Rockridge and Princeton were picked by Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) coaches and media to win their respective football divisions again this year in a poll organized by WRMJ. Princeton has won six consecutive division titles, while Rockridge has won back-to-back division championships.
Princeton was picked to win the Mississippi Division unanimously by the league’s coaches and media. Rockridge earned first-place votes from every coach in the Rock Division and all but one media member, who picked Newman to take the division crown.
The TRAC’s divisions were shaken up this year with the addition of Mercer County and the loss of both Bureau Valley and Morrison. The divisions are now split by enrollment. The Rock Division consists of Erie-Prophetstown, Mercer County, Newman, Orion, Riverdale and Rockridge. The Mississippi Division includes Hall, Kewanee, Mendota, Monmouth-Roseville, Princeton and Sherrard.
In the coaches poll, all 12 head coaches in the conference participated. They were asked to rank the teams in their division, excluding themselves, 1-5. A first-place vote received five points, a second-place vote received four points, and down the line.
Seven local media members ranked both divisions 1-6 in the media poll. Participating outlets included WRMJ, WMOI/WRAM, Bureau County Republican, View from the West Podcast and NUICFootball.com. A first-place vote received six points in the media poll because all six teams were ranked.
Below are the poll results, followed by a preview of each team in the conference.
Preseason TRAC Rock Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockridge (5) | 25 |
| 2 | Newman | 21 |
| 3 | Mercer County | 15 |
| 4 | Erie-Prophetstown | 13 |
| 5 | Orion | 11 |
| 6 | Riverdale | 5 |
Preseason TRAC Rock Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockridge (6) | 41 |
| 2 | Newman (1) | 35 |
| T3 | Mercer County | 22 |
| T3 | Orion | 22 |
| 5 | Erie-Prophetstown | 20 |
| 6 | Riverdale | 7 |
Preseason TRAC Mississippi Coaches Poll
| Place | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton (5) | 25 |
| 2 | Kewanee | 21 |
| 3 | Monmouth-Roseville | 17 |
| 4 | Sherrard | 13 |
| 5 | Hall | 9 |
| 6 | Mendota | 5 |
Preseason TRAC Mississippi Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | Princeton (7) | 42 |
| 2 | Monmouth-Roseville | 33 |
| 3 | Kewanee | 29 |
| 4 | Sherrard | 21 |
| 5 | Hall | 15 |
| 6 | Mendota | 7 |
Team Previews – Rock Division
Rockridge Rockets
Head Coach: Sam Graves (9th season: 67-22)
2023 Record: 9-2
Playoffs: Lost 47-14 to Seneca in 2A second round
Rockridge is the only team on the small school side of the TRAC to have won a postseason game last year. The Rockets open the 2024 season as the favorite to win a conference title for the third consecutive season.
In 2023, Rockridge defeated Ridgeview-Lexington, Riverdale, Sherrard, Orion, Monmouth-Roseville, Morrison, Hall, Erie-Prophetstown, and Westville. The Rockets’ two losses came to Newman and Seneca.
The Rockets bring back a lot of offensive production, led by sophomore quarterback Cullen Schwigen, who accounted for 22 touchdowns last year. He passed for 1,032 yards and rushed for 984 yards. Rockridge’s top two receivers Landon Wheatley (22 receptions, 369 yards, seven TDs) and Owen Steele (14 receptions, 246 yards, four TDs) are also back. Landon Bull, first-team all-TRAC, and Tanner McKeag, second-team all-TRAC, are back on the offensive line.
Rockridge’s defense is projected to be strong again in 2024 with Bull, a returning all-state linebacker, leading the charge. Jude Finch, first-team, and McKeag, honorable mention, return as all-conference players up front. Wheatley and Trevor Dye are both back after receiving second-team all-conference honors in the secondary last year. Ryan Lower is set for his junior season after being selected as a second-team all-conference linebacker in 2023.
The Rockets begin the season visiting Sherrard.
Newman Central Catholic Comets
Head Coach: Mike LeMay (3rd season: 12-8)
2023 Record: 7-3
Playoffs: Lost 28-14 to ROWVA-Williamsfield in 1A first round
Newman Central Catholic enters the 2024 season coming off back-to-back seasons with first-round playoff exits.
Last season, Newman scored wins over Rockridge, Sherrard, Rock Island, Erie-Prophetstown, Bureau Valley, Hall, and Mendota. The Comets dropped games to Princeton, Kewanee, and ROWVA-Williamsfield.
Newman’s defensive effort was the key to the program’s success a year ago. The Comets held their opponents to 14 or fewer points in six of ten games and forced 28 turnovers in 2023. Five all-conference defensive players return for Newman – first-team linebacker Daniel Kelly (115 tackles and six tackles for loss) second-teamers Ryan Parrington (DL) and Cody McBride (DB), and honorable mention linebackers Briar Ivey and Joe Oswalt.
Junior quarterback Evan Bushman is back after throwing for 1,484 yards and 10 TDs a year ago, to go along with 167 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
The Comets open the season by visiting Princeton.
Mercer County Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Tanner Matlick (2nd season: 6-4)
2023 Record: 6-4
Playoffs: Lost 41-14 to Wilmington in 2A first round
Mercer County will play the program’s toughest regular season schedule since Aledo and Westmer consolidated in 2009, as the Golden Eagles enter the TRAC. 2024 will mark the first time since 2006 that Aledo/Mercer County will share a conference with Rockridge, Sherrard, Orion, and Monmouth-Roseville and play all four of them in football.
Mercer County wrapped up its time as a Lincoln Trail Conference member last season by being a part of the Lincoln Land merger with the Prairieland Conference. The Golden Eagles’ wins were against St. Bede, LVC, Elmwood-Brimfield, Illini West, Macomb, and West Hancock. The Golden Eagles fell to United, Farmington, Knoxville, and Wilmington in 2023.
The Golden Eagles will be led offensively by junior running back Tannen Whitehall, a second-team all-conference selection in the Lincoln Land Conference last season.
Defensively, a pair of first-team all-conference players return with Payton Sedam (LB) and Jacob Kenney (DL), along with second-team all-conference linebacker Lucas Marston.
Mercer County’s 2023 stats were not provided.
The Golden Eagles begin the year at Monmouth-Roseville.
Erie-Prophetstown Panthers
Head Coach: Tyler Whitebread (2nd season: 3-6)
2023 Record: 3-6
Playoffs: Missed
Erie-Prophetstown will try to build on a strong second half of the 2023 season this fall. After an 0-5 start, the Panthers won three of four to close the year. Erie-Prophetstown’s wins last year came against Orion, Riverdale, and Sherrard. The Panthers dropped results to Bureau Valley, Kewanee, Monmouth-Roseville, Morrison, Newman, and Rockridge.
Senior running back and defensive back Demetree Larsen is the top returner for Erie-Prophetstown. Last season, Larsen was named a first-team all-conference player on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 575 yards and racked up 384 receiving yards on the season to go with eight total touchdowns.
Jack Hockaday, a junior defensive lineman, also earned first-team all-conference honors last season for the Panthers. Amen Barron, junior offensive lineman and guard, and Connor Keegan, junior defensive back and wide receiver were named second-team and honorable mention all-conference performers last year, respectively.
The Panthers will have a new quarterback in junior Keegan Winckler. He started a few games as a freshman in 2022 due to injuries.
Erie-Prophetstown opens the season by visiting Kewanee.
Orion Chargers
Head Coach: Chip Filler (16th season: 92-58)
2023 Record: 3-6
Playoffs: Missed
The 2024 season marks Chip Filler’s 16th year leading the Orion football program, which makes him the longest-tenured coach in the TRAC.
The Chargers missed the playoffs for the third straight season in 2023, finishing 3-6. Orion suffered two losses by one point to Erie-Prophetstown and Sherrard in consecutive weeks, which saw the Chargers surrender leads in the final 15 seconds or less.
In addition to the losses to the Panthers and Tigers, Orion also lost to Morrison, Princeton, Rockridge, and Monmouth-Roseville. The Chargers picked up wins over Hall, Mendota, and Riverdale last year.
Orion returns a high-powered passing attack on offense led by junior quarterback and the conference’s top passer Kale Filler. He threw for 2,038 yards and 23 TDs last season. He has both of his top receiving targets back, too – senior Jake Bainbridge (55 receptions, 872 yards, 12 TDs) and junior Owen Voorhees (40 receptions, 872 yards, 8 TDs).
In the Chargers’ six losses last season, the team allowed an average of 41.1 points per game. Senior middle linebacker Aiden Fisher will anchor a defensive unit that looks to take a step forward in 2024. Fisher had 110 tackles and four tackles for loss in 2023. Bainbridge and Chase Hixson are returning starters on the defensive line and Max Larson and Jackson Peer are both back in the secondary for Orion.
The Chargers open the season on the road against Hall.
Riverdale Rams
Head Coach: Guy Dierikx (8th season: 12-46)
2023 Record: 0-9
Playoffs: Missed
Riverdale is playing its second straight varsity football schedule, after canceling the 2022 season because of low numbers. The Rams had 18 kids out for football that year. In 2024, Riverdale is expecting nearly 50 kids on its football roster, according to head coach Guy Dierikx.
The Rams struggled with an extremely young roster last year, finishing winless. Riverdale’s nine losses came to Dupo, Hall, Rockridge, Monmouth-Roseville, Sherrard, Mendota, Erie-Prophetstown, Morrison, and Orion.
Riverdale graduated just two players from last year’s roster, so a large portion of production on both sides of the ball is back. That includes the team’s top rushers Gaege Heinsen (574 yards and three TDs) and Caen Beckett (400 yards and five TDs).
Defensively, Kolton Kruse is the top returner for Riverdale with 87 tackles and five tackles for loss.
The season starts for the Rams with a road game against Mendota.
Team Previews – Mississippi Division
Princeton Tigers
Head Coach: Ryan Pearson (8th season: 58-17)
2023 Record: 10-2
Playoffs: Lost 27-9 to Montini in 3A quarterfinals
Princeton returns a large portion of its roster from last season and begins the year as the definitive top team on either side of the conference. The Tigers have advanced to the 3A quarterfinals the past four seasons, including a trip to the semifinals in 2019.
Princeton’s 10 wins last year were against Monmouth-Roseville twice, Newman, Orion, Sterling, Kewanee, Bureau Valley, Mendota, Hall, and Paxton-Buckley-Loda. The two losses for the Tigers came to Morrison and Montini.
Northwestern University wide receiver commit Noah LaPorte highlights a collection of high-impact returners on offense for Princeton. LaPorte caught 34 passes for 517 yards and eight TDs a year ago. The Tigers also have running backs Casey Etheridge (223 carries, 1,897 yards, 29 TDs) and Ace Christiansen (112 carries, 738 yards, eight TDs) back. Quarterback William Lott enters his senior season after throwing for 1,024 yards and 11 TDs a year ago. Three offensive linemen who earned all-conference honors return for the Tigers, headlined by first-team all-TRAC center Rhett Pearson.
It’s the same story on defense for Princeton with six all-conference players back on that side of the ball, including four first-team selections. Linebackers Arthur Burden (84 tackles, 9 tackles for loss) and Ian Morris (83 tackles, 14 tackles for loss) and defensive backs LaPorte (46 tackles, four interceptions) and Christiansen (48 tackles) are the first-team all-TRAC defenders that return.
Princeton starts the season at home against Newman.
Kewanee Boilermakers
Head Coach: Matthew Taylor (2nd season: 8-2)
2023 Record: 8-2
Playoffs: Lost 28-13 to Peoria Notre Dame in 4A first round
Kewanee is looking to build upon a strong 2023 season in Matthew Taylor’s second year leading the program. The Boilermakers won eight games in the regular season and appeared in the 4A playoffs.
Kewanee beat Sherrard, Erie-Prophetstown, Mendota, Bureau Valley, Hall, Monmouth-Roseville, Newman, and Aurora Central Catholic. The Boilermakers’ two losses came against Princeton and Peoria Notre Dame.
The Boilermakers will have to replace all-state quarterback Brady Clark, who passed for 1,318 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions last year. He also rushed for 704 yards and scored 12 TDs on the ground.
First-team all-conference running back and linebacker Alex Duarte returns after a strong junior season. Duarte led Kewanee on the ground with 797 yards and 11 TDs. On defense, Duarte is the top returning tackler for the Boilermakers after racking up 64 tackles.
Kewanee’s top three receivers from last season are all back for their senior seasons. Ben Taylor, a first-team all-conference selection, caught 22 passes for 370 yards and five TDs a year ago. Davonte Jordan (17 receptions, 361 yards, three TDs) and Colson Welgat (12 receptions, 258 yards, four TDs) are also offensive weapons for the Boilermakers.
Kewanee outscored its opponents last season 333-135, an average of 33.3-13.5 per game.
The Boilermakers open the year at home against Erie-Prophetstown.
Monmouth-Roseville Titans
Head Coach: Jeremy Adolphson (24th season: 95-124, 14th season at Monmouth-Roseville: 56-66)
2023 Record: 6-5
Playoffs: Lost 35-0 to Princeton in 3A second round
Monmouth-Roseville is trying to carry the momentum of three straight playoff appearances into the 2024 season. The Titans are bringing back seven starters on both sides of the ball, with many of those returners being key pieces to last year’s playoff team.
Last year, Monmouth-Roseville beat Bureau Valley, Erie-Prophetstown, Riverdale, Orion, Sherrard, and North Boone. The Titans dropped games to Princeton twice, Morrison, Rockridge, and Kewanee.
Head coach Jeremy Adolphson said this year’s Monmouth-Roseville team is the biggest and strongest he’s had in his almost quarter-century coaching career. Along the offensive line, the Titans are led by Jackson Thomas, a first-team all-TRAC player last season. Payton Thompson tallied 992 rushing yards, 170 receiving yards, and 15 total TDs in his junior season. The Titans also have their quarterback returning, Andy Myers. Myers threw for 530 yards and rushed for 508.
On defense, Thompson (98 tackles, four interceptions) and Andrew Way (78 tackles, seven tackles for loss) are the top returning tacklers for the Titans. Nick Huston should be one of the top backfield disruptors in the league. As a sophomore in 2023, Huston racked up eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Monmouth-Roseville kicks off the season by hosting Mercer County.
Sherrard Tigers
Head Coach: Brandon Johnston (14th season: 89-50, 4th season at Sherrard: 4-23)
2023 Record: 3-6
Playoffs: Missed
Sherrard will again try to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2009 this fall. The Tigers came two wins shy of doing so last year. Of Sherrard’s six losses in 2023, three were in one-possession games and five were by 16 points or less.
In Brandon Johnston’s first year at Sherrard in 2021, the Tigers went 0-9 and lost six games that season by more than 40 points. Now, in year four, Sherrard has closed the gap in terms of competitiveness within the conference.
The three wins for the Tigers last season were Warrensburg-Latham, Riverdale, and Orion. Sherrard suffered losses against Kewanee, Newman, Rockridge, Morrison, Erie-Prophetstown, and Monmouth-Roseville.
Three-way first-team all-conference player Carter Brown is Sherrard’s top player back. The junior reeled in 51 receptions for 591 yards and eight TDs last year. He also rushed for 108 yards and two TDs and averaged more than 20 yards per return on kickoff and punt returns. Brown is expected to shift to quarterback this season. Garrett Woodward is another key returner for the Tigers. He had 201 receiving yards a year ago. Also on offense, Sherrard has five players who spent time as starting offensive linemen returning, including senior Grady Steele, who missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury.
Sherrard has key players back at all three levels on defense. Up front, Dom Wates had 37 tackles and three tackles for loss last season. Woodward, a linebacker, totaled 66 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. In the secondary, Brown had 49 tackles, five tackles for loss, and an interception.
The Tigers open the 2024 campaign at home against Rockridge.
Hall Red Devils
Head Coach: Logan Larson (1st season)
2023 Record: 3-6
Playoffs: Missed
The Hall football program has a new head coach in 2024. Logan Larson is taking over as head coach after spending three years as an assistant coach at Athens, which finished last season as the 2A runner-up.
In 2023, Hall defeated Riverdale, Mendota, and IVC. The Red Devils dropped games to Orion, Bureau Valley, Kewanee, Newman, Rockridge, and Princeton.
Junior running back Braden Curran is the top returning offensive producer. As a sophomore in 2023, he accumulated 631 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Curran (RB/LB) is one of five two-way starters from last year’s ballclub that are back, along with fellow juniors Aiden Redcliff (RB/LB) and Jacob Mongan (OL/DL) and seniors Jack Jablonski (RB/WR/DB) and Cameron Spradling (OL/DL).
Hall starts the season at home against Orion.
Mendota Trojans
Head Coach: Keegan Hill (6th season: 10-38)
2023 Record: 1-8
Playoffs: Missed
The Mendota football program will try to turn things around after finishing its eighth sub-.500 season in the last nine years in 2023.
Mendota’s lone win last year came against Riverdale. The Trojans lost games to Morrison, Orion, Kewanee, Hall, Bureau Valley, Geneseo, Princeton, and Newman. Six of Mendota’s eight losses were by 40 or more points.
Mendota lost its quarterback, Justin Randolph, who led the team in passing and rushing last year. Braiden Freeman is back for his senior season after catching 26 passes for 326 yards last year. He leads a young receiving corps of Wyatt Ossman, Keegan Beetz, and Aden Tillman, who are looking to make leaps in their junior seasons after getting a lot of time as sophomores in 2023.
The Trojans open the season at home against Riverdale.
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