Coal City's Logan Natyshok rushed for 272 yards and five touchdowns while the Coalers defense allowed Sterling just 100 total yards in a 49-7 victory in Saturday's Class 4A playoff first-round game in Coal City.

Trailing 22-20 and facing the end of its season, Morris scored the final five points of the match to pull out a 21-25, 25-9, 25-22 victory over Sterling in the Class 3A Sterling Regional final and earn its first regional title since 2015.

Morris takes the Class 3 volleyball regional title in a thrilling three sets against Sterling on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

Sterling seized control and never let go against Freeport in their Class 3A Sterling Regional semifinal collecting a 25-10, 25-16 win to advance to Thursday's regional final

Dixon's defense continues to help set the tone heading into the playoffs. Newman was challenged by Mon-Rose to end the regular season, and Polo's 70 points were the most the Marcos scored since at least 1935 in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Sterling beat Freeport in two sets in the class 3A volleyball semi-final Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sterling High School.

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.

Sterling hosted their Cross Country final at Hoover Park on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

Sterling got a fifth win after beating Rock Island 42-14. EPC got its fifth win, Rock Falls fell just short to Rockford Lutheran and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Dixon hosts Genoa-Kingston, Newman faces Mon-Rose in a battle of 7-1 teams, Sterling heads to Rock Island, Rock Falls (0-8) faces Rockford Lutheran (0-8), Polo (7-1) hosts South Beloit (7-1) and more in this week's Sauk Valley slate.

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.

A quick touchdown drive to close the first half propelled Sterling to a dominant second half Friday night, as the Golden Warriors pulled away from Quincy for a 38-17 Western Big 6 win at Roscoe Eades Stadium.

Sterling football hosts downstate rival Quincy on the gridiron Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Sterling took the win 38-17.

Although a shorthanded Sterling lost to Galesburg on Thursday night, the Golden Warriors still gained valuable experience as freshman Kylie Shank led the team in kills.

Sterling has a big home game against Quincy, No. 5 Newman hosts Kewanee on Saturday, No. 10 Dixon heads to Streator, Fulton and Morrison face off for the Wooden Shoe trophy and more in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Sterling volleyball lost in straight sets against Galesburg at home on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

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.