Ty Reynolds - Shaw Local News Network correspondent

Sterling never trailed in its Western Big 6 game against rival Geneseo on Thursday at Musgrove Fieldhouse, using big runs in the first and third quarter to pull away for a 61-40 victory.

Dixon scored the first 21 points of the game and used a suffocating defense to defeat Kaneland 35-16 on Wednesday night at Lancaster Gym.

Faith Christian used a 16-0 third-quarter run to pull away from Quad Cities Christian for a 73-49 victory Tuesday in their Northern Illinois Christian Conference rivalry game in Grand Detour.

Sterling used big runs to close the first half and start the second half to break open a close game and pull away from Geneseo for a 77-47 win in their Western Big 6 opener Friday at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Anna Propheter scored a career-high 22 points, and Newman built a big lead with smothering defense and a hot offensive start and never looked back in an 82-14 TRAC East win over Mendota on Thursday night in Sterling.

Kewanee overcame an aggressive Dixon defense to pull out a 66-62 road win in Tuesday night's nonconference game at Lancaster Gym.

The loss of back-to-back impactful senior classes the last two seasons means the Dixon Dukes are looking for a lot of new players to step up this season.

The experienced Dixon Duchesses have adjusted their playing style this season to account for a lack of size on the interior. They are off to a 5-0 start.

Newman used a huge first-half run to pull away from Fulton in a 64-27 nonconference win over its former Three Rivers Conference foe Tuesday in Sterling.

In a defensive slobberknocker Saturday, Amboy’s offense found the gear it needed in the second half to defeat Milledgeville 18-8 in their Illinois 8-Man Football Association state semifinal at The Harbor.

Dixon showed no quit until the very end against Coal City. Newman's seniors left their mark, and three area 8-man teams are in the semifinals in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Polo fell behind after an early turnover, but bounced back and got the ground game going in soggy conditions for a 46-14 win over St. Anne in their I8FA quarterfinal in Polo.

After Dixon erased a 14-point deficit to take the lead, Coal City answered with three long pass plays to pull out a 49-42 victory in the teams' Class 4A second-round playoff game Friday night at A.C. Bowers Field.

Polo grabbed momentum early, then Hiawatha fought back. But the Marcos had the answers in the second half and went on to defeat the Hawks 36-14 in their Illinois 8-Man Football Association first-round playoff game Saturday in Polo.

Landon Knigge rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and Dixon scored points on seven of its 11 drives while pitching a shutout to defeat Woodstock North 45-0 in their Class 4A first-round playoff game Friday night at A.C. Bowers Field.