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Predicting every Illinois high school football game in the Peoria area for Week 8 of 2023

Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star
·7 min read
Dunlap head coach Brett Cazelet talks with his team as they fall behind Washington in the second half of their Week 7 football game Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Dunlap High School.

Here are the predictions for Week 8 of the high school football season around the Peoria area.

All games are scheduled for Friday unless noted. Last week, the picks in this space went 12-4 (.750) and are 93-30 (.756) for the season.

Big 12

  • Peoria Notre Dame (5-2, 4-2) at Normal Community (7-0, 6-0), 7 p.m.: PND led Champaign Centennial at halftime before losing 40-20 last week. The Irish, who saw their three-game win streak end, went for 287 total yards (187 rushing, 100 passing) in the loss. Normal, which has allowed 72 total points this season, got rushing touchdowns by Matthew Owens, Lucas Drengwitz and Tommy Davis last week. The Ironmen gave up 42 points to Peoria High in a Week 4 win. Last season, Normal won 19-13. Normal Community 42, PND 34

  • Richwoods (2-5, 1-5) at Danville (3-4, 3-3), 6 p.m.: Richwoods got itself in the Big 12 win column last week via a shutout over Manual. All 21 of the Knights' points came in the second half started by Zion Franklin recovering a fumble in the end zone. Richwoods wideout Mason Hawkins added a 23-yard TD catch last week. The Knights forced eight turnovers (five fumbles, three interceptions) against Manual. Last season, Danville won 58-7. Danville needs a pair of wins in the final two weeks to qualify for the playoffs. Danville 28, Richwoods 27

  • Manual (0-7, 0-6) at Urbana (0-7, 0-6), 7 p.m.: Manual saw its three-game win streak against Richwoods snapped last week. The Rams were able to turn Richwoods over five times (four fumbles, one INT), while holding them scoreless in the first half. Manual WR London Tolliver moved to QB and rushed for 41 yards on eight carries. Urbana, which didn't have a varsity season in 2021, has scored 40 total points this season, while surrendering 67.6 points a game. These teams didn't play last season. Manual 42, Urbana 13

  • Normal West (6-1, 5-1) at Peoria High (5-2, 5-1), 7 p.m.: Peoria High's lone regular season loss in 2022 came to Normal West. The Lions rolled up 556 total yards (417 passing, 139 rushing). QB Tino Gist threw for five TDs and 417 yards last week, spreading the wealth to six receivers including five scoring. RB Maliek Ross contributed big on the ground with 114 yards and two TDs. The Lions also had six sacks. West is riding a four-game win streak, averaging 50.8 points. Last season, Normal West won 30-6. Peoria High 42, Normal West 34

Week 7 takeaways: Which teams are primed for the IHSA playoffs?

Mid-Illini

  • Morton (7-0, 5-0) at Dunlap (6-1, 4-1), 7:30 p.m.: This is the second straight week where two of the Mid-Illini's top teams square off. The Potters used three TDs from Seandon Buffington (two rushing, one kickoff) last week. Dunlap has given up 61 total points but managed 139 total yards (86 passing, 53 rushing) in Week 7. Morton is 7-0 for the first time since 2002. Last season, Dunlap won 35-34. Morton 27, Dunlap 20

  • Metamora (5-2, 3-2) at East Peoria (2-5, 1-4), 7:30 p.m.: Metamora put up a season-high 56 points last week, getting 423 total yards (322 rushing, 101 passing). QB Nick Rhoades threw three TDs last week, while Jaiduan Cranford rushed for 107 yards and three TDs. East Peoria had 181 total yards (106 rushing, 75 passing) and scored 14 points in last week's loss. Last season, Metamora won by forfeit. Metamora 56, East Peoria 12

  • Canton (0-7, 0-5) at Washington (6-1, 5-0), 7:30 p.m.: Washington got a pair of defensive TDs last week, getting pick-6s from Garrett Cox and Noah Bell-Lorentzen. The state-ranked Panthers have given up 22 total points including two shutouts during conference play this season. Canton has scored 53 total points including a season-high 20 points in Week 4. Last season, Washington won 41-0. Washington 49, Canton 0

  • Pekin (2-5, 1-4) at Limestone (1-6, 1-4), 7:30 p.m.: Pekin ended its five-game losing streak by scoring a season-high 22 points last week. Dragons RB Isaac Thomas scored two TDs along with a two-point conversion in the victory. Peyton Hess added another score for Pekin. Limestone is on a four-game loss streak, having scored 13 total points and getting shutout twice. Last season, Pekin won 49-6. Pekin 28, Limestone 6

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Heart of Illinois

  • Eureka (4-3, 2-1) at Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington (2-5, 1-2), 7 p.m.: Eureka, which needs a win for a playoff berth, avoided a shutout last week with a fourth-quarter TD by John McDonald from Dawson Dorn. Ridgeview's wins came by scoring a combined 101 points. Last season, Colfax won 21-7. Eureka 28, CR/L 7

  • Tremont (0-7, 0-3) at Downs Tri-Valley (7-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Tremont has scored 20 total points this season, including getting shutout four times. Tri-Valley has scored at least 28 points in every game this season including 57 points in Week 3. Last season, Tri-Valley won 40-6. Tri-Valley 41, Tremont 8

  • Deer Creek-Mackinaw (3-4, 1-2) at El Paso-Gridley (5-2, 2-1), 7 p.m.: Dee-Mack, which ended a four-game losing streak last week, needs a victory to become playoff eligible. EP-G has a dynamic QB in Kamren Schumacher, who ran 212 and three TDs last week. Last season, El Paso-Gridley won 13-8. EP-G 35, Dee-Mack 22

  • Fieldcrest (3-4) at Alton Marquette (1-5), 12 p.m., Saturday: Fieldcrest RB Eddie Lorton (244 yards, 3 TDs) has helped the Knights get back into playoff contention. Marquette has lost four in a row, getting blanked in three of those games. These teams didn't play last season. Fieldcrest 48, Alton Marquette 22

Illini Prairie

  • Pontiac (1-6, 1-6) at Illinois Valley Central (0-7, 0-6), 7 p.m.: IVC was shutout for the first time last week, getting 136 passing yards by Brady Ward and Sam Griggs' 81 receiving yards. Pontiac has lost four in a row and had 180 total yards (109 rushing, 71 passing) last week. Last season, IVC won 14-0. IVC 27, Pontiac 15

LincolndLand

  • Abingdon-Avon (2-5) at Elmwood/Brimfield (2-5), 7 p.m.: Elmwood flexed its muscle in the run game last week, scoring seven TDs and rushing for 326 yards. After a 0-5 start, the Tornadoes have bounced back with wins in the last two weeks. These teams didn't play last season. Elmwood/Brimfield 48, Abingdon-Avon 22

  • Lewistown/Valley/Cuba (1-6, 0-5) at Farmington (6-1, 5-0), 7 p.m.: Farmington suffered its first loss last week, scoring only 15 points but tallied 318 total yards ( 216 rushing, 102 passing). LVC snapped an 18-game losing streak last week with a season-high 36 points. Last season, Farmington won 57-8. Farmington 56, LVC 0

  • Rushville-Industry (2-5, 2-4) at Princeville (4-3, 4-2), 7 p.m.: Princeville, which needs a win to clinch a playoff berth, got a big game from QB Logan Carruthers (325 yards, TD) and WR Jake Williams (141 yards, TD). R-I is 1-3 on the road this season. These teams didn't play last season. Princeville 42, Rushville-Industry 28

8-player

  • Peoria Heights (2-5) at Alden Hebron (2-5), 7 p.m.: Heights ended a losing streak thanks to 261 total yards. Hebron has lost three in a row. These teams didn't play last season. Peoria Heights 47, Alden Hebron 20

  • Peoria Quest (0-7) at Polo (6-1), 7 p.m.: Peoria Quest matched a season-high with 22 points last week. Polo is averaging 51.5 points during its four-game win streak. These teams didn't play last season. Polo 48, Quest 28

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Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Expert predictions for every Week 8 HS football game in Peoria area