Dating back to 1883, the longest rivalry in the state of Illinois heats up again this week with Rock Island traveling to face the Moline Maroons at Browning Field.
That is one of the more intriguing Friday matchups for Quad-City metro schools, to go along with interesting district play battles on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River.
Here are capsules looking at the 13 games involving the bigger Quad-City schools:
WESTERN BIG 6
Rock Island (1-4, 1-2 WB6) at Moline (4-1, 3-0 WB6)
Browning Field, 7 p.m.
Last week: Rock Island handled Alleman 51-0; Moline logged an impressive 39-0 win at Quincy.
Game notes: The Rocks are looking to avenge last year’s 37-12 setback to the Maroons. … Moline, which is receiving votes in this week’s Associated Press Class 7A poll, has won eight of the last 10 meetings. … Last week’s Rocky victory snapped a six-game losing streak that dated back to the 2024 season. … In three league games, Moline junior Marc Cary has rushed 61 times for 542 yards. Rock Island’s team has 386 yards rushing in three WB6 contests. … Moline comes in averaging a league-best 29.6 points per game and allowing 15.4 (just 9.0 in three league games). … Thanks to last week’s offensive explosion, the Rocks are now averaging 15.4 points per game and allowing 38.4 ppg. … Rock Island has allowed at least 44 points to each of its first four opponents.
Quincy (3-2, 2-1 WB6) at United Township (3-2, 1-2 WB6)
Soule Bowl, 6:45 p.m.
Last week: UT suffered a heartbreaking 36-33 loss at Geneseo; Quincy dropped a 39-0 home decision to Moline.
Game notes: Both teams are looking for bounce-back victories after suffering crushing defeats last Friday. … UT has dropped two straight contests (falling 49-28 to Sterling two weeks ago). … UT senior running back Isaiah Navarrete has rushed for 7 of the Panthers’ 13 WB6 ground touchdowns. … Quincy senior quarterback Hunter Schuckman leads the Big 6 with 514 passing yards in three games. … UT averages 39.2 points per game this season (twice scoring 56 in non-conference victories) and allows 24.4 ppg, which includes one shutout. … Quincy averages 30.8 points per game, even with being shut out last week, and allows just 15.8 ppg, which includes one shutout and two foes held to one TD each.
Geneseo (3-2, 2-1 WB6) at Galesburg (2-3, 1-2 WB6)
F&M Stadium at VanDyke Field, 7 p.m.
Last week: Geneseo rallied for a thrilling 36-33 home win over United Township; Galesburg lost 48-0 at Sterling.
Game notes: Geneseo senior running back Key Weinzierl (21-251 rushing) leads the league as he averages 12.0 yards per carry. … Geneseo senior QB Jackson McAvoy has attempted just 15 passes in three Big 6 games, completing six of those for 141 yards. … Galesburg’s Antwon Walker leads the Big 6 in receptions (16), receiving yards (284) and receiving TDs (3) in league play. Galesburg QB Grady Hickey averages 171.3 yards passing per game. … The Maple Leafs average 25.6 points per game and allow 24.0 ppg. Galesburg, which has been shut out twice this season, averages 22.4 points per game and allows 39.0 points per game, as it has given up at least 22 points in every game.
Alleman (1-4, 0-3 WB6) at Sterling (3-2, 2-1 WB6)
Roscoe Eades Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: Alleman dropped a 51-0 decision to Rock Island; Sterling thumped Galesburg 48-0.
Game notes: With junior quarterback Kelly Honert missing time after being injured two weeks ago vs. Galesburg, the Pioneers have yet to throw a passing touchdown in three league battles. … Sterling QB Brady Berlin (39-58-0, 459 yards) leads the WB6 with 6 passing touchdowns. … Sterling averages 35.6 points per game and allows 21.4, which includes two shutouts. Alleman averages just 19.6 points per game, which includes being shut out twice, and allows 39.8 ppg. The Pioneers have struggled in their three Big 6 games, averaging 7.3 ppg and allowing 51.3.
IOWA METRO
Cedar Falls (4-1) at Bettendorf (2-3)
TouVelle Stadium, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: Bettendorf dropped a 34-16 decision at Dubuque Senior; Cedar Falls is coming off a 56-13 win over Dubuque Hempstead.
Game notes: This is a 5A District 5 clash. … Cedar Falls and Bettendorf have split six games since 2011 with the Tigers winning the last meeting 10-7 in 2022 to snap BHS’s two-game win streak in the set. … Cedar Falls is ninth in the latest Class 5A power rankings, while Bettendorf is 21st. … The Tigers average 31.0 points per game and allow 16.0, while the Bulldogs average 16.4 points per game and allow 21.4 ppg. … The two have three common foes already. Cedar Falls has topped Pleasant Valley (21-14), Iowa City High (40-21) and Dubuque Senior (24-17. Bettendorf beat Iowa City High (21-7) and lost to both PV (24-17) and Dubuque Senior (34-16). … The Tigers have been explosive with their ground game, covering 969 yards in 141 attempts. BHS has 132 rushes for 428 yards and just 3 rushing TDs. … Bettendorf sophomore QB Cannon Davis has completed 68 of 114 passes for 897 yards and 7 touchdowns. … Cedar Falls senior QB Leyton Wolf (60-87, 608 yards) has also thrown for seven TDs.
Pleasant Valley (3-2) at Linn-Mar (1-4)
Linn-Mar Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week, PV defeated Muscatine 56-6, and Linn-Mar won its first game of the season in a 41-10 decision over Davenport Central. Both games were District 6 encounters.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A District 6 meeting. … PV is No. 16 in this week’s 5A power rankings and Linn-Mar is No. 27. … PV averages 32.8 points per game and allows 19.8; Linn-Mar averages 14.8 ppg and allows 27.8. … PV’s ground-oriented option attack has churned out 1,246 yards – the third most in Class 5A – in a state-high 208 carries with 14 rushing TDs as senior QB Lincoln Dalton (24-46, 7 TDs) had added 489 yards passing. … Junior Luke Knutson is PV’s top tackler with 25.5 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss. … The Lions’ longest TD run this season is 9 yards. … Both teams have hit on bombs for TDs. PV’s longest scoring strike is 73 yards, and Linn-Mar’s is 65.
Davenport Central (1-4) at Iowa City Liberty (4-1)
Liberty High School Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: Central dropped a 41-10 decision to Linn-Mar; Liberty topped Iowa City West 44-31.
Game notes: This Class 5A District 6 clash is the first meeting between these two schools since at least 2000. … Iowa City Liberty is ranked No. 7 in this week’s Class 5A power rankings; Central is ranked No. 34. … To say the least, the Liberty Lightning are battle-tested. They have four games against the Top 11 teams in this week’s power rankings and won three of them. The only loss was a 27-24 setback to No. 6 Johnston. … Central averages 13.8 points per game and allows 25.0. Liberty averages 29.8 points per game and allows 19.8. … Liberty’s offense has passed for 970 yards and rushed for 956. Central has 968 total yards. … Central junior QB Toney Walker (20-68, 1 TD) has passed for 340 yards and is also the Blue Devils’ leading rusher with 200 yards and another TD.
Davenport North (3-2) at Clinton (3-2)
Coan Field, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: North was beaten 35-7 by Western Dubuque; Clinton lost 23-8 at Burlington.
Game notes: This is a Class 4A District 3 meeting. … Clinton has won all seven meetings since 2009, the last a 30-29 decision in 2017. … North averages 18.8 points per game and allows 20.4; Clinton averages 20.8 ppg and allows 24.0. … North junior QB Neil Brown is second in passing yards (1049), third in 4A completions (74), and third in interceptions (7) in the state. … Clinton junior RB Ethan Carpenter (93-581) is 10th in 4A in rushing yards. … Clinton has thrown for just 328 yards and 2 TDs.
Burlington (4-1) at Davenport West (0-5)
Brady Street Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Burlington beat Clinton 23-8; West dropped a 49-8 decision at North Scott.
Game notes: This is a Class 4A District 3 contest. … Burlington leads the series 7-4 in games since 2009, but this is the first meeting since West won its third in a row in 2019. … Burlington is No. 13 in this week’s 4A power rankings; West is No. 36. … Burlington averages 41.2 points per game and allows 20.2; West is at the bottom of 4A by averaging 4.0 points per game and allowing 47.6 ppg. … Burlington senior Keshawn Wyldon leads the class with 11 rushing touchdowns and is T7 in Class 4A touchdowns with 13. Junior teammate Caden Zaugg is T12 with 11. … West junior Easton Smith has 41.0 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery.
North Scott (3-2) at Western Dubuque (3-2)
Buchman Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: North Scott topped Davenport West 49-8; Western Dubuque topped Davenport North 35-7.
Game notes: This Class 4A District 3 matchup is Western Dubuque’s homecoming game. … Western Dubuque leads the series 7-6 since 2016. North Scott’s 26-7 playoff victory last fall snapped the Bobcats’ three-game win streak in the set. … Western Dubuque is ranked No. 10 in this week’s Class 4A power rankings; North Scott is 13th. North Scott averages 24.6 points per game and allows 19.0; Western Dubuque averages 21.8 and allows 12.4. … The Lancers have scored at least 31 points in four of their five games. They were held in check in a 10-3 loss to Pella. … WD junior Drew Bergfeld ranks 6th in Class 4A rushing with 721 yards in 92 carries. … Since losing their first two games (to Dubuque Wahlert and Cedar Rapids Xavier), the Bobcats have won three straight.
Davenport Assumption (3-2) at Maquoketa (1-4)
Goodenow Field, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: Assumption dropped Central DeWitt from the ranks of unbeatens with a 35-31 victory; Maquoketa lost 50-0 to Mount Vernon.
Game notes: This is a Class 3A District 3 contest. … Assumption has won all five games in the series since 2015, the last meeting a 42-21 Knights’ victory in 2022. … Assumption in No. 6 in this week’s 3A power rankings and Maquoketa is 35th. … Assumption averages 32.0 points per game and allows 21.4; Maquoketa averages 13.8 and allows 29.8. … Assumption senior Brock Lansing has two interceptions this year. … Led by junior QB Luke Jobgen’s 429 rushing yards, the Knights have 1,401 yards on the ground in 194 attempts (7.2 yards per carry). That yardage is second among Class 3A team.
Central DeWitt (4-1) at Dubuque Wahlert (3-2)
Loras College Rock Bowl, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: Central DeWitt was handed its first loss, a 35-31 decision to Davenport Assumption; Wahlert snapped a two-game losing streak with a 45-6 win over Center Point-Urbana.
Game notes: This is a Class 3A District 3 meeting. … Central DeWitt is ranked No. 12 in this week’s 3A power rankings; Wahlert is No. 16. … Central DeWitt leads Class 3A scoring, averaging 43.4 points per game, while allowing just 17.8. Dubuque Wahlert averages 25.8 ppg and allows 11.6. … Behind senior QB Hudson Krukow (87-119-1, 1,278 yards, 17 TDs), the Sabers lead Class 3A in passing yardage (1,416), completions (100), and passing TDs (18, tied with Keokuk). … Wahlert senior linebacker Noah Krapfl is 6th in total tackles with 45.5, which includes 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks.
Muscatine (0-5) at Iowa City West (4-1)
Iowa City West Trojan Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: Muscatine dropped a 56-6 decision at Pleasant Valley; Iowa City West suffered its first defeat, falling to Iowa City Liberty 44-31.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A District 6 meeting. … These teams have played every year since 2016, with the exception of 2020. The Trojans have won all eight games by at least two scores, including last year’s 56-20 decision. … Iowa City West is ranked No. 11 in this week’s 5A power index, while Muscatine remains 36th. … The Muskies average 12.4 points per game and allow 42.4; the Trojans average 38.0 ppg and allow 19.0. … West has a 5A best 2,065 yards offense, led by junior QB Reece Wheeler (53-91-1, 1,099 yards, 10 TDs). … Muscatine’s leading rusher Seth Reiland (76-289) was hurt in last week’s loss at Pleasant Valley and had to be helped off the field after the contest.
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