Weather affected games in Week 1, L-P sophomore running back Sam Carter shined in his varsity debut, Hall excelled in the passing game and more in the NewsTribune/BCR football notebook.

Dixon sophomore Xavion Jones had an explosive debut with two long touchdowns in a win over Genoa-Kingston. Rock Falls got a win by forfeit, Sterling fell 10-0 to Metamora after midnight and more in the Week 1 Sauk Valley football notes.

With the season upon us, here are five girls flag football players to watch in the Herald-News area for the 2026 season.

Here is a look at the girls flag football teams in the Herald-News area for the 2026 season.

Led by linebackers Aiden Brunner, Jack Coates and Chris Williams, Jacobs' defense dominated on Opening Night, holding Cary-Grove's triple option to one score in a 20-7 win. Plus, notes on Crystal Lake South, which upset Prairie Ridge, Burlington Central and Hampshire.

Lincoln-Way East quieted any talk of a down season with a thrilling win over Brother Rice. That, plus notes on Joliet Catholic, Morris and more in the Herald-News football notebook.

The DeKalb run defense took some steps forward against Sycamore Saturday while the Spartans capped of the Interstate 8's perfect 6-0 Week 1, plus week look at other storylines for Genoa-Kingston, Hiawatha and Kaneland in our Week 1 rewind.

East St. Louis knocked off Mount Carmel, Lincoln-Way East upset Brother Rice, IC Catholic Prep took down Nazareth, Fenwick defeated Joliet Catholic, Providence outlasted St. Rita and Loyola shut out Warren. Those results and more in this week's CCL football roundup.

Oswego, Oswego East and Yorkville made their marks on flag football in 2025. But that was last year. With the IHSA's third flag football season set to kick off Monday, here are previews for each team in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Games aren't played on paper. And a wild Week 1 showed exactly why that was the case. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 1.

Newman beat Sherrard 47-0 Saturday, August 22, 2026, to begin the 2026 season.

Vote for the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week! Choose your favorite school and submit your vote by 8 p.m. on Monday.

Ronnie Gomiller totaled 152 yards, ran for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown to lead East St. Louis during its 42-23 win over defending Class 8A champion Mount Carmel at Illinois State on Saturday. Marshaun Thornton scored three touchdowns for the Caravan.

32 carries. 193 yards. One dominant performance. Dylan Curtis put Sycamore on his back in a 20-14 win over DeKalb on Saturday — the Spartans' fifth straight over their rival.

Newman's football team looked sharp in all three phases of the game in Saturday’s 47-0 shutout win over Sherrard to open the season.

Hiawatha senior Tim Pruitt had a career day in Saturday's season opener, running for 277 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 54-34 win over Milford/Cissna Park.

Rochelle's offensive line paved the way for 497 yards rushing, 174 from Jon Andrist alone, and the Hubs pounded visiting Normal U-High 54-14 in Saturday's season opener.

Led by a 193-yard rushing performance from Wes Weatherford, Ottawa's football team opened the 2026 season Saturday with a 21-14 victory over the visiting Plano Reapers.

The DeKalb and Sycamore football teams met to open the season Saturday in the FNBO Challenge at DeKalb High School. The matchup was originally scheduled for Friday night at Northern Illinois University but was postponed due to storms in the area.

Ottawa defeated Plano 21-14 on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 in King Field at Ottawa High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

St. Charles North came out explosive on offense Saturday, defeating visiting Minooka 28-7 in the season opener that was postponed one day due to inclement weather Friday. Sophomore Dashel Von Qualen, who rotated with Landon Conroy at quarterback, ran and threw for touchdowns.

The La Salle-Peru football team started strong Friday and continued to dominate when the game was continued Saturday in a 59-14 victory over Lanphier at Howard Fellows Stadium.

Burlington Central's Bennek Braden scored on a 50-yard pass from first-year starting QB Reece Beemer and added a interception late as the Rockets defeated Dundee-Crown 13-3 in their season opener Saturday.

Fulton fumbled twice early and faced a 16-point deficit, but the Steamers took control on the line of scrimmage to rally for a 32-24 victory over St. Bede on Saturday.

Colton Ludwig’s touchdown in the second quarter gave Kaneland the lead for good in the Knights’ 49-7 home win over Rock Island on Friday night. Junior quarterback Brody Guthrie was 9 for 11 for 203 yards and three touchdowns in his debut.

Fulton defeated St. Bede 32-24 on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at St. Bede Academy.

The Batavia High School football team hosted Maine South Friday night as they kick off the 2026 season.

Glenbard West football traveled to Lockport Friday night to open the 2026 season.

Joliet Catholic opens the season at home against Fenwick.

Defending Class 2A state champions Wilmington got its 2026 season underway with a 16-7 win over Bishop McNamara, with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns from Dan Van Duyne getting things going.

The time it took Bennett Konkey to return the opening kickoff to the end zone were the only seconds Geneva did not lead Libertyville in an eventual 28-14 home victory.

Bradley Bourbonnais defeated TF North 34-7 in its first game under head coach Joe Kubal. It was largely thanks to a big performance by three-star class of 2028 RB Ky'ren Edmon, who scored four touchdowns.

Rock Falls got off to a strong start and ultimately walked away with a 14-0, forfeit victory over Rockford Lutheran after a long weather delay Friday.

After several weather delays, E-P took the win at home Friday, August 21, 2026 against Monmouth-Roseville 24-22.

Northwestern commit Brady Johnson made a spectacular touchdown catch and made a 36-yard grab to set up one of two Amari Harris TDs, and Johnson and the Glenbard West defense turned away two Lockport possessions in the fourth quarter for a 21-14 road win.

Richmond-Burton, Woodstock North, Woodstock and Marian Central all won their season openers in convincing fashion.

Prairie Ridge faces Crystal Lake South in a Fox Valley Conference football game on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Crystal Lake South High School.

Fenwick opened the 2026 season with a 28-13 win over Joliet Catholic at Memorial Stadium, overcoming a slow start offensively and scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.

Oswego junior running back Ammar Banire racked up 276 all-purpose yards and scored five total touchdowns, the driving force in Oswego's 44-22 win over Neuqua Valley.

Jalen Callaway rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a third touchdown, leading Aurora Christian to a 27-18 win on Friday at Marquette in a game delayed twice by lightning.

Marquette defeated Aurora Christian 27-18 on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 at Gould Stadium in Ottawa. Check out photos from the game from Tom Sistak.

Behind three touchdowns from senior quarterback Jagger Kemp, and sophomore wide receiver Xavion Jones scoring on his first varsity touch, the Dixon Dukes opened the season with a 27-6 win at Genoa-Kingston.

On opening night of the 2026 IHSA football season, Seneca suffered a close road loss at Chicago Christian, while Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland's game in Biggsville was halted at halftime.

Week 1 of the 2026 high school football season was filled with surprises on Friday night, and Live with Friday Night Drive was there to cover it all.

Dionel Rocha’s three-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal was the difference as Willowbrook – in a game delayed by lightning – beat Glenbard East 20-13 for the Warriors' first Week 1 win since 2018.

Marengo QB Sam Vandello threw for four touchdowns and ran for another, while the Indians defense forced four turnovers and allowed just 65 total yards in a 47-0 season-opening win over Streator on Friday night at Rod Poppe Stadium in a game that featured a 2-hour lighting delay.

Kankakee opened the season with a 28-7 win over Edwardsville, behind a two-touchdown day from running back Kymani Billings, and more in the Daily Journal Week 1 football roundup.

Quinn Eddy ran for three touchdowns to lead Mendota to a season-opening win, plus more in Friday's NewsTribune/BCR roundup.

The Huntley defense had a strong showing in a 49-0 win against Hampshire on Friday, setting the tone early and helping the Red Raiders' offense open the game with a one-play, 11-yard touchdown drive.

Batavia senior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren entered Friday night's season-opener against Maine South with a chip on his shoulder. Five passing touchdowns later, and the Bulldogs own a 49-35 win.