Rock Falls seeks more leadership from key players after a promising start against IVC led to another loss. Dixon's Landon Knigge had a five-TD first quarter, and Sterling is looking for another bounceback in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Dixon and Newman each got their sixth wins after earning road victories. Oregon fell to Stillman Valley, Morrison and Fulton won and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

A Brady Hartz kick return and Ryan Gebhardt field goal were Sterling's only points in a 31-10 loss at Geneseo. The Maple Leafs beat Sterling for the first time since 2014

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'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.

Starters and reserves alike were making plays for Sterling in a 55-13 Homecoming win over Alleman on Friday night at Prescott Memorial Field.

Sterling took the win over Alleman 55-13 Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

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.

Despite the loss, Sterling showed what it can be capable of as a team after taking Geneseo to the wire in a 25-11, 17-25, 27-25 setback Tuesday night.

Sterling hosts Geneseo in volleyball Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Geneseo took the match in three sets.

Sterling and Rock Island face off in the pool at the Duis Center Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

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

Sterling posted its second shutout of the season after a 48-0 Western Big 6 Conference home win over Galesburg as the Golden Warriors rushed for five touchdowns and threw for two more

The Galesburg Silver Streaks traveled to Sterling to take on the Warriors at Prescott Memorial Field at Roscoe Eades Stadium, September 26, 2025.

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.

Sterling hosts Alleman Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in volleyball action. Alleman won 25-23, 16-25, 25-21.

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.

Milledgeville and Polo face off in the Battle for the Blacktop game this Friday as each team is 3-0. No. 3 Newman heads to Orion, Dixon heads to North Boone, Oregon hosts Rock Falls and Sterling is at 3-0 UT. Here is a rundown of this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

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, Sterling and Rock Falls meet at Centennial Park in Rock Falls Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, for the Twin Cities Triangular cross country meet.

Sterling QB Brady Berlin threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns, but Moline running back Marc Cary's 45-yard TD run with a second left before halftime was a backbreaker for Sterling in a 36-20 loss to the Maroons.

Sterling football hosts Moline Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Roscoe Eades Field. Moline won 36-20.

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.

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.

Sterling started strong and made plenty of plays defensively in a 47-0 win over Chicago Urban Prep in Friday's home opener

The Lions of Urban Prep traveled to Sterling to take on the Warriors at Prescott Memorial Field at Roscoe Eades Stadium, September 5, 2025.

Sterling hosts Rochelle for a boys soccer match Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.

After falling behind early in the second half, Rochelle scored four goals in the final 28 minutes to defeat Sterling 4-1 in their nonconference game Thursday night at Roscoe Eades Stadium.

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.

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.

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.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Aug. 24-30 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Sterling fell at Metamora, Oregon's Cooper Johnson had 192 yards rushing and three TDs in a win, Draven Zier had five touchdowns and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

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.

A look at the Western Big 6 Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

In a postseason-like atmosphere, Dixon pulled away for a victory in three sets at Sterling to open the season on Tuesday.

Sterling hosts Dixon in Volleyball on August 26, 2025 at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Several area golf teams including DeKalb, Sycamore, Kaneland and Sterling, competed Monday in the Mark Rolfing Cup at Kishwaukee Valley Country Club in DeKalb.

The 2025 girls volleyball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Sauk Valley coverage area.

Coming off a record-setting junior year, Sterling kicker and multi-sport athlete Ryan Gebhardt looks to be a reliable player once again for the Golden Warriors this season. He also balances kicking with the fall soccer season.

Sterling goes on the road to Metamora on Aug. 29, 2025, to start the season.

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.

Sterling players hit the field Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, for the first day of football practice.

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

Sterling graduate Mason Hubbard is set to compete at the 2025 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at Trump National Doral in Miami this Sunday. 'This is another great spot to see where my game sits amongst players all over the world.'

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.

He answers to the nickname “Squirrel.” Wyatt Cassens, all of 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds as a junior, perhaps does not strike the most intimidating pose in football pads. Sterling coach Jon Schlemmer, though, said one would be wise to not underestimate his senior defensive end.

Oswego East, Sterling and Glenbard South football teams held a joint practice on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Oswego.