A proposal has been put forth to the IHSA to expand the playoff field by 96 teams and introduce a flexed regional scheduling concept to ease the pressures for teams having difficulties putting together a full football schedule

Join hosts Josh Welge and Joel Boenitz as they preview Week 8 in the western suburbs in Illinois high school football

Jeremiah Smith barely saw the field as a junior, but after throwing himself into the weight room the Oswego East senior has emerged as a key part at left tackle of an offensive line that's helped pave the way to a 6-1 start. That and more in Joshua Welge's Kendall County notes.

Congratulations to these 23 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 7 of the 2025 high school football season

In a week that seemed to be a less challenging one for ranked teams, that did not come to fruition as several ranked teams were upset. Check out the shuffled rankings here:

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they review Week 7 in Illinois high school football and start looking ahead to the playoffs.

Plainfield Central scored on the game's opening drive and never trailed in a 22-8 win over Yorkville in Monday's Danville Sectional semifinal

Marli Smrz threw three touchdown passes, highlighted by a 48-yard TD to Janell Adams, as unbeaten Willowbrook shut out Naperville Central 28-0, while Sarahi Carlos threw a scoring pass in overtime to Gracie Del Toro as West Aurora beat Oswego East 8-6 in the sectional semifinals.

Five CCL/ESCC football teams have secured automatic playoff bids through seven weeks of the IHSA regular season. Nazareth, Fenwick and Brother Rice all improved to 6-1, joining Mount Carmel and Montini in the postseason. Several five and four-win teams are still in the hunt.

There are only two weeks left to earn a spot in the playoffs, and there are plenty of Kendall County area football teams still battling to get in. Here are where teams stand heading into Week 8.

The CCL/ESCC had a number of fantastic matchups this week further proving the power possessed by the strongest conference in the state. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 6.

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 for Week 7!

Woodstock's Caden Thompson threw four touchdowns, Matthew Cress had three total TDs, including a kick return of 82 yards, and the Blue Streaks knocked off Sandwich 42-26 Friday for their fifth win of the season.

Jasiah Watson had a monster game with 253 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries, powering Oswego East past previously undefeated Yorkville 28-17 in the Southwest Prairie West game.

Brady Kozlowski had two sacks, forced a fumble and broke up a pass to help lead Minooka to a 10-3 win over Oswego

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 76 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

Oswego East hosted Yorkville Friday night in high School football action.

Avaya Kittling-Turner took the pitch from Danielle Stone and took in the game-winning score in overtime after scoring the tying touchdown at the end of regulation, as Oswego East rallied from two scores down to beat St. Charles North 14-13 for the regional championship.

After four scoreless quarters, Yorkville outlasted Oswego in overtime of Thursday's IHSA Kankakee Regional title game, walking off with a 2-1 win for the program's first-ever regional championship.

Get ready for Week 7 with previews and picks for all the games from around the Kendall County area.

12 new or returning teams joined the projection this week but week over week the projection was fairly stable. Steve Soucie's latest playoff projection can be found here.

Oswego's Jazmin Hurston intercepted a Joliet West pass with 27 seconds to go in Tuesday's IHSA Kankakee Regional semifinal game, sending the Panthers into Thursday's regional championship.

Yorkville closed out Tuesday's IHSA Kankakee Regional semifinal game on a 20-0 run to beat the host Kays 26-13 and advance to Thursday's regional title game.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Josh Welge as they preview Week 7 in Illinois high school football and take a look at what the brackets could look like come playoff time

Sandwick senior Nick Michalek is on pace for his third 1,000-yard season – and possibly becoming the program's career rushing leader – after a huge game against Richmond-Burton. That, plus more on Oswego East, Yorkville and Oswego in Joshua Welge's football notes.

Join hosts Josh Welge and Joel Boenitz as they preview Week 7 in the western suburbs in Illinois high school football

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 6 of the 2025 high school football season

It was another strong week for the teams at or near the top of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings as three new or returning teams joined the group. Check out this week rankings here:

There are only three weeks left to earn a spot in the playoffs, and there are plenty of Kendall County area football teams still battling to get in. Here are where teams stand heading into Week 7.

The CCL/ESCC had a number of fantastic matchups this week further proving the power possessed by the strongest conference in the state. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 6.

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 for Week 6!

Jaxson Hansen and the rest of the Woodstock defense held strong late against Plano, defeating the Reapers 20-14 to capture the Blue Streaks' fourth win of the fall.

Mariano Velasco caught a touchdown pass and had a pick-6, Dekker Zelensek ran for a pair of long touchdowns, Ammar Banire rushed for two more and Kaleb Stumpenhorst drilled a 50-yard field goal as Oswego celebrated homecoming with a 48-6 victory over Joliet West.

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 6 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

Get ready for Week 6 with previews and picks for all the games from around the Kendall County area.

As we move past the half way point, the edges off the playoff field start to become clearer. But a few small upsets can cause quite an adjustment which bore out after Week 5's games. Steve Soucie's latest playoff projection can be found here.

Join hosts Josh Welge and Joel Boenitz as they preview Week 6 in the western suburbs in Illinois high school football.

Yorkville senior linebacker Caleb Viscogliosi, playing alongside young brother Dillon for the first time since 9U football, is a key part of a Foxes' defense that has helped lead the team to a 5-0 start. That, plus notes on Sandwich and Plano in Josh Welge's 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 5 of the 2025 high school football season

Previously ranked teams in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings went 22-3 collectively in Week 5 as the top teams officially start to separate themselves from the pack. Check out this week rankings here:

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald as they break down what happened in Week 5 in Illinois high school football

More undefeated teams fell and statewide the losses are stacking on a lot of programs you aren't used to see them with. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 5.

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 for Week 5!

Here are Gary Duncan's photos from Friday's football game between Oswego and Yorkville.

TJ Lewis ran the ball 31 times for 197 yards as Bolingbrook handed Oswego East its first loss of the year in a 32-7 victory.

Jack Beetham threw a touchdown and ran for one as the Foxes won at Oswego 16-6 in a matchup of unbeatens to extend their best start since 2019

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 5 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

Get ready for Week 5 with previews and picks for all the games from around the Kendall County area.

Although Week 5 isn't filled with games pairing undefeated teams, there's more than enough contest of intrigue to keep an eye on. Steve Soucie takes a look at some of the top games of Week 5.

An unexpected wrinkle was introduced into the projection this week, changes of the enrollment number to over 300 schools by the IHSA, as such some things moved around. Steve Soucie breaks down how the playoff field projects after the fourth week of games.