Predicting every Illinois high school football game in the Peoria area for Week 2 of 2023

Here are the predictions for Week 2 of the high school football season around the Peoria area.

All games are Friday unless noted. Last week, the picks in this space went 16-4 (.800).

Big 12

• Urbana (0-1, 0-1) at Peoria Notre Dame (1-0, 1-0), 11 a.m. Saturday: PND got five rushing TDs in Week 1 led by Jack Hanley's three scores and 130 yards. The Irish scored 20 first-quarter points, holding Manual to 12 points in the season opener. Urbana, which played its first varsity game in nearly two years last week, scored 14 points in a loss to Champaign Centennial. This game will be played at Richwoods Stadium. PND 49, Urbana 8

• Richwoods (0-1) at Springfield Southeast (0-1), 7 p.m.: The Knights managed 127 total yards (80 receiving, 47 rushing) in a Week 1 shutout loss to Bloomington. Richwoods QB Joell Sturdivant (75 passing yards) and Santonio Wallace (sack) were bright spots. Southeast surrendered 50 points to Decatur MacArthur in the season opener. This is a Big 12/Central State Eight crossover meeting. Richwoods 28, Southeast 20

• Champaign Centennial (1-0, 1-0) at Manual (0-1, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Manual scored 12 points last week, getting a receiving TD by Terrence Paige and a rushing score from Namolos Thompson. Centennial QB Kellen Davis threw for three TDs and rushed for two more in a 49-point output during Week 1. This game will be played at Peoria Stadium. Last season, Centennial won 69-20. Centennial 35, Manual 28

• Danville (0-1) at Peoria High (0-1), 6 p.m. Saturday: Peoria High committed five turnovers (four interceptions, one fumble) in last week's loss to Rochester. Look for QB Tino Gist to bounce back with RB Maliek Ross (109 yards, TD) having a good first start. Danville missed an extra point and a two-point conversion in a two-point loss to Chatham Glenwood. This game will be played at Peoria Stadium. Last season, Peoria High won 36-16. Peoria High 48, Danville 34

Mid-Illini drama and more: What we learned about Peoria-area football in Week 1

Mid-Illini

• Canton (0-1) at Coal City (0-1), 7 p.m.: The Little Giants managed 139 totals (84 passing, 55 rushing) in a Week 1 lost against Eureka. Canton forced three turnovers, recovering three fumbles. Coal City managed three points in a season-opening loss to Class 4A fourth-ranked Morris. Canton 27, Coal City 20

• Morton (1-0) at Rochelle (1-0), 7 p.m.: Morton boasted RBs Brett Michel (146 yards, 2 TDs) and Seandon Buffington (200 yards, TD) in a comeback win. Rochelle RBs Grant Gensler (112 yards, 2 TDs) and Erich Metzger (98 yards, 2 TDs) helped a backfield rush for 302 yards in last week's win. Morton 28, Rochelle 13

• Kankakee (1-0) at Washington (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Panthers RB Kainon McQuery scored the game-winning TD as part of a 235 yards and three TDs. Kankakee knocked off reigning Class 5A LaGrange Park Nazareth thanks to Tony Phillips (209 yards, 2 TDs). Last season, Kankakee won 42-0. Kankakee 28, Washington 27

• Metamora (1-0) at LaSalle-Peru (1-0), 7 p.m.: Nick Rhoades had a great debut as the Metamora QB, passing for 134 yards with 2 TDs as well as 82 rushing yards. L-P held East Moline to 14 points last week, while scoring 17 points in each half. Last season, Metamora won 16-8. Metamora 35, LaSalle-Peru 21

• Rock Island (0-1) at Dunlap (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: The Eagles played two QBs last week, getting solid outings from both John Bargen (184 yards, TD) and Mack Sutter (122 yards, TD). Rock Island managed 165 total yards (97 rushing, 68 passing) in a 35-point loss to Minooka. Last season, Rocky won 26-13. Dunlap 41, Rock Island 20

• Galesburg (0-1) at Limestone (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: Limestone, which has lost 14 in row, had 161 rushing yards, but had four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception) in losing to Mt. Zion. The Silver Streaks had tied the game at 14-14 last week before Dunlap scored the next 39. Limestone 21, Galesburg 18

• Aurora Central Catholic (1-0) at East Peoria (0-1), 7 p.m.: Despite giving up 74 points to Streator in Week 1, EP RB David Hartwell rushed for 118 yards and 2 TDs. The Chargers scored 32 unanswered points behind 243 rushing yards, 136 passing yards and 21 first downs. Last season, EP won 32-26. ACC 35, East Peoria 34

• Belleville East (1-0) at Pekin (1-0), 7 p.m.: Pekin's offense was just fine last week, getting big play from Luke Goss (144 passing yards, 2 TDs) and Connor Martin (109 rushing yards) in scoring 19 points. East QB Armon Vinson passed for 413 yards and two TDs in Week 1. Last season, Pekin won 33-22. Pekin 15, Belleville East 14

Peoria football scores: Every score and links to every story from Week 1

Heart of Illinois

• Eureka (1-0) at Shelbyville (1-0), 7 p.m.: Eureka produced big time on offense with the debut of first-year starting QB Dawson Dorn, who threw for 121 yards and 3 TDs to go with a rushing TD. The Rams, who received votes in the Class 2A poll, scored 42 points to open the season. Eureka 35, Shelbyville 24

• Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (1-0) at Deer Creek-Mackinaw (1-0), 7 p.m.: Dee-Mack came out strong on both sides of the ball, getting two sacks by Dane Lowery and 97 total yards (64 rushing, 34 receiving) and 4 TDs by Tyce Albritton. GCMS scored 41 points in its season opener. Dee-Mack 42, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 40

• Fieldcrest (1-0) at El Paso-Gridley (1-0), 7 p.m.: Fieldcrest won its first game since the pandemic-shortened 2021 spring season, making a stop on a two-point conversion. EP-G had 387 rushing yards led by QB Kamren Schumacher (225 yards, 4 TDs). Last season, El Paso-Gridley won 28-0. El Paso-Gridley 42, Fieldcrest 20

• Tremont (0-1) at Warrensburg-Latham (0-1), 7 p.m.: Ty Fuller's 93-yard TD catch was an offensive highlight for the Turks, who saw Brett Bane throw 160 passing yards. Warrensburg limited Downs Tri-Valley to 86 rushing yards, but managed six points on Brayden Hickey's 142 passing yards. Warrensburg-Latham 21, Tremont 18

Illini Prairie

• Illinois Valley Central (0-1, 0-1) at Monticello (0-1, 0-1), 7 p.m.: IVC lost a heartbreaker last week, surrendering a late TD despite getting a huge night from QB Bryce Ratcliff (326 yards, 5 TDs). The Sages threw for 336 yards, but committed three interceptions in a 19-loss. Last season, Monticello won 38-8. IVC 41, Monticello 27

LincolnLand

• Illini West (0-1, 0-1) at Elmwood/Brimfield (0-1, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Trojans had three defensive players — Layne Johnson, Dax Alger and Bo Windish — that recorded eight tackles. Illini West had 211 total yards and scored 14 points, but had three turnovers last week. Last season, E/B won 48-14. Elmwood/Brimfield 34, Illini West 26

• Warsaw West Hancock (0-1, 0-0) at Farmington (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Farmington flexed its offensive muscle, getting six TDs by Lane Wheelwright (4 rushing, 2 passing) and Keauntrey Barnes had 122 receiving yards. WWH scored 28 points in a Week 1 loss. Last season, Farmington won 57-6. Farmington 41, West Hancock 6

• Havana (1-0, 1-0) at Princeville (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Princeville got big play on both sides of the ball from Tayshaun Keiser, who rushed for 163 yards and a TD and caught a score to go with an interception in the season opener. Havana scored 20 points in a season-opening defeat. Princeville 35, Havana 22

8-player

• South Beloit (1-0) at Peoria Heights (0-1), 7 p.m.: The Patriots look to rebound after giving up 62 points last week to Polo. South Beloit held its Week 1 opponent Kirkland Hiawatha to 26 points. These teams didn't meet last season. South Beloit 35, Peoria Heights 14

• Peoria Quest (0-1) at Milledgeville (1-0), 7 p.m.: Quest had a good showing in its program debut, scoring 22 points in a 30-point loss to Danville Schlarman last week. Milledgeville rolled up 345 total yards (227 rushing, 118 passing) and scored 48 points in Week 1. These teams didn't meet last season. Milledgeville 35, Quest 14

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football predictions: Peoria-area high school picks for Week 2