After tying the school record with a 10-2 season and third-ever trip to the state quarterfinals, the Dixon Dukes will lean on their experience in the trenches to build on that this fall.

We take a look at the top players in the Big Northern Conference, a team-by-team breakdown, key games and predict the order of finish.

Who steps up next for Dixon? Will Morrison transfer Rylan Alvarado lead Newman's backfield? Can Sterling revitalize its run game? What is next for Rock Falls under its new coach? Here are six questions in the Sauk Valley area this season as practice kicks off.

Dixon footballers look to continue their winning ways with the first day of practice Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.

Here is a look at the top softball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

J.T. Pedelty, Eddie Carifio and Sam Ramirez react to the IHSA football schedule getting released in the latest Friday Night Drive podcast, and break down games in DeKalb and La Salle counties, along with the Sauk Valley region

The IHSA just released its statewide football schedule for the 2025 season. Here is a game to watch each week in the Sauk Valley coverage area.

Yorkville, Dixon and Woodstock North were among the schools participating in a 7 on 7 football tournament on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Princeton will invite 16 teams to participate in Saturday’s 7-on-7 and Linemen’s Challenge at Bryant Field and Little Siberia, including Dixon, EPC, Ottawa, LaSalle-Peru and Sandwich.

Dixon's Katie Drew won the 102nd Ladies Lincoln Highway golf tournament individual title on Saturday at her home course. Dixon's Reese Dambman also helped Timber Creek win a third straight team title as she competed in her first Lincoln Highway.

Here is a look at the top baseball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

Dixon's Aaron Conderman and Dean Geiger finished 1-2 in their hometown race at the 25th annual Reagan Run 5K on Saturday. Melissa Winchester was the top female finisher.

Here is a look back at the top boys basketball players in the Sauk Valley area for the 2024-25 season.

As an encore to a stellar junior season when he scored more points than any Dixon player, Darius Harrington obliterated his own scoring record on his way to taking over the top spot on the Dukes’ all-time scoring list. He is the 2024-25 SVM Player of the Year.

The Illinois Coaches Association released its All-State softball teams in each class, with Dixon’s Bailey Tegeler and Sterling’s Mya Lira recognized in Class 3A. Newman's Gianna Vance and Lucy Oetting were also among the area selections.

After a hot start on offense Colt Armbrust rode the lead to toss a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to help St. Francis to a 14-0 victory over Dixon to advance to the sectional finals.

Sprinters Levi Milder and Brady Anderson and two relay wins led Morrison to the Class 1A state title, while Sterling earned medals in three relays in the 2A meet.

After losing 11 straight games to close the regular season, Dixon got back in the win column when it mattered most. The Dukes beat Sterling 10-2 on Saturday to win the Class 3A Freeport Regional title.

Jake Whelan’s well-placed hit broke open a tie game and helped No. 5 Dixon snap an 11-game losing streak and knock off No. 3 Sycamore 3-1 on Thursday at Hustle Field.

The Sycamore High School baseball team met Dixon Thursday in a Class 3A regional semifinal matchup at Freeport High School.

Dixon and Belvidere North meet in the Class 3A Regional softball semifinal Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Dixon. Belvidere took the win 6-0.

Sterling scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to come back and beat Dixon 3-2 on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field in Page Park.

Dixon hosts Sterling Friday, May 23, 2025. Sterling won 3-2 by scoring three in the top of the seventh.

A day after DeKalb scored 17 runs, Allie Abell tossed a three-hitter and became the first pitcher to shutout the Barbs this season in a 4-0 win for Dixon on Tuesday.

The Dixon softball team traveled to DeKalb Thursday to face the Barbs in a nonconference matchup.

Here is a look at some of the top athletes and relays to watch from the Sauk Valley area competing in 1A and 2A at this weekend's state track and field meet.

Sauk Valley Community College freshman Katie Drew, a Dixon grad, placed fifth at the NJCAA DII Women's National Championship golf tournament to earn All-American first-team honors. She is the first women's golfer to earn All-American honors for the Skyhawks.

The Dixon girls soccer team traveled to Sycamore Thursday to take on the Spartans.

Four different players scored goals Wednesday as Dixon defeated Sterling 5-0 on Senior Night at A.C. Bowers Field.

Area teams compete Wednesday, May 14, 2025, for a chance to go to state at the girls Class 2A track Sectionals at Sterling High School

The Oregon girls won their first Big Northern Conference track & field title since 2019 on Thursday as a strong start in the field events carried over to the track.

Dixon hosts the girls BNC track meet Thursday, May 8, 2025.

The big hit eluded Dixon on Tuesday as the Dukes fell 5-2 to North Boone for the second straight day. Mistakes were also costly in a matchup of two teams toward the top of the Big Northern Conference standings.

Dixon came through with a big hit in the top of the seventh, then escaped a jam in the bottom of the inning Tuesday to defeat Oregon 5-4 in a Big Northern Conference game at Oregon Park West.

Dixon hosts North Boone Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in baseball. North Boone took the win 5-2.

Local teams compete Friday, May, 2, 2025, at Sterling's Night Relays.

Dixon travels to Oregon in a soccer match Thursday, May 1, 2025. Oregon took the win 2-1.

In a roller coaster of a game, Rock Falls watched a five-run lead disappear before scoring three times in the top of the seventh inning for a 10-8 win over Dixon on Tuesday.

Rock Falls heads into Dixon Tuesday, April 29, 2025 for a baseball game. Rock Falls took the win 10-8.

Dixon was out-hit by Oregon in their Big Northern Conference game Thursday at Veterans Memorial Field, but scored four runs after a two-out dropped third strike in the third inning to pull out a 5-3 victory.

Dixon hosts Oregon Thursday, April 24, 2025, in baseball. Dixon took the win 5-3.

Freshman Jenna Harrison had five goals and an assist to lead the Dixon Duchesses past North Boone 9-0 at A.C. Bowers Field on Tuesday for their first Big Northern Conference win of the season.

Dixon hosts North Boone in girls soccer Tuesday, April, 15, 2025. The Duchesses made it taxing on the Vikings, beating them 9-0 in a shortened game.

Dixon took top honors at the 45th Annual Gebhardt-Worley Invitational at Oregon High School on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Forreston finished second.

Jake Zepezauer went 3 for 3 with two RBIs as Dixon held off Genoa-Kingston in a 10-7 Big Northern Conference win on Monday.

Genoa-Kingston junior Elizabeth Davis homered at Reynolds Field for the third straight season, and was also strong in the circle in the Cogs’ 7-1 victory over Dixon on Monday in a Big Northern Conference game.

Dixon and Genoa-Kingston softball meet on the diamond Monday, April 7, 2025. G-K took the win 7-1.

Dixon won a quad meet at Oregon High School on Thursday, April 3, 2024 beating Forreston, Oregon, and Dakota.

Taking advantage of aggressive at-bats and defensive miscues, Sterling rolled to a 15-0, four-inning win over Sauk Valley rival Dixon on Tuesday afternoon.

Dixon heads to Sterling for a softball game Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Sterling took the win 15-0 in 4 innings.