City High (0-0) at Joliet Catholic (0-0)

Where: Joliet Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: Joliet Catholic 48, City High 13

Player to watch: City High senior quarterback Bobby Bacon (6-1, 180) completed 68 percent of his passes last season while throwing for 2,193 yards and 18 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

Key stat: Joliet Catholic rushed for 374 yards and averaged 8.1 yards per carry in its win over City High last season.

About the Little Hawks: City High bounced back from an 0-2 start last season that included a season-opening loss to Joliet Catholic to win six of its final seven games and return to the 5A playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Senior quarterback Bobby Bacon returns to lead the City High offense and has an experienced offensive line with four starters back and a group of skill position players that includes senior tight end Parker Sutherland (6-6, 215) and senior receiver Connor Cross (6-0, 165).

City High brings back a solid group of returners on defense highlighted by senior lineman Jalyn Ford (6-0, 231) and Dieuaime Lipanda (6-3, 314) who combined for 63 tackles with 19.5 for loss.

Senior defensive back Dominic Salibi (5-11, 165) returns after picking off a team-high four passes last season.

About the Hilltoppers: Joliet Catholic is currently tied for the most state titles in Illinois history with 15 and has its sites set on another title this fall after finishing runner-up in Class 5A last season.

The Hilltoppers let a 20-10 halftime lead evaporate in a 38-20 loss to Nazareth in the state title game last season.

Joliet Catholic returns 15 starters from last year’s state runner-up team that finished 10-4, the most returning starters in the eight-year tenure of head coach Jake Jaworski.

Junior Lucas Simulick is expected to take over as the starting quarterback this season and will have an experienced offensive line in front of him.

Four starting offensive linemen return from a Joliet Catholic front that helped the Hilltoppers rack up 488 total yards and average 8.7 yards per play in a win over City High last season.

West High (0-0) at Liberty High (0-0)

Where: Liberty Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: West High 35, Liberty High 28

Player to watch: West High senior Mason Woods (6-2, 220) is an Iowa commit that is one of the top overall players in the state and an impact player on both sides of the ball. Woods caught 35 passes for 535 yards and three touchdowns last season and made 17.5 tackles and had two interceptions.  

Key stat: Liberty High outgained West High 446 to 243 in a 35-28 loss at West High last season.

About the Lightning: Scott Chandler will make his head coaching debut this season after making the move from offensive coordinator.

The Lightning must replace one of the top quarterbacks in the state in graduated senior Graham Beckman but bring back a bevy of talented skill position players.

Senior running backs Sutton Koller (5-11, 180) and Owen Drapeaux (6-1, 210) combined to rush for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

The senior receiver duo of Dallas Miller (5-11, 170) and Collin Decker (6-3, 210) should be among the best in the state this season after the two combined for 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago.

Senior defensive end Korbin Howard (5-10, 210) had 20.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss last season and senior linebacker Nathan Burnett (6-0, 205) will look to step into a bigger role at linebacker after making 12.5 tackles last season.

About the Trojans: West High was 4-5 last season but brings back a strong group of returners led by four-year starter at quarterback Jack Wallace.

A Minnesota State recruit, Wallace (6-2, 225) completed 57 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,807 yards sand 13 touchdowns last season and will have a strong group of pass catchers led by woods and junior Julian Manson (6-3, 215) who caught six passes for 54 yards a year ago.

Leading rusher Butali Butali (5-8, 170) returns after running for 429 yards and two touchdowns last season and will run behind a line anchored by junior Collin Whitters (6-4, 300).

On defense senior linebacker Declan Bunn (5-10, 200) returns after ranking second on the team with 55 tackles last year.

Junior defensive backs Ethan Headings (6-2, 185) and Adrian DeWaard (5-11, 175) after back after combining for four interceptions last season.

Davenport Assumption (0-0) at Solon (0-0)

Where: Spartan Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Davenport Assumption 34, Solon 7   

Player to watch: Senior Keaton O’Neill (5-10, 194) returns at linebacker after leading the Knights with 69.5 tackles last season including a team-best 51 solo stops and three tackles for loss.

Key stat: Davenport Assumption rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns and averaged 6.7 yards per carry in its 34-7 win over Solon last season.

About the Spartans: Solon returns five starters from a team that went 10-2 and advanced to the Class 3A semifinals last season.

Senior quarterback Tyler Bell (6-1, 195) returns after throwing for 1,434 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and senior Eddie Johnson (6-2, 210) is back after rushing for 378 yards and six touchdowns and catching 16 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns.

Solon must replace 10 starters on defense including its top eight tacklers from last season but brings back senior linebacker Cole Carney (5-8, 170) who had 22.5 tackles and senior linebacker Oliver Owens (6-0, 200) had 18 tackles with 3.5 for loss.

About the Knights: There will be a lot of change this season for Davenport Assumption on the field as well as on the sideline.

Nathan Gilbraith takes over for long-time coach Wade King and inherits an Assumption squad that will be replacing its starting quarterback, leading rusher, top three receivers and four of its top five tacklers.

Davenport Assumption went 7-3 a year ago and lost in the first round of playoffs to West Delaware 58-45.

The Knights return a couple of standouts on defense in O’Neill and senior lineman Joey Funderburk (6-5, 236) who had 42.5 tackles including two tackles for loss last season.

Clear Creek Amana (0-0) at Marion (0-0)

Where: Marion High School Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Marion 15, Clear Creek Amana 0

Player to watch: Marion senior quarterback Kaleb Diers (6-6, 220) is a Northern Iowa recruit that has passed for 1,664 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 487 yards and nine scores over the past two seasons.

Key stat: Clear Creek Amana and Marion have played in each of the previous eight seasons with the two WAMAC Conference rivals splitting those eight meetings 4-4.

About the Clippers: The Lance Pedersen era opens at Clear Creek Amana as the veteran coach takes over for Matt Haddy.

Clear Creek Amana is coming off back-to-back three-win seasons after starting 0-4 a year ago, a stretch that began with a 15-0 loss to Marion in the opener.

The Clippers will have a new starter at quarterback but bring back a strong group of returners on both sides of the ball.

The offensive line returns intact and will be led by North Dakota State recruit Brody Clubb (6-4, 255) and Vinnie Keller (6-0, 270).

With five of its top seven tacklers from last season returning Clear Creek Amana should take big strides defensively.

Senior linebacker Ben Haughey (5-10, 175) had a team-high 56 tackles last season while senior Trace Robertson (6-0, 170) had 42.5 tackles.

About the Wolves: Marion has posted back-to-back winning seasons but has missed the playoffs each of the past two years. The Wolves were 6-3 a year ago but missed the 4A playoffs after a 31-19 loss to Waverly-Shell Rock in the season finale.

Diers is back to lead the Marion offense for the third straight season after passing for 933 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing or 361 yards and five more scores last season.

Sophomore Logan Tilkes (5-10, 195) returns after leading the Wolves in tackles (66), solo tackles (47) tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (7.5) last season as a freshman.

Regina (0-0) at West Liberty (0-0)

Where: West Liberty Athletic Complex, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 44, West Liberty 6

Player to watch: West Liberty junior quarterback Ryker Dengler (6-2, 165) completed 62 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,609 yards and eight touchdowns last season and also ranked second on the team with 28 tackles and had an interception.

Key stat: Regina has defeated West Liberty in each of the past three seasons wining those games by a combined score of 127-26.

About the Regals: Regina will open a new era Friday as first-year head coach and former Regina assistant Dustin Elsbury coaches his first game.

Regina returns six starters from a team that went 9-2 and advanced to the Class 1A quarterfinals last season.

Junior Kyle Tracy (5-10, 175) is expected to make this first career starter at quarterback and will lean on a deep group of skill position players that includes last year’s leading rusher in senior Will Aitchison (5-10, 180) and junior Edwin Gangba (5-9, 154) and sophomore Savion Miller (5-11, 180) in the backfield and sophomore stand out Tate Wallace (6-2, 225) at receiver.

Seniors Matt Colony (6-2, 240) and Noah Clark (6-0, 220) return on the offensive line and senior linebacker Leren Fernandez (5-11, 190) returns after ranking second on the team with 45 tackles last season.

About the Comets: West Liberty lost its final five games in a 1-7 season a year ago but got a boost in the offseason with the hiring of former Regina coach Jason Dumont.

The Comets had five consecutive winning seasons from 2016-2020 but have won just seven games over the previous three seasons combined.

There is talent returning for West Liberty starting with Dengler and senior receiver Seth Axsom (5-9, 160) who caught 46 passes for 570 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Senior Caden Laughlin had six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown and ranked third on the team with 23.5 tackles.

Cameron Iske returns after leading the team with 31 tackles including three tackles for loss last season.

Williamsburg (0-0) at West Branch (0-0)

Where: The Little Rose Bowl, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Williamsburg 42, West Branch 14

Player to watch: Williamsburg senior Rayce Heitman (6-2, 185) is one of the best all-around players in Class 3A but is at his best on defense. Heitman had a team-high who had 118.5 tackles with 21.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks, recovered two fumbles and picked off four passes.

Key stat: Williamsburg is 24-2 over the past two seasons combined with a Class 3A runner-up finish at a 3A state title.

About the Bears: West Branch enters a new era as John Nestor takes over as head coach.

The Bears are coming off a 6-4 season that ended with a loss to eventual 1A runner-up MFL Mar-Mac in the second round of the 1A playoffs.

Junior quarterback Brennen Dale returns to lead the West Branch offense after throwing for 954 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for 377 more yards and 11 scores after taking over the starting duties in week three.

Junior Cooper Gates is back after rushing for 209 yards and three touchdowns last season and will be a key force on defense after ranking fourth on the team with 39 tackles last season.

Junior two-way lineman Michael Montgomery also returns after making 14 tackles including 3.5 for loss and a sack last season.

About the Raiders: A year after finishing runner-up in Class 3A in 2022 Williamsburg finished the job last fall.

The Raiders avenged their only loss of the season with a 45-14 win over Solon in the 3A semifinals before downing Sioux City Heelan 20-0 in the state title game.

Williamsburg has reloaded for another potential postseason push this season.

The Raiders must replace Iowa signee Derek Weisskopf but bring back leading rusher Nile Sinn (5-10, 165), top tackler Rayce Heitman and sack leader Micah Lang (6-1, 190).

Sinn rushed for 952 yards and seven touchdowns last season and Heitman caught 32 passes for 506 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Raiders should be stout on defense led by Heitman and Lang who had a team-high 14.5 sacks among 18.5 tackles for loss.

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