This was one of the weeks when is was hard to get motivation to do a column. Could it be from a bad head cold, writer’s block or burnout from 627 trick-or-treaters on Halloween? Sadly it is from emotional distress after seeing my beloved Rochelle Hubs lose a playoff game.

Oregon freshman Anya Anaya is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. She placed 11th at the regional and wrapped up the season strong with a personal record at the sectional.

Caden Considine rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and Byron scored 36 straight points in the second quarter and went on to a 56-15 win over Oregon in a Class 3A first-round game Friday.

The Byron Tigers rolled over the Oregon Hawks 63-15 in 3A football playoff action on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts for round one of the IHSA playoffs, including Oregon, Dixon, Woodstock North, and Amboy

Class 3A's North Bracket is chock full of impressive programs setting up some very early titanic matchups. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 3A Playoffs.

Fulton beat Lena-Winslow to win the championship at the Stillman Valley Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

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.

Runners from area high schools compete at the 1A Winnebago Regional on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the Levi and Ester Fuller Memorial Forest Preserve.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Oct. 24, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator, Genoa-Kingston, Mendota and Manteno

Rock Falls picked up a win on Senior Night at Tabor Gym, defeating Oregon 25-16, 25-20 on Wednesday in the Big Northern Conference finale for both teams.

Rock Falls volleyball won in straight sets against Oregon Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

Oregon advanced to the Class 1A Byron Regional final on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 by defeating North Boone 6-3. Oregon will face top-seeded Byron on Friday at 6.

Oregon got its fifth win as Jakobi Donegan ran for 140 yards and two TDs. EPC fell to Lena-Winslow, West Carroll handed South Beloit its first loss and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Oregon recovered a Winnebago fumble in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to edge the Indians 20-18 on Friday, Oct. 17, at Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Oct. 17, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator, Princeton, Mendota and Wilmington

Teams from 38 area high schools converged on the Shady Oaks Golf Club east of Amboy for the 52nd Annual Columbus Day Invitational on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. Johnsburg's Grady Smith finished first in the boys race and Winnebago's Molly Webb was the winner of the girls race.

Stillman Valley held Oregon scoreless in the second half en route to a 21-25 win in Big Northern Conference action on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 on the Cardinals' home field.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Oct. 10, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator, Princeton, Mendota and Wilmington

The Oregon Hawks hosted the Faith Christian Eagles at Oregon Park West on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Oregon won 6-1 as Aiden Hammer and Steven Guardado each scored two goals.

Dixon jumped out to big leads in both sets, then pulled away down the stretch after Oregon runs to win their Big Northern Conference match 25-18, 25-13 on Thursday night at Lancaster Gym.

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.

Dixon and Oregon square off at the net Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Oct. 3, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator, and Mendota

Dixon built on its halftime lead Monday against Oregon, as senior Jack Redell netted a hat trick in a 4-1 victory at A.C. Bowers Field.

Oregon travels to Dixon for a soccer match Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Dixon took the win 4-1.

Dixon had a punt return touchdown for its first score, then opened the second half with a kickoff return touchdown on the way to a 56-0 win over Oregon in their Big Northern Conference game Friday night at Landers-Loomis Field

Dixon scored early and often in a 56-0 rout over the Oregon Hawks at Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Sept. 26, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator, and Mendota

No. 3 Newman heads to Rockridge in a matchup of two undefeated teams on Friday. Dixon heads to Oregon, Sterling hosts Galesburg and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Oregon scored one goal in each half en route to a 2-1 win over Pecatonica on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 at Oregon Park West. Steven Guardado and Eduardo Munoz Garcia each scored a goal while Brian Wallace had two assists for the Hawks.

The Oregon High School Marching Band performs during halftime of the Hawks' football games. The Marching Hawks performed at the last two home games, on Sept. 6 and Sept. 14, 2025.

The Oregon Hawks downed the Rock Falls Rockets 49-0 at Landers-Loomis Field on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Sept. 19, including Oregon, Dixon, Rock Falls, Amboy, Streator, Coal City, and Mendota

The Byron Tigers boosted their record to 3-0 with a 35-7 win over the Oregon Hawks on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 at Everett Stine Stadium in Byron.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Sept. 12, including Oregon, Dixon, Rock Falls, Amboy, Streator, Mendota, Reed-Custer and Hall

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.

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.

One hundred and 68 runners took part in the boys varsity race at the Oregon Cross Country Open on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Oregon Park West.

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.

Sixteen teams competed in the Oregon Volleyball Tournament at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Here are match photos from Erie-Prophetstown, Oregon and West Carroll.

Dixon was runner-up to Stockton after falling in the championship match at the Oregon Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.

Rock Falls tied North Boone late before falling 21-14. Oregon beat Rockford Lutheran, Forreston won, Eastland-Pearl City beat Morrison 22-0, results in 8-man and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup

Oregon jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and led 40-0 at the half en route to a 40-8 win over Rockford Lutheran in the Hawks' home opener at Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Sept. 5, including Oregon, Dixon, Amboy, Streator and 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.

Oregon hosted Rochelle on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 at Silver Ridge Golf Course. Rochelle won the dual 171-188 as Ian Metzger earned medalist with a 39. Jackson Messenger led Oregon with a 43.

Twelve teams hit the fields on Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Oregon-Stillman Varsity Soccer Tourney held at Stillman Valley and Oregon Park West.