Week 6 predictions for high school football games in the Springfield area
Class 4A top-ranked Rochester is the last remaining unbeaten team in the Springfield area following several close losses by Chatham Glenwood, Athens and Pana in Week 5.
That puts Rochester alone in first place in the Central State Eight Conference standings. Ditto Maroa-Forsyth and Greenville in the Sangamo and South Central, respectively.
Here are the Week 6 predictions after going 19-5 last week.
CENTRAL STATE EIGHT
Sacred Heart-Griffin (4-1) at Chatham Glenwood (4-1): Class 5A No. 6 SHG has won four straight games and hasn’t lost to the Titans since 2019, then led by standout QB Luke Lehnen. Glenwood is coming off a 14-12 upset loss to Decatur MacArthur despite limiting the Generals to 231 offensive yards and 10 first downs. Glenwood had just 188 offensive yards and failed to convert a game-tying two-point conversion attempt following Colten Knoedler’s 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. SHG 28, Glenwood 14
More: How the Cates brothers stepped up in Williamsville’s Week 5 football win over Athens
Decatur MacArthur (2-3) at Decatur Eisenhower (1-4): MacArthur’s playoff hopes took a big boost following the upset over Glenwood. The Generals still need to win three of their next four games to become playoff eligible. MacArthur 49, Eisenhower 6
Jacksonville (2-3) at Lincoln (4-1): This may be Lincoln’s best shot to become playoff eligible. The Railsplitters’ final three opponents have a combined 13-2 record: Rochester, Normal U-High and Glenwood. Senior QB Mani Moore returned from injury, but the Crimsons dropped their third straight game, 27-22, to Peoria Notre Dame of the Big 12 Conference. Senior RB Cam’Ron Mitchell totaled 200 rushing yards and a score in the loss. Lincoln had 372 rushing yards in its 34-26 win over Southeast. Jacksonville 35, Lincoln 14
Urbana (0-5) at Normal University (4-1): The host Pioneers are well on their way to their first playoff berth since 2015. U-High 49, Urbana 0
Rochester (5-0) at Lanphier, (0-5), Saturday, 7 p.m.: The 4A top-ranked Rockets blanked Eisenhower 59-0. Senior RB Nolan Mrozowski ran for 106 yards on just three carries. Rochester 60, Lanphier 0
More: How this 5-8 QB keeps Rochester’s offense flowing despite missing star player
Southeast (0-5) at Springfield High (1-4): The Senators fell to rival SHG 34-7 but have a chance to change course with three of their next four opponents below .500. SHS 28, Southeast 20
SANGAMO
Petersburg PORTA (0-5) at Athens (4-1): 2A No. 4 Athens was just a stop away from a marquee win over 3A No. 9 Williamsville, whether via a pass breakup in the final five seconds of regulation or a goal-line stand on the decisive two-point conversion attempt in OT. Athens senior RB Cory Craig Jr. had a monster effort with 221 rushing yards and four scores in the thrilling 36-35 OT loss. Athens 49, PORTA 7
Auburn (3-2) at Riverton (0-5): Auburn overwhelmed PORTA 48-14 while Riverton fell to Pleasant Plains 50-14. Auburn 56, Riverton 6
More: Drew Cushman's passing grade: Senior quarterback runs Athens' offense
Maroa-Forsyth (5-0) at Stanford Olympia (4-1): 2A top-ranked Maroa, the defending league champion, receives its first real test of the season against 3A No. 7 Olympia, which upset Williamsville 27-20 in Week 4 and narrowly lost to Athens 14-6 in Week 3. Maroa has won its first five games by an average margin of 54.6 points per game against opponents with a combined 5-20 record. Maroa hosts Williamsville in Week 7. Maroa 28, Olympia 14
New Berlin (3-2) at Williamsville (4-1): The Bullets avoided back-to-back losses with a rollicking finish against Athens. New Berlin fell to Olympia 46-19 after allowing 458 rushing yards. Williamsville 49, New Berlin 13
Pleasant Plains (2-3) at Pittsfield (0-5): Plains senior QB Danny Skelton threw for 76 yards and a TD on 6 of 7 passing. He also ran for 83 yards and two scores in the win over Riverton. Plains 56, Riverton 14
More: How this 6-4 dual-threat QB has restored new hope for New Berlin football
SOUTH CENTRAL
Carlinville (3-2) at North Mac (1-4): The Cavaliers forced three turnovers in a 27-14 win over Piasa Southwestern, including a pick-6 by Zach Chapman in the fourth quarter. North Mac likes to air it out with senior QB Dane Vance, who has thrown for 1,044 yards and nine TDs with seven INTs this season. Carlinville 42, North Mac 21
Litchfield (2-3) at Gillespie (0-5): Litchfield’s 9-7 victory over rival Hillsboro secured the program’s first multi-win season since 2015. The Purple Panthers will need to lock up three wins in its next four games to become playoff eligible. The remaining schedule includes Staunton, Pana and Vandalia. Litchfield 28, Gillespie 13
More: Williamsville's new receiver, Litchfield's growing buzz top Week 5 takeaways
Pana (4-1) at Hillsboro (2-3): Both teams are coming off disappointing losses. Pana committed four turnovers in a 20-6 loss to South Central Conference leader Greenville. Pana 35, Hillsboro 6
Staunton (2-3) at Piasa Southwestern (2-3): Staunton has won two of its last three games after it dispatched Gillespie 38-16. Piasa 28, Staunton 16
Vandalia (4-1) at Greenville (5-0): The Vandals have won four straight games since a 46-34 season-opening loss to Pana. QB Andrew Kelly threw three TDs and ran for four in the win over North Mac. The Comets also visit Carlinville in Week 7. Vandalia 28, Greenville 21
APOLLO
Taylorville (3-2) at Effingham (2-3): The Tornadoes suffered their second straight loss, 48-0 against reigning Apollo champion Mahomet-Seymour. Effingham fell to Charleston 21-17. Taylorville 21, Effingham 14
More: Taylorville football is off to 3-1 start with this junior QB righting the ship
WESTERN ILLINOIS VALLEY (NORTH)
Jacksonville Routt (2-3) at Camp Point Central (5-0): Routt suffered its second straight narrow loss, 32-26 to Mendon Unity and now draws the No. 3 team in 1A. CPC 49, Routt 14
Beardstown (3-2) at Mount Sterling Brown County (1-4): Beardstown has a favorable path to the playoffs. Its next four opponents, including Brown County, have a combined 5-15 record. Beardstown 35, Brown County 14
LINCOLN TRAIL-PRAIRIELAND (SMALL)
Havana (0-5) at Kewanee Wethersfield (4-1): The Ducks bowed to Rushville-Industry 26-22 and visits the No. 9 team in 1A. Wethersfield 42, Havana 6
Rushville-Industry (2-3) at Heyworth (4-1): The Rockets have won two straight games. Heyworth edged Minonk Fieldcrest 29-28 for its third straight win. Heyworth 28, Rushville 14
LINCOLN PRAIRIE
Sullivan-Okaw Valley (5-0) at Niantic Sangamon Valley/Buffalo Tri-City (2-3): The Storm lost their second straight game, 31-13 to Argenta-Oreana. Sullivan shares the conference lead with Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond. Sullivan 49, Sangamon Valley 6
Nokomis (3-2) at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (5-0): Nokomis has won three of its last four games. ALAH clipped defending league champion Toledo Cumberland 14-6. ALAH 32, NHS 20
8-MAN
Kincaid South Fork (4-1) at Kirkland Hiawatha (2-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Ponies blanked Sciota West Prairie 30-0. South Fork 48, Hiawatha 12
Pawnee (3-2) at Sciota West Prairie (4-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.: Pawnee dropped to Martinsville 52-14 but won its last meeting over West Prairie, 48-20. Pawnee 45, West Prairie 28
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Week 6 predictions for every football game in the Springfield area
