Crete-Monee
Conference: Southland
Head coach: John Konecki
2024 record: 6-4 (Lost 49-34 to Glenwood in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs)
2025 outlook:
Look for the Warriors to air it out this fall with senior quarterback Derrin Couch and three of his favorite targets returning.
Couch completed 65% of his passes for 2,082 yards and 41 touchdowns last season. Senior Dorian Patterson had 53 catches for 980 yards and 21 TDs, while junior Karion Young caught 44 passes for 724 yards and seven TDs and senior D’Arion Yarbrough finished with 15 catches for 215 yards and six scores.
The top returning rusher is junior Anson Labranche, who averaged 8.4 yards per carry and finished with 351 yards and five TDs.
Couch showed his dual-threat capability by running for 235 yards and four TDs.
Labranche also is a mainstay at linebacker, finishing with 48 tackles, five tackles for loss and six sacks last season.
Other defenders to watch include junior defensive end Kamal Bryant, who had 23 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks; senior defensive back Jayden Marshall (23 tackles, two interceptions, 10 passes broken up) and junior defensive end Aven Atkins (21 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception).
Schedule
Aug. 29 at Richards, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 Thornton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 Thornwood, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Danville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 Thornridge, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 Rich, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 Bloom, 6 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Kankakee, 7 p.m.
Manteno
Conference: Illinois Central Eight
Head coach: RJ Haines
2024 record: 7-3 (Lost 41-14 to Normal U-High in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs)
2025 outlook:
The Panthers graduated their two best players up front and at the skill positions — Cooper Monk and Niko Akiyama — but still have high expectations.
Monk, a 6-6, 260-pound offensive lineman, has moved on to Illinois State. Akiyama averaged 8.4 yards per carry in the regular season, running for 1,194 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Look for Manteno to emphasize the pass more this season with senior quarterback Connor Harrod throwing to a talented and deep receiver corps.
Harrod passed for 1,660 yards and 19 TDs with 11 TDs in 2023. He actually had more passing scores last year (13 in the regular season) while throwing for less than half as many yards (666 in the regular season) in a run-heavy offense.
The main targets this fall figure to be seniors Tyler Buehler and Dylan McIntyre along with speedy junior Briggs Cann. McIntyre is healthy again after suffering a broken collarbone late last season, while Cann is coming off a successful track season highlighted by a state medal in the 400 meters.
Schedule
Aug. 29 at Sandwich, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5 Plano, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 Herscher, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Wilmington, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 Coal City, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Peotone, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Streator, 7 p.m.
Peotone
Conference: Illinois Central Eight
Head coach: Tolly Tsiamas
2024 record: 6-4 (Lost 29-22 to Eureka in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs)
2025 outlook:
The Blue Devils have a lot to replace on offense with standout back Chase Rivera, quarterback Ruben Velasco (now playing baseball at Colorado-Colorado Springs) and every receiver who had a reception last year all graduated.
Senior back Tucker Cain will step into a bigger role after gaining 700 yards as Rivera’s running mate last year. A returning all-conference pick, he’ll also start at linebacker.
Other returning regulars are senior offensive linemen Evan Payne and Omero Isais and junior two-way linemen Charles Canby, Jake Voss and Alex Chenoweth.
Four more juniors to keep an eye on are running back/linebacker Nick Cronin, wide receiver/defensive back Tyler Walker, wide receiver/linebacker Eli Chenoweth and running back/free safety Declan McMaster.
“We are extremely young this year, but the expectation is still the same,” coach Tolly Tsiamas said. “We expect to make the state playoffs and anything short of that is a disappointment for us. Where we’ve (fallen) short over the years is having success come playoff time. That is something we need to improve upon.”
Schedule
Aug. 29 at Granite City, 6 p.m.
Sept. 5 Marengo, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Wilmington, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 (Forfeit win vs. Lisle)
Sept. 26 Streator, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Reed-Custer, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 Coal City, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 Manteno, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Herscher, 7 p.m.