Friday Night Drive

St. Rita and Marmion reached the three-win mark and became the 15th and 16th teams from the Chicago Catholic League to clinch playoff eligibility. Here's where all 24 CCL football teams stand in the IHSA playoff picture entering Week 7. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

With the expanded playoff field in effect this season, three of the four Daily Chronicle-area 11-man teams are in. We look at what the path for all five football-playing schools, including eight-man Hiawatha, looks like to qualify, secure a home game or achieve a bye. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI...

Week 7 brings another slate of crossover games for the Southwest Prairie Conference, while Sandwich and Plano look to build off their recent successes in Kishwaukee River Conference action. Here are picks and previews for each game around the Record Newspapers coverage area. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode incl...

DeKalb and Sycamore each take on the leaders of their respective conferene, Kaneland plays a resurgent La Salle-Peru team that gave it all it could handle last year, plus looks at Genoa-Kingston and Hiawatha. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Bishop McNamara heads into a key conference clash with Wheaton Academy, Bradley-Bourbonnais looks to bounce back with a nonconference matchup, and more in the Daily Journal's Week 7 football previews. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Downers Grove North is at York and Downers Grove South hosts Hinsdale South in big West Suburban Conference showdowns, plus Fenwick plays Brother Rice in a matchup of defending state champs. Here are previews and picks for all the Week 7 games from around the Suburban Life area. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode...

In a school well-known for its football accomplishments, Batavia girls flag football harbors similar aspirations. The Bulldogs responded from a blowout season-opening loss by winning four of their last six games and entered the postseason with a winning record. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-genera...

The Chicago Public League's 39 game schedule this weekend could be impacted greatly by a potential strike over unpaid work by the league's officials. Officials haven't been paid for the last three weeks and won't resume work until that issue is resolved. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated con...

Grant Georgas is well versed in Downers Grove North football, the son of a former quarterback and assistant coach. Now Georgas' own star is shining as he comes off a 250-yard game. That, and notes on Wheaton Academy, Wheaton Warrenville South and Hinsdale Central from Josh Welge. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode...

Hosts Josh Welge and Steve Soucie preview Week 7 in Illinois high school football. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Brother Rice battles Fenwick, Mount Carmel hosts Providence, St. Patrick takes on Joliet Catholic and Loyola faces surging St. Ignatius. Here are notable Chicago Catholic League games to watch in Week 7 of the 2026 IHSA football season. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

The excercise of projecting the playoff field has become more complicated and harder to get a clearer picture with additional teams get ample chances to prove they can still get into the field. Steve Soucie projects all eight clases of the IHSA playoff field here. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-gen...

After starting 0-5, Plano finally got a taste of victory with a 47-0 homecoming win over Harvard, powered by Braylon Schmidt's big night on the ground. That, Oswego's pursuit of the SPC West title and Sandwich's looming KRC clash with Woodstock in Skyler Kisellus' football notes. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode...

The girls flag football season is underway, with Romeoville, Lincoln-Way East and Minooka earning high sectional seeds as games begin today. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

A plumbing problem at Prairie Ridge's newly renovated stadium is just one example of how what can go wrong has gone wrong for the winless Wolves, who went 10-1 last year. Despite their struggles, coach Mike Frericks remains positive. Plus, more in the Northwest Herald notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode i...

Join hosts Josh Welge, Skyler Kisellus and Matt McGowan as they preview Week 7 in the western suburbs in IHSA football. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Brother Rice claimed a big win over Mount Carmel that shook up a few spots in the top five. Here are the complete Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Montini's Israel Abrams, Loyola's Matthew Lee, Brother Rice's Sam Holcomb and St. Francis's Jadon Wilson are just some of the standout individual performers from Chicago Catholic League teams during Week 6 of the 2026 IHSA football season. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Marmion's late-game dramatics helped the Cadets earn their third win, St. Francis finally completes a comeback victory, and Kaneland proves adept at flipping the script after halftime. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Join hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald as they go Inside the Huddle and review what they saw during Week 6 of Illinois high school football. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

The La Salle-Peru football team learned from a close loss in Week 2 to pull out a close win in Week 6, Bureau Valley had its best offensive and defense performance of the season, plus more in the NewsTribune/BCR football notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

The Kankakee football team will forfeit its Sept. 18 win over Lincoln-Way West due to an ineligible player appearing in the game, a violation the Kays self-reported to the IHSA. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Joliet Central makes history by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1976, Morris puts up huge numbers against Ottawa and more in the Herald-News football notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Here’s more from the Week 6 sidelines across The Times coverage area, including notes on Marquette, Streator, Dwight and Ottawa. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

Dundee-Crown senior football player Alejandro Gonzalez leads by example on and off the field. The veteran offensive/defensive lineman has been named a recipient of the Chicago Bears' Latino Heritage Month Youth Leader award. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.