Ty Reynolds - Shaw Local News Network correspondent

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.

Trailing 22-20 and facing the end of its season, Morris scored the final five points of the match to pull out a 21-25, 25-9, 25-22 victory over Sterling in the Class 3A Sterling Regional final and earn its first regional title since 2015.

Sauk Valley rolled to a 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 win over Kishwaukee on Sophomore Night, remaining undefeated on its home court for the second straight season and finishing off a second consecutive 10-0 record in Arrowhead Conference play.

Sterling seized control and never let go against Freeport in their Class 3A Sterling Regional semifinal collecting a 25-10, 25-16 win to advance to Thursday's regional final

Dixon's defense continues to help set the tone heading into the playoffs. Newman was challenged by Mon-Rose to end the regular season, and Polo's 70 points were the most the Marcos scored since at least 1935 in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Senior Landon Knigge rushed for a single-game school-record 447 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Dixon to a 58-20 win over Genoa-Kingston in the regular-season finale Friday night at A.C. Bowers Field.

Rock Falls picked up a win on Senior Night at Tabor Gym, defeating Oregon 25-16, 25-20 on Wednesday in the Big Northern Conference finale for both teams.

Dixon rallied to win the opening set, then slowly pulled away in the second to win at Winnebago 25-22, 25-18 and claim the outright Big Northern Conference title on Tuesday night.

A quick touchdown drive to close the first half propelled Sterling to a dominant second half Friday night, as the Golden Warriors pulled away from Quincy for a 38-17 Western Big 6 win at Roscoe Eades Stadium.