Friday Night Drive

Friday Night Drive

We have a simple mission at Friday Night Drive: produce in-depth quality high school football coverage for Illinois high school football fans. It’s our goal every day with our award-winning writers and editors to give our listeners high quality coverage of the teams, players and issues they care about in high school football. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Episodes

January 6, 2026 2 mins
Dixon's Jared Shaner felt like it was time to step down after a successful run leading the Dukes' football team.

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Mark as Played
Dixon's Jared Shaner felt like it was time to step down after a successful run leading the Dukes' football team.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Mark as Played
Oswego football coach Brian Cooney, who helped lead the Panthers to the Class 8A state championship game this past fall, has been selected to coach in the prestigious Navy All-American Bowl on Jan. 10 in San Antonio.

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Mark as Played
With the 2025-26 Early Signing Period over, we’re taking a brief look at some of the top 2028 prospects in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference. Here are some notable prospects to watch for as the 2025-26 offseason progresses.

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Mark as Played
With the 2025-26 Early Signing Period over, we’re taking a brief look at some of the top 2028 prospects in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference. Here are some notable prospects to watch for as the 2025-26 offseason progresses.

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Mark as Played
St. Francis grad Tommy Rittenhouse came back from throwing five picks to throw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes and lead Illinois State in a colossal upset of No. 1 North Dakota State. Two wins later, Rittenhouse is set to lead the Redbirds into the FCS title game.

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Mark as Played
St. Francis grad Tommy Rittenhouse came back from throwing five picks to throw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes and lead Illinois State in a colossal upset of No. 1 North Dakota State. Two wins later, Rittenhouse is set to lead the Redbirds into the FCS title game.

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Mark as Played
RJ Haines, a core of the Kankakee area football coaching scene for more than two decades, is a part of the upcoming Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame class.

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Mark as Played
There is one thing you will find behind every winning head coach and successful football program: a good assistant coach who is loyal and dedicated to the head coach and the mission of the team. For 38 years, for nine different head coaches, Charlie Waca was that assistant coach.

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Mark as Played
Here is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Team of the Year.

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Here is the 2025 Kane County Chronicle All-Area football team.

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Mark as Played
Here is the 2025 Kane County Chronicle All-Area football team.

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Mark as Played
St. Francis two-way lineman Jaylen Torres, who controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage and helped the team to its first state title since 2008, is the Kane County Chronicle football Player of the Year.

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Mark as Played
Montini junior quarterback Israel Abrams, who threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns and led the Broncos to a 14-0 record and the Class 4A state championship, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.

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Mark as Played
Here is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Team of the Year.

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As the IHSA announced an expansion of the football playoffs starting next season, Suburban Life-area coaches offered their reactions. "I'm excited about the opportunities our kids might get. It is a net positive for us."

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Mark as Played
Charlie Waca, a longtime assistant with four decades on Bureau County area sidelines, will be inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall Fame in the Class of 2026.

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Mark as Played
Brother Rice sophomore defensive lineman Kameron McGee, a five-star prospect who recorded 21 TFLs and 10.5 sacks while guiding the Crusaders to an IHSA 7A state championship this season, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the Year.

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Mark as Played
Here are the best of the best on the gridiron in the Herald-News area for the 2025 season.

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Mark as Played
USC-bound quarterback Jonas Williams of Lincoln-Way East became the IHSA's all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Williams is the 2025 Herald-News Football Player of the Year.

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Mark as Played

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