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.

Dixon hosts Coal City on Friday in a rematch of last year's state quarterfinal. Newman is at 10-0 El Paso-Gridley on Saturday, Milledgeville and Polo host, while Amboy and West Carroll hit the road in Round 2 of the playoffs for Sauk Valley teams.

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EP fell to Aurora Christian in the first round of the Class 2A IHSA football playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, by a score of 37-12.

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.

Here is a look at the seven IHSA first-round playoff football matchups in the Sauk Valley area and what to watch for. Dixon and Sterling would face each other in Class 4A if they both win.

Sterling got a fifth win after beating Rock Island 42-14. EPC got its fifth win, Rock Falls fell just short to Rockford Lutheran and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Princeton scored on all five of its first-half drives - two set up by interceptions - and the Tigers rolled to a 48-0 rout of playoff-bound Erie-Prophetstown.

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Erie-Prophetstown and Princeton finished their regular football seasons Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Photos by Jessie Ottens -Shaw Local News Network

Dixon hosts Genoa-Kingston, Newman faces Mon-Rose in a battle of 7-1 teams, Sterling heads to Rock Island, Rock Falls (0-8) faces Rockford Lutheran (0-8), Polo (7-1) hosts South Beloit (7-1) and more in this week's Sauk Valley slate.