Advertisement

Predicting every Illinois high school football game in the Peoria area for Week 3 of 2023

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·7 min read

Here are the predictions for Week 3 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 15-7 (.682) and are 31-11 (.738) for the season.

Big 12

  • Peoria Notre Dame (2-0, 2-0) at Bloomington (1-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.: PND rushed for 388 yards and scored 70 points in a Week 2 win over Urbana. Jack Hanley (144 yards, two TDs), Ben Mullens (116 yards, two TDs) and Lawson Alwan (rushing TD, defensive TD) were a part of a 10-touchdown day. The Purple Raiders had 103 rushing yards in a 35-14 loss to Normal West. Last season, Bloomington won 18-12. PND 34, Bloomington 27

  • Champaign Centennial (2-0, 2-0) at Richwoods (1-1, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Richwoods snapped a six-game losing streak with a nonconference win over Springfield Southeast. The Knights got a pair of receiving TDs from Amari Johnson and Terry Smith in the victory. The Chargers rolled up 306 total yards (166 passing, 140 rushing) to beat Manual, 35-8. Last season, Centennial won 45-20. Richwoods 28, Centennial 20

  • Manual (0-2, 0-2) at Danville (0-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Manual last week used Amaree Breedlove at QB, who threw for 115 yards and rushed for 23. Rams RB Namolos Thompson ran for a TD and 31 yards in a 35-8 loss to Centennial. Danville QB Darius Jay threw three TDs to Jerry Reed III, Curtis Beasley IV and Ja’Vaughn Robinson in a loss to Peoria High. Last season, Danville won 49-6. Danville 41, Manual 28

  • Urbana (0-2, 0-2) at Peoria High (1-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Peoria High bounced back nicely from their Week 1 loss, getting a 1-2 offensive punch from RB Maliek Ross (249 yards, 4 TDs) and QB Tino Gist (262 yards, 3 TDs). WR Jaivyn Moore added 110 yards and 2 TDs. Urbana managed 54 total yards in the loss to PND paced by 55 passing from QB Jaydon Riggs. These teams didn't play last season. Peoria High 84, Urbana 0

Peoria football: How this former Manual player became one of the nation's top recruits

Mid-Illini

  • Washington (1-1, 0-0) at Metamora (2-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.: This is Washington coach Darrell Crouch's final regular-season meeting against the Redbirds. He's won five of the last six in the series, capturing nine victories in 21 total meetings. Metamora RB Jaiduan Cranford rushed for 202 and 2 TDs, while QB Nick Rhoades scored two TDs in beating LaSalle-Peru. Last season, Washington won 44-22. Washington 21, Metamora 6

  • Morton (2-0, 0-0) at Canton (0-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.: Morton RB Seandon Buffington came up huge in beating Rochelle, rushing for 196 yards and two TDs. The Potters, who are averaging 23.5 points a game, got 99 yards and a TD by WR Julian Alexander. Canton, which has scored six points in the first two weeks, had 142 total yards in last week's shutout loss to Coal City. Last season, Morton won 35-7. Morton 34, Canton 6

  • Dunlap (2-0, 0-0) at Pekin (1-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.: Dunlap took to the ground in Week 2's win over Rock Island. The Eagles, who have given up 21 total points this season, rushed for 216 yards led by 112 yards and 2 TDs from Kendall Netters. Pekin committed two turnovers, trailed by 27 and got 154 rushing yards in its Week 2 loss to Belleville East. Last season, Pekin won 28-19. Dunlap 42, Pekin 20

  • East Peoria (1-1, 0-0) at Limestone (0-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.: EP got a huge offensive output by scoring 57 points in Week 2, getting 420 yards and six TDs by RB David Hartwell Jr. The Raiders have scored 86 points this season after scoring just 78 in seven games in 2022. This is a good opportunity for Limestone, which gave up 41 points last week, to snap its losing streak. Last season, East Peoria won 33-20. East Peoria 35, Limestone 34

Last week: What we learned about Peoria-area football in Week 2

Heart of Illinois

  • Clinton (1-1) at Eureka (1-1), 7 p.m.: Despite a Week 2 loss, Hornets RB Mason Boles continues his big season, rushing for 168 yards and a TD, while QB Dawson Dorn threw for 3 TDs. Clinton went 1-1 against HOI teams, beating Tremont and losing to Downs Tri-Valley. These teams didn't play last season. Eureka 49, Clinton 18

  • Tremont (0-2) at Heyworth (1-1), 7 p.m.: Tremont was shutout in Week 2 after a six-point output in its season opener against Clinton. The Turks are still searching to give first-year coach Benny Prather his first victory. Heyworth scored 34 points in a Week 1 win. These teams didn't play last season. Tremont 21, Heyworth 20

  • Deer Creek-Mackinaw (2-0) at Le Roy (2-0), 7 p.m.: The Chiefs came up big on defense last week, forcing three turnovers in three consecutive possessions. D-M QB Carson Cassady hit Dalton Burr for a 53-yard TD. Le Roy scored 41 points and had 441 yards last week. Last season, Dee-Mack won 44-6. Dee-Mack 28, Le Roy 14

  • Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington (0-2) at Fieldcrest (1-1), 7 p.m.: Fieldcrest had 208 yards (172 rushing, 36 passing) last week. RB Eddie Lorton rushed for 55 yards and a TD. Ridgeview scored 25 second-half points but lost to Taylor Ridge Rockridge. These teams didn't play last season. Colfax Ridgeview 35, Fieldcrest 15

Illini Prairie

  • Tolono Unity (1-1, 1-1) at Illinois Valley Central (0-2, 0-2), 7 p.m.: IVC turned the ball over six times, but WR Mikah Hall posted 129 yards and a TD. The Ghosts totalled 372 yards (304 passing, 68 rushing). Unity scored 35 points with 467 yards in a Week 2 loss. Last season, Tolono Unity won 62-20. Tolono Unity 48, IVC 34

LincolnLand

  • Elmwood/Brimfield (0-2, 0-2) at Warsaw West Hancock (0-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.: E/B was within eight points of Illini West in Week 2, but gave up 14 second-half points. The Trojans have scored 22 points in two games. WWH gave up 45 points to Farmington last week. Last season, Elmwood won 48-22. Elmwood 42, West Hancock 18

  • Farmington (2-0) at Tuscola (1-1), 7 p.m.: Farmington's offense has scored 84 points this season. Farmers RB Jack Wheelwright rushed for 222 yards and two TDs last week. Tuscola RB Austin Cummings had 111 yards and a 40-yard touchdown catch in Week 2. These teams didn't play last season. Farmington 28, Tuscola 20

  • Princeville (2-0) at Knoxville (2-0), 7 p.m.: Princes RB Tayshaun Keiser gained 352 total yards with four TDs in Week 2. He caught two TDs for 165 yards as QB Logan Carruthers threw for 210 yards. Knoxville had 450 total yards (385 rushing) and 48 points last week. Last season, Knoxville won 54-20. Knoxville 42, Princeville 35

Week 2 scores: High school football around the Peoria area and statewide

8-player

  • Peoria Heights (0-2) at Biggsville West Central (0-2), 7 p.m. Thursday: Peoria Heights scored 28 points and went for 328 total yards. The Patriots gave up 62 points in each of their first two games. BWC had 246 rushing yards and 18 first downs in Week 2. Last season, West Central won 68-14. Peoria Heights 27, West Central 20

  • Peoria Quest (0-2) at St. Anne (0-2), 2 p.m. Saturday: Quest continues to build in its first varsity season. The Gators have put up 36 points on the season including 22 points in Week 1. St. Anne RB Chris Link rushed for 106 yards and a TD in last week's loss. These teams didn't play last season. Quest 15, St. Anne 14.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football predictions: Peoria-area high school picks for Week 3