Division championships and playoff fates are on the line around the TRAC in Week 8 of the season.
In both divisions of the conference, three teams are currently alive for championships. In the Rock Division, Riverdale can claim the outright title with a win, while Erie-Prophetstown and Rockridge can each share the championship with the Rams with wins coupled with a Riverdale loss. It’s the same story on the Mississippi side of the conference, where Kewanee can win the outright championship with a victory, but a loss would open the door for Monmouth-Roseville and Princeton to share the title with the Boilermakers.
On the playoff front this week, Mercer County and Orion meet up in a win-and-you’re-in game; Hall needs a win to extend its playoff hopes into Week 9; and Mendota is clinching a postseason berth with its third win (via forfeit) over Sherrard.
WRMJ’s Ty Taylor and Jim Taylor are joined by View from the West Podcast co-hosts Greg Armstrong and Mitch Stoermer, Matt Randazzo, and Brian Stocking to preview and predict this week’s action.
Standings after Week 7
| Place | Picker | Record |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Dazzo | 32-8 |
| T1 | Ty | 32-8 |
| 3 | Mitch | 30-10 |
| T4 | Greg | 29-11 |
| T4 | Jim | 29-11 |
| T4 | Stocking | 29-11 |
Game of the Week: Erie-Prophetstown (6-1, 3-1 TRAC Rock) @ Riverdale (7-0, 4-0 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
The Rock Division championship will be decided in a state-ranked 2A matchup between No. 4 Riverdale and No. 9 Erie-Prophetstown this week.
With a win, Riverdale would clinch the outright Rock Division championship and likely assure itself an opening-round bye in the playoffs. The Rams remained unbeaten, winning 28-12 over Newman last week. Riverdale raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead and held on to win in the second half. Lucas Dunbar rushed for 189 yards and two TDs in the win, and Abram Krier added 104 rushing yards, a rushing TD, and a passing touchdown to Jackson Tegeler. Riverdale’s defense limited Newman to just 156 yards of total offense in the win. The Rams close the regular season traveling to Kewanee next week.
Erie-Prophetstown would win a share of the Rock Division title with a win on the road this week. Last week, the Panthers rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 41-20 win over Mercer County at home. Erie-Prophetstown led 14-7 at halftime and went on to outscore the Golden Eagles 27-13 in the second half. Evan Steimle rushed for 181 yards and three TDs, passed for 88 yards and two TDs, and intercepted two passes on defense to lead the Panthers to the win. In total, Erie-Prophetstown’s defense forced four turnovers last week. The Panthers’ final regular season game is at Hall in Week 9.
Picks
Ty: Riverdale
Jim: Erie-Prophetstown
Greg: Riverdale
Mitch: Riverdale
Dazzo: Riverdale
Stocking: Riverdale
Orion (2-5, 0-4 TRAC Rock) @ Mercer County (1-6, 0-4 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
Mercer County hosts Orion this week in a game where the winner will punch its ticket to the playoffs.
With a forfeit win over Sherrard coming next week, a win against Orion would assure Mercer County of three wins, which is the new threshold to clinch a playoff berth under the expanded playoff format. Last week, the Golden Eagles dropped a 41-20 decision to Erie-Prophetstown. Eli Boswell paced Mercer County’s offense with 115 rushing yards and two TDs in Week 7, but four turnovers were too much for the Golden Eagles to overcome in the loss. Mercer County is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
Similarly to Mercer County, a win tonight would give Orion its vital third win of the season. Orion is coming off a 34-0 shutout loss at the hands of Rockridge last week. In the first half, the Chargers drove into the red zone and were eventually stopped on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line. Orion trailed 14-0 at halftime and went on to be outscored 20-0 in the second half. The Chargers haven’t been a postseason qualifier since 2019. Orion plays at Monmouth-Roseville next week.
A number of two-win teams will be needed to round out the 384-team playoff field, but both Mercer County and Orion currently are trending towards being unlikely to qualify for the postseason with two wins based on their playoff point standing.
Picks
Ty: Mercer County
Jim: Mercer County
Greg: Orion
Mitch: Mercer County
Dazzo: Mercer County
Stocking: Orion
Newman (4-3, 2-2 TRAC Rock) @ Rockridge (6-1, 3-1 TRAC Rock) – Friday 7 p.m.
Rockridge and Newman close divisional play this week, with both teams already having locked up playoff spots and waiting to see if they fall into the 1A or 2A field.
With a win, Rockridge (2A No. 8) could win a share of the Rock Division championship if Riverdale loses to Erie-Prophetstown this week. In Week 8, the Rockets pitched a shutout in a 34-0 blanking of Orion. Cullen Schwigen racked up 271 yards of total offense and accounted for all five of the Rockets’ touchdowns in the win. Rockridge is also closing in on clinching a bye in the opening round of playoffs. Rockridge wraps up its regular season with a trip to Princeton next week.
Newman fell short in a 28-12 defeat at the hands of Riverdale last week. Due to a rash of injuries, the Comets deployed their fifth different starting quarterback in seven games last week. Newman fell behind 21-0 in the first half and never was able to get within one score. Danny Welty and Tim Plote each rushed for TDs for the Comets in last week’s loss. Newman will hit the road to play Mendota in Week 9.
Picks
Ty: Rockridge
Jim: Rockridge
Greg: Rockridge
Mitch: Rockridge
Dazzo: Rockridge
Stocking: Rockridge
Monmouth-Roseville (4-3, 2-1 TRAC Mississippi) @ Kewanee (4-3, 3-0 TRAC Mississippi) – Friday 7 p.m.
The TRAC Mississippi championship is up for grabs when Kewanee hosts Monmouth-Roseville this week.
Kewanee would win the division championship outright with a win. The Boilermakers routed Hall 35-13 last week to clinch a share of the Mississippi title. Ace LaFollette led Kewanee to the win, accounting for four TDs last week. He scored on runs of 52 yards and 2 yards and on receptions of 63 yards and 72 yards. The Boilermakers are looking for their fourth straight win this week. Kewanee closes its regular season at home against Riverdale next week.
After a 1-3 start to the season, Monmouth-Roseville has won three in a row to give itself a chance to claim a third straight Mississippi Division championship. The Titans are the back-to-back outright Mississippi Division champions and would win a share of the Division title with a victory in this one. Monmouth-Roseville took care of Little Village 59-0 last week in a game that was 53-0 at halftime. The Titans host Orion in their regular season finale in Week 9.
Picks
Ty: Kewanee
Jim: Kewanee
Greg: Kewanee
Mitch: Kewanee
Dazzo: Kewanee
Stocking: Monmouth-Roseville
Hall (1-6, 0-3 TRAC Mississippi) @ Princeton (3-4, 2-1 TRAC Mississippi) – Friday 7 p.m.
Princeton looks to improve its postseason standing, while Hall is hoping to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Princeton rolled to a 63-12 win over Mendota last week. The Tigers led 35-0 at halftime and extended the advantage to 42-0 early in the third quarter to get to a continuous clock advantage. Princeton racked up 471 yards of total offense in the win. Jack Oester rushed for 105 yards and two TDs, while passing for 122 yards and two scores. Reece Pearson added 104 rushing yards and two total TDs in the win. The Tigers close the regular season at home against Rockridge next week.
With just 29 playoff points coming into Week 8, Hall will almost certainly be eliminated from postseason consideration with a loss to Princeton this week. The Red Devils’ lone win of the season came in a forfeit over Sherrard in Week 6. Last week, Hall fell to Keanee 35-13. Jaxon Weger and Gage Olson rushed for TDs in the loss. Hall will host Erie-Prophetstown next week.
Picks
Ty: Princeton
Jim: Princeton
Greg: Princeton
Mitch: Princeton
Dazzo: Princeton
Stocking: Princeton
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