Predicting every Illinois high school football game in the Peoria area for Week 5 of 2023
Here are the predictions for Week 5 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 12-5 (.706) and are 54-23 (.701) for the season.
Big 12
Peoria Notre Dame (3-1) at Jacksonville (2-2), 7 p.m.: PND's ground game continues to be a headache for their opponents, posting 376 yards and five touchdowns in last week's win over rival Richwoods. All season RBs Jack Hanley (194 yards, TD) and Ben Mulles (90 yards, 3 TDs) have been a dynamic backfield duo. The Irish defense has allowed 19 total points in its trio of victories. Jacksonville lost to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Rochester in weeks 3 and 4. These teams didn't play last season. Peoria Notre Dame 42, Jacksonville 20
Normal West (3-1, 3-1) at Richwoods (1-3, 0-3), 7 p.m.: Richwoods, which faces its final five opponents with a combined 7-13 record, went for 187 total yards (131 passing, 56 passing) in Week 4. Quarterback Joell Sturdivant found WR Mason Hawkins for a 45-yard TD as the lone score for the Knights, who are giving up 32 points a game. Normal West averaged 49 points in its three wins but was shut out in its lone loss, to Normal Community. Last season, Normal West won 20-0. Normal West 34, Richwoods 21
Peoria High (2-2, 2-1) vs. Manual (0-4, 0-3), 7 p.m.: Peoria High QB Tino Gist (undisclosed) didn't play last week, giving away to backup Breon Green, who threw for 143 yards and three TDs. Lions RB Maliek Ross showed out against Normal Community with 292 yards and two TDs. Manual QB/KR London Tolliver took back a 98-yard kickoff return for a score last week against Lincoln. The Rams tallied 236 total yards in the loss. This game will be played at Peoria Stadium. Last season, Peoria High won 64-28. Peoria High 56, Manual 24
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Mid-Illini
Metamora (2-2, 0-2) at Canton (0-4, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.: Metamora RB Jaiduan Cranford (95 yards) and WR Kendrick Schaffrin (2 TDs) were the bright spots for the Redbirds last week. Canton QB Ethan Harrison's 50-yard TD pass last week came in a big spot. Last season, Metamora won 54-20. Metamora 48, Canton 27
Morton (4-0, 2-0) at Pekin (1-3, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.: Morton has utilized RB Seandon Buffington (283 yards, 3 TDs) in staying undefeated while averaging 37.3 points a game. The Dragons have been shut out in the last two weeks, having scored 33 total points this season. Last season, Pekin won 14-7. Morton 34, Pekin 8
Washington (3-1, 2-0) at Limestone (1-3, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.: Washington's defense put the clamps down last week, allowing 114 total yards and forcing two turnovers. The Rockets scored six points off 152 total yards (101 passing, 51 rushing) last week. Last season, Washington won 49-0. Washington 40, Limestone 6
Dunlap (4-0, 2-0) at East Peoria (2-2, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Eagles have allowed only 27 total points this season, while QBs Mack Sutter and John Bargen each threw two TDs in Week 4. Joe Clark's 85-yard kickoff return for a TD last week helped EP match its win total from 2022. Last season, Dunlap won 49-0. Dunlap 34, East Peoria 6
Heart of Illinois
Deer Creek-Mackinaw (2-2) at Eureka (2-2), 7 p.m.: Look for Dee-Mack's offense to recover after back-to-back losses, scoring 14 points in each of those defeats. Eureka RB Mason Boles continues his strong comeback season with 97 rushing yards and a TD in Week 4. Last season, Eureka won 21-0. Dee-Mack 21, Eureka 20
Tremont (0-4) at Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington (1-3), 7 p.m.: Tremont, which uses QB Brett Bane, looks to shed its offensive struggles, having scored 14 total points in four weeks. The Ridgeview defense is allowing 33.5 points including 80 points in the first two weeks. These teams didn't play last season. Ridgeview 28, Tremont 8
Heyworth (3-1) at Fieldcrest (2-2), 7 p.m.: Fieldcrest got 55 rushing yards from RB Eddie Lorton and 46 receiving yards by WR Ejay Johnson last week. Heyworth scored 28 and 41 points, respectively the last two weeks against Tremont and Dee-Mack. These teams didn't play last season. Heyworth 24, Fieldcrest 15
Illini Prairie
Fairbury Prairie Central (2-2, 2-2) at Illinois Valley Central (0-4, 0-4), 7 p.m.: IVC used WRs Sam Griggs (78 yards, TD) and Cade Jackson (38 yards, TD) in last week's meeting with state-ranked St. Joseph-Ogden. PC averaged 48 points in its two wins. Last season, Prairie Central won 54-7. Prairie Central 48, IVC 20
All the scores, all the stories: Here are the Peoria area's high school football schedules for the 2023 season
LincolnLand
Elmwood/Brimfield (1-3, 1-2) at Farmington (4-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.: The Farmers, who have won the last seven meetings in this series, were led last week by QB Lane Wheelwright, who had 226 yards and 2 TDs. Elmwood scored 28 total points in its three losses. Last season, Farmington won 47-16. Farmington 41, Elmwood/Brimfield 15
United (2-2, 1-2) at Princeville (2-2, 2-1), 7 p.m.: Princeville looks to snap a two-game losing streak, using backup QB Jake Williams, who threw for 305 and 4 TDs last week. United's last two losses have seen their offense score a combined 18 points. Last season, Princeville won 44-20. Princeville 28, United 22
8-player
Bushnell-Prairie City (3-1) at Peoria Heights (1-3), 7 p.m.: Peoria Heights produced 251 total yards (135 rushing, 116 passing) in Week, 4 but committed four turnovers. RB Lane Huffman rushed for 203 yards and six TDs as B-PC scored 64 last week. Last season, Bushnell-Prairie City won 63-6. B-PC 35, Peoria Heights 27
Peoria Quest (0-4) at South Beloit (4-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: Quest, which was forced to forfeit last week with only 11 players available, should be at full strength this week. South Beloit is averaging 51.3 points a game including 62 points in Week 2. These teams didn't play last season. South Beloit 48, Quest 8
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Our picks for every Week 5 HS football game in the Peoria area
