11-on-11 preseason scrimmages are new to high school football in Illinois this year.
Last December, Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member schools approved a proposal to create “Week 0” scrimmages, which take place the weekend before the first games of the season. This year’s preseason contests will be held Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24.
The scrimmages have to follow specific guidelines – a maximum of 48 total plays are allowed split into four separate 12-play segments, no special teams snaps and IHSA officials must be used.
Over half of the teams in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) will take part in a Week 0 scrimmage.
Mercer County will play former Lincoln Trail Conference foe ROWVA-Williamsfield in Oneida at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 23. Mercer County High School athletic director Dustin Murray says the preseason scrimmages give smaller schools an opportunity to play 11-on-11 with declining participation numbers making that difficult to do in a traditional practice.
Other TRAC Week 0 scrimmages
- Sherrard @ Annawan-Wethersfield – 6 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 23
- Mendota @ Winnebago – 6:15 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 23
- Rock Falls @ Orion – 6:45 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 23
- Riverdale @ Alleman – 7 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 23 (game is at Lindberg Stadium, Augustana College)
- Monmouth-Roseville @ Galesburg – 8:15 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 23
- Erie-Prophetstown @ Bureau Valley – 6:30 p.m., on Saturday Aug. 24
WRMJ’s high school football play-by-play coverage starts Friday, Aug. 30, with Mercer County @ Monmouth-Roseville, Rockridge @ Sherrard and Orion @ Hall on our airwaves.
Visit our TRAC webpage to stay updated with the conference throughout the season.
WRMJ’s coverage of the TRAC is presented by:
- Midwest Bank, with locations that include Aledo, Andalusia, Monmouth, and Moline
- Local COUNTRY Financial representatives Tracy Bigham, Jason Potter, and John Waugh in Aledo, Brent Bigham in Edgington, and Julie Hessler in Orion.
- Breedlove’s Sporting Goods in Kewanee