Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryder Van Meenen blocks Prairie Central linebacker Kinser Benjamin on a first-quarter play for the Spartans. This week, SJO (1-0) faces Paxton-Buckley-Loda (0-1) on the road while the Hawks (0-1) host their first home game of the season against Pontiac (0-1).
URBANA - We start this season’s Friday Night Forecast with a nine-way tie. Last week, the Sentinel and eight challengers finished with perfect 5-0 records. Coltrane, DoubleJ, Best Look Magazine, SCOTTY P, Sagesrunner, Frank, Bement Bulldogs and Steve know their stuff. This week, five brave prognosticators return, putting their reputations and Illini Prairie Conference football knowledge on the line with their picks for Week 2 winners in the 2026 race for the conference football title. Below are their projected winners and probable scores.
| Best Look Magazine | Doublej | Frank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Catholic vs Illinois Valley Central | Bloomington Central Catholic 35-7 |
Bloomington Central Catholic 42-0 |
Bloomington Central Catholic 45-6 |
| Prairie Central vs Pontiac | Pontiac 21-14 |
Prairie Central 24-12 |
Prairie Central 28-14 |
| St. Joseph-Ogden vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda | St. Joseph-Ogden 35-21 |
St. Joseph-Ogden 54-6 |
St. Joseph-Ogden 50-20 |
| Monticello vs Unity | Unity 28-21 |
Unity 22-19 |
Unity 28-21 |
| Rantoul vs Mattoon | Mattoon 28-14 |
Mattoon 18-12 |
Mattoon 35-14 |
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
TOLONO - Monticello's Zeke Young hauls in a pass during his team's second-round playoff game against Unity. Young sprinted to the goal line to give the Sages a 13-0 first-quarter lead. Young, now a senior, returns to Hicks Field on Friday, hoping to avenge last year's 21-20 playoff loss to the Rockets. Both Monticello and Unity opened their 2026 campaign with win in Week 1 competition.
| The Sentinel | Coltrane | Scotty P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Catholic vs Illinois Valley Central | Bloomington Central Catholic 35-12 |
Bloomington Central Catholic 55-0 |
Bloomington Central Catholic 42-6 |
| Prairie Central vs Pontiac | Prairie Central 36-21 |
Prairie Central 32-14 |
Prairie Central 28-14 |
| St. Joseph-Ogden vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda | St. Joseph-Ogden 42-12 |
St. Joseph-Ogden 41-14 |
St. Joseph-Ogden 63-14 |
| Monticello vs Mattoon | Unity 28-21 |
Unity 27-14 |
Unity 14-7 |
| Rantoul vs Mattoon | Mattoon 21-20 |
Rantoul 26-12 |
Rantoul 28-7 |
Week 1 Illini Prairie Conference Scores
Unity 30, Rantoul 8Monticello 26, Illinois Valley Central 6
Central Catholic 41, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 0
Coal City 40, Pontiac 6
St. Joseph-Ogden 64, Prairie Central 20
Friday Night Forecast Standings
1. Coltrane (5-0)1. DoubleJ (5-0)
1. Best Look Magazine (5-0)
1. SCOTTY P (5-0)
1. Sagesrunner (5-0)
1. Frank (5-0)
1. Bement Bulldogs (5-0)
1. Steve (5-0)
1. The Sentinel (5-0)
Look back at some of our previous Friday Night Forecasts
