I will do a season review next week! And I will continue doing this every week as long as any of the teams in these conferences are alive in the playoffs. Without further ado...
WB6
Moline 33, Sterling 21 - Great game and a worthy title decider. Sterling will make some noise in the playoffs, but if Moline can clean up their penalties and consistently make extra points they have a good shot at a real run.
Geneseo 36, Rock Island 22 - Every bit as important as the game above and well done to the Leafs to fight through some adversity. Must feel great to get the monkey off their backs and put it on Rocky.
Galesburg 46, UTHS 35 - What a shootout this was, and what a nice feeling for Galesburg, who will likely be able to get to 3-6. Meantime, this is the pits for the Panthers, who had hopes to make the playoffs this season and now look likely to finish at 1-8.
Quincy 65, Alleman 13 - Alleman actually had a lead this game!... Didn't last long.
I was 2-2 (missed on Geneseo and Galesburg).
This week:
Moline over Geneseo - Geneseo is good and playing well. Moline is rolling.
Galesburg over Alleman - The Streaks will have a two-game win streak (cymbal crash) to end the year.
Quincy over Rock Island - Rock Island is playing for its playoff life, but I don't know that they have the speed or physicality to match up with Quincy (and they'd need one or the other). Quincy itself has quite a bit to play for, as they could host a playoff game with a win. Would be very nice for them to potentially avoid East St. Louis.
Sterling over UT - I expect Sterling to be snorting mad and take out some anger on the Panthers, while the Warriors will be hoping to bring someone from the Chicago suburbs over to western Illinois.
TRAC
Monmouth-Roseville 28, Erie/Prophetstown 6 - Nice win for the Titans to clear up a playoff berth in a year that has been somewhat disappointing. Meanwhile, this has set up EP for a do-or-die.
Morrison 56, LeRoy 7 - Awesome performance by the Mustangs, who look like they're fired up for a run toward the second season.
Orion 53, Sherrard 7 - That's more like it for the Chargers, who seem to know what's coming to them. Tough way to end the season for Sherrard, who have shown a lot of promise.
Rockridge 42, Kewanee 14 - A return to form of sorts for Rockridge, who had been looking a little sluggish in my opinion.
Princeton 48, Bureau Valley 0 - Exactly what we expected from both teams; if anything, a little underwhelming from the Tigers.
Newman 30, Mendota 27 - Newman discovered their offense! What a great game, and what a heartbreak for the Trojans, but no shame in this loss in Sterling.
Hall 42, St. Bede 27 - It's a long season and it looks like it's getting to St. Bede. But what a wonderful win for Hall, who look like favorites to make the playoffs after a 1-8 finish last year.
I was 5-2 (missed on MR and Hall).
This week:
Rockridge over Orion - Not necessarily as much of a given as we might think, but Rockridge seems too good for Orion.
Ottawa Marquette over Sherrard - Rough way to end up for Sherrard, but I think Marquette will sweep in and beat the Tigers.
Morrison over Erie/Prophetstown - I think EP is, in a vacuum, a better team than Morrison. But momentum means a lot in high school football, and at home and coming off a win, I think Morrison wins this play-in game.
Princeton over Monmouth-Roseville - Upset alert for the unbeaten Tigers, who make a long trip to Monmouth, but they're just so stinking good!
Newman over Kewanee - Not a blowout by any means but I think Newman is better than Kewanee.
Hall over Bureau Valley - Good lord, are the Red Devils feeling happy, and I think they will get in this week. Good for them.
St. Bede over Mendota - Upset alert here too... this game will go a long way in telling us how the Bruins will do in the playoffs.