Your NUIC Week 9 Football Preview

By Al Zipsie

There is a lot of on the line for the end of the regular season Friday in the NUIC.

In the Northwest, Lena-Winslow can win the tough Conference unbeaten and claim first place outright. But, the Panthers host Dakota who is 7-1. The Indians after a tough loss to Forreston have won five straight games. It will be a big tuneup for two playoff teams. Forreston, 7-1, the defending 1A State champs will host Amboy. East Dubuque is at West Carroll 5-3. The Thunder are playoff eligible, but a win will clinch a 2A playoff spot. And in a clash of winless teams in the season finale the Durand/Pecatonica Coop play at Galena. The winner will avoid being the only winless team in the NUIC Conferences. It would be Du/Pec's first win as a Coop. And Galena is trying to avoid their first winless season in school history.

In the Upstate, Orangeville who is 5-3 plays at 6-2 Stockton. The Blackhawks unbeaten in the Upstate can win the Conference outright. The Broncos are playoff eligible, but a win would lock in a playoff spot. Milledgeville is at Aquin. An Orangeville upset over Stockton would mean the winner of Aquin and Milledgeville would share the Conference championship. A/FC is at Warren.

In a crossover game, E/PC is at Polo. It's a key game for E/PC 4-4) to become playoff eligible in 2A. Polo has become playoff eligible at 5-3, but a win would secure a playoff berth in 1A with a sixth win.

In a non-conference game, River Ridge is at Mooseheart.

In the 1A state poll, Lena-Winslow is the top-ranked team. Forreston remains third. Stockton and Dakota are outside of the top ten, both receiving votes.

It's the final week for our panel of media in the NUIC picks. With one week left Mike Buda of WIFR TV and Cody Cutter of the Sauk Valley News are tied for the lead at 65-7. Kyle Kampmier and Shane Klever of the NUIC Football Fanatics remain one game behind at 64-8 .It's been all for fun with our ten media panel. The tiebreaker if needed will be the score of Milledgeville at Aquin.

Mike Buda. 65-7. Wifr TV. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton

A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 24-Milledgeville 20.

Cody Cutter. 65-7. Sauk Valley News. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 22-Milledgeville 14.

Kyle Kampmier. 64-8. NUIC Football Fanatics. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Du/Pec. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 28-Milledgeville 22.

Shane Klever. 64-8. NUIC Football Fanatics. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Du/Pec. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 24-Milledgeville 22.

Terry Werntz. 61-11. Former Dakota and Freeport football coach. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 21-Milledgeville 13.

Matt Trowbridge. 60-12. Rockford Register Star/Freeport Journal Standard. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. Mooseheart. Milledgeville 30-Aquin 28.

Scott Leber. 60-12. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton. A/FC. River Ridge. Aquin 24-Milledgeville 21.

Joe Dredge. 60-12. WROK Radio/Stateline Sports Hub. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Du/Pec. E/PC. Orangevile. A/FC. Mooseheart. Milledgeville. Milledgeville 29-Aquin 16.

Al Zipsie. 60-12. Stateline Sports Hub. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Du/Pec. E/PC. Stockton. Warren. River Ridge. Milledgeville 22-Aquin 21.

Pete Leinweber. 58-14. Deep Dish Football. Forreston. Lena-Winslow. West Carroll. Galena. E/PC. Stockton. Warren. Mooseheart. Milledgeville.