Jalen Carter's high school football has been a roller coaster. But the transfer quarterback seems to have found comfort early at Kaneland. Plus, a battle for the top of the DuKane Conference between St. Charles North and Batavia, and optimism staying high at Burlington Central.

Jordan Cheng led Marian Central to the Chicagoland Christian Conference girls golf tournament title, while Woodstock North's Gabby Schefke broke the school record for career aces. Plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Burlington Central’s offense isn’t humming like it did a year ago, when it featured the Fox Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, but the Rockets are still winning. Plus info on Huntley, Woodstock and Marengo in the McHenry County Week 4 notebook.

Cary-Grove's Jameson Tenopir wins the Warren Bill Dawson Invite, Jacobs' Lennox Szymonik sets a course record at Kaneland, Prairie Ridge girls volleyball places third at the Wheaton Classic, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Prairie Ridge stayed perfect with a win over Burlington Central, Cary-Grove held off the hot passing game of Huntley to move to .500, Marengo stayed undefeated with a win against Woodstock, plus results of every Week 4 game in the McHenry County area.

Fullback Jake Wagler rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and Prairie Ridge capitalized on two early turnovers en route to a 28-7 win over host Burlington Central on Friday night in a Fox Valley Conference showdown between undefeated teams.

Prairie Ridge travels to Burlington Central for a Fox Valley Conference football game on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at Burlington Central High School.

Jacobs volleyball rallied for an FVC win against Crystal Lake South, Johnny Geisser led Crystal Lake Central's boys golf team to a win over McHenry, Cary-Grove girls tennis topped Crystal Lake Central, and more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Crystal Lake Central senior Alexis Hadeler almost recorded a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs while freshman Jordyn Johnson came up with clutch shots of her own for the Tigers in a 26-24, 25-19 win over Burlington Central on Thursday.

We take a look at the football games around the Kane County Chronicle area heading into Week 4 of the 2025 season.

Here are previews and picks for all the Week 4 games around the McHenry County area.

Prairie Ridge volleyball won both of its pool matches at the Wheaton Classic, Richmond-Burton boys soccer beat Woodstock North in penalty kicks, Woodstock North co-op girls swimming beat Cary-Grove co-op, and more in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge and Jacobs boys soccer opened Fox Valley Conference play with wins, plus more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

St. Charles North running back Carsen Durante knows his role is to do whatever the team needs. And early into the season, he's been running wild. Plus, more on some other big-time rushing performances from across the area and Geneva's growing confidence despite a 1-2 start.

Adelaide Bruns tied a school record with 12 aces as Johnsburg's volleyball team beat Plano in two sets. Plus more volleyball, boys soccer, golf and tennis results in Monday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Burlington Central senior Tyler Samaan played his final six holes 4-under par to finish with a 66 and the title of the Pirate Invitational at Deer Park Country Club in Oglesby on Monday. The Rockets placed second as a team, while host Ottawa finished third.

Teams from Ottawa, Marmion, Burlington Central, Kaneland, Minooka, Streator, L-P, Hall, Dixon, Morris, and Yorkville all competed during the Pirate Invitational boys golf meet on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 at Deer Park Golf Club in Oglesby.

Prairie Ridge's Emaline Foster and Jacobs' Lennox Szymonik captured the Class 2A and 3A titles, respectively, at the First to the Finish Girls Cross Country Invite at Detweiller Park in Peoria. That and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Richmond-Burton and Marengo earned key Kishwaukee River Conference wins, Cary-Grove earned its first win of the season, plus results of every Week 3 game in the McHenry County area.

Miss out on any of the high school football action in McHenry County? Listen to the audio versions of our stories from Week 3 of the 2025 season here

Burlington Central QB Landon Arnold ran for 124 of his 157 rushing yards in the second half as the Rockets took control to beat Jacobs 21-12 Friday night. Jacobs RB Caden DuMelle set the school's all-time rushing record in the loss.

Rylee Rud fired a 77 for a four-shot victory, leading Crystal Lake Central's co-op girls golf team to the championship of the McHenry County Tournament. Plus, boys soccer and girls volleyball in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

We take a look at the football games around the Kane County Chronicle area heading into Week 3 of the 2025 season.

Richmond-Burton and Woodstock North stayed perfect in Kishwaukee River Conference volleyball, Harvard and Woodstock North boys soccer scored shutout wins, and more in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Since she was young, Burlington Central goalkeeper Mackenzie Lorkowski has aspired to play professional soccer. On Aug. 23, Lorkowski announced her commitment to NCAA Division-I Louisiana Tech.

Prairie Ridge's Luke Vanderwiel had a big game to beat Jacobs, McHenry improved to 2-0 with a win over Crystal Lake South, Huntley overcame a 21-0 deficit to top Dundee-Crown, plus results of every Week 2 game in the McHenry County area.

Parker Auxier broke up a fourth-down pass with Cary-Grove driving on the Burlington Central 21-yard line with 23 seconds left as the Rockets held on to beat the Trojans 10-7 in their Fox Valley Conference game Friday night.

The 2025 boys cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area.

The 2025 girls cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area.

We take a look at the football games around the Kane County Chronicle area heading into Week 2 of the 2025 season.

St. Charles North has made it a habit of winning Week 1 in some thrilling ways, and it made no exception with a 36-35 victory over Minooka. Plus, some stellar varsity debuts from new quarterbacks at St. Francis and Geneva, and Batavia being in unfamiliar territory.

The 2025 girls cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Kane County Chronicle area.

The 2025 boys cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Kane County Chronicle area.

Crystal Lake Central's boys and Huntley's girls won the McHenry County Cross Country Meet on Saturday. Cary-Grove's Jameson Tenopir won the boys individual title and Prairie Ridge's Emaline Foster won the girls individual title. And more in Saturday's roundup.

Brian Iossi is expecting big things from a defense he thinks will be one of the best in his years at Burlington Central. After Friday's Week 1 performance, you can see why. Central held Crystal Lake South to 52 yards of offense in a 21-0 shutout.

Burlington Central volleyball defeated Cary-Grove in three sets, Burlington Central's Tyler Samaan led the Rockets boys golf team to an FVC dual win over the Trojans, plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

We take a look at the football games around the Kane County Chronicle area heading into the first week of the 2025 season.

The 2025 high school football season starts Friday for Northwest Herald teams. Here is a look at Week 1 games, including Prairie Ridge at Cary-Grove in a matchup of the past two Fox Valley Conference champions.

Crystal Lake Central boys golf beat Jacobs in a low-scoring match, Prairie Ridge, Dundee-Crown and Burlington Central volleyball opened FVC play with wins, and more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Check out our team-by-team boys soccer preview with top returners, key newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

Richmond-Burton's girls volleyball team began defense of its Kishwaukee River Conference title by beating Johnsburg in two sets, while Crystal Lake Central golfer Giuliana Dickson shined at RedTail Golf Club. Plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Check out our team-by-team girls volleyball preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Kane County Chronicle area.

Check out our team-by-team girls volleyball preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

History tends to repeat itself in regards to the IHSA Football Playoffs, but the new enrollment numbers could lead to a bracket that looks a lot different in the next postseason chase. Here is Steve Soucie's 2025 IHSA football preseason playoff projection.

The 2025 girls golf season is underway. Here are previews of teams from around the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.

Crystal Lake Central co-op girls golf won the Huntley Invite title by 15 shots, Jacobs' boys took first over Hampshire at the Crystal Lake South Invite, plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

A look at the Fox Valley Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

The boys golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Check out our five top boys golfers to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2025 season.

Burlington Central's football team returned to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years last season. The Rockets hope to repeat their success this fall, and massive offensive linemen Zach Hultgren and Aidan Nuno plan to pave the path.