Join hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge, along with reporter Joe Aguilar, as they break down Week 1 and look ahead to Week 2 in Illinois high school football on the Friday Night Drive podcast.

The IHSA's changes to the multiplier rules altered the way that the 2025 playoffs are likely to look. And the first regular season projection reflected that fact. Steve Soucie's first playoff projection of the season predicts how all eight classes of the field will look.

Brooke Ekwinski connected with Kayla Kersting for a score in the back of the end zone, giving Yorkville a thrilling 27-26 overtime win over visiting Geneva in Tuesday flag football action.

Here are Sean King's photos from Tuesday's flag football game between Yorkville and Geneva.

Yorkville sophomore Jayden Ruth makes a game-saving interception in his varsity debut, Sandwich's depth on defense tested in Week 1 loss and Oswego East's fast start in season opener in Joshua Welge's Kendall County football notebook.

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 1 of the 2025 high school football season

Five new teams broke into the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings based on strong performances in Week 1.

Here are results and recaps from every Week 1 game in the Record newspapers coverage area, plus photo galleries from select games.

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week. Vote for your favorite players today!

Oswego junior quarterback Drew Kleinhans – son of the team's offensive coordinator – was masterful in his varsity debut, throwing for two touchdowns and running in a third in the first half of a 31-15 win at Naperville Central

Archer Cechowicz announced his return with authority, rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries in Ottawa’s 35-6 season-opening victory over Plano.

High school football scores from across Illinois for Week 1 of the 2025 season

Oswego East ran the opening kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown and never looked back en route to a convincing season-opening win over Joliet West

Oswego football hosted Naperville Central Friday night in the first game of the year for both teams.

The 2025 girls flag football season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Here are previews and picks for all the Week 1 football games around the Record Newspapers coverage 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.

Here is a look at the Southwest Prairie Conference

Dekker Zelensek was a late starter to football, with good reason – his mom didn't allow him to play at a young age. He played soccer growing up, and didn't start football until the eighth grade. Now he is expected to be Oswego's lead running back this season.

Braden Behringer will never put up the gaudy passing stats of a quarterback running a different offense, but do not be fooled. He can sling it. Behringer, though, does so much more as Sandwich quarterback in the wing-T offense that will not show up on his personal stat line.

Oswego East's Jasiah Watson was limited to five games last season because of mononucleosis and an injury. But the senior running back and third-year varsity player has the juice back for a big finale. 'I know what I'm capable of, and I want to prove what I'm capable of.'

Speed and quickness. Sure, TJ Harland has those skills in spades like any prototypical tailback. But what really excites the Yorkville senior? It’s blocking. “I love the physicality." Harland will be key as the Foxes aim to return to the playoffs this fall.

A look at the Kishwaukee River 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.

Here are Gary Duncan's photos from Oswego East football's practice on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.

Here are Gary Duncan's photos from Yorkville football's practice on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.

Dontrell Young does admit that the thought to give up football briefly crossed his mind – but the speedy Oswego junior safety and three-time state track medalist is back on the field after a meniscus tear cost him all but two games last fall.

Here are Gary Duncan's photos as Oswego held its first fall football practice on Monday, August 11, 2025.

The Illinois high school football season gets underway Monday with the start of preseason practices. Here are some of the top storylines to watch in Kendall County this season.

As Plano coach Kyle Tutt has made the long daily drive from Streator to Plano, he found words in the title of a Drew Green country music song to inspire his team. “Get Up and Get It.” Condensed down to “GUAGI” for football motivational purposes, it’s been a Reapers' rallying cry.

Nick Michalek is a two-time 1,000-yard rusher who will surely be Sandwich's lead back in its wing-T this fall. But he treats every day like a kid fighting for a job. "You can't ever think your spot is safe." Michalek is one of the seniors who will lead Sandwich this fall.

Yorkville football coach Dan McGuire has had few quarterbacks who can throw it like Jack Beetham, and Beetham entering his second season as varsity starter is motivated to help the Foxes return the playoffs after missing out last fall. 'We felt like we let our community down.'

The Illinois High School Association released its state-wide 2025 football schedule on Friday. Filling nine-game schedules proved challenging for some of the state's elite programs.

What looks different for the new high school football season? With the IHSA football schedules now out, Steve Soucie looks at the differences for the new campaign.

With the release of the 2025 statewide football schedule, here are the top games to watch in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

If Niko Villacci is throwing a football, chances are Lincoln Ijams is catching it. That checks. Villacci, Oswego East’s senior quarterback, and Ijams, a senior receiver, are going on their third varsity season together. The connection, apparently, goes back way longer than that.

Steve Soucie and Josh Welge preview the 2025 IHSA high school football schedule, including games to watch and more in the latest Friday Night Drive podcast

Teddy Manikas emerged as an all-conference slot receiver for Oswego in his second varsity season last year. Now, as one of just a handful of starters returning from a team that went 9-0 in the regular season, Manikas is ready for an even greater role.

In the 25th annual “Battle of the Big Butts” Lineman Challenge, host West Aurora walked away with top team honors among 24 teams after winning three team events for the second consecutive season.

Oswego football hosted a joint practice with Kaneland on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Oswego High School.

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.