Seven of the state's remaining 26 undefeated teams reside in the Class 2A field and along with some other daunting teams the draw looks as deep as any classification. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

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.

Monmouth-Roseville controlled the line of scrimmage, and Newman made too many mistakes in a 40-7 road loss to the Titans to close the regular season

After dropping the first set to visiting Hall on Tuesday, Newman took control in the middle set before holding off the Red Devils is a 23-25, 25-15, 25-21 Three Rivers East win on senior night.

Newman scored a school record 79 points on Saturday against Kewanee. Jake Whelan scored Dixon's first defensive TD this season, Sterling scored 31 unanswered against Quincy and Morrison reclaimed the Wooden Shoe in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Newman volleyball takes on Hall Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. The Comets won in three sets.

Newman football rolled to a 79-32 win over Kewanee Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Newman had its highest scoring game in at least 29 years after beating a scrappy Kewanee team 79-32. ‘It was just a weird game overall.’

Erie-Prophetstown showed its depth can get the job done, holding on to beat Newman 25-22, 25-23 in Three Rivers East Conference girls volleyball action.

Newman volleyball plays host to Erie-Prophetstown on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. Erie-Prophetstown won the match in two tight sets.

Sterling has a big game at Geneseo, Dixon heads to Winnebago riding four straight shutouts, Newman plays at upstart Riverdale and Rock Falls faces winless IVC in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Newman built a big lead in the first set, then had to come back to win the second set in a 25-18, 25-19 win over Mendota in their Three Rivers East match Tuesday.

Dixon's defense continues to have eye-popping numbers after a fourth straight shutout in the Big Northern Conference. Sterling is on a roll heading into a big matchup, and Matthew Blackert helped get Newman back on track in this week's Sauk Valley notes.

Not often does a team score touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in one game, but Matthew Blackert did that in one half for Newman on Saturday in a 46-7 home win over Mercer County.

Newman hosts Mercer County Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, for week 6 football action. Newman won 46-7.

In an atmosphere reminiscent of the postseason, Dixon scratched out a 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 win over a scrappy Newman squad in their nonconference rivalry match Thursday.

Dixon hosts Stillman Valley, Sterling hosts Alleman, Rock Falls heads to Winnebago and Newman faces Mercer County on Saturday in this week's Sauk Valley football slate. Here are previews for all 14 games.

In a battle for the cure, Newman and Dixon's volleyball squads face off at the net Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. The teams wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Local High School teams gather at Hoover Park in Sterling for the Rock River Run, held on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Rockridge won in the trenches in a 26-6 win over Newman in a state-ranked battle in the Three Rivers Rock. Cullen Schwigen had a rushing score just before halftime and threw two long TDs to help the Rockets pull away in the second half

Newman never trailed after getting ahead early in the first set of a 25-20, 25-13 win over visiting Mercer County in a Three Rivers Conference crossover match Wednesday in Sterling.

Newman, Erie-Prophetstown, Mendota and Orion compete Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in a girls golf meet at Emerald Hill.

Newman welcomes Mercer County for a volleyball match-up Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Newman wins in straight sets.

Maurice De La Cruz had Sterling's best rushing game in almost three years, Dixon was dominant again, Newman's Matthew Blackert led the Comets to 4-0 and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes for Week 4.

Matthew Blackert, 'the Harmon Bullet,' ran for over 170 yards and three touchdowns in No. 3 Newman's 40-14 win at Orion on Friday night.

Sterling’s Briar Ivey, a Newman Central Catholic High School graduate, received an out-of-state scholarship to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Newman bounced back from an opening-set loss to defeat Kewanee 21-25, 25-19, 25-17 in a Three Rivers West match Tuesday night in Sterling.

Sterling quarterback Brady Berlin and receiver Jack Saathoff added to their highlight reels Friday against Moline. Newman's Asher Ernst is enjoying his new role and Dixon bounced back against Rock Falls in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Newman volleyball takes on Kewanee Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. Newman won in three sets.

Newman bested E-P Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Roscoe Eades Field in Sterling by a score of 49-14.

Newman's Asher Ernst had two interceptions and Rylan Alvarado had two rushing scores as the two Morrison transfers made big plays in the No. 3 Comets' 49-14 win over Erie-Prophetstown on Saturday.

Teams from Amboy, Dixon, La Salle-Peru, Mendota, Fieldcrest, Morris, Princeton, Hall, and Newman all competed during the Gary Coates Invitational cross country meet on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 at Zearing Park in Princeton.

Newman High School held their homecoming parade Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. The Comets will take on Erie-Prophetstown in football Saturday afternoon.

After falling behind early in the opening set, Newman roared back to win and then carried that momentum to a big lead in the second set in a 25-23, 25-13 win over Oregon on Thursday.

Sterling opens Western Big 6 Conference play against Moline, Dixon hosts Rock Falls, Newman hosts E-P on Saturday and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football previews.

Newman volleyball hosts Oregon Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. Newman won in straight sets.

Newman Central Catholic announced its Hall of Fame Class for 2025, with an induction ceremony to be held on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Hall of Fame inductees will also be announced at the 1 p.m. Newman football game on Saturday, Oct. 4th.

Sterling girls golf took second at the Geneseo invite, Lucas Porter earned medalist for Rock Falls, Dixon volleyball improved to 7-1 and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Despite the loss, Dixon running back Landon Knigge got plenty of props from Bryon after rushing for 204 yards. Newman got to 2-0, Sterling rolled at home, Rock Falls showed fight and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Oregon’s Daniel Gonzalez placed eighth individually, while Anya Anaya paced the Oregon girls runners at the 30-team Oregon Cross Country Open on Saturday.

Mendota took an early lead, but Newman responded and went on to win 35-18 on Friday in Mendota.

Dixon's massive game at No. 1 Byron highlights the 15 matchups in the Sauk Valley area in Week 2. Newman heads to Mendota, Sterling has a nonconference home game, Rock Falls hosts North Boone and more this Friday.

Princeton coach Andy Puck was happy to catch Newman early in the volleyball season. He knows they have a young team that will only improve by the next time they meet. The Tigresses caught the Comets this time, scoring a 25-19, 25-14 win Tuesday at Prouty Gym

Newman's Evan Bushman made key throws in a big win over Princeton, Dixon rolled at Rockford, Milledgeville stepped up in a big win over Amboy and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Newman scored twice in the fourth quarter to snap a tie and defeat Princeton 28-14 in the teams' season opener on Friday night at Roscoe Eades Stadium in Sterling.

Newman Central Catholic H.S hosts Princeton H.S. in a non-conference football game at Sterling H.S, on Friday, August 29, 2025.

Overcoming earlier injuries, George Jungerman has answered the bell as a versatile athlete for Newman football. 'I’ll play anything for my team to help out.'

Join hosts JT Pedelty, Eddie Carifio and Sam Ramirez as they preview Week 1 in Illinois high school football in DeKalb and La Salle counties, as well as the Sauk Valley, for the Friday Night Drive podcast

Here is a look at the Week 1 football matchups in the Sauk Valley area.

The wait is over. The many, many questions that teams have for the 2025 season are about to begin getting answered. Steve Soucie takes a look at the games to watch in the first week of the IHSA football season.