Week 7 of the Illinois high school football season brought a flurry of important matchups around the Peoria area on Friday, Oct. 2, with several teams still chasing a playoff berth under the IHSA's new qualification rules. Four wins now guarantee a spot in the postseason, and some squads are on the edge of sealing their place while others look to extend their streaks.
Peoria Notre Dame, Richwoods, and Peoria High all faced road challenges in the Big 12 Conference, with the latter among those hovering at three wins and aiming to clinch the postseason for the first time in years. East Peoria, also sitting at 3-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play, continued its push to qualify for the playoffs after a drought stretching back 14 years. The Raiders last appeared in the IHSA postseason during the 2012-13 season when they finished 7-3 under coach Doug Martin.
Metamora traveled to Washington for a Mid-Illini Conference rivalry game, while Farmington took on Illini West, the LincolnLand Conference-West leader with a 5-1 record, in a tough road test. Other Peoria-area teams already locked into the playoffs include Morton, Dunlap, Pekin, El Paso-Gridley, Macomb, Abingdon-Avon, Illini West, Stark County, Eureka, Annawan/Wethersfield, and St. Bede.
Among those on the cusp, Farmington, Elmwood/Brimfield, and Peoria High each held three wins ahead of Week 7, putting them one victory away from securing postseason qualification under the IHSA’s revised system. The stakes were especially high for East Peoria, which has not advanced to the playoffs since the early 2010s. Their current season record stands at 3-3, with a conference record of 1-3.
The Week 7 schedule featured a full slate of games for the Peoria-area teams, many of which were streamed live via the NFHS Network. Fans unable to attend could follow live scores and updates through various online platforms, including the Journal Star’s preps coverage, which also provided state rankings and power rankings specific to the region. Adam Duvall, a local analyst, offered predictions and four takeaways from the previous week’s action, giving insight into which teams might rise or fall in the coming weeks.
With several teams still in contention to reach the postseason, the outcomes of Friday’s games held significant weight. Peoria Notre Dame, Richwoods, and Peoria High had to navigate away games in a competitive Big 12, while Metamora and Farmington faced demanding tests within their conferences. The LincolnLand Conference-West leader Illini West, at 5-1, presented a particularly stiff challenge for Farmington on the road.
The IHSA’s playoff system change this year means that even teams with uneven conference records can qualify if they reach four wins overall. This system has already seen a dozen Peoria-area schools secure their postseason spots, but the remaining hopefuls must deliver in Week 7 to avoid missing out.
East Peoria’s running back has been notable this season, climbing into the school’s record books and providing a bright spot for the Raiders as they chase a playoff appearance that has eluded them for over a decade. Meanwhile, Pekin’s star player made a critical impact in Week 6, contributing a decisive play that helped secure a win. Peoria High’s running back also powered his team’s offense in a high-scoring victory earlier in the season, underscoring the talent within the area.
The competitive intensity of these games reflects the broader Midwest high school football landscape as teams jockey for position in the final weeks before playoffs begin. The Week 7 matchups have already concluded, and full results will shape the final playoff brackets heading into the postseason.
According to Yahoo Sports.
