Friday Night Drive

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Russ Hodges and Josh Welge as they preview the Illinois high school football state championship games. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Gianni Casurella does not need to be reminded that Oswego is the surprise participant in this Saturday’s Class 8A final. Doubt is his fuel. "A fire in my soul every day." Oswego's senior defensive tackle is a huge reason behind that defense's dominance during the playoff run. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

A rare regular season rematch in the state title game has emerged here as St. Francis will challenge Providence once again after the Spartans beat the Celtics in Week 5. Steve Soucie previews Saturday's Class 5A title game. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Wilmington will look to win its third state title in the last five years and fourth in program history when the Wildcats face Maroa-Forsyth in Friday's IHSA Class 2A state championship. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Two schools that aren't exactly strangers to state title games grapple here as Montini who is making its 11th championship game appearance faces off against Rochester who has 10. Steve Soucie previews Friday's Class 4A title game. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Byron has tried successfully to simply power its way through all of its postseason foes, Tolono Unity seems to be trying to just simply post a ton of points. Which one will win out? Steve Soucie previews Friday's Class 3A title game. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Can anyone stop the Wilmington freight train? State championship game regular Maroa-Forysth seems poised to give it its best shot. Steve Soucie previews Friday's Class 2A title game between Wilmington and Maroa-Forsyth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

It's not surprising to see the NUIC and WIVC locking horns in the 1A title game, but which conference will claim 2025 1A supremacy? Steve Soucie previews Friday's Class 1A title game. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Join hosts Joel Boenitz and Josh Welge as they preview the Illinois high school football state title games for the west suburban schools. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Having faced off in the regular season, St. Rita and Brother Rice are set to battle in a rematch for the IHSA 7A state championship. Providence and St. Francis, who played each other in the regular season, are also set for a rematch in the 5A state championship. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

The top three teams in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings held strong in the semifinal round, but that's where the stability ended. Check out the new 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 break down what we saw in the Illinois high school football playoff semifinals, talk about Mt. Carmel coach Jordan Lynch's recent comments, and look ahead to the state title games. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Getting a strong sense of deja vu when looking at the lineup of state championships? That's understandable considering the group has collectively made 115 title game appearances previously. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 13. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Ammar Banire had a tying 63-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, and Kaleb Stumpenhorst drilled a 42-yard field goal with a minute left as Oswego rallied to beat Lockport 10-7 in a Class 8A semifinal to advance to state for the first time in 22 years. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

For the second straight week, Wilmington had five touchdown drives of one or two plays, tallying 483 rushing yards in a 41-0 win over El Paso-Gridley in Saturday's Class 2A state semifinal. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Brother Rice QB C.J. Gray ran for four of the Crusaders six rushing touchdowns in a 45-17 win over Downers Grove North in a Class 7A semifinal Saturday. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Fremd's deepest playoff run in program history came to an end at the hands of Mt. Carmel in Saturday's Class 8A semifinal. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Domination. That was the word Lena-Winslow coach Ric Arand used to describe his team’s play in the second half of a 30-16 win over Stockton in the Class 1A state semifinals Saturday. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Luca Florio had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 53-yard TD reception to help lead Montini to the Class 4A state title game with a 47-27 win over Morris Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Here are the championship game pairings for the 2025 IHSA playoffs. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Dario Milivojevic, Tanner Glock and St. Francis forced five Belvidere North turnovers to earn a spot in the Class 5A state championship game against Providence Catholic. The Spartans had lost in the semifinal round the last three years. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Jack Schapendonk's big stop on fourth-and-goal before halftime shifted the tides for St. Rita, who went on to score 26 straight points to secure a 54-34 victory over Batavia to advance to the Class 7A state title game. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Caden Considine showed off what he called "explosive-play ability," rushing for 287 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Byron beat host Richmond-Burton 44-10 in a Class 3A state semifinal game Saturday in Richmond. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Jamen Williams threw for 283 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Jake Thies posted over 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards as Fenwick shocked Nazareth 28-27 in overtime to win its 6A state semifinal and end Nazareth's bid for four straight state championships. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .

Here is the list of scores from semifinal-round games in the IHSA football playoffs. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support .