Week 5 produced one of the most compelling weeks in TRAC history with four games decided by a touchdown or less, two game-winning TDs scored in the final minute, an overtime slugfest between Rockridge and Newman, and a shocking margin of victory for Monmouth-Roseville over Princeton.
This week projects to be a much more standard week around the league. Monmouth-Roseville and Newman can clinch shares of their respective divisional titles with wins tonight. Also, the Titans are the first TRAC member to punch their ticket to the playoffs and are the last remaining unbeaten team in the conference.
WRMJ’s Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor are joined by Greg Armstrong and Mitch Stoermer from View from the West Podcast to preview and predict this week’s action.
Standings after Week 5
| Place | Picker | Record |
| 1 | Ty | 25-5 |
| 2 | Jim | 23-7 |
| T3 | Greg | 22-8 |
| T3 | Mitch | 22-8 |
Game of the Week: Newman (4-1, 3-0 TRAC Rock) @ Mercer County (3-2, 2-1 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Mercer County suffered a last-minute loss to Erie-Prophetstown 20-14 last week. The Golden Eagles watched an early 14-0 lead slip away as the Panthers scored the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. Mercer County committed two 15-yard penalties on Erie-Prophetstown’s game-winning 46-yard drive, which was capped off by a 12-yard TD pass. The Golden Eagles scored on their first two drives of the game. Payton Sedam got Mercer County on the board with a 15-yard TD run and John Baldwin added a five-yard rushing score later in the first quarter. After that, the Golden Eagles’ offense stalled out and was unable to score the rest of the game.
Newman outlasted Rockridge in overtime 15-7 to take control of the Rock Division race in Week 5. The Comets didn’t allow the Rockets to score an offensive touchdown in the game and limited Rockridge to 152 yards of total offense and 29 rushing yards. Newman trailed 7-0 at halftime and tied the game midway through the third quarter when Evan Bushman connected with Brady Williamson on a 22-yard TD pass on fourth-and-six. The Comets scored to open overtime on a Briar Ivey 5-yard TD run. On Rockridge’s second play of its overtime possession, Matthew Blackert intercepted Cullen Schwigen to seal the win. Since a 28-14 loss to Princeton in Week 1, Newman’s defense has allowed 8.5 points per game the last four weeks.
With a win this week, Newman would clinch a share of the TRAC Rock championship and have a chance to win it outright next week against Riverdale. The Comets would also qualify for the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season and secure its 31st straight .500 or better record. For Aledo/Mercer County to extend its postseason-appearance streak to 28 years, the Golden Eagles must upset at least one of Newman, Rockridge or Princeton over the next three weeks. Homecoming at George Pratt Memorial Field marks the start of Mercer County’s most challenging three-week regular-season stretch since the Olympic Conference days.
Picks
Ty: Newman
Jim: Newman
Greg: Newman
Mitch: Newman
Rockridge (3-2, 2-1 TRAC Rock) @ Orion (1-4, 0-3 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Rockridge fell at Roscoe Eades Stadium to Newman 15-7 last week in overtime. The Rockets opened the scoring with a Trevor Dye 70-yard interception return for a touchdown and held a 7-0 lead at halftime. Rockridge surrendered the lead with a 22-yard Newman TD pass in the third quarter on fourth-and-six. Rockridge’s defense jumped offsides before the Comets’ first overtime snap, which set up a five-yard TD run on Newman’s first overtime play. Cullen Scwhigen was picked off on 2nd-and-goal in overtime. He finished 9-23 for 122 yards. The Rockets’ offense was limited to seven first downs and 152 total yards in the loss.
Orion dropped its fourth straight game with a 28-26 loss to Riverdale on Homecoming at Charger Field in Week 5. The Chargers dug themselves into a 21-0 hole at halftime. Orion’s defense struggled against the run again last week, allowing the Rams to rush for 470 yards in the loss. The Chargers trailed 28-6 early in the fourth quarter, before scoring the final three TDs of the game to come within two points of tying the score. Aiden Fisher scored his second rushing TD of the game with 1:16 left to make the score 28-18. The Chargers then recovered the ensuing onside kick and inched closer on a 7-yard TD pass from Kale Filler to Jackson Peer. The two-point conversion succeeded to get Orion within two points. The next onside kick was unsuccessful and Riverdale was able to run out the clock.
Rockridge will try to get back on track this week after falling out of the driver’s seat of the TRAC Rock race last week. The rest of Rockridge’s schedule is full of meaningful games, including next week with Mercer County, with the Rockets jockeying for playoff positioning in an always-competitive 2A north bracket. Orion is a loss away from missing the postseason for the fourth straight year, which hasn’t happened in the program since the 1991-95 seasons. The numbers game continues to hurt Orion, as the Chargers had just 21 players available last week. After battling Rockridge tonight, the Orion plays at Erie-Prophetstown in Week 7.
Picks
Ty: Rockridge
Jim: Rockridge
Greg: Rockridge
Mitch: Rockridge
Erie-Prophetstown (3-2, 1-2 TRAC Rock) @ Riverdale (2-3, 1-2 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Erie-Prophetstown snapped its two-game losing streak with a thrilling 20-14 comeback win over Mercer County in Week 6. The Panthers trailed 14-0 in the first quarter but didn’t allow the Golden Eagles to score the rest of the game. E-P got on the board with a 20-yard TD run by Demetree Larsen late in the opening period to cut the deficit to 14-7. Midway through the third quarter, the Panthers tied the game on a 72-yard bomb from Keegan Winckler to Gaven Adams. After forcing Mercer County to punt with just under two minutes remaining in regulation, Erie-Prophetstown capped a 46-yard game-winning drive when Winckler connected with Max Milem on a 12-yard TD pass with 15 seconds remaining. Winckler finished 9-14 passing for 108 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries.
Riverdale spoiled Orion’s Homecoming with a 28-26 win last week. The victory marked Riverdale’s first win at Orion since 1971. The Rams racked up 470 yards rushing and 487 yards of total offense in the game. Caen Beckett rushed for 267 yards and three TDs on 15 carries. His TDs came on runs of 74 yards, 41 yards and 73 yards. Gaege Heinsen added 178 yards and a TD on 30 carries for the Rams. Riverdale’s defense came up with two interceptions in the win.
The playoff path for Erie-Prophetstown is much clearer after last week’s final-minute takedown of Mercer County. The Panthers need to win two of their final four to clinch a postseason spot but have a solid chance to get to six wins. Favorable matchups against Orion and Mendota come in Weeks 7-8, before a test against Princeton to close the regular season. Riverdale is in the playoff conversation past the midway point of the season, which is a massive step forward. The Rams’ final three games are with Newman, Hall and Sherrard. It’s a must-win for Riverdale in the most important game the program has played in quite some time.
Picks
Ty: Erie-Prophetstown
Jim: Riverdale
Greg: Erie-Prophetstown
Mitch: Erie-Prophetstown
Sherrard (2-3, 2-1 TRAC Mississippi) @ Monmouth-Roseville (5-0, 3-0 TRAC Mississippi) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Sherrard won its second straight one-possession game with a 28-21 win at Mendota in Week 5. The Tigers rallied without standout quarterback Carter Brown, who was stretchered off the field early in the fourth quarter with a leg injury, to score the game-winning touchdown with 55 seconds on the clock. With Sherrard trailing 21-20 in the final minutes, senior running back Garrett Woodward shifted to quarterback and scored on a 6-yard rushing TD to cap a 52-yard game-winning drive for Sherrard. The Tigers batted down a Mendota pass to the end zone on the final play to seal the win. Before the injury, Brown rushed for 129 yards and two TDs on 17 carries. He also passed for a TD on a 7-yard screen pass to Lane Luxmore.
Monmouth-Roseville stunned the conference by dominating Princeton 31-3 last week. The Titans are 5-0 for the first time in program history and are now the clear favorite to win the Mississippi Division. Quarterback Andy Myers completed 5-6 passing attempts for 129 yards and two TDs. Both TD passes were caught by Payton Thompson, who finished with all four of the team’s touchdowns. He caught three passes for 72 yards and rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries. Ivan Godina added a 24-yard field goal in the win.
It will be an uphill battle for Sherrard without Brown against the hottest team in the conference. Sherrard hosts Kewanee in Week 7. With a win this week, Monmouth-Roseville will clinch a share of the TRAC Mississippi championship and give itself a chance to win the division outright next week at Hall.
Picks
Ty: Monmouth-Roseville
Jim: Monmouth-Roseville
Greg: Monmouth-Roseville
Mitch: Monmouth-Roseville
Mendota (0-5, 0-3 TRAC Mississippi) @ Kewanee (2-3, 1-2 TRAC Mississippi) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Kewanee downed Hall 42-17 last week on the road. The Boilermakers snapped a two-game losing streak with the win. Kewanee controlled the game from start to finish, holding a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, a 21-0 advantage at halftime, and led 35-0 in the third. Alex Duarte rushed for 228 yards and three TDs on just 10 carries. His touchdown runs came from 3 yards, 56 yards and 69 yards.
Mendota held a lead in the fourth quarter for the first time this year but couldn’t hold on in a 28-21 loss to Sherrard in Week 5. The Trojans allowed the Tigers to score the game-winning touchdown with 55 seconds remaining. Aden Tillman was 7-15 passing for 149 yards and three TDs in the loss. He also rushed for 53 yards.
The back half of Kewanee’s schedule is much more forgiving than the first four games were. Outside of Newman in Week 8, three of the Boilermakers’ final four opponents sport losing records, including Sherrard next week, which provides a path to the playoffs for Kewanee. It’s the opposite for Mendota, which is already out of playoff contention. After this week, the winless Trojans still have to play Princeton, Erie-Prophetstown and Mercer County to close the season.
Picks
Ty: Kewanee
Jim: Kewanee
Greg: Kewanee
Mitch: Kewanee
Hall (1-4, 1-2 TRAC Mississippi) @ Princeton (4-1, 2-1 TRAC Mississippi) – Friday 7 p.m.
Preview
Hall was handed a 42-17 loss by Kewanee on its Homecoming last week. The Red Devils didn’t get on the board until they were facing a 35-0 deficit in the third quarter. Hall’s scoring plays were a 61-yard TD pass from Dylan Glynn to Braden Curran, a 26-yard field goal by Ilan Bardot and a 17-yard TD run by Jack Curran. The Red Devils forced two turnovers in the loss.
Princeton took a surprising 31-3 loss to Monmouth-Roseville last week. The Tigers allowed two passing touchdowns in the first half and faced a 14-3 deficit at halftime. After blocking a punt attempt on Monmouth-Roseville’s scrimmage kick, the Tigers started a possession at the Titans’ 4-yard line but were held out of the end zone. Princeton was outscored 17-0 across the final two quarters. Ian Morris kicked a 49-yard field goal for the Tigers late in the first half, which was Princeton’s only scoring play. The Tigers were held to 132 rushing yards on 43 attempts in the loss.
Princeton will look to get back on track the next two weeks against Hall and Mendota, which have both struggled in 2024. Hall has another tough test next week with Monmouth-Roseville waiting in Week 7.
Picks
Ty: Princeton
Jim: Princeton
Greg: Princeton
Mitch: Princeton
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
Visit our TRAC webpage to stay updated with the conference throughout the season.