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Predicting every Illinois high school football game in the Peoria area for Week 6 of 2023

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·6 min read

Here are the predictions for Week 6 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 13-1 (.929) and are 67-24 (.736) for the season.

Big 12

  • Champaign Central (2-3, 1-3) vs. Peoria Notre Dame (4-1, 3-1), 7 p.m.: This is the eighth Shamrock Classic at Dozer Park. The Irish are 5-2 in the series, losing last season to Richwoods. Last week, PND rallied for a nonconference victory over Jacksonville, using a three-touchdown game from Jack Hanley (178 yards). Lawson Alwan added 89 and a 21-yard TD for the Irish. Champaign Central has scored 55 or more points in its two victories. Last season, Champaign Central won 26-8. PND 35, Champaign Central 27

  • Richwoods (1-4, 0-4) at Peoria High (3-2, 3-1), 7 p.m.: Peoria High bounced back last week, shutting out Manual and allowing the Rams to 18 total yards (39 passing, -21 rushing). Lions backup quarterback Breon Green threw for 121 yards and three TDs and ran for 63 yards last week. Starter Tino Gist is expected to return this week. Richwoods went for 142 total yards (114 rushing, 28 passing) in Week 5. The Knights last beat Peoria High in Week 2 of 2017. Last season, Peoria High won 66-12. Peoria High 42, Richwoods 13

  • Manual (0-5, 0-4) at Normal West (4-1, 4-1), 7 p.m.: The Rams were shut out for the first time this season in Week 5. Manual switched between QBs Amaree Breedlove and London Tolliver against Peoria High. Wideout Terrence Paige was a bright spot for the Manual offense, grabbing a 39-yard second-quarter catch. In Normal West's four victories, the Wildcats are averaging 49 points a game. West went for 389 total yards (241 passing, 148 rushing) last week against Richwoods. Last season, Normal West won 41-14. Normal West 48, Manual 15

The final vote: What's the best Peoria-area high school football helmet?

Mid-Illini

  • Pekin (1-4, 0-3) at Metamora (3-2, 1-2), 7:30 p.m.: Metamora QB Nick Rhoades tallied 214 total yards (117 passing, 97 rushing) and three TDs last week. WR Kendrick Schaffrin has been a consistent presence for the Redbirds. Pekin, who have scored 47 points this season, has been on a brutal stretch of its schedule, facing Dunlap, Washington, Morton and now the Redbirds. Last season, Pekin won 55-13. Metamora 34, Pekin 12

  • Limestone (1-4, 1-2) at Morton (5-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Morton had 357 total yards (181 rushing, 176 passing) in a win over Pekin including big play from QB Jude Hart, who rushed for two TDs and added a TD throw to WR Preston Berg. Limestone, which had -2 total yards last week, needs to win against the Potters, Metamora, Pekin and Canton to secure a playoff berth. Last season, Morton won 49-7. Morton 34, Limestone 6

  • East Peoria (2-3, 1-2) at Washington (4-1, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Washington has allowed seven total points in three Mid-Illini games highlighted by back-to-back shutouts in the last two weeks. The Panthers have gotten steady run play with 354 rushing yards last week, led by Kainon McQueary (141 yards, 3 TDs). EP managed six points and 47 total yards last week against Dunlap. Last season, Washington won 51-7. Washington 35, East Peoria 0

  • Dunlap (5-0, 3-0) at Canton (0-5, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.: Dunlap's defense has been nearly lights out, allowing 33 total points this season. The Eagles have utilized the dual QB playing time to near perfection with Mack Sutter (90 yards, 2 TDs last week) and John Bargen (60 yards, 2 TDs) splitting time. The Little Giants have scored 40 of their 46 total points in Mid-Illini play. Last season, Dunlap won 38-14. Dunlap 40, Canton 8

Heart of Illinois

  • Eureka (3-2, 1-0) at Tremont (0-5, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Eureka has scored at least 42 points in its three wins paced by 205 passing yards and three TDs by QB Dawson Dorn. The Turks have struggled offensively, scoring 14 total points including being shut out the last two weeks. Last season, Eureka won 50-0. Eureka 48, Tremont 6

  • Downs Tri-Valley (5-0, 1-0) at Deer Creek-Mackinaw (2-3, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Dee-Mack is on a three-game skid, scoring 36 points in those losses after 70 total points in its two wins. Class 2A state-ranked Tri-Valley is scoring 42.4 points a game and giving up 9.2. Last season, Tri-Valley won 33-12. Tri-Valley 27, Dee-Mack 13

  • Fieldcrest (2-3, 0-1) at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: The Knights nearly completed a comeback last week with a 12-point fourth quarter led by 237 yards from QB Brady Ruestman. GCMS's last three wins were over El Paso-Gridley, Eureka and Fisher. Last season, GCMS won 23-13. GCMS 42, Fieldcrest 26

Every score, every story: Peoria area high school football scores and schedules for the 2023 season

Illini Prairie

  • Illinois Valley Central (0-5) at Spring Valley Hall/Putnam County (2-3), 7 p.m.: All five of the Grey Ghosts' losses have come to teams with winning records. IVC has used the WR duo of Ryan Adler and Sam Griggs. Hall has scored 22 total points in its three losses. These teams didn't play last year. IVC 28, Hall 20

LincolnLand

  • Aledo Mercer County (2-3, 1-2) at Elmwood/Brimfield (1-4, 1-3), 7 p.m.: Elmwood used Bo Windish and Layne Durst to go for 198 yards and a TD, leading Farmington for the majority of last week's game. Mercer County has lost its last two. These teams didn't play last season. Elmwood/Brimfield 28, Mercer County 27

  • Farmington (5-0, 4-0) at Macomb (3-2, 3-1), 7 p.m.: The Farmers survived a scare from Elmwood last week, but used QB Lane Wheelwright's 235 passing yards and 4 TDs. Macomb's two losses came to Knoxville (5-0) and last week to Breese Mater Dei (4-1). Last season, Macomb won 58-7. Farmington 42, Macomb 16

  • Princeville (3-2, 3-1) at South Fulton (2-3, 2-2), 7 p.m.: Princeville held United to 20 points last week led by Denzel Garza's 10 tackles and three for loss. South Fulton has been shut out in two of its three losses. These teams didn't play last season. Princeville 27, South Fulton 14

8-player

  • Ridgewood (3-2) at Peoria Heights (1-4), 7 p.m.: Peoria Heights totaled 119 yards (76 rushing, 43 passing) last week but were the victims of three turnovers (fumble, two interceptions). Ridgewood started 3-0, then lost its last two by a combined 10 points. Last season, Ridgewood won 68-12. Ridgewood 35, Peoria Heights 6

  • Peoria Quest (0-5) at Rockford Christian Life (2-3), 7 p.m.: Quest had its highest offensive output last week (20 points) since its 22-point effort in Week 1. Christian Life snapped a two-game losing streak last week, scoring 28 points. These teams didn't play last season. Rockford Christian Life 38, Peoria Quest 15

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Expert predictions for every Week 6 HS football game in Peoria area