By Al Zipsie

Milledgeville won the NUIC Upstate Illini Friday. The Missiles stayed unbeaten at 9-0 holding off Aquin 36-28. The Bulldogs came up just short of winning to be eligible for the playoffs. But, 4-5 Aquin is a team who will be bringing back lots of young talent.

Also in the Upstate Stockton bet Orangeville 40-21 and Warren won the battle of the winless teams blanking Ashton/Franklin Center 32-0. It was the last game in NUIC Football for Warren who joins a Wisconsin school in a Coop.

In the Northwest Lena-Winslow again dominated Dakota. 44-13. Forreston outscored Amboy 62-34. West Carroll beat East Dubuque 18-7. Durand/Pecatonica shutout Galena 14-0 as the second year Coop finished strong winning three of their last four games.

In a crossover game, Eastland/Pearl City stated undefeated 32-14 over Polo. River Ridge ended with a 32-14 non-league win over Hoopeston. River Ridge and Polo are going to eight-man football next season.

In 1A playoffs this weekend Dakota will be at Stockton. The old rivals start playing in the same league next year. It will an interesting matchup between Stockton 7-2 and 6-3 Dakota who is coming off two straight losses.

Polo is on the road at Princeville Friday night.

On Saturday Orangeville is at Ottawa Marquette. Milledgeville host Fulton. Lena-Winslow is at home playing Lewiston. Saturday evening Forreston host Kirkland Hiawatha.

In 2A E/PC will host Chicago Harlan.

Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC Rankings.

  1. Eastland/Pearl City. 9-0.
  2. Lena-Winslow. 8-1.
  3. Milledgeville. 9-0.
  4. Forreston. 7-2.
  5. Stockton. 7-2.
  6. Dakota 6-3.
  7. Orangeville. 5-4.
  8. Polo. 5-4.
  9. Aquin 4-5.
  10. River Ridge 4-5.

Media Picks. Al Zipsie and Terry Werntz both finished 67-14  to share the best record. Werntz finished the season joining Pete Leinweber with a perfect 9-0 record. Zipsie, won the tiebreaker closest to score of Aquin over Stockton. Werntz came from three games back with two weeks left and tied things picking West Carroll over East Dubuque. Cody Cutter who was last years champion finished third at 65-16 and Kyle Kampmier was fourth at 64-17.

67-14. Al Zipsie. Stateline Sports Hub.

Terry Werntz. Former Dakota and Freeport head football coach.

65-16. Cody Cutter. Sauk Valley News.

64-17. Kyle Kampmier. NUIC Football Fanatics.

63-18. Shane Klever. NUIC Football Fanatics. Joe Dredge. WROK/Stateline Sports Hub. Scott Leber. WTVO TV. Matt Trowbridge. Freeport Journal Standard/Rockford Register Star.

62-19. Tim O'Hallaran. Edgytim

61-20. Mike Buda. WIFR TV.

60-21. Pete Leinweber. Deep Dish Football.

Thanks to all media members for taking part in our media picks. And while Pete Leinweber of Deep Dish Football joked he finished in last for the second straight season. He knows his football like all of our panel. He and Edgy Tim are more experts on the Chicago area teams.

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