Games of the Week (IL – Week 4)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week's high school football matchups in Illinois are packed with excitement and critical showdowns. Here are the top three games to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. <strong>Normal (3-0) vs. Kankakee (2-1)</strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Normal comes into this game undefeated, riding the arm of senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='819660' first='Alek' last='Weiland']</strong>, who continues to put up big numbers. Kankakee, looking to build momentum, boasts a dangerous playmaker in <strong>Cedric Terrell III</strong>, who has the ability to break a game wide open with his speed and playmaking skills. Normal's defense will be tested as they aim to contain Terrell, who could be the difference-maker in what promises to be a competitive matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. <strong>Eureka (3-0) vs. El Paso-Gridley (2-1)</strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eureka looks to stay perfect as they face off against El Paso-Gridley, with wide receiver <strong>Tory Kupferschmid</strong> coming off a strong performance. Kupferschmid's ability to stretch the field and make big plays downfield gives Eureka a significant offensive weapon. On the other side, El Paso-Gridley will need to find a way to counter Eureka's balanced attack if they hope to hand them their first loss. This game has the potential to shake up the conference standings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. <strong>St. Charles North (3-0) vs. Batavia (3-0)</strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This undefeated clash between St. Charles North and Batavia has all the ingredients for a classic DuKane Conference showdown. St. Charles North's quarterback <strong>Ethen Plumb</strong> has developed a strong connection with junior wide receiver <strong>Braden Harms</strong>, who has become his favorite target in key situations. Batavia, known for its physical brand of football, will lean heavily on running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1572562' first='Nathan' last='Whitwell']</strong> to control the tempo and wear down the St. Charles defense. This game could come down to whether Batavia can establish the run or if Plumb and Harms can continue their aerial dominance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With talented players and crucial conference implications on the line, these three games will showcase some of the best high school football action in Illinois this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->