Glenbard East senior Sam Walton got a late start to football, but the two-way starter has grown into a disruptive force on the defensive line as the Rams prepare for a Week 9 showdown with Riverside-Brookfield for the Upstate Eight East title. That and more in Bob Narang's notes.

Yorkville set for Week 9 showdown at Bolingbrook for the Southwest Prairie West title, Oswego offense and its big-play threat gets bounce-back game, Oswego East's spectacular play in defeat and Plano gets in the win column in Joshua Welge's Kendall County football notebook.

With just one regular-season game remaining, both Genoa-Kingston and Sycamore face win-and-your-in games, but both play teams that are 7-1 this year. Here’s a look at where each DeKalb County team sits heading into Week 9.

Since the beginning of his sophomore year, Carmel quarterback and Nebraska recruit Trae Taylor has posted over 6,200 total yards while accounting for 63 touchdowns. A highly recruited player from an early age, Taylor is raising the standard for his team and himself.

Noah McKitrrick's field completed a wild fourth-quarter comeback for Kaneland against La Salle-Peru, Genoa-Kingston rolled past Rock Falls, while Sycamore, DeKalb and Hiawatha lost. We look back at Week 8.

Newman had its highest scoring game in at least 29 years after beating a scrappy Kewanee team 79-32. ‘It was just a weird game overall.’

Senior lineman and Lindenwood recruit Jaylen Torres has been an anchor in the trenches throughout his four-year varsity career at St. Francis. Through seven games this year, Torres has 8 sacks and 7 TFLs while posting 9 pancake blocks on the offensive line.

His father played college football at Bowling Green. His older sister is a triathlete at TCU and his older brother wrestles at North Carolina. Now? It's senior linebacker/running back Foley Calcagno's turn to leave his legacy at IC Catholic Prep.

A look at the Week 8 football games around the NewsTribune area.