Friday Night Drive

St. Francis sophomore defensive back Javonte Williams, who had two interceptions, two pass breakups and four tackles in a win over DePaul Prep, is the Week 8 Friday Night Drive Team of the Week MVP. Here is his Q&A with Sports Editor Joshua Welge. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

With regular season finales this week, here’s where Illinois Valley football teams stand in their quest to make the IHSA and the I8FA playoffs. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

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. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

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. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Montini is 8-0 and eyeing historic achievements, while Joliet Catholic finds itself in unfamiliar territory with an Orange Division title game against Providence looming. Niles Notre Dame defeated Leo and snapped a five-game losing streak, setting up a pivotal clash with Marist. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Join hosts Josh Welge and Joel Boenitz as they preview Week 9 in the western suburbs in Illinois high school football. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Dundee-Crown's home game against Prairie Ridge on Friday was suspended because of 'a situation in the area' before resuming Saturday. That, plus info on last week's KRC game between Johnsburg and Woodstock in the McHenry County football notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Glenbard East senior Sam Walton got a late start to football, but the two-way starter has grown into a disruptive force on the defensive line as the Rams prepare for a Week 9 showdown with Riverside-Brookfield for the Upstate Eight East title. That and more in Bob Narang's notes. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Glenbard East senior Sam Walton got a late start to football, but the two-way starter has grown into a disruptive force on the defensive line as the Rams prepare for a Week 9 showdown with Riverside-Brookfield for the Upstate Eight East title. That and more in Bob Narang's notes. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2025 high school football season Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Yorkville set for Week 9 showdown at Bolingbrook for the Southwest Prairie West title, Oswego offense and its big-play threat gets bounce-back game, Oswego East's spectacular play in defeat and Plano gets in the win column in Joshua Welge's Kendall County football notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

With just one week left in the regular season, here's where Herald-News area teams stand in their quest to make the IHSA postseason. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Bradley-Bourbonnais, Bishop McNamara and St. Anne earned wins recognized statewide, Manteno held on for one of the most unbelievable Rumble on Route 50 finishes of all time and more in this week's Daily Journal 2-Minute Drill. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

With just one regular-season game remaining, both Genoa-Kingston and Sycamore face win-and-your-in games, but both play teams that are 7-1 this year. Here’s a look at where each DeKalb County team sits heading into Week 9. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Richmond-Burton celebrated coach Mike Noll's 300th win Friday night as the Rockets beat Marengo to clinch the Kishwaukee River Conference championship. Noll's coaching career started at McHenry in 1988, when he was 25 years old. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Nine CCL/ESCC football teams including Mount Carmel, Montini, Nazareth and Brother Rice have won six or more games and secured automatic bids to the IHSA playoffs. Several teams including St. Rita, Loyola and St. Patrick are still in the mix with a week left. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Two top five teams stumbled in Week 8 leading to a significant scramble of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Check out the shuffled rankings here: Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Two top five teams stumbled in Week 8 leading to a significant scramble of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Check out the shuffled rankings here: Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they review what they saw in Week 8 of Illinois high school football and go over the two latest IHSA playoff proposals. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

There is only one week left to earn a spot in the postseason, and plenty of Suburban Life area teams still are battling for a spot. Here are where teams stand heading into Week 9. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Senior running back Braden Curran has stepped in at QB for Hall, Princeton Casey Etheridge broke another record, L-P has suffered close losses and more in the BCR/NewsTribune football notebook. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

There is only one week left to earn a spot in the postseason, and plenty of Suburban Life area teams still are battling for a spot. Here are where teams stand heading into Week 9. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Who's going to the playoffs, and who'll be playing their last week of football? Here is where team's playoff hopes stand heading into the final week of the regular season. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Here’s more from the Times area’s sidelines in Week 8 of the 2025 football season, including looks at standout players from Seneca, FCW and Ottawa. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Here’s more from the Times area’s sidelines in Week 8 of the 2025 football season, including looks at standout players from Seneca, FCW and Ottawa. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .