 points the last 2 weeks, with Nick Rude emerging as one of the area’s finest running backs. Hall has struggled on defense.
SVM pick: Newman 5-0
Riverdale
at Morrison
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Bud Cole Field, 643 Genesee Ave., Morrison
Big Rivers: Same as overall
Last week: Bureau Valley 34, Riverdale 6; Amboy 24, Morrison 12
Last meeting: 2011, Morrison 32-20
Series streak: Morrison 11
Key to game: The Mustangs need a win to get back on track after losing two games in a row for the first time since 2004. The Rams are dressing fewer than 20 players.
SVM pick: Morrison 5-0
St. Bede at Amboy
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Harbor, 11 East Hawley St.
Radio: 101.7 FM
AP Rank: Amboy rec. votes 2A
Big Rivers: Same as overall
Last week: St. Bede 35, Fulton 18; Amboy 24, Morrison 12
Last meeting: 2011,
St. Bede 37-13
Series streak: St. Bede 2
Key to game: The Clippers turned a corner with a big win at Morrison last week. They need to avoid any letdown to keep pace with Newman.
SVM pick: Amboy 5-0
Eastland-P.C. at South Beloit
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: 245 Prairie Hill Rd., South Beloit
AP Rank: EPC tied for 8th in 2A
NUIC Northwest: EPC 5-0, South Beloit 1-5
Last week: EPC 28, East Dubuque 0; Galena 28, South Beloit 6
Last meeting: 2011, EPC 42-6
Series streak: EPC 7
Key to game: The Wildcatz are coming off of big wins over Lena-Winslow and East Dubuque. They need to avoid a letdown against a struggling South Beloit squad.
SVM pick: EPC 5-0
Forreston at
West Carroll
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: 500 Cragmoor St., Savanna
AP Rank: Forreston
No. 7 in 1A
NUIC Northwest: Forreston 4-1, West Carroll 2-3
Last week: Lena-Winslow 34, Forreston 20; Dakota 32, West Carroll 18
Last meeting: 2011, Forrreston 60-12
Series streak: Forreston 2
Key to game: The Cardinals will be looking to take out their frustrations from their first loss on the Thunder. West Carroll has to convert turnovers into points.
SVM pick: Forreston 5-0
Polo at
Lena-Winslow
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
Where: 516 Fremont St., Lena
AP Rank: Lena-Winslow No. 4 1A
NUIC Northwest: Polo 1-4, Lena-Winslow 5-1
Last week: Polo 56, Pecatonica 6; Lena-Winslow 34, Forreston 20
Last meeting: 2011, Le-Win 54-0
Series streak: Le-Win 1
Key to game: Polo earned its first NUIC Northwest win last week against Pecatonica and now will take a crack at one of the top teams in Class 1A.
SVM pick: Le-Win 5-0
AFC at
Orangeville
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: 201 S. Orange St., Orangeville
NUIC Upstate: AFC 2-3, Orangeville 1-4
Last week: Aquin 42, AFC 12; Stockton 59, Orangeville 14
Last meeting: 2011, AFC 32-21
Series streak: AFC 1
Key to game: This is a must win for the Raiders’ playoff hopes. Orangeville has to stop backs Andrew LeFevre and Jake Kaecker.
SVM pick: AFC 5-0
Stockton at Milledgeville
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Floyd Daub Field, 100 East 8th Street
Radio: 100.3 FM
AP Rank: Stockton
No. 1 1A
NUIC Upstate: Stockton 6-0; Milledgeville 1-4
Last week: Stockton 59, Orangeville 14; Milledgeville 39, Durand 20
Last meeting: 2011, Stockton 48-6
Series streak: Stockton 3
Key to game: The Missiles snapped a 25-game losing streak last week, and their reward is a matchup with the No. 1 ranked team in 1A. Another win is improbable here, but keeping it close for a half would continue to boost the Missiles’ confidence.
SVM pick: Stockton 5-0
